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IRBID (ILO News) — At first glance, the bustling streets of the northern city of Irbid appear like any other in the country. Noisy vendors hawk their wares on pavements, and Internet cafés teem with university students as cars jostle for space on crowded streets. 

But Irbid, 80km north of Amman, starkly differs from other Jordanian cities in that it now hosts over 170,000 Syrian refugees that fled the bloody conflict raging in their home country. 

According to the Ministry of Planning, Syrian refugees now account for no less than 40 per cent of Irbid’s population and have considerably strained the city’s infrastructure. 

“The increase in the governorate’s refugee population has meant that all services have been affected in the area, and competition for employment has increased,” explained Bassam Frehat, Irbid’s deputy governor. 

The arrival of refugees has also led to a spike in unemployment in host communities across Jordan due to increased competition for jobs. Average wage levels in these communities have fallen whilst the cost of goods and services has been pushed up. 

According to Frehat, Irbid provides refugees with as much assistance possible, but the city also needs support for low-income Jordanian residents in the job market. “One way of reducing the pressure is through intervention to help increase chances for [Jordanian] employment and improve our local economy in the area,” he said. 

In response to the effect of the Syrian refugee influx on the labour market, since September 2013 the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has launched a series of efforts to support communities in the northern governorates of Irbid and Mafraq which together host around half the Syrian refugee population in Jordan. 

The aim of these efforts is to mitigate the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on Jordan by enhancing access to employment opportunities and livelihoods for residents in host communities. 

In particular, the ILO is focusing on low-income segments of the labour market that have to deal with increased competition for jobs as a result of the refugee influx. 

The ILO is offering theoretical and practical training sessions to boost awareness and increase productivity of local industries by examining the different stages of the economic value chain, including inputs, production, distribution, retailing and support services. 

Focus is being placed on local residents from seven counties in Irbid who already possess basic education, such as agricultural vocational graduates or technical formal secondary education graduates. 

“What we aim to do is build the resilience of host communities to their new labour market dynamics by enhancing access to employment opportunities through intensive coaching and guidance,” said Maha Kattaa, who coordinates the ILO’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan. 

“We are also targeting the most vulnerable population segments such as unemployed youth because they are the ones most affected by the new labour market realities.”

As part of the ILO’s efforts, the organisation has also conducted a series of participatory Value-Chain Development interventions that develop strategic local economic subsectors most relevant to job creation and competitiveness.

In Irbid, the ILO chose to assist the community by boosting the quality and production of olives that have been grown there by generations of low-income Jordanians. 

According to the National Centre for Agricultural Research and Extension (NCARE), a state agricultural research body, around half of the Kingdom’s 17 million olive trees are located in the northern region. In Irbid, olive trees make up 95 per cent of all fruitful trees. 

In Mafraq, the ILO is working with farmers on increasing tomato production through the use of greenhouses. Most of Mafraq’s irrigated land is planted with tomatoes, an agricultural subsector identified by the ILO and in consultation with its local partners and stakeholders, as an important source of income for the community with employment growth potential, particularly for women. 

Such efforts are part of the ILO’s broader value-chain development programmes in refugee host communities covering a number of other economic sectors.

“When we implement value-chain improvements we hope to increase the market-relevant skills of Jordanians in order to allow them to enter the job market,” said Katta. 

“The aim in Irbid is to equip these residents with the pruning skills and knowledge that will increase their chances of work as pruners in their home counties.’’

One of the more recent training sessions took place alongside the directorate of agriculture and NCARE where a group of 36 men were trained on how to correctly prune olive trees after the harvesting season. 

“Many farmers have good practical skills in pruning but lack theoretical understanding on the issue so they make mistakes that affect the health of trees in the long term,’’ said Abeer Hussein Al Jundi, an agriculturalist with NCARE.

“The ILO’s project focuses on helping host communities and this is a great way to do that because entire families in Irbid rely on olive production and olive oil production.”

Eighteen-year-old Mohammed Al Dabak received an agricultural tool kit and certificate upon completing the training programme, which he now uses to great effect. 

