UNHCR in Jordan receives USD 5 million assistance from Kuwait

Jordan

Published: 2017-12-12 12:47

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 21:56


Jordan hosts 655,000 of of Syrian refugees. © UNHCR/Dominic Nahr
Jordan hosts 655,000 of of Syrian refugees. © UNHCR/Dominic Nahr

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR in Jordan announced they received USD 5 million cash contribution from Kuwait on Monday.

It will help in providing at least 14,300 Syrian refugee families with essential winter assistance.

They will support female-headed households, families caring for members with medical conditions, the disabled, the elderly, and families with specific legal and physical protection needs, amongst others, the UN agency said.

“Jordan currently shelters more than 655,000 registered Syrian refugees. The vast majority, almost 80% live outside of the three refugee camps. For most of them, this will be their seventh winter in displacement,” the UNHCR said in a press release released on their website on Monday.

At least, four of each five refugees outside the camps are falling below the national poverty line, which resulted in facing daily struggles to meet their basic needs including the shelter, food, healthcare and education.

“Winter cash assistance has proved to be the most effective and flexible way of supporting vulnerable refugee families in Jordan. This Kuwaiti contribution enables UNHCR at this critical time to help more refugee families to alleviate some of the suffering and burdens of the cold winter,” according to Amin Awad, the agency’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“The vast majority of refugees use the cash assistance to cover the costs of their heating and to get the bare essentials including blankets, clothes and shoes” he added.

The UNHCR and its partners are preparing for 2017/2018 winter, they planned to provide at least 50,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan with needed assistance for the winter.

Hosting the second highest number of refugees in the world, Jordan hosts 655,000 of of Syrian refugees.

However, there are around 5.3 million Syrians live as refugees in neighbouring Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and beyond.