Improving the protection and resilience of refugees and vulnerable Jordanians
Improving the protection and resilience of refugees and vulnerable Jordanians
Jordan is currently hosting 655,833 Syrian refugees.
Eighty-two per cent of Syrian urban refugees are living below the poverty line and access to cash is difficult given the limited legal work opportunities. One-third of Syrian children remain out of school, many of them for several years now. High levels of psychosocial stress continue to burden Syrian refugee families with more than 20% reporting perpetual feelings of helplessness that impact their daily lives.
The Improving protection and resilience of refugees and vulnerable Jordanians affected by the Syrian crisis in Jordan project will continue to work with vulnerable Jordanian host communities, and refugees in Irbid, Mafraq, Zarqa and Amman, focusing particularly on the needs of women and children as identified through vulnerability assessments.
Fast Facts
- Conflict in Syria began in 2011
- Jordan is currently hosting over 650,000 Syrian refugees, 51 per cent are children
- Over three-quarters of these refugees live outside camps, primarily in Jordan’s northern governorates
- Around 14 per cent of Jordan’s population are refugees
- Major donor: This project has been made possible thanks to generous contributions and ongoing support from the Australian Government
- Major locations: Urban neighbourhoods in Irbid, Mafraq, Zarqa and Amman in Jordan
Providing humanitarian assistance
CARE has an integrated response to the Syria refugee crisis in Jordan. CARE provides information, assessment and specialised-case management services, cash assistance for protection and education, livelihood skills training, NGO capacity building, and community support and psychosocial activities.
Together these activities provide immediate humanitarian assistance to prevent eviction, hunger and illness. But they also strengthen support networks with the local community and assist refugees in finding and diversifying livelihood opportunities, to link humanitarian programs and sustainable development. This reduces negative coping strategies and addresses protection issues like early child marriage and child labour by enabling families to meet their urgent basic needs and build resilient, positive coping mechanisms.
What we’ve achieved so far:
- 13,143 Syrian households accessed health, education and legal services information
- 847 households received emergency cash assistance with 97 per cent saying this had improved their living conditions and reduced their financial burden. A further 65 per cent said the assistance had enabled purchasing of better quality food
- 450 women received vocational training to enable them to start small home businesses in sewing or cooking
- 694 households engaged in in-depth case management and referred to appropriate services
- 9,684 individuals (5,583 female) participated in psychosocial activities like counselling and peer support groups with 96 per cent affirming this positively affected their health and wellbeing
What we’re doing:
Emergency cash
To meet urgent protection, health, shelter and food needs, CARE is increasing access to emergency cash for refugee and vulnerable Jordanian women, men, boys and girls living in the same communities.
Safe education
To increase school attendance and child protection, we’re supporting at-risk children to stay enrolled in school and its protective environment. CARE will train teachers, principals and parents on child rights and protection to support them to provide children with a safe learning environment.
Safe spaces
Many refugees lack community safety nets, making them more vulnerable. Through CARE’s Safe Spaces and community support activities, we’re enhancing the psychosocial well-being and positive coping mechanisms of vulnerable individuals.
Community support
CARE delivers training to communities, featuring topics on child protection, awareness raising on early child marriage and child labour. Community initiatives are also run, delivering community events for the elderly and persons living with disabilities.
Read more about how we’re working to support refugees globally:
CARE Australia is accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), responsible for managing the Australian Government’s aid program.
Banner image: ©CARE
