With thousands of refugees fleeing Syria every day, your donations are helping local Church organisations to provide desperately needed aid.

“This is a nightmare. We will wake up soon to find ourselves in our beloved Syria,” says Ismail, a 30-year-old refugee from the Syrian city of Homs. “I feel sometimes that this is all just a dream, but then the difficulties hit you and I know it is our reality now.”

“Acute pressure on Jordan’s local authorities to maintain services”

AMMAN, May 23 2013 – The World Bank today announced a special package of US$150 million in financial support to the Government of Jordan to help the authorities manage the impact of the Syrian civil war from which more than half a million people are estimated to have fled across Jordan’s border. The influx of refugees is affecting the livelihoods of Jordan’s host communities and access to public services and basic commodities is under pressure.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Population movement – refugee numbers in the region continue to increase. Since May 1, there were more than 76,000 new refugees; at least 75% of those registered are women and children.

• Operational – Jordanian Ministry of Health and Interior Ministries agreed to relocation of new arrivals registration to Raba Sahan; health screening including immunization will occur here thus enhancing vaccination activities for new arrivals. In Lebanon, coordination skills training sessions was organized by UNHCR and OCHA on May 9.

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN, May 21 (Reuters) - Jordan has turned away thousands of Syrian refugees in the past week in the first such clampdown since the crisis in Syria began more than two years ago, diplomats, activists and aid workers said on Tuesday.

Read the full report on AlertNet.

Mafraq [ACTED News] – Due to the highly dynamic context in Za’atari refugee camp, in Northern Jordan, which is hosting more than 120,000 refugees, with daily arrival rates ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 people, information on the number of refugees, their social organisation and physical location remains extremely fragmented, hindering the targeted and efficient humanitarian response.

1. Operational Highlights and Situation update

• Assessment was conducted in Raba Sahan on the 14th of May by UNHCR Health staff and IOM in order plan new arrival vaccination and health screening services.

• MoH reports that in health centres and hospitals in and around Ramtha medication supplies that used to be enough for one month are now barely lasting for 8-­‐10 days.

The number of Syrian civilians who have fled their country to escape conflict has passed the 1.5 million mark, according to an announcement made by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on the 17th of May. The refugee influx continues on a daily basis and is worsening an already precarious situation, on top of particularly difficult weather conditions.