How do I migrate to Europe? This question worries many Syrian refugees in Jordan, who are concerned about cuts in humanitarian aid, rising poverty, restrictions on work and the lack of opportunities for their children. This is the case of Suha Makhlouf, 33 years old and mother of three, who arrived in Jordan in 2013 to escape the war in Syria and affirms that she is considering leaving the country again and embarking on a secret ship embark Makhlouf studied to become a teacher at Damascus University, but was unable to find a job in Irbid (Northern Jordan), where she lives with her husband and children, that matched her education and was therefore forced to look for other jobs, for example as a buyer’s assistant in clothing stores . In addition, she takes care of the children and helps her husband to repair electrical appliances. “The living conditions in Jordan are very bad and difficult. “The prices for rent and electricity bills are very high,” explains the woman.
“In the event that support is not provided and our conditions do not improve, I am willing to risk my life and that of my children and emigrate by sea to give them a future.” Because they do not have it here” , he adds.
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For Makhlouf, migration is still a vague idea. Others have already made the decision and are on their way. Some have arrived, but others have not. On June 14th, the world woke up to one of the worst maritime accidents just outside of Europe, that of the fishing boat Adriana near Pylos, Greece. The ship left Tobruk in eastern Libya and had around 750 migrants on board, of whom only 104 survived. The rest, mostly from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan, were presumed dead and missing, according to Greek sources. Among the dead was Thaer Al Rahal, a 39-year-old Syrian. She lived in the Zaatari refugee camp until her four-year-old son, Khaled, was diagnosed with cancer. Due to his low-paying job, which did not allow him to afford his son’s medicines, the father borrowed money from friends to travel to Libya and board a ship to get to Germany. The aim was to reunite his family there and give his son access to treatment. But their hopes ended in the depths of the sea and the boy still needs a spinal cord transplant to survive.
A third less help
Jordan borders Syria to the north and has a population of 11 million. Since the war began in 2012, Jordan has taken in hundreds of thousands of families from the neighboring country, including seriously ill war wounded being treated in hospitals. Of the 1.3 million Syrians currently living in Jordan, about half (670,000) are registered as refugees with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The rest lived in the country before the war, thanks to family ties and trade links between the two states, which also share language, culture and religion.
With funding drying up, our hands are tied
Alberto Correia Mendes, WFP in Jordan
According to UNHCR, 80,000 Syrian refugees live in the Zaatari camp in the desert city of Mafraq, 80 kilometers from Amman. 40,000 Syrians live in the Azraq camp, 100 kilometers from the Jordanian capital. Zaatari is the largest refugee camp in the Middle East and one of the largest in the world. In 2012, it consisted of tents erected in the desert sand. Today it resembles a caravan town with a large market in the center. Power is supplied by a huge solar power project built in 2017 with federal funds. It was supposed to supply electricity 14 hours a day, but only comes on for five and intermittently. Another problem is the cooling of the water, since it is taken from wells with petrol-driven generators. However, refrigeration requires electricity to reach the refrigerators. And that doesn’t happen.
“We can hardly drink cold water or wash clothes,” laments Mayada Al Hariri, who has lived in Zaatari for 11 years. Those living in Zaatari need permission from the Jordanian authorities to come and go, work or visit family and friends. However, many come and go infrequently and, if arrested, sign a pledge not to leave the site again without permission.
Aerial view of the Zaatari refugee camp near the northern Jordanian city of Mafraq in July 2012. Portal
In July, WFP announced that it would cut monthly aid to the 120,000 Syrian refugees in Zaatari and Azraq camps by a third, starting in August. High-risk families living outside of these camps will receive $21 (€19) instead. 32 (29 euros). It will also be reduced for those refugees living in communities outside the camps, who will be granted $14 (€12.7) instead of $21 (€19). In addition, the facility will gradually exclude about 50,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan from its aid programs to prioritize the poorest families. Despite all the cuts, WFP continues to face a critical funding gap of US$41 million (€37.2 million) through the end of 2023, which has led to WFP also reducing aid to other parts of the region such as Syria and Palestine has.
“We are deeply concerned about the possible deterioration in household food security, but as funds dry up, our hands are tied,” said Alberto Correia Mendes, WFP representative in Jordan. “These cuts are likely to lead to an increase in negative coping strategies,” he added, citing child labour, child dropping out of school, boy and girl marriage and the accumulation of further debt, which had already been increasing among the refugees in the camps by 25 % compared to the previous year.
“The lack of aid is already exacerbating the refugees’ vulnerability,” warns UNHCR. According to his data, the number of refugee families unable to pay their rent and facing eviction from their homes increased by 66% between December 2022 and February 2023. “Another consequence of the lack of aid is that it can push refugees to do so.” “Take illegal routes to Europe,” stresses the agency, concerned for the safety of those leaving Jordan, “as they face exploitation, abuse and death.” are”.
Sunset in Zaatari camp in Jordan, home to 80,000 Syrian refugees. Youssef Al Hariri
According to the WFP, only 30% of adults living in Jordanian refugee camps work — mostly in temporary or seasonal jobs — while 57% say cash assistance is their only source of income. Many Syrian refugees like Suha Makhlouf are unable to find employment in the fields in which they were trained, as there are professions and positions that the Jordanian authorities reserve for their citizens. According to the Amman Ministry of Labor, Syrians are permitted to be employed in construction, agriculture, public sanitation, factories, shops and restaurants, and can also be self-employed. Official figures recently released by the Jordan Times newspaper suggest that 373,000 work permits have been issued to Syrian citizens since 2016.
The restrictions mean that many refugees work illegally to feed their families and pay their expenses. Aware of this situation, the Jordanian Ministry of Labor ordered the Directorate of Labor Inspection in July to “intensify its visits to all sectors and operations where non-Jordanian workers, particularly Syrian nationals, work” and ensure compliance with the rules.
“The whole world has failed us”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi asked by messages on social network X (formerly Twitter) urged WFP to reconsider its decision to cut aid. “We cannot bear this burden alone… Enabling refugees to live dignified lives is a global responsibility,” he said.
We cannot bear this burden alone (…) It is a global responsibility to enable refugees to lead a decent life
Ayman Safadi, Minister of Jordan
According to a UNHCR study, 66% of Syrian refugees in Jordan live on less than $5.5 a day (the amount set by the World Bank as the poverty line). “The aid we receive is not enough to meet our needs. A cut will create even bigger problems than the ones we already have. We will have to leave the camp to secure our daily subsistence,” says Mayada Al Hariri, who fears she will not be able to send her children to school if she cannot afford the most basic things.
Her husband Mohammad, 57, has criticized the lack of response from wealthy Gulf countries to the conditions faced by Syrian refugees in Jordan. “Countries must work together to ensure a dignified life. Why are we migrating to Europe and the Gulf States? Jordan is a poor country and life here is difficult, especially as a refugee.” The man is also afraid of not being able to meet the needs of his children and being forced to let them work. “The whole world has let us Syrians down,” he accuses.
In collaboration with Youssef Al-Hariri.
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