Islamic Relief staff member talking to children

Jordan

Jordan is a small country with just 12% of land used for agriculture and scarce water supplies. As the 6th biggest refugee hosting country in the world, resources are stretched to breaking point. We’re supporting refugee families in Jordan to help face the future with greater stability.

With a refugee population of over two million, primarily from Palestine, Syria and Iraq, Jordan is a major host of families fleeing violence and conflict. For just under a quarter of the refugees living in camps across Jordan, conditions are extremely poor. Little or no access to water and electricity increases the risk of disease and vermin infestations, jeopardising people’s health, safety and ultimately their lives.

Surgeons operating on patient in Islamic Relief hospital

Image: Surgeons perform an operation at a hospital funded by Islamic Relief.

The situation in Jordan

Due to high unemployment rates and highly stretched resources, many communities in Jordan are almost at breaking point.

15%

of the population are unemployed

655, 000

Syrian refugees are registered in Jordan (UNHCR, 2017)

90%

of refugees are classed or poor or on the brink of poverty (World Bank/UNHCR, 2015)

2 million

Palestinian refugees live in Jordan (UNRWA, 2016)

1 in 7

people live on less than $1.90 (£1.40) a day (World Bank, 2010)

Islamic Relief in Jordan

We currently support just under a thousand refugees across Jordan, including Syrian families. We offer crucial psychosocial support for women and children in Mafraq city and additionally provide inclusive educational support for refugee and Jordanian children in rural areas via our mobile educational bus.

Whilst our current work focusses primarily on supporting both host and refugee families in the area, we first began working in Jordan back in 1997 with our orphan sponsorship programme. We have also over the years continued a range of additional seasonal projects, including Ramadan and Qurbani aid which continues on a yearly basis. We continue to feed both local and refugee populations in need during these holiest times of the Islamic year.