“I hope that these training sessions open doors to employment, especially in the field of agriculture, and olives in particular because it’s a big part of our economy,” he said. 

“I have been working with olive trees for a while, but there were many aspects which I didn’t know about pruning, such as how best to cut branches in order to improve or maintain a tree’s health.”

The ILO’s activities are currently pilot projects which set grounds for future planned initiatives including working with farmers on good agricultural practices and value chain development as well as training women to produce olive soap and cosmetics.

Ali Abu Nokta, who heads the directorate of agriculture’s Irbid office, hopes the ILO will continue supporting the olive industry’s ambitions. 

“We want to expand our products in order to be able to compete with imported ones on international levels, both in terms or prices and standards,’’ he said.

AMMAN — A visit David Christof paid to Jordan last September inspired him to become a volunteer with a group that helps Syrian refugees and underprivileged Jordanians. 

The Czech long-distance runner’s voluntary work exposed him to the educational needs of Syrian and Jordanian children, so he decided to run 11 marathons in 11 days this month to raise money for these students. 

Christof, whose wife resides in Jordan and teaches German at a local university, has thrown his support behind “Helping Refugees in Jordan”, a group of volunteers living in Amman that collects donations which are sent to several local charities.  

“After I learned about the Syrian crisis and... its impact on Jordanian schools, I decided to run across the country,” he told The Jordan Times in an interview at the Czech embassy. 

The March 15-25 fund-raising marathons will be the fourth charitable run for Christof, who is not a professional runner. 

People from around the world can donate through credit cards or cash, and a donation page has been set up through Mercy Corps: http://www.mercycorps.org/people/catherine-ashcroft/refugees-jordan, according to a Czech embassy statement.

“It’s a great opportunity to call for continuous support for all children in Jordan and also to thank the Kingdom for the great generosity it has shown in handling the refugee crisis,” the statement quoted Christof as saying.

The Czech runner noted that people in his country are aware of Syrian conflict in general and the huge numbers of refugees, but not the day-to-day realities, voicing hope that his charity run might make his compatriots curious to check further details related to the Syrian crisis and Jordan as a country.  

“I knew about the Syrian crisis before I visited Jordan but not about its impact... I really appreciate what Jordan is doing for refugees,” added Christof, who started running for charity in 2007 when he was living in the US. 

“I was chosen to be on a relay of 20 runners who run around the world to raise awareness about the safe drinking water crisis. It was called the Blue Planet Run... Until then, I had been a marathon runner and ran races, but did not do anything for charity,” he noted.  

In 2012, he decided to do a run from Prague to London, where the Olympic Games were being held, and undertook another charitable journey called “Prague to Africa” in 2013, which combined both running and cycling.  

Christof said some people call these marathons “races”, but he prefers to the term “journeys”.

The Czech runner usually sets a target for the figure he hopes to reach.

“I set $10,000 for this one. I know it’s ambitious because the duration is shorter than the past trips,” he said, noting that most donors are individuals not companies. 

Catherine Ashcroft, founder of Helping Refugees in Jordan, said they have raised $1,000 so far, expressing hope that Christof’s efforts will help some of the children affected by the Syrian crisis.

“All of this also raises awareness of the education issues facing Syrian children,” she noted.  Ashcroft, who is also a consultant at Mercy Corps, said the Kingdom has been “amazing” in offering refuge to people escaping conflict. However, she added, so many people arriving in a relatively short period of time has put an enormous strain on Jordan’s infrastructure and resources.  

“One of those resources is education where some of the schools are already running two shifts and now have to absorb more children than ever imagined. Also, many Syrian children, who have missed years of education, are suffering the trauma of war and grief, and there is great fear that a whole generation is being affected for decades to come,” she said in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times.

Ashcroft said the donations will support both regular schools, and ones affiliated with local charities and groups that offer some form of education for refugee children in areas such as Azraq, Mafraq, Irbid, Ajloun, Marka.

“These might be tents, converted garages, community centres and warehouses. Others would be mainstream schools that require supplies and support,” she noted. 

“It could be by buying schools supplies or if funds are more substantial, we can investigate some renovation work, playgrounds or sports facilities.”   

