The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office signed a new agreement worth £1.5 million to support services for 100,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan on Wednesday, 30 July.
The services include water, sanitation, and life-saving hygiene support for refugees in Zaatari and Azraq camps, according to Al-Mamlaka TV.
The channel quoted UNICEF Representative in Jordan Philippe Duamelle as saying that this support from the UK Government will enable the continued provision of clean water and sanitation services to thousands of Syrian families.
He added that these services are essential to the health, well-being, and dignity of Syrian children and their families in the camps, expressing his gratitude to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for its ongoing partnership in Jordan over the past years.
This support comes at a critical time, as the humanitarian response in Jordan faces significant funding gaps despite the continued urgent needs, according to UNICEF.
For his part, British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall said that refugees need water, and this partnership reflects the United Kingdom’s commitment to helping refugees in Jordan live dignified lives.
According to Al-Mamlaka, the funding is expected to ensure the continued operation and maintenance of the central water and sanitation systems in both camps from July 2025 through March 2026.
32,160 Work Permits for Syrian Refugees
Jordan has issued 32,160 work permits to Syrian refugees on its territory from the beginning of this year until the end of May.
According to Al-Mamlaka TV, quoting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today, 5,818 of these permits were issued during May alone.
The channel reported that January recorded the highest number of issued permits with 12,112, followed by a decline to 3,190 in February, then 2,499 in March, and a rise to 8,541 in April.
According to Al-Mamlaka, 534,694 Syrian refugees are registered in Jordan, of whom 249,532 are of working age (18–59 years), constituting approximately 47% of the total refugee population.
The report noted that 90% of the work permits issued during the period were for males, compared to 10% for females.
Additionally, 29,007 work permits were issued by the employment office in Zaatari Camp, and 4,516 were issued by the employment center in Azraq Camp.
The channel highlighted that the work of Syrian refugees in Jordan is governed by the Jordanian Labor Law, which applies to non-Jordanians. Refugees are allowed to work in professions open to foreigners and may also register and operate their businesses, including home-based projects.
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