Jordan
The war in Syria has inflicted unimaginable levels of suffering on its civilian population and has left millions of families with no choice but to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries. Jordan, which shares its northern border with Syria, hosts more than 650,000 Syrian refugees, roughly 9 percent of Jordan’s population. Nearly 80 percent of Syrians in Jordan live outside of camps. With job opportunities limited and much of what they owned lost in the war, Syrian families often struggle to make ends meet. As a result, 93 percent of Syrians in Jordanian towns and cities are living below the poverty line, uncertain of if and when they will return home, as the Syrian war grinds on with no end in sight
9.5 million
More than 650,000
Nearly 80,000 Syrians
making it Jordan’s fourth largest city
Syria Crisis
Now on its ninth year, the Syrian war continues to inflict incomprehensible levels of suffering on civilians and fuel what has become the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Learn MoreThe Challenges
Population displacement
More than 650,000 Syrians have sought refuge in Jordan
Widespread poverty
Four out of five Syrians in Jordan reside outside camps, living in host communities, often in poverty
Uncertainty
With no visible end in sight to the war that grips their homeland, Syrians in Jordan are uncertain when—or if—they will return home
Our Response
International Medical Corps understands the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the needs of people displaced by armed conflict. In Jordan, International Medical Corps:
• provides Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian host populations with primary health, mental health and reproductive heathcare, along pamong with psychosocial and nutrition services;
• extends broad services that include protection, youth empowerment, health capacity strengthening, and gender-based violence prevention and response.
Healthcare
With funding from UNHCR, UNICEF and ECHO, International Medical Corps provides vital medical services in Azraq refugee camp, home to nearly 38,000 Syrians. We run two primary healthcare clinics and a hospital in Azraq that together provide more 24,000 consultations per month. In March 2018, International Medical Corps started providing healthcare services in Zaatari camp, home to almost 79,000 refugees, through a primary healthcare clinic and an emergency room operating around the clock that provide about 13,000 consultations per month.
Mental health and psychosocial support
The psychological toll of war on Syrian refugees is immense. Forced from their homes, many have experienced extreme levels of violence and loss. In Jordan, they face pressures to start again in a country that is not their own, uncertain if or when they will return home.
International Medical Corps advocates the integration of mental health care into the primary healthcare system as a means of alleviating pressure on the minimal resources available at secondary and tertiary levels of care, as well as a strategy to reduce stigma in seeking these kind of services. For particularly vulnerable individuals who require specialized psychiatric services, International Medical Corps provides direct care at primary healthcare centers throughout the country—four in camps and 15 in urban areas. Our multidisciplinary teams each consist of a psychiatrist, mental health nurse, case manager and psychologist.
International Medical Corps uses a strengths-based approach that assists clients with goal-setting and empowerment practices. Our mental health teams receive ongoing theoretical and practical training, including training on child protection and gender-based violence management and referral. We also train Ministry of Health staff and other primary healthcare providers in mental health and psychosocial protection (MHPSS) to enhance resilience and improve capacities of existing service providers while increasing access for refugees and host communities.
Psychosocial Support, Youth Empowerment and Protection
Early detection of a child experiencing psychological difficulties, cognitive impairments or protection issues is crucial for a good outcome. The ability to screen for adjustment problems or cognitive deficits during childhood and teenage years means that these psychosocial issues can be addressed before they lead to behavioral issues. International Medical Corps addresses these symptoms with a family and peer-oriented approach. We engage children and youth with mental health concerns in structured activities that aim to relieve their concerns and improve their psychological and social well-being. Our psychosocial support extends to clients’ families and environment, and ensures that clients receive comprehensive care.
To further support children and youth struggling with psychological problems caused by traumatic experiences, International Medical Corps establishes adolescent-friendly spaces that provide young people with learning opportunities, life-skills training and psychosocial support services. We run three Makani (“my space” in Arabic) Centers, where refugees and vulnerable families can access case-management services, and children can attend organized recreational and therapeutic activities. The Makani Centers also help raise awareness about child rights, as well as gender-based violence and other protection issues. In addition, they promote social cohesion, as they are open to both Jordanian and Syrian children and supported by community-based committees that help identify and refer vulnerable children.
Gender-based Violence (GBV)
International Medical Corps facilitates the reception process for new refugees at Azraq camp and shelter allocation for female-headed households, to reduce their risk of encountering violence by taking into account their special needs and vulnerabilities. Our case managers provide psychological first-aid for arrivals, along with dignity kits, and link female refugees with health services in the camp. We also run a safe space for women and girls—known as the Women’s Haven—where we put protection measures in place to help prevent gender-based violence (GBV), and provide support for survivors of GBV, including healthcare and mental health care.
Our Impact
The Things We Carry: Stories of Syrian Refugees and What They Took with Them When They Fled Home
Since 2011, when violent civil war erupted in Syria, more than 5.6 million people (approximately equal to the populations of Chicago and Los Angeles combined) have fled their homes by land and sea in search of safety for themselves and their families. What do they carry as they flee?
READ MORE