Meanwhile, Christof said anyone can join him in the marathon, during which he will run approximately 42 kilometres every day. 

“There will be a chance to take so many beautiful pictures of Jordan on the way, so it will be a good way to promote Jordan’s destinations to the whole world.” 

Those interested in Christof’s adventure can follow it day by day on his public Facebook page www.facebook.com/WaterIsLife.

Christof said he has not yet decided where to end his “journey” in Jordan, but it could be either in a school in Mafraq or in the Zaatari Refugee Camp.

“I know that the money I will raise through my run across Jordan will be just a drop in the ocean, but even if I can just help a handful of people, it is better than to help no one.” 

Marathon schedule

- March 15 — Aqaba

- March 17 — Petra/Wadi Musa 

- March 19 —  King’s Highway   through Tafileh

- March 21 — Karak

- March 23 — Madaba

- March 24 — Amman

- March 25 — Mafraq

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Thursday said Jordan, through its membership in the UN Security Council, will not spare any effort to support Libya and its people.

Addressing the 2nd International Ministerial Conference to Support Libya, which was held in Rome on Thursday with the participation of foreign ministers from 43 countries, Judeh noted that the Kingdom has been committed to supporting Libya since the start of the Libyan revolution.

“Jordan was one of the first countries to recognise the Libyan Transitional Council,” he said, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The minister highlighted Jordan’s “qualified and trained cadres who are willing to extend a helping hand to Libyans, especially in the area of police work, local government, governance and educational training”.

He called on the international community to support national dialogue in Libya and efforts to draft the constitution.

On the sidelines of the conference, Judeh met with Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and discussed means to boost cooperation between the two countries, Petra reported.

AMMAN — Interior Minister Hussein Majali on Thursday met with British Ambassador Peter Millett and discussed issues of mutual concern and the latest developments in the region.

Majali underlined the need to benefit from the two countries’ experience in fighting crime and terrorism, especially in light of the state of instability in several Arab countries.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Thursday highlighted efforts exerted by Jordan to protect Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem.

During a meeting with Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land and Jordan Fouad Twal, Latin Bishop of Jordan Maroun Lahham and president of the church’s court, Jihad Shweihat, Ensour stressed the need to halt attempts to empty the city of its original inhabitants. 

AMMAN — UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation Catarina de Albuquerque will visit the Kingdom between March 11–16 to evaluate the government procedures regarding the priorities and administration of water resources.

The UN official is scheduled to meet with representatives from the government, international organisations, civil society and communities in Amman and Mafraq.

AMMAN — Jordan along with regional groups in the UN expressed their rejection and concern of Israeli illegal practices in Jerusalem, particularly the ongoing debate in the Knesset on a bill to impose Israel’s control over holy sites in the Old City.

The groups, led by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the Israeli measures upon a request from Arab and Muslim capitals, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Representatives of the organisation’s 57 countries sent letters to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Security Council President Sylvie Lucas and General Assembly President John Ashe condemning the continued Israeli violations.

Mahmoud Daidallah Al Hmoud from the Jordanian delegation said the groups “sent a powerful message to Israel stating that its actions violate their obligations under the international law”, Petra said.

AMMAN — The Civil Defence Department (CDD) on Thursday honoured several of its personnel for their humanitarian services in all fields.

CDD Director Lt. Gen. Talal Kofahi underscored the importance of serving the public and maintaining their safety.

The personnel expressed their gratitude to the CDD leadership for this gesture, noting that it would motivate them and other colleagues to be more dedicated to their work. 

AMMAN — A total of 700,000 narcotic pills were found in a house in Mafraq Governorate on Thursday, while nine suspects were arrested, according to the Public Security Department.

The Anti-Narcotics Department received a tip that a group of people were planning to smuggle a large quantity of drugs and further investigation led to the suspects. 

AMMAN — Jordan’s peacekeeping contingent in Ivory Coast on Thursday helped to extinguish a fire that erupted in a refugee camp in the city of Adzope.

Jordanian officers provided the firefighters with water and helped them evacuate the injured and took them to hospital.