Jordan

COUNTRY BACKGROUND

Iraqi Refugees in Jordan
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees reports the war in Iraq has triggered the flight of approximately 2 million refugees to neighboring countries. Between 500,000 and 750,000 people fleeing violence, ongoing military operations, religious persecution and insecurity currently reside in Jordan.

The Jordanian government has given Iraqis refuge as "guests" but they do not have formal "refugee" status. Most refugees haven taken up residence in poor urban areas, and are cautious in seeking services for fear of deportation and persecution. This poses unique challenges for delivering assistance.

The influx of Iraqis—an increase in Jordan's population of roughly 10%—has strained already stretched social service systems including those for housing, water, education and health.  Due to the breakdown of the health system in their own country and the injuries and psychological effects of war, Iraqi refugees have unusually high levels of unmet health needs.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM

AmeriCares Increases the Availability of Health Services for Iraqi Refugees
AmeriCares is helping to meet these needs by helping make health care services available where host communities in Jordan do not have sufficient capacity to cope with increased demand. AmeriCares and the Jordan Health Aid Society partnered to open two new health clinics in Amman and Irbid. The AmeriCares grant of $50,000 furnished the health clinics with medical equipment and a fully stocked pharmacy. The clinics offer their patients general medicine, gynecology and obstetrics care, and serve both the host community of Jordanians as well as the Iraqi refugees. To ensure that refugees can access the health services free of charge, AmeriCares has also distributed health aid cards to 2,000 families, which will allow each family 10 free visits to the clinics and will cover all testing and treatments prescribed by the physician.

The AmeriCares Iraqi refugee initiative contributes to the international response to the UN-led appeal made on September 18, 2007, for assistance to meet the health and nutrition needs of Iraqis.

HISTORY OF AMERICARES IN JORDAN

History of AmeriCares Support for Refugees Displaced to Jordan
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, sparking the first Gulf War, thousands of Kuwaitis fled their homes and sought refuge in Jordan. AmeriCares responded by delivering three airlifts of relief carrying non-perishable food and water, medicines, blankets, hygiene items and other supplies. AmeriCares aid was distributed through the Ministry of Health and the Jordanian Red Crescent Society to refugees at overburdened camps in Azraq, Ruweyshed and Amman, as well as to the border camps Shalan One, Two and Three.

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