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Basic Needs Gender Analysis Report 2017

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Executive Summary

The protracted Syria Crisis, now nearing the end of its sixth year, has forced millions of Syrians to seek refuge in the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and beyond. Since 2011, approximately 659,828 Syrians (as of May 2017) are living in Jordan, placing further strains on Jordan’s already fragile economy and public services.

As the crisis becomes increasingly protracted, social and economic factors are continually changing and influencing the overall ability of refugees to secure their basic needs. In situations of displacement, such as has been created by the Syrian crisis, there is always loss of personal property. Very often people flee with little other than the clothes they are wearing. Refugees in Jordan often arrive with very few possessions and are not prepared for their new situation. The majority of displaced families have used any savings or sold any assets they may have had when fleeing Syria.

With limited stable livelihood opportunities in Jordan, Syrian refugees face obstacles to developing long-term resilience and self-sufficiency. This depletion of resources means that since the onset of the crisis, vulnerable Syrian refugees are struggling to cope with the tremendous hardship of covering their own basic needs.

This gender analysis was conducted to assess the gender dimensions of the Basic Needs Sector and the challenges that Syrian refugees have encountered in Jordan. Refugee population demographics were analyzed together with refugee community practices, cultural and social roles and responsibilities for females and males. In addition to analyzing the special needs of elderly and persons with disabilities.

The research methodology included desk review and organization of Focus Groups Discussions (FGDs) with Syrian refugee women, men, girls and boys in Zaatari camp and in urban settings in Mafraq and Karak to better understand if displacement has caused any shifts in the gender aspects and power dynamics within households among female and male members of the family. These FGDs were organized with the support of BNWG members mainly UNHCR, UN Women, ACTED and DRC.