Development and Peace

Published purpose

November 2016 – With the Syrian conflict in its sixth year and the security situation in Iraq continuing to deteriorate, Jordan has seen a constant increase in the number of refugees seeking asylum on its territory. Jordan now hosts over 650,000 Syrian refugees and more than 58,000 Iraqis; a total equal to nearly 10% of the country’s population. Four-fifths of registered refugees are living in urban areas among Jordanians, creating additional burdens on the public sector and the local economy. Urban refugees are struggling to meet needs related to rent, food, health, shelter, work, clothes, education, and items for children, while the needs of vulnerable Jordanians have risen in parallel, as increased competition for resources strains the Jordanian government’s ability to meet the needs of its citizens. With GAC’s support, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) is reaching up to 160,600 vulnerable Syrian and Iraqi refugees, as well as vulnerable Jordanians from host communities, with emergency health assistance. Project activities include: (1) providing primary and secondary health care services; (2) providing maternal and neo-natal health care services; and (3) providing psychosocial health and wellbeing services.