Int’l community urged to ‘recognise risks ahead’ amid refugee funding shortfall

AMMAN — Warning of dire consequences for refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan on Tuesday called for immediate action to be taken to address the current funding crisis.

UNHCR Representative to Jordan Dominik Bartsch said that the current shortfall in funding for refugee response is threatening the significant progress made over the past decade. 

He highlighted growing concerns about the Jordanian government's ability to maintain essential health and education services for refugees, Al Mamlaka TV reported.

In previous years, sustained support allowed Syrian refugees to enter the labour market. “But, there is a risk that the overall refugee situation could turn into a humanitarian crisis for both refugees and host communities," he said.

The United Nations World Food Programme on Tuesday announced that further cuts in food assistance to refugees in Jordan have become unavoidable due to a funding shortfall. 

This announcement followed a series of aid cuts in recent months, which prompted NGOs to suspend health services in Zaatari and Azraq camps, leading to a significant decline in the quality and availability of health services.

Noting that Jordan has made significant efforts to assist refugees, Bartsch urged donors to recognise the risks ahead. He stressed the need for a coordinated and strategic response to maintain Jordan’s success story as a refugee host country. 

The lack of aid would worsen the vulnerability of refugees, with recent UNHCR data showing a 66 per cent increase in the number of refugee families unable to pay rent between December 2022 and February 2023 that could face eviction, he noted.

Several families have sought refuge in the Zaatari and Azraq camps due to these circumstances, Bartsch said, adding: “The international community may have to inject millions more in camp infrastructure and capacity-building compared to the cost of providing sustainable and essential humanitarian assistance.”

In addition, the lack of aid could push refugees towards illegally migrating to Europe, according to the UNHCR. 

The agency said that it is deeply concerned about their protection once they leave Jordan, where they face exploitation, abuse and even death. 

UNHCR also cited a recent incident off the coast of Greece where several refugees drowned as a reminder of the desperate choices some people make when hope is scarce.