Amman — The principle of seeking refuge in another country is, above all, about protecting lives, dignity, and personal safety before offering the prospect of better social or economic opportunities.
اضافة اعلان
This reality is reflected in the lives of many Syrian refugees in Jordan.
While many have been able to work legally and have received international assistance over the years, the majority continue to face difficult economic conditions.
At the same time, they generally feel safe in a society where they are not treated as strangers and where social cohesion provides an important sense of security.
According to the 2026 Socio-Economic Survey of Refugees, conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Syrians made up 92% of the survey's approximately 25,000 participants.
The findings highlight that, despite years of displacement, Syrian refugees continue to face significant economic and living challenges in Jordan.
The survey found that 84% of refugees reported feeling safe in the neighborhoods where they live, indicating a relatively stable security environment.
However, economic hardship remains their greatest challenge.
Among the key findings:
66% of refugee households experience inadequate food consumption.
One-third of families are forced to borrow money to purchase food.
More than 40% of refugees living in camps and 66% of those residing in host communities struggle to meet their basic food needs.
The average household debt has risen to approximately JOD 1,600, representing a 27% increase compared with 2023, reflecting growing financial pressure.
The report also examines employment rates, the proportion of refugees holding work permits, child labor, and other indicators that provide a detailed picture of refugees' living conditions.
The article's author argues that the reported 84% feeling of safety may, in fact, underestimate the reality, noting that incidents targeting Syrian refugees or other Arab residents are rare in Jordan.
According to the author, Jordan's social fabric and community values have played an important role in protecting refugees alongside the country's legal framework.
The author also points to an apparent contradiction between the survey's findings and the relatively limited number of Syrians choosing to return home.
Despite the difficult economic conditions highlighted in the report, many refugees remain in Jordan, suggesting that life under financial hardship is still viewed as preferable to returning to uncertain conditions in Syria.
The author further notes that many Syrians who have returned reportedly expressed regret over their decision.
Another conclusion challenges the perception held by some Jordanians that Syrian refugees enjoy better living conditions or significantly compete with Jordanians for employment.
According to the author, Syrian workers are more likely to compete with Egyptian labor in certain sectors, while they themselves continue to face considerable economic difficulties due to Jordan's limited ability to generate sufficient employment opportunities.
The broader picture, the article concludes, suggests that many Syrian refugees no longer see return as their preferred option and that their presence in Jordan may become increasingly long term.
The author ends by raising a broader international question: What happened to the global commitments to support Syrian refugees in Jordan?
As international assistance has declined over the years, the burden of hosting refugees has increasingly fallen on Jordan, a country with limited natural resources and economic capacity.
