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Ammon News - A Syrian family facing an eviction threat for not being able to pay their rent in Zarqa. A Yemeni couple who are not allowed to work but need to pay the electricity bill in Amman. A Somali widow who needs to buy medicine for her family. All these refugees need UNHCR’s cash assistance to cover their basic needs. The cash programme that reaches some of the most vulnerable refugees in Jordan just received a major contribution by UK aid, which allows UNHCR to sustain the cash assistance.

23,000 of the poorest refugee families in the villages and towns across Jordan continue to be supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with cash for basic needs. On average, a family receives a bit over four Jordanian Dinars (JOD) per day (nearly 6 $). While the amount is insufficient to cover all their basic needs, it is a lifeline for those who cannot make ends meet: 94 per cent of recipients declared that UNHCR’s cash assistance had improved their overall well-being. As they spend it on rent, food and medicine, it supports the local economy across Jordan.

“We are grateful for UK’s increased contribution, the highest in several years, and to other donors that allow us to sustain this vital lifeline for refugees”, said UNHCR’s Representative, Maria Stavropoulou.

UK’s Development Minister Anneliese Dodds had announced seven million British Pound (nearly 9 M $) for UNHCR when she visited Jordan and listened to Syrian refugee women on one of her first trips abroad as a Minister earlier this month.

“Our funding situation has slightly improved, but we are not out of the woods”, UNHCR’s Stavropoulou added. “I hope this is a turning point, and other donors follow UK’s exemplary generosity.” Until the end of the year, UNHCR still needs 15.9 M $ for its cash programme alone. The Agency has redoubled its efforts to mobilize support, not least from Gulf countries.

Jordan hosts some 625,000 Syrian and about 69,000 other refugees registered with UNHCR.