On the Basis of Nationality: Access to Assistance for Iraqi and Other Asylum-Seekers and Refugees in Jordan

Syrians constitute the largest and most visible population of persons of concern (POCs) registered with UNHCR in Jordan. However, there are also 65,120 Iraqi POCs in Jordan and 14,850 “Other” POCs, most of whom are from Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia. Like Syrians, Iraqi and Other POCs came to Jordan seeking refuge from conflict, but compared to Syrians, these other, less visible POCs enjoy limited access to assistance. While the humanitarian community espouses the principle that assistance should be provided on the basis of need alone, in Jordan access to assistance is often conditioned on nationality.

This report explores the effect of nationality on Iraqi, Yemeni, Sudanese, and Somali refugees’  and asylum-seekers’  access to assistance in Jordan. The primary research method employed was a desk review of relevant sources. Sources reviewed included news articles, academic articles, research published by other NGOs, information published by the Government of Jordan, and information published by UN agencies particularly UNHCR. UNHCR sources reviewed included fact sheets, operational updates, cash assistance dashboards, data on POCs available through UNHCR’s population statistics portal, reporting on UNHCR’s comprehensive response plan for Jordan, and several UNHCR needs assessments that have included Iraqi and Other POCs.