The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan has launched the second phase of its voluntary return assistance program for Syrian refugees, offering JD 70 per individual for families wishing to return voluntarily.
اضافة اعلان
UNHCR spokesperson in Jordan, Youssef Taha, stated that the new program is “temporary and pilot” and currently limited to the Zaatari and Azraq camps, depending on available funding. The program also provides free transportation for any refugee wishing to return.
Taha noted that UNHCR will begin accepting applications for the cash assistance program from the 7th of this month, targeting the most vulnerable groups. Since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, more than 140,000 registered Syrian refugees have returned from Jordan to Syria.
The pilot phase aims to include around 10,000 refugees, with plans to expand to refugees outside camps if additional funding is available. Each returning family may be eligible for USD 400, distributed through UNHCR offices in Syria based on eligibility criteria. The cash assistance is provided once, before departure, to help cover essential costs related to the return, such as transport, official documents, medications, necessary supplies, or debt repayment.
Eligibility for the JD 70 grant is limited to registered refugees in Zaatari and Azraq camps with valid registration documents, and who fall into at least one of the following categories:
Families with a person with a disability
Families with a member suffering from a chronic or serious illness
Female-headed households
Families with a member over 60 years old
Large families of ten or more members
Families outside these categories, as well as refugees living outside camps, can still benefit from free transportation through Jett but will not receive cash assistance in this phase.
The UNHCR stressed that returning to Syria is entirely voluntary and that the organization does not promote or pressure refugees to return. Its role is to provide information and support so that each refugee can make an informed, independent decision.
Once a refugee receives the cash assistance and withdraws it or transfers it to their digital wallet, their UNHCR file in Jordan is “permanently closed,” and will only be reopened if the individual leaves Jordan under an “exit and return permit” issued by the Ministry of Interior.
All UNHCR services are free, and attendance at a personal interview is required for all returning family members to ensure the decision is voluntary and fully informed. Refugees may withdraw from the program at any time before receiving the cash assistance, and the UNHCR confirmed that no refugee will be pressured to return.
