Putting a spotlight on the Palestine refugees from Syria in Jordan’s refugee crisis

With the conflict in Syria deep into its sixth year, Jordan is coping with a protracted refugee crisis. Palestinians, like Syrians, have fled to Jordan to seek refuge from the violence. However, not everyone has entered the country through regular means. As of the end of September 2016, nearly 17,000 Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) have been recorded with UNRWA for services and targeted assistance, 85 per cent of whom have been categorized as vulnerable or extremely vulnerable.

As the only service provider for PRS in Jordan, UNRWA ensures that this population retains access to services, such as emergency relief, education and health, to help protect them from extreme vulnerability. These services are especially critical for PRS who are in the country irregularly as a result of the Jordanian policy applied in 2013 barring their legal entry. Their lack of legal status has reduced their access to the job market and increased the risk of arrest, detention and refoulement. Enduring a considerable degree of insecurity, they are almost completely reliant on UNRWA to meet their basic needs.