Tight funding forces WFP to reduce assistance for Syrian refugees in Jordan

AMMAN — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday said that further reductions in food assistance for refugees in Jordan have become unavoidable as funds run precariously low, leading the agency to reduce the monthly cash assistance for all 119,000 Syrian refugees in Zaatari and Azraq camps by one-third.

Starting in August, Syrian refugees in the camps will receive a reduced cash allowance of $21 (JD15) per person per month, down from the previous amount of $32 (JD23), said a statement posted on WFP’s website.

Syrian refugees living in both camps have limited income sources, as only 30 per cent of adults work — mainly in temporary or seasonal jobs. Over half of camp residents, or 57 per cent, say cash assistance is their only source of income.  

“We are deeply concerned about the potential deterioration of families’ food security but as funding dries up, our hands are tied,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Jordan Alberto Correia Mendes. “These reductions are likely to lead to increased negative coping strategies.”  

Negative coping strategies, including child labour, withdrawal of children from school, child marriage and debt accumulation, have already increased by 25 per cent among refugees in camps compared to last year. 

The reduction in the level of assistance highlights the urgent challenges faced by WFP in providing crucial support to vulnerable refugees in Jordan. Despite reducing the value of its cash assistance for all refugees living outside camps and gradually excluding approximately 50,000 individuals from the assistance to prioritise the families most in need, WFP still faces a critical funding shortfall of $41 million until the end of 2023. 

Since the onset of the crisis in Syria, WFP has provided support to Syrian refugees in Jordan, ensuring their access to basic food needs. However, with mounting funding challenges, WFP has been compelled to scale down its response to stretch the limited available resources. 

“WFP acknowledges the unwavering support of the Jordanian government and its people in hosting Syrian refugees over the years. As the situation evolves, WFP is keenly aware of the shared responsibility to safeguard the well-being of refugees and will continue to work diligently with partners and donors to explore sustainable solutions,” the statement read.