December 17, 2015
Syria
Jordan as a country became a new home for nearly 1,4 million refugees from Syria who have fled their homes due to long-lasting conflict. The United Nations has recorded 650 000 refugees so far. The World Food Programme (WFP) reduced food aid last month as a result of Jordanian and the global economy. According to recent reports, the WFP warns that support of Syrian refugees is going to be interrupted completely.
After receiving notice from the WFP, Caritas Jordan participated in organizing group meetings of the Fund where it was agreed that the Caritas Jordan will send a list of items to WFP. Due to decreased regular aid, the assistance will be provided in August. The financial support will be provided from both of its project to help Syrian refugees and humanitarian aid from Caritas Germany.
Caritas Jordan will provide food vouchers in August for three thousand families instead of the half - year support of five hundred families in the period from July to December 2015. Both organizations will be able to give out vouchers to 6 360 of five - member families (in other words 31 800 individuals) together with the funds of Caritas Germany. It will cover only 7% of the actual needs. Hence the World Food Program promised considering offering assistance from both charities.
According to Caritas Jordan, the suspended aid could cause hardship for the refugees. The current labour market does not offer vacancies and mainly does not offer employment to refugees who are covered by the ban on employment. The Jordanian government also does not endorse organizing projects to support the livelihood of Syrians as well as programs allowing them to profit. For this reason the Syrians seek to ensure the livelihood for their families and there are concerns about the illegal activities in the form of gangs, looting, child labour, exploitation, abuse and even killings. Related to this there is also the threat of escalating poverty, malnutrition and health.
Caritas Jordan strives for the mobilization of representatives of the influential institutions that would be able to promote employment of Syrian refugees and open the labour market for specialists, particularly in those areas which are not common there.
"It is clear that only a big peace conference could launch the reconstruction process in order to emerge from this situation (high number of refugees in Jordan - ed.), which is unsustainable in economic terms. Obviously, there is someone who is interested in introducing chaos. There is no money when it comes to feeding the refugees. Nevertheless, money is always available as far as the production, sale and purchase of weapons are concered," comments the Jordanian director for Catholic Charities agency Fides about the current precarious situation in Jordan.
