Working Papers

Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Demographics, Livelihoods, Education, and Health

No.

1184

Date

April, 2018

Topic

I1. Health

F2. International Factor Movements and International Business

I2. Education and Research Institutions

J2. Demand and Supply of Labor

O1. Economic Development

Since 2011, Jordan has been hosting a substantial number of refugees from Syria. This paper profiles the Syrian refugee population in Jordan in terms of demographic characteristics, participation in the labor market, education, and health outcomes. Syrian refugees are disproportionately young, with half the refugee population under age 15. Despite the availability of work permits, less than a fifth of refugees are working, and those who do work are primarily in informal employment and working without permits. Enrollment rates are well below universal, with many refugee children not returning to school after an interruption, which was often caused by the conflict. Low enrollment rates also suggest that refugees face challenges in persisting in school in Jordan through basic education. Refugees have limited access to health insurance and although most do access health services, they are more likely than Jordanians to rely on charitable organizations and pharmacies as their usual source of care. Despite food supports, refugees, particularly those residing in camps, also suffer from higher levels of food insecurity.

ملخص

منذ عام 2011 ، يستضيف الأردن عددًا كبيرًا من اللاجئين من سوريا. تتناول هذه الورقة السكان اللاجئين السوريين في الأردن من حيث خصائصهم الديموجرافية ، ومشاركتهم في سوق العمل ، والتعليم ، والنتائج الصحية. اﻟﻼﺟﺌﻮن اﻟﺴﻮرﻳﻮن ﺻﻐﺎر ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﻏﻴﺮ ﻣﺘﻨﺎﺳﺐ  ﻣﻊ  عددهم نظرا لأن ﻧﺼﻒهم دون ﺳﻦ 15 ﻋﺎﻣﺎ. وبالرﻏﻢ  من ﺗﻮاﻓﺮ ﺗﺼﺎرﻳﺢ اﻟﻌﻤﻞ ، ﻓﺈن أﻗﻞ ﻣﻦ ﺧُﻤﺲ اﻟﻼﺟﺌﻴﻦ ﻳﻌﻤﻠﻮن ، وأوﻟﺌﻚ اﻟﺬﻳﻦ ﻳﻌﻤﻠﻮن ﻳشتغلون ﺑﺸﻜﻞ أﺳﺎﺳﻲ ﻓﻲعمل ﻏﻴﺮ رﺳﻤﻲ ويعملون  ﺑﺪون ﺗﺮاﺧﻴﺺ. كما أن معدلات الالتحاق أقل بكثير من المعدل العالمي ، مع عدم عودة العديد من الأطفال اللاجئين إلى المدرسة بعد انقطاع يرجع في الغالب إلى النزاع. وتشير معدلات الالتحاق بالتعليم المنخفضة أيضًا إلى أن اللاجئين يواجهون تحديات في الاستمرار في المدرسة في الأردن من خلال التعليم الأساسي. ولا يحصل اللاجئون إلا على فرص محدودة من التأمين الصحي. وبالرغم من أن معظمهم يحصلون على الخدمات الصحية ، فإنهم أكثر عرضة من الأردنيين للاعتماد على المنظمات الخيرية والصيدليات كمصدر رعايتهم المعتاد. وعلى الرغم من الدعم الغذائي ، يعاني اللاجئون ، لا سيما أولئك المقيمون في المخيمات، من مستويات أعلى من انعدام الأمن الغذائي

Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Demographics, Livelihoods, Education, and Health

Authors

Caroline Krafft

Associate Professor, Humphrey School of Public Affairs,...

Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Demographics, Livelihoods, Education, and Health

Authors

Maia Sieverding

Assistant Professor of Public Health Practice at...

Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Demographics, Livelihoods, Education, and Health

Authors

Caitlyn Keo

Economics Research Specialist at St. Catherine University

Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Demographics, Livelihoods, Education, and Health

Authors

Colette Salemi

Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota