Each country has a unique refugee experience. In the UK, this was only monitored from the start of the 20th century, but refugees from Europe and beyond have shaped our nation for many hundreds of years. On a recent visit to Jordan, seeing first-hand the work of partners supporting refugees in the country, I heard a lot about the scale and longevity of the Jordanian refugee experience.

Jordan has been a temporary home for many, and for a long time, from Syrians who fled conflict in 2011 to Palestinian families who settled in Amman in 1948. Today, Jordan is thought to host over 1.4 million Syrian refugees and over 2.3 million Palestinian refugees. Added to this population are more recently arrived refugees who have crossed international borders to escape conflict and persecution from Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia. In a population of 11.5 million, refugees are a visible part of life in Jordan, particularly because 82% live outside refugee camps, in urban areas like Amman, Irbid, and Mafraq.

Visiting the medical projects IHP is supporting, I was struck that many generations of the same family – grandparents to newborns – have only known life in refuge and many have never stepped foot in their native homeland. A child born today to Syrian parents may be the third generation to grow up displaced in Jordan.

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This long-term and large-scale reality places an immense pressure on the national health system. And now, with shrinking global aid budgets and cuts to refugee services, the strain is more visible than ever. That’s where local and international NGOs step in, and why IHP’s partnerships with local healthcare providers are so vital.

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I had the privilege of seeing the work of our in-country partner, Anera, up close. Their health interventions are practical, rooted in the community's trust, and meet the greatest needs. Together, we’re supporting clinics and health providers with essential medicines – a crucial lifeline for families managing chronic illness, maternal care, and trauma.

Since Syria’s uprising began in 2011 and quickly escalated into civil war, Jordan’s charity sector has transformed. What was once heavily reliant on royal charities and military structures has given rise to a new wave of local NGOs and social partnerships. These organisations are now at the heart of refugee support, providing continuity in a fractured world.

Many refugees dream of returning home. Yet, for Syrians, their country remains too unstable. The number of returnees has dwindled since the initial surge after Bashar al-Assad was deposed in December 2024, and Jordan, its charity and health services, will carry an increasing responsibility. Seeing the camps that look more like towns than temporary dwellings, the multigenerational nature of the refugee experience reminds us that this is not a temporary emergency; it's a long-term, human reality, and our response, commitment and work must reflect that.

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Donate today to help deliver vital medicines and care where it’s needed most. These families have endured loss, displacement, and uncertainty for generations, yet they continue to hope, rebuild, and heal. You can stand with them.