Action Group | Jordan
A number of Palestinian refugees displaced from Syria to Jordan have submitted a report to the Jordan Field Office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), expressing deep frustration over their deteriorating living conditions and the continued decline in humanitarian assistance provided to them.
In their report, the refugees highlighted the extremely difficult humanitarian and economic conditions they have faced since arriving in Jordan from Syria. They criticized UNRWA””being the agency officially mandated to support them””for failing to meet its basic obligations, pointing to a clear lack of transparency and effective communication regarding its policies toward this vulnerable group.
According to the report, the agency has halted the disbursement of regular monthly cash assistance for Palestinian refugees from Syria for over seven months, without offering any alternative programs or compensatory support mechanisms.
UNRWA has not issued any official clarification regarding the reasons for this suspension, aside from vague references to “funding shortfalls,” which the refugees see as an evasion of responsibility. They emphasized that the crisis stems from UNRWA’s management, not from the refugees themselves.
The report notes that affected families are now experiencing worsening hardship, with many lacking any stable source of income and relying heavily on debt and minimal individual aid. This situation has severely impacted their financial and psychological stability.
The refugees have previously organized a series of peaceful actions, including a sit-in protest outside UNRWA’s main office in Bayader Wadi Al-Seer, and held direct meetings with agency officials. However, those efforts have not resulted in any clear commitments or tangible responses.
The report raises several unanswered questions, such as: Who is responsible for halting the aid? Is there a genuine intention to resume assistance? And if so, when? Refugees also questioned whether their growing suffering is part of a systematic attempt to marginalize or eliminate their case altogether.
In their report, the refugees made the following demands:
1. A formal statement from UNRWA clearly outlining its position””either by announcing the resumption of aid with a defined timeline or by officially declaring the cessation of support, with a justification submitted to the United Nations.
2. Immediate disbursement of all overdue assistance.
3. A comprehensive, long-term support plan covering sectors such as education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities””ensuring a dignified life for Palestinian refugees from Syria in Jordan.
The refugees warned that continued neglect of their demands may indicate a deliberate policy of marginalization and erasure. They reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing their rights through peaceful and legal means and called on the United Nations to launch an urgent investigation into the situation of Palestinian refugees from Syria and to hold UNRWA accountable for its role.