AMMAN — Jordan sounded the alarm on the dwindling
international support for refugees as the country continues to host a
staggering 3.7 million displaced individuals from 49 different countries.
اضافة اعلان
As the Kingdom commemorated
World Refugee Day, which lands
on June 20 of each, concerns mounting over the strain on the country's
resources, Jordan is reaching its capacity limit, further exacerbating an
already challenging situation, Al Mamlaka TV reported.
The numbers of registered refugees
As of June 4, there are 740,762 registered
refugees in Jordan from various nationalities, excluding Palestinian refugees who fall
under the responsibility of UNRWA.
Additionally, an estimated 2.4 million Palestinian refugees
are present in Jordan, with the Palestinian Affairs Department overseeing 13
camps, although
UNRWA officially recognizes only ten of them.
The Syrian crisis, which began in 2011, has led to a
substantial influx of refugees into Jordan, with over 1.3 million Syrians
seeking refuge in the country.
Of these, 660,000 are registered with the
UNHCR.
Furthermore, Jordan hosts 61,000 registered Iraqi refugees, along with smaller
populations from Yemen (12,771), Sudan (5,171), and Somalia (587).
Refugees from 48 different nations
Mashal Al-Fayez, the spokesperson for
UNHCR in Jordan,
disclosed that refugees in the country originate from 48 different nations.
When combining data from
UNHCR and UNRWA, it becomes apparent that refugees
from 49 countries constitute a staggering quarter of Jordan's population, as
reported in the UNHCR's Global Trends 2023 report released this month.
This situation is not unique to Jordan. Turkey currently
hosts around 3.6 million refugees, making it the largest host country globally.
Iran follows closely
with 3.4 million, while Colombia, Germany, and Pakistan host 2.5 million, 2.1
million, and 1.7 million refugees, respectively, according to the report.
Jordan’s FM shares deep concerns over dwindling supports
During the recent Brussels conference,
Ayman Safadi, Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, expressed deep concern over the declining international support for
Syrian refugees. He urgently called for increased financial assistance to
sustain sufficient and sustainable levels of support, emphasizing the need for
collaboration with host countries to prioritize spending effectively.
Safadi underscored Jordan's commitment to fulfilling its
obligations towards refugees, providing them with decent living conditions.
Notably, the country has facilitated education for approximately 155,000
Syrian students through a double-shift system in schools. Moreover, medical services
on par with Jordanian citizens are extended to refugees. To date, Jordan has
issued over 370,000 work permits to Syrian refugees, facilitating their
integration into the labor market.
Despite these efforts, UNHCR in Jordan faces a
significant funding gap of $270.092 million for the fiscal year 2023, having secured only
31 percent of its financial requirements.
UNRWA in a chronic funding crisis
Meanwhile, UNRWA continues to grapple with a chronic funding
crisis, warning of the dire humanitarian, political, and security consequences
if adequate funds are not secured.
At the recent
Brussels conference, donors pledged €5.6
billion in aid for Syrian refugees, signaling some progress.
However, the overwhelming majority of refugees worldwide,
76%, are located in low- and middle-income countries, with 70% residing in
neighboring countries, according to the UNHCR's Trends Report.
Jordan has a history of receiving successive waves of asylum
seekers, including Libyans in the 1920s, followed by Palestinians, Iraqis, and
Syrians in different periods, alongside individuals from other nationalities.
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, which lands each year on June 20, the
Empowerment Society for
Legal Aid and Human Rights has called on the Jordanian
government to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention to enhance the protection and
rights of refugees.
As Jordan confronts the strain on its resources and
international support wanes, urgent action is required to address the needs of
refugees in the country and ensure their basic rights are upheld.
Without sustained assistance and collaboration, the
situation for refugees in Jordan and worldwide remains precarious, with
far-reaching consequences for the global refugee crisis.
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