Jordan, host nation to refugees & displaced people, July 23

Our final academic day in Amman ends on a somber note, refugees and displaced peoples. We were met at the Palestinian Baqa’a Refugee by one of the deputy director’s of UNRWA, Nattar Sager. His personal story illustrates one perspective. His parents were among the quarter million Palestinians made homeless by the creation of Israel. Born in a camp near Amman in 1951, Sager was told “get an education, you will deliver us.” He learned English (his father worked for the British Army prior to WW II and spoke English) went to college, and as many of his generation benefited from the 1970s oil boom by providing expertise to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States and sending remittances home. After serving as an officer in the Oman Royal Air Force he returned to Jordan to work with UNRWA and raise his children. We met in the Camp elementary school when one of the teachers told of the dedication of teachers who work for low wages and few supporting amenities, such as computers. She works with local women’s organizations to arrange for a play room where children might have toys since they have none at home. There are over 93,000 living in Baqa’a, which is not a city of tents, but a small town with schools, a heath clinic, and women’s Center (photos). The numerous camps in Jordan have existed for 60 years. Refugee status legitimizes the Palestinian determination to reclaim their land and country. UNRWA does not administer the camps, it provides services. Please visit the web site, http://www.un.org/unrwa/refugees/jordan/baqaa.html

In the afternoon, UNHCR (Refugee Agency) speakers discuss the Iraqi refugee situation in Jordan. The burden of these displaced people in addition to the hundred’s of thousands of Palestinians places additional stress on the Jordanian economy and social services. UNHRC had prepared and pre-positioned support for an anticipated refugee crisis when the war began, but it did not come as anticipated. The initial cohort of refugees had funds, built homes, and settled in urban centers causing property and food prices to soar. However, by 2007 savings diminished and funds ran out. The urban refugee crisis in Jordan - one conceptually quite different than previous since populations are scattered - “hit,” requiring a UN response. UN policy agreed to deal with individual cases, help with “durable” resettlement, and open rights for refugees, who now receive direct assistance. To ease the Iraqi fear of deportation the King announced that Jordan welcomes them. Over 10,000 a year elect resettlement. 91% of Iraqis say they do not want to return at this time. In 2007 the United States agreed to take refugees. Initially the question came up because of a sense of obligation to interpreters, but our speakers noted that “durable” settlement in the US has not been effective with many feeling isolated and electing to return. Normalization, the speaker stresses, is considered the only viable long term solution, and is a key concept for 2010-11. See:
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a02db416.html