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Urban and Rural Areas

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Urban and Rural Areas

Over 80 percent of refugees in Jordan live in normal towns and cities. Amman, the capital, hosts the largest number of refugees from a variety of nationalities, followed by Irbid and then Mafraq. In order to cater to the specific needs of this population, UNHCR is present in all three locations and also works closely with national NGO partners to reach refugees living across the country.
Across Jordan, UNHCR works to support community empowerment and strengthen cooperation between refugee and host communities. This approach addresses the needs of urban and rural refugees by bridging gaps between refugees and Jordanians, while enabling UNHCR to deliver targeted assistance to those who need it most.

It has also contributed to stronger relationships between refugee and host communities, with over 90 percent of Jordanians viewing refugees positively. (according to a survey conducted in September 2022).

Through mobile help desks, counseling activities and focus group discussions, UNHCR also seeks to ensure the protection needs of refugees living in urban areas are catered for. Specific interventions are tailored to women, children, people with disabilities, older persons and the youth.

Cash assistance is also a key tool to support refugees living in urban areas. Every month, around 10,000 families (40,000 individuals approximately) of the most vulnerable refugee families receive financial support from UNHCR (as of March 2026).

As refugee situations have become more protracted, UNHCR works closely with the Jordanian Government to advocate for the greater inclusion of refugees within Jordanian national systems.

Refugees in Jordan can send their children to public schools for free and access the national health system (paying the cost of the non-insured Jordanian rate for treatment).

In addition, Syrian refugees are able to get work permits to gain employment in the open sectors.

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