Syrian refugees living in Jordan and Lebanon caught in poverty, face uncertain future -World Bank report

Syrian refugees living in Jordan and Lebanon caught in poverty, face uncertain future

WASHINGTON, December 16, 2015 –

 

 Nearly nine in ten registered Syrian refugees living in Jordan are either poor or expected to be in the near future based on UNHCR’s assistance threshold, according to a joint report released today by the World Bank Group and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. About half the refugees are children, and the majority are women.

 

The nearly 1.7 million Syrians who are registered in neighboring Jordan and Lebanon live in precarious circumstances notwithstanding the generosity of hosting governments. Refugees have few legal rights, and face constrained access to public services due to unprecedented demand. The vast majority of these refugees live on the margins, in urban or peri-urban areas, many in informal settlements, rather than in refugee camps.

 

"The conflict in Syria has led to the largest refugee crisis of our time, with colossal human, economic and social costs for the refugees, host countries and host communities. The plight of the refugees is dire and the lives and dignity of millions is at stake. The crisis has had effects that go beyond the Middle East as desperate refugees are starting to move to Europe and beyond.  We have a collective responsibility to respond to the humanitarian and development crises unfolding in the Middle East and to act on the immediate consequences as well as on the underlying causes of conflict. We should spare no efforts to put the MENA region on the path of stability, peace and prosperity for all", said Hafez M. H. Ghanem, Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Region, World Bank.