Jordan

Displacement situation

With 89 refugees per every 1,000 inhabitants, Jordan hosts the second-highest number of refugees per capita of any country in the world. Most of these refugees are fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Syria, and as of April 2020, there are 656,213 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan, plus 90,755 other persons of concern, including refugees from Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia.  

With the Syrian crisis in its 9th year, the majority of Syrian refugees remain in a situation of protracted displacement. Over 80% of Syrian refugees live below the poverty line, with the same percentage residing in urban areas. A full 51% of refugees are children, and 4% are elderly. The large size and acute poverty of these refugee populations puts considerable strain on Jordanian domestic services and local economies. 

DRC Response

DRC has been active in Jordan since 2003 when it first arrived in response to the Iraqi refugee crisis. In 2013, DRC launched a multi-sectorial response to the Syrian crisis in Jordan, focusing on protection and economic recovery. Activities encompass both critical emergency response and sustainable long-term solutions, and DRC works to strengthen the protective environment, encourage self-reliance in vulnerable households and communities, and provide access to basic services and livelihood opportunities for displacement-affected communities in seven governorates (East Amman, Karak, Ma’an, Tafileh, Madaba, Irbid, and Mafraq) across the Kingdom, as well as in the Azraq refugee camp.