This week IOM passed the 400,000 mark for the number of refugees transported from the Syrian border to camps inside Jordan.  

IOM was the first civilian organization to begin moving Syrian refugees from border transit centres established by the Jordanian Border Guards to Za’atri camp in July 2012. 

It works closely with the Jordanian Government, UNHCR, WFP and other humanitarian agencies in Jordan to ensure that refugees are assisted in a timely and humane manner after entering the country. 

The vast majority of refugees undergo a terrible journey to reach Jordan, in order to avoid being caught in the crossfire between the Syrian regime and opposition forces.   

As a consequence, most arrive exhausted, cold, hungry, and dehydrated after walking up to 70 kilometers, often in the dark, to avoid detection. 

IOM meets them with water, tea, biscuits, hygiene kits and other essential non-food items, and distributes meals supplied by WFP. It also provides new arrivals with initial health screening, pre-registration, orientation, and referrals, before busing them to the Za’atari and Emirates Jordanian Camp (EJC). 

In order to deal with the large influx of refugees, which peaked in February 2013 with up to 3,000 new arrivals daily, IOM implemented 24-hour shifts in its reception areas in Za’atari. 

The same policy was implemented in EJC, which opened in April 2013. In addition, in April 2013 IOM's medical team started immunizing new arrivals against measles and polio, and providing refugees with Vitamin A supplements. 

“Providing these vital services is only possible because of the donations we receive from governments around the world, and the Jordanian government’s willingness to accommodate Syrians in desperate need,” says IOM Jordan Chief of Mission Davide Terzi. 

IOM Jordan is funded by the European Union, UNHCR, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, Canada, China, Chile, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Switzerland, the UAE, the UK and the USA. 

For more information please contact 

Ben Webster 
IOM Jordan 
Email: bwebster@iom.int