Refugee families in Jordan struggle to make ends meet amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
Jordan, a lower-middle-income country, has welcomed various waves of refugees throughout its history due to the existing conflicts and instability in the Middle East.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the country is home to more than 750,000 refugees, making it the world's second host country of refugees per capita.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on Jordan's infrastructure and resources, which, in turn, has substantially impacted Jordanian society and has brought additional hurdles to the refugee communities, especially for the women and girls in these communities.
Today, we highlight three inspiring stories of resilience.
"I didn't know how to survive."
A year ago, Ghada was going through depression. Originally from Homs in Syria, she fled Syria and came to Mafraq, Jordan, in 2013. As a single mother of five girls, she struggled to make ends meet, especially since her divorce in 2018.
When schools shut down in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghada's work at a local community centre came to a halt as everyone had to stay at home.
"I didn't know how to survive. Our household expenses also increased because I had to pay for more internet and electricity for the girl's education."
But instead of letting the situation get the better of her, Ghada decided to fight back.
Paving the way for entrepreneurship
Ghada had always cooked food for friends and neighbours. After taking a training course hosted by a local NGO and UNHCR's livelihood partner, Blumont, she was inspired to turn her passion into a business.
"I never thought I would be able to make a business out of this. In our culture, women are taught to cook from an early age. Back in Syria, our kitchen was always hectic. It was the heart of the house. I remember every summer there would be continuous cooking of fresh produce to freeze for winter."
Ghada now sees that the pandemic gave her an opportunity she wouldn't have ordinarily had.
"People stopped going to restaurants, and they weren't able to eat out and so they turned to takeaway. This has been a benefit for me."
UNHCR and Blumont have supported 222 projects – 56 for Syrian refugees and 166 for Jordanians – to legally start operating since November 2018.
"Every three months, we pack our belongings."
Hussein, his wife, and their six children left Syria seeking refuge in Jordan in 2016.
"Our meals mainly consisted of rice, bread and potato every day. We could not afford much more", says Hussein.
Three of Hussein's daughters work on farms to collect vegetables and fruit to bring money to the household.
"Every three months, we pack our belongings and move from one city to another depending on the season for planting and harvesting for the different crops," he says.
In response to Hussein's situation, and that of another 40,000 refugees impacted by the pandemic, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Jordan expanded its monthly assistance to help meet basic needs. Hussein and his family began receiving JOD 15 (USD 21) per person monthly to help them put food on the table.
"The timing of the assistance couldn't have been more perfect, especially during Ramadan. I remember I bought two chickens for Iftar, which made my children very happy," says the Hussein.
Now, the family can afford more food options and feel safe knowing they have some money to put food on the table.
According to the WFP, food insecurity among refugees in Jordan has doubled in the last year; one quarter of the refugees are already food insecure with a further two in three refugees # on the edge of food insecurity. But while WFP’s cash assistance is a lifeline for more than half a million refugees in Jordan, 21,000 Syrian refugees will not receive their monthly food assistance from July due to a shortage of funds. With the current funding scenario for the organization, further, much larger cuts will happen from September.
The consequences of cuts in food assistance will be dire, especially when families have lost their ability to earn money given the lack of work opportunities with the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 83 per cent of refugee families depend on assistance from WFP as their main source of income, while 16 per cent of families have no income other than WFP.
Without additional funding, WFP will have to make difficult choices to stretch the limited resources and ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable refugees are met.
"When your aspirations are strong enough, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals."
Nofa Ali Shadeh, 33, is a mother of five. She is enrolled in the UN Women's Oasis centre in the Azraq refugee camp, which provides life-sustaining assistance to Syrian refugees.
In Syria, Nofa was a housewife with no professional work experience. She left Syria five years ago with her husband and children in search of a better life. The family spent four months at the border between Syria and Jordan before arriving at the Azraq refugee camp.
"While we were eager to settle down, it was difficult to find employment opportunities", she said.
Nofa's husband eventually found a job in the construction sector outside the camp, while she looked after the children and did housework.
"However, this was not enough to cover for our needs. Life was like a blind alley."
Nofa gains more financial freedom and independence
Nofa decided to enroll in the Oasis centre to support the family financially. " Most importantly, I wanted to learn."
Though she did not have extensive experience in tailoring, Nofa was allowed to work in the cutting department, supporting the production of baby kits.
Nofa gains more financial freedom and independence.
"I was able to buy household appliances, clothes for my children, and even a mobile phone to stay in contact with my family and friends. I also met other women, who have now become an important support system in my everyday life."
"I felt I grew a lot. I learned how to manage my time and balance work and family. I find myself to be more independent. I am no longer shy to express my opinions, and I have become more involved in family decisions."
Reporting by Dara Al Masri (WFP), Lilly Carlisle (UNHCR), and Ye Ji Lee (UN Women) in Amman. With Editorial Support by Ahmed Ben Lassoued, Development Coordination Office. To learn more about the work taking place in Jordan, visit: Jordan.UN.org. To learn more about the results of our work in this area and beyond, please visit the UNSDG Chair Report on DCO.