HIGHLIGHTS
UNHCR is coordinating the provision of international humanitarian assistance to thousands of Syrians living in life-threatening conditions on the northeastern borders. Since December 2015, UNHCR has registered 23,000 Syrians at the border but estimates indicate the actual number - that includes many extremely vulnerable individuals - may be as high as 35,000. The figures have risen sharply in recent months following the intensification of conflict in Syria and ahead of a planned “cessation of hostilities” on 27 February.
The Government of Jordan announced a series of important initiatives at the London Syria Donors Conference on 4 February to benefit Syrian refugees and the host community alike. The conference raised a record US$ 6 billion in support for Syrian refugees inside Syria and across the region in 2016, with another US$ 5 billion pledged in support of humanitarian needs by 2020. UNHCR is urging the swift implementation of the pledges to support pressing protection and livelihood needs in Jordan.
Staff from UNHCR’s Resettlement Unit worked against the clock throughout the month of February to ensure that the U.S. target of identifying 9,000 Syrian refugees for resettlement by the end of March is comfortably met. By the end of February over 5,000 Syrian individuals had been submitted to the U.S authorities. The fast pace of the referral process undertaken by UNHCR has encouraged the U.S. authorities to express an interest in accepting additional submissions later in the year.
KEY FIGURES
75 Percentage of Syrians who are highly or severely shelter vulnerable
80 Percentage of Syrians using crisis or emergency coping mechanisms
90 Percentage of Syrians living outside of camps in poverty
45,000 Refugees receiving life-essential cash assistance this winter
115,000 Syrian school-aged children out of school
US $ 15 million Provided in cash assistance this winter to refugees
FUNDING
US$ 320 million requested for the operation in 2016
UPDATE ON ACHIEVEMENTS
Operational Context
The Government of Jordan announced a series of economic and development initiatives at the Syria Donors Conference in February that if successfully implemented would promote a range of opportunities that would stand to benefit refugees and their host community. The programme, outlined through the Jordan Compact, and subject to international funding, is designed to unlock the economic potential of refugees by setting their course towards self-reliance, whilst at the same time strengthening the resilience of host communities most impacted by the influx of refugees in recent years.
For Syrian refugees these objectives would include allowing them to apply for work permits; formalizing their existing businesses and establishing new tax generating businesses; removing restrictions on small economic activities within camps hosting Syrian refugees; specially designated development zones providing jobs for Syrians, as well as Jordanians, and formalising access to work in sectors where there is low Jordanian participation and a high proportion of foreign workers.
Meanwhile, the numbers fleeing Syria and located at Jordan’s northeastern border continued to rise sharply in February. The latest estimates suggest that some 35,000 Syrians are stranded at two unofficial border crossings – Hadalat and Rukban, located north of the town of al-Ruweished – behind a sand mound, or “berm”, at Jordan’s border. The numbers represent an almost nine-fold increase on estimates at the end of 2015.
Those seeking asylum at each location include pregnant women and female heads of household, individuals with serious medical conditions, persons living with severe disabilities, unaccompanied and separated children, and other extremely vulnerable individuals. The number being granted access to Jordanian territory throughout the month was approximately 70 individuals per day, far outweighed by the pace of arrivals.
UNHCR is the lead agency mandated to coordinate the humanitarian response and is working alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in providing lifesaving support including protection, registration, health, nutrition, logistics, shelter, non-food items and water & sanitation, whilst advocating for access to Jordanian territory for refugees located at the berm, as afforded to them under international law.