A severe funding shortage has halted the food assistance provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) to Syrian refugees living in host communities in Jordan since April 2026. Meanwhile, the WFP continues to provide assistance exclusively to refugees inside the camps, albeit with reduced cash transfer values that cover only a fraction of beneficiaries' nutritional needs.
اضافة اعلان
According to the WFP’s monthly report released in July 2026, the agency provided food assistance to nearly 83,000 Syrian refugees residing in camps during June. The monthly assistance stands at 15 Jordanian Dinars ($21) per person, following cuts triggered by the funding crisis affecting the WFP's operations in Jordan.
The report noted that the WFP transferred approximately $1.8 million in cash assistance during June, at a time when it requires $24 million to sustain its operations over the next six months, from July through December 2026.
It highlighted that Jordan remains one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world, accommodating around 3.5 million refugees. This figure includes over two million Palestinian refugees and nearly 1.3 million Syrian refugees, approximately 381,000 of whom were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as of last June.
The report added that under its 2023–2027 Strategic Plan, the WFP continues to deliver unconditional food assistance to the most vulnerable refugees, alongside supporting government social protection programs and implementing projects in education, nutrition, and resilience-building.
The agency also proceeded with the second batch of training in the Zaatari and Azraq camps, involving 232 refugees across information and communications technology (ICT) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) tracks. The initiative aims to equip participants with specialized skills to enhance their opportunities for sustainable income generation. A WFP assessment indicated improvements in participants' income levels, enhanced resilience, and boosted social confidence, contributing to their economic independence.
Meanwhile, UNHCR Spokesperson Youssef Taha confirmed on Wednesday that around 32,000 Syrian refugees have voluntarily returned from Jordan to Syria since the beginning of this year.
Speaking to Al Mamlaka, Taha explained that the UNHCR had anticipated at the end of last year that approximately 75,000 Syrian refugees would return during the current year. He noted that while the actual number might fall slightly short, it remains close to projections.
He clarified that the estimated number of returnees was based on four regional surveys conducted over a nine-month period across Syrian refugee host countries, including Jordan. The survey results showed that around 70% of refugees express a desire to return to Syria someday, while about 20% indicated an intention to return within the current year.
Al Mamlaka
