Jordan: Jordan: UNHCR Operational Update, March 2019
Monthly Cash Assistance was distributed to 126,714 Syrian refugees, 5,584 Iraqi refugees and 2,283 persons were of other nationalities.
As of 2 April, UNHCR Jordan’s operation is only 17% funded out of USD 371.8 million - overall financial requirements in 2019.
UNHCR Jordan brought together 26 refugee vendors from Syria and Iraq to sell their handmade products at Mother’s Day #WithRefugees Bazaar
762,420 Refugees in Jordan as of 15 January 2019
83% Refugees living outside camps in urban areas
17% Refugees living in three camps in Jordan – Azraq, Zaatari and The Emirati Jordanian
PROTECTION
On 26 March, the UNHCR Jordan Representative attended the opening of a new branch of the Government Family Protection Department (FPD) branch in Amman, supported by UNHCR. The opening is part of a wider strategy aimed at strengthening national protection systems, with the FPD branch providing a broad spectrum of protection services to Jordanians and the large refugee population in Southern Amman, including SGBV and child protection response services. UNHCR has been working in partnership with the FPD for 11 years, including through capacity building, case management and best interests determination research and practice.
UNHCR runs 40 helpdesks across the country as part of community outreach, where refugees are able to approach UNHCR with any legal or protection issues they may have – they can also approach our registration centre in Amman. During February 2019, 851 families were assisted with issues ranging from lack of cash assistance, gender based violence, regularization of status, and resettlement.
UNHCR Jordan has one of the largest refugee helplines in the world. The Helpline answered over 400,000 calls in February. Since its inception in 2008, UNHCR staff on the helpline have responded to over 3 million calls. The system uses Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology, where automated information is delivered on key topics, while 14 dedicated staff are available for emergency calls. Calls mainly regarded the following issues: Basic Needs Assistance, including Cash Assistance (80%), Registration (11%), Resettlement (5%) and other issues (4%).
In February 2019, UNHCR provided counselling to 618 beneficiaries at UNHCR’s registration centre in Amman. UNHCR also assessed 35 vulnerable cases of various nationalities (Syrian, Iraqi, Yemeni, Sudanese, and Somali etc.) concerning their eligibility for Urgent Cash Assistance (UCA). 10 cases for the UCA were approved.
