aid in the Middle East

assisting Palestinian refugees in Jordan

Week of Compassion remains alert to the ongoing needs in the midst of the Middle East crisis. In conversation with our colleagues at Global Ministries, especially Peter Makari, GM’s Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe, Week of Compassion continues to respond. 

Most recently, Week of Compassion through Global Ministries is responding with the Middle East Council of Churches’ Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees in Jordan. Given the already significant economic crisis in the region, which has affected Jordan as well, and the desperate situation of Palestinian refugees amid the ongoing crisis and the defunding of the UN Relief and Works Agency, partners are stepping in to fund initiatives that would ordinarily find support from other sources. As other partners’ funds are being delayed or diverted to care for the extreme needs of refugees during this conflict, emergency funds like the Week of Compassion and Global Ministries response through DSPR are crucial, both as an expression of interfaith solidarity, and to address these critical needs.

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Jordan is home to 11.2 million people, including 3.4 million non-citizens (refugees and migrant workers), the second-highest share of refugees per capita in the world. The desert climate means chronic water scarcity and a growing set of climate hazards. These factors combine with other hardships to put significant pressure on budgetary, political, and educational resources, health care and hospital access, infrastructure, and the labor market. The region is seeing wildly increased refugee traffic as Palestinians try to escape the current crisis. 

Refugees living outside of camps spend a large portion of their income on expensive, unsafe accommodation. Refugees in camps often occupy hazardous, inadequate, or overcrowded shelters, and women and girls face multiple forms of gender-based violence. In addition, women and girls are subjected to increased denial of economic resources and education and movement restrictions. Refugees lack access to basic health care, and more children are likely to miss out on education and are at risk of permanently dropping out. 

As they enter the holy month of Ramadan (beginning Sunday evening March 10), the Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees in Jordan is shoring up programs for food distribution, health and medical care, children’s education, and cultural gatherings to support this increasing refugee community, especially in five refugee camps (Amman, Jerash, Souf, Zarqa, Madaba). 

More than 5000 people will receive assistance. About 800 households of about 4800 individuals - women, children, men, elderly, and people with special needs – will be included in this project, through provision of food items. Around 400 women and girls will benefit from ten health and nutrition sessions related to health issues during fasting, and 200 children (ages 8-12) will be part of five different children’s forums events that will include special activities, games, recreational and educational events, and free iftar (community meal to break the fast). 

Our prayers remain close to the people of the Middle East, and with the humanitarian partners who serve them so faithfully.