Jordan is recognized for its stability in a turbulent region. The country hosts over 1.3 million Syrian refugees - representing nearly 15% of Jordan’s total population - making it the second-highest host country of refugees per capita in the world. Jordan has demonstrated a commitment to providing refuge for those fleeing conflict. While not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Jordan has maintained a favourable protection environment for refugees, ensuring fundamental human rights through national frameworks. The country has also included refugees in critical sectors such as education, health care, and even the national COVID-19 health response and vaccination program. However, the protracted nature of the Syrian Crisis and regional dynamics have strained Jordan’s resources and infrastructure. Since 2015, The government-led Jordan Response Plan (JRP) has helped guide the partnership between the country and the international community as it responds to the Syrian Crisis in Jordan. Jordan’s policy towards refugees has mainly been inclusive, with the government taking steps to provide free work permits to Syrian refugees and adjusting the legal framework for Syrian-owned home-based businesses. Despite these positive steps, challenges remain, especially in employment where women and youth are disproportionately affected. The 2023 strategic objectives emphasize humanitarian-development coherence, reinforcing protection principles, and aligning with Jordan’s development goals. The focus is on integrating the needs of all vulnerable populations into national recovery plans, enhancing self-reliance, and building the capacity of national institutions. The aim is to transition the refugee population to economic opportunities, strengthen data analysis for evidencebased planning, and ensure refugee inclusion in national systems.

Türkiye hosts the world’s largest population of persons under temporary and international protection, with over 3.65 million Syrians under temporary protection. As of May 2023, Türkiye was hosting 3.4 million Syrian refugees of which nearly half are children and 46% are women and girls. The country has seen significant increases in commodity prices, particularly food and energy, alongside inflation and the depreciation of the Turkish lira, leading to poverty rates surpassing pre- 2019 levels. These socio-economic challenges have put a strain on community relations, consequently inciting growing anti-refugee sentiments. The approach to the 2023 elections has seen refugee issues becoming a focal point of political discourse, prompting the government to consider adopting more stringent policies.

The population in Northwest Syria is 5.1 million, 4.2 million of which are in need of assistance. Among them, 3.6 million are food-insecure, 3.4 million are internally displaced, and 2 million are living in camps. From 2014 to 2023, the cross-border aid delivery mechanism from Türkiye has served as a critical lifeline to people in Northwest Syria. Based on the consent letter dated 13 July 2023, the Government of Syria granted the UN permission to use the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for humanitarian aid delivery into Northwest Syria. This arrangement eliminated the need for a UN Security Council resolution and, since then, the consent letter to deliver aid has been renewed every six months. A recent Protection Cluster assessment of 259 communities in Northwest Syria revealed limited access to protection services and aid, with 55% of communities reporting no assistance. Another recent assessment conducted by the Education Cluster showed that 54% of schools in the region were affected, with approximately 1,000 schools partially damaged. This has led to an increase in out-of-school children, rising from an estimated 800,000 to 1 million. The ongoing conflict in the area had already compromised sewage networks due to airstrikes, ground battles, and inadequate infrastructure management. These factors resulted in the destruction of wastewater pipelines, rendering substantial portions of the sewage system inoperable. The earthquake also caused significant damage to vital WASH facilities, including the collapse of water reservoirs, towers, stations, and sanitation systems. A REACH assessment indicated that at least 25% of WASH services in Northwest Syria were damaged. This exposure to untreated sewage has contributed to the spread of waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid, and gastroenteritis; this posed a significant threat to local water sources and public health. The existing WASH infrastructures, already fragile and inadequate, have been further strained by limited funding.

NCS is home to a population exceeding 217,911 individuals. According to local authority statistics, the demographic composition is predominantly made up of host communities - accounting for approximately 85% of the population - with the remaining 15% being IