Abstract:

This report highlights the key challenges and priorities for action in the areas of child protection and gender-based violence; education; water, sanitation and hygiene; nutrition and health; mental health and psychosocial support; and adolescent development and participation. This report combines the conclusions of a wide range of detailed assessments with insights from Syrian refugee children and women, INGOs and UNICEF sector specialists to help build a holistic picture of the situation faced by Syrian children and women in Jordan. We hope that all development partners will benefit from this report and will use the information to help target their emergency response operations. Providing the best support possible for Syrian children and women who find themselves in a battle for survival is critical. Three contextual lenses of analysis €“ gender, age and area of residence €“ helped to identify differences in the experiences of Syrian girls, boys and women. CONCLUSION Without a rapid change in the scale of the international community€™s response, the situation for Syrian refugees in Jordan will become progressively untenable. An entire generation of Syrian girls and boys are at risk of losing an education. Gender-based violence and threats to the protection of children are on the rise. Families are struggling to heal without sufficient psychosocial support. Adolescents are losing hope for their future and need to be engaged in meaningful activities for their own development and for the well-being of their communities. In Za€™atari camp, the security situation is deteriorating, theft and vandalism are growing. In host communities, tensions between Syrians and Jordanians are escalating, and more support to Jordanians is needed. Good programmes in Za€™atari camp are being overwhelmed by the thousands of new Syrians arriving each week. Support for Syrians in host communities is hugely under-funded €“ though less visible to the international community than refugees in camps, their needs are just as great. Scaling up or starting new programmes is highly challenging without strengthened operational partnerships and substantial new financial resources. Yet investments must be made in Syrian refugees to help build resilience in themselves, their families and their communities. With additional support, there is enormous potential for children and adolescents to play a role in promoting peace with their neighbours, their communities and their host country.