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AMMAN — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan has received around $77.7 million in funding to support its operations during the first half of 2026, covering only 28 per cent of its total financial requirements, the agency said.
The remaining funding shortfall stands at approximately $202.3 million, representing 72.25 per cent of the required budget as of June 30, 2026.
UNHCR spokesperson Youssef Taha told Al Mamlaka TV that available resources remain significantly below the level needed to maintain operations in Jordan, as the agency continues providing cash assistance to refugees, vulnerable families, and host communities.
During the second quarter of 2026, UNHCR provided cash assistance to nearly 10,000 refugee families across several governorates to help them meet their basic needs, Taha said.
He added that 7,277 refugees living in the Zaatari and Azraq camps had benefited from the agency’s cash assistance programme supporting voluntary return by the end of May.
The programme provides JD210 per family, in addition to JD70 per individual for the most vulnerable families.
Post-distribution monitoring indicated an 89 per cent satisfaction rate among recipients, with most using the assistance to cover essential expenses, including food, transportation, and debt repayment, Taha said.
He noted that 270 refugee families generated nearly $300,000 through the sale of 530 caravans in Zaatari camp before returning to Syria.
Regarding voluntary returns, Taha said that more than 203,500 registered Syrian refugees had returned to Syria between December 8, 2024, and June 30, 2026, with the total number exceeding 208,000 by July 18.
Return movements increased in recent months, with around 5,000 refugees returning in May and nearly 6,900 in June, according to Taha.
However, current return rates remain below last year’s levels. Citing the regional update for April and May 2026, Taha said that weekly returns averaged between 1,000 and 1,300 individuals, compared with an average of around 3,000 individuals per week in 2025.
