Jordan: Aid for Syrian refugees

Table of contents

Winter clothing for Syrian refugees in Jordan

“I couldn’t sleep and had anxiety attacks and depression. I urgently needed someone to help me get over this situation. I couldn’t even look after my children any more. Thanks to the therapy I received, we are now a family again, and I feel joy in my heart once more.”
Huda, a refugee from Syria, is receiving psychological treatment in Sahab Clinic in Amman.
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What is the situation like in Jordan?

Relief for refugees in Jordan — Food, blankets, thick clothing – Syrian refugees need help urgently.

The war never sleeps

Syria has been scarred by civil war since 2011. More than 5.4 million people have fled the country, and many have sought protection in neighbouring Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. According to the United Nations’ statistics, there are over 666,000 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan alone. When the unregistered refugees are also included, this adds up to over 1.3 million. Providing accommodation and supplies for these people is an enormous challenge for the government in Amman and the Jordanian population. Only a small number of refugees have found shelter in the refugee camps – around 133,000 people. The large majority live in cities and towns in tents, makeshift housing or the shells of buildings. The education and health care systems are also not equipped to deal with these large numbers of people. For many refugees, this means that the war does not end at the Syrian border. It stays with them, day and night: they suffer from war trauma and need psychosocial support.

How is Help providing support in Jordan?

Aid packets for Syrian refugees — Help distributes aid packets for Syrian refugees outside of the refugee camps. ©Khemesh

Combating war trauma

Providing medical care for refugees is a major problem throughout the country, and especially helping those with mental illnesses – many refugees are still suffering from war trauma due to their experiences in the civil war. Help offers free treatment to refugees. As part of a cooperation project with the Charité hospital in Berlin, Help has trained psychologists, psychiatrists and general physicians as trauma therapists. Over 100 doctors have been successfully trained and are now providing psychosocial support to Syrian refugees in hospitals. At the same time, Jordanian health workers and the Jordanian population also benefit from the training courses because many Jordanians who cannot afford to see a psychiatrist can also use Help’s services.

Donors and partners: AA (Department for Foreign Affairs), ADH (Aktion Deutschland Hilft), ZF hilft e.V.

Homes fit for people

To improve the living conditions of refugees outside the camps, Help is renovating housing. We have renovated 150 derelict buildings and built safe accommodation for refugee families.

New housing for Syrian refugees — Sawasan Al Ghozali and her children are happy to live in the renovated apartment now.

Sawasan Al Ghozali fled from Syria to Jordan – Help has helped her. She and her two children found shelter in the shell of a building in the Jordanian city Irbid. Mould was growing on the walls, there were no windows or doors, and the family had to sleep on the concrete floor: “When my children fell over while they were playing, they immediately hurt their legs. They are happy in the renovated flat and finally feel at home.”

Urban Gardening farm — 16 qm² are sufficient for 250 kg yields.

Urban Gardening helps refugees and the environment

In the hot region around Amman, areas for growing fruit and vegetables are scarce. Help has started an urban gardening project on the roofs of the city to offer refugee families the opportunity to produce fresh food at low cost. The project is not only environmentally friendly, but also has positive effects on the mental health of the refugees.

"When I entered the garden the first time, I remembered my old days in Syria. My uncle owned a big farm and I loved to help him grow some vegetables and fruits." Jasina from Syria

Pictures and videos

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Facts and Figures

Figures about Jordan

9.7 million people live in Jordan (2018)
More than 1.3 million registered and unregistered Syrian refugees live in the country according to estimates by the Jordanian Department of Statistics (2018)
The population of Jordan is very young: around 35% of the population are under 15 years old (2018)
Youth unemployment is estimated at over 30% (2018)

Sources: BMZ, German Federal Foreign Office

Facts about Help in Jordan

Treating more than 3,400 traumatised Syrian and Jordanian patients in over 12,000 counselling sessions
Trained 100 doctors
Supporting 3 hospitals
Provided psychoeducation and training in stress relief techniques to around 400 laypersons
Renovated 150 houses for around 2,000 refugees
Provided winter aid to 6,300 Syrian refugees and impoverished Jordanians