Syrian refugees in Jordan: reevaluating responses to protracted displacement

An estimated one in 14 residents in Jordan is a refugee, making it the world’s second largest per capita refugee host. Almost 90% of the 727,715 people registered as refugees with UNHCR in Jordan are from Syria, while the government estimates that there are a total of 1.3 million Syrian refugees in the country.

Around 20% of these refugees live in one of four refugee camps, the largest of which is Zaatari. The remaining 79% live outside the camps, with the largest concentrations in the cities of Amman, Irbid and Al-Mafraq.

To better understand the wellbeing and livelihoods of Syrian refugees living in protracted displacement in camps and urban areas in Jordan, we explored the experiences of refugees in two sites: Sweileh district in Amman and Zaatari camp. We analysed five dimensions of wellbeing: bodily, economic, political, social and psychosocial, based on a quantitative survey triangulated with qualitative data.

Our findings demonstrate that a forward-looking plan is needed that recognises Syrian displacement as predominantly urban. It highlights the urgent need to devise new approaches and policies that can deliver sustainable and equitable outcomes for all refugees, whether living in camps or in urban areas.

This includes the government of Jordan facilitating more stable residency status for Syrian refugees, to allow them to live in security and, with more certainty, to travel, work, register businesses and realise their potential.