this event is so recent, we do not yet know how this will affect the mobility of refugees across the border.
Border security affects many countries and their relationships with Jordan. In this next section, I will explain the assistance and allocation of economic aid given to Jordan for the purpose of alleviating Jordan’s pressure of hosting such a high capacity of refugees.
European Union’s help to Jordan and their role in the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan.
Jordan’s most recent aid is summarized above in Figure 3.
In 2014, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DIFD) published “Operational Plan 2011-2016 Jordan” in which DIFD spells out the ways they propose to aid Jordan. The plan consists of three main areas of assistance. The first is humanitarian aid which targets refugees and host communities and aims to provide support to agencies that give shelter, water and sanitation, and food security to them. Second is supporting the Jordanian government through public service. The UK’s plan was to aid refugees and hosts communities in a way that promoted the integration of the different communities. Much of this integration would be through education under No Lost Generation,120 an initiative to ensure the education of Syrian refugee children in certain Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan.121 The final area of help is to attempt to reduce the risk of conflict by addressing local grievances.122 While the Operational Plan ended in 2016, the UK was proactive in continuing their aid to Jordan.
The United States strives to have a strong relationship with Jordan. The former US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, signed a five year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) February 14, 2018, on behalf of the United States government. This MOU states that the United States will give 1.275 billion dollars of bilateral foreign assistance per year from the 2018 fiscal year to the end of the 2022 fiscal year. This money was given to the
120 Operational Plan 2011-2016 Jordan. Department for International Development, Dec. 2014,
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/389275/Jordan.p df. 121 “No Lost Generation .” UNICEF, UNICEF, Jan. 2014,
www.unicef.org/appeals/files/No_Lost_Generation_Strategic_Overview__January_2014.pdf.
122 Operational Plan 2011-2016 Jordan. Department for International Development, Dec. 2014,
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/389275/Jordan.p df.
Economic Support Funds (ESF) and the Foreign Military Financing (FMF).123 Along with the MOU, the United States also has provided developmental assistance regarding health, infrastructure, education, and agriculture for areas in Jordan hosting refugees. Currently, the United States is focusing on Jordan’s education, water, refugee host community resilience, and workforce development.124
While this is the first MOU the United States has signed to Jordan, this is not their first time providing Jordan with aid. After King Abdullah visited The United States, former President Obama announces the signature of a two year MOU, pledging to provide between 660 million and 1 billion dollars per year in bilateral foreign assistance;125 however, the MOU only gave 275 million dollars.126 The purpose of this MOU was to “address Jordan’s short-term, extraordinary needs, including those related to regional instability and rising energy costs.”127
The UK is also providing a substantial amount of assistance to the areas of Jordan that are lacking, such as education. Although the 2016 Jordan Compact sought to ensure every child had access to education and sought to create 200,000 new jobs, in April of 2018, the UK pledged to give another 110 million pounds (approximately 142 million
123 “New U.S.-Jordan Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Foreign Assistance to Jordan.” U.S.
Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 14 Feb. 2018, www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/02/278318.htm.
124 “Jordan.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 2 Aug. 2018, www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3464.htm.
125 “The United States and Jordan Sign a Memorandum of Understanding on U.S. Assistance.” U.S.
Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 3 Feb. 2015, 2009- 2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/02/237128.htm.
126 “New U.S.-Jordan Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Foreign Assistance to Jordan.” U.S.
Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 14 Feb. 2018, www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/02/278318.htm.
127 “The United States and Jordan Sign a Memorandum of Understanding on U.S. Assistance.” U.S.
Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 3 Feb. 2015, 2009- 2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/02/237128.htm.
USD) towards improvements in Jordan’s economy as per Vision 2025, a partnership between the British Prime Minister Theresa May and King Abdullah.128
In January 2019, the UNHCR published a service guide for Jordan thoroughly explaining the many way it aids refugees in Jordan. This document also specifies differences in support given to Syrian refugees versus all other refugees. It begins by spelling out the registration and resettlement processes, as both are articulated in Chapter Two. The guide also discusses its helpline for various services, such as those relating to education, disabilities, and sexual violence. Following this is an explanation of healthcare with a section dedicated specifically to Syrian refugees.129 While this aid is strictly humanitarian, not monetary, the acts through this service guide can be beneficial to these refugees living in Jordan.
Furthermore, the UNHCR has been supporting the Jordanian National Aid Fund Expansion since 2017. The UNHCR has provided over 200,000 JODs in IT equipment, including 300 tablets and printers to the National Aid Fund (NAF), to assist it registering refugees. Furthermore, the UNHCR plans to fund a technical consultant to help employees learn how to use the system.130
The UNHCR Service Guide plays a large role in the education of refugee children.
The UNHCR encourages all children to apply to the nearest public school. To accommodate the large number of students, the UNHCR has created 207 double-shift schools. They also assist the Jordanian Ministry of Education with a catch-up program.
128 “DFIDJordan.” GOV.UK, GOV.UK, www.gov.uk/world/organisations/dfid-jordan.
129 “UNHCR Service Guide.” UNHCR, UNHCR, Dec. 2018, www.unhcr.org/jo/wp- content/uploads/sites/60/2018/12/December-2018_UNHCR_English_Guide.pdf.
130 “Operational Portal.” Document - Press Release: UNHCR Supports Jordanian National Aid Fund Expansion, UNHCR, 2019, data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/67869.
This program is for kids between the ages of nine and twelve who cannot read or write or for those who have not had a formal education in the past three years. These students attend a accelerated learning program that teaches the material for grades first through sixth in one year with the intention that the kids can reintegrate with their peers. There are about 110 centers for these catch-up programs in Jordan. Regarding higher education, the UNHCR provides scholarships for refugees. They offer the DAFI scholarship, which is through The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative and funded by the German government and private donors. This scholarship is for one seeking his or her bachelors degree. The UNHCR also funds a masters scholarship given by HOPES (Higher and Further Education Opportunities and Perspectives for Syrians).131
Finally, the UNHCR Service Guide explains the process of obtaining a work permit, as explained in Chapter Two. The UNHCR also provides a free hotline to call to ask questions or talk about labor law issues. The last thing mentioned in the document is that all of the UNHCR’s services are free to refugees, so they should be wary of people committing fraud and stealing their money.
The European Union also gives large contributions to the Syrian refugee crisis.
They allot 583.7 million euros (660.2 million U.S. dollars) to assist the refugees in Jordan.
Through the European Neighbourhood policy, member countries give money in assistance to these refugees through the EU with a total of 500 million euros (565.6 million U.S.
dollars). This brings the EU’s total contribution to 1.08 billion euros (1.22 billion U.S.
131 Ibid.
dollars). This money goes towards “life-threatening needs in the areas of food aid, health, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as shelter and protection.”132