The crisis in Syria has become one of the most complicated humanitarian operations for the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP). 6.8 million people are displaced inside the country, with thousands more forced from their homes every day. These 10 facts explain why the situation is so dire, and how we’re stepping in to help.
1. Many Syrian Refugees Fled to Jordan
Since the start of the conflict in Syria in 2011, Jordan has shouldered the impact of a massive influx of Syrian refugees. Today, Syrian refugees account for nearly 6% of Jordan’s population, placing immense pressure on the country’s over-stretched resources at one of the most difficult economic periods in its history.
2. Refugees in Jordan Rely on Humanitarian Assistance
Over 650,000 Syrians – that’s more than the entire population of Memphis, Tennessee – have registered with UNHCR in Jordan (the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees). The vast majority of these refugees live in cities and towns instead of camps, which means they must find a way to pay for things like rent and transportation. But only a limited number of them have work permits, so most of these families still rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their most basic needs.
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3. Some Refugees Are Permitted to Work
Since July 2016, the Jordanian government has granted more than 230,000 work permits to Syrian refugees, allowing them to work legally and earn an income for their families.
4. Many Refugees Remain Stranded
More than 10,000 Syrians remain stranded at the northeastern border between Jordan and Syria in a precarious, informal settlement called Rukban. Humanitarian access remains difficult due to security risks and border closures.
5. Over 80% of Refugees Are Living in Poverty
Most Syrian families rely on humanitarian aid to meet their daily needs and were already living below the poverty line before the pandemic hit. Today, 86% of Syrian refugees living outside camps in Jordan live below the poverty line.
6. Zaatari Is One of the Largest Refugee Camp in the World
Though most Syrian refugees in Jordan live in host communities, the country is now home to the one of the largest refugee camps in the world, known as Zaatari. The camp first opened in 2012, less than 10 miles from the Syrian border, and today houses almost 80,000 Syrian refugees in rows of prefabricated shelters.
7. WFP Is Supporting Refugees in Jordan
In Jordan, an unprecedented funding shortfall is forcing the U.N. World Food Programme to significantly scale back monthly food assistance for over 450,000 refugees – the majority of whom are Syrian. In July 2023, assistance was reduced by one-third for all 119,000 Syrian refugees in the Zaatari and Azraq camps. Now, Syrian refugees receive $21 per person per month, down from the previous amount of $32.
Syrian refugees living in both camps have limited income sources with only 30% of adults working – mainly in temporary or seasonal jobs – while 57% of camp residents say cash assistance is their only source of income. This cash assistance enables them to purchase food items in any of our partner shops throughout the country.
8. Nearly 90% of Syrian Refugees in Jordan Are Hungry
Almost 90% of Syrian refugees in Jordan are either already hungry or teetering on the edge of food insecurity. To meet their basic food needs, parents are eating less to make supplies last longer and taking their children out of school to work or beg.
9. WFP Has Employed Syrian Refugees
In Spring 2016, the U.N. World Food Programme launched its first “Healthy Kitchens Initiative” in the Zaatari camp, in which Syrian women were employed to cook fresh, healthy school lunches for the camp’s boys and girls used locally grown vegetables, grains and fruit.
Homegrown school meals such as these provide children with the right nutrition and energy to focus in the classroom while supporting local food producers and providing jobs to primarily female-headed households.
10. WFP Operates Supermarkets and Bread Shops
Through cash assistance, the U.N. World Food Programme provides a fresher and more diverse diet to Syrian refugees while supporting the country’s economy. With their cash assistance, refugees can purchase groceries from the five supermarkets and eight bread shops run by the U.N. World Food Programme in Syrian refugee camps.
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Jordan’s exceptional solidarity with the over 1 million Syrians it hosts has tested the country’s resilience over time. While humanitarian assistance is acting as a buffer, food security among Syrian refugees in Jordan remains precarious. You can help by sending a box of food today.
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