Running on Empty II: A Longitudinal Welfare Study of Syrian Refugee Children Residing in Jordan's Host Communities

After six years of war, the 659,593 Syrian refugees registered in Jordan continue to live precariously. Many Syrian families that arrived in Jordan after the outbreak of the war depend heavily on various forms of cash assistance, are more likely to have accumulated debt over the years in exile and face continuous financial stress. Increasingly pushed into less expensive housing, transportation costs to reach services have become a real burden, particularly impacting girls and young women. Families continue to rely on negative coping mechanisms, such as child labour, often with detrimental effects on boys’ education.

In order to better understand the changing circumstances of Syrian refugee families with children living in host community over time, UNICEF undertook a longitudinal study starting in January 2016. Running on Empty analyzed the initial wave of data collection in January 2016, focusing on monetary welfare of Syrian families in Jordan, access to services and social cohesion. This current instalment of the study includes findings from the next two waves in May and October 2016. This report focuses primarily on access and barriers to services for Syrian refugees living in host community.