Support for refugee response plan stands at disappointing 7% this year

AMMAN — Jordan on Wednesday urged an increase in aid by the international community as funding for the 2018 Jordan Response Plan, aimed at helping the Kingdom overcome challenges ensuing from the Syrian crisis, has only reached around 7 per cent of the required amount so far this year. 

Funding requirements for the 2018 plan stand at $2.517 billion, but total funding reached only $183 million or 7.2 per cent of the total amount required by July, according to figures released by the Jordan Response Platform for the Syria Crisis (JRP).

JRP funding in 2017 stood at 65 per cent of the 2017 JRP requirements. Up until July, the funding for the JRP in 2018 is only 7 per cent of the requirements. 

Therefore, we urge the international community to continue their support for Jordan,”  Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mary Kawar told The Jordan Times on Wednesday. 

We encourage them to translate the pledges made during Brussels I and II donor conferences into tangible commitments, the minister added. 

She said Jordan’s external environment remains challenging, a situation that continues to put pressure on the country’s resilience, security and stability. 

“For 8 years now, we have been hosting refugees and providing them with the necessary services and economic opportunities in spite of tremendous economic, military, security and humanitarian burdens. While we remain committed to upholding international human rights principles in hosting refugees, we are equally committed to placing the economy back on track, ensuring good public services and improved standards of living for Jordanians, Kawar said. 

The minister said refugees’ needs have vastly outpaced the support provided and an increase in the level of funding is required if Jordan is to continue protecting refugees. 

Of the total funds for the plan from the beginning of this year until July, $126 million was allocated for supporting refugees and $55.9 was earmarked as resilience support, while nothing was received in budget support, according to the Jordan Response Plan website. 

A total of $15 million was dedicated for local governance and municipal services, $1.5 million for food security and $21 million for water and sanitation projects, among other targeted sectors.

Around $17 million was dedicated for the education sector, $20 million for health sector and $67 million for social protection. 

Germany topped the list of countries committing funds to the plan with $28 million provided by July. 

The EU came second with $23.6 million and the US was third with $23.2 million.

Japan came fourth with $15.6 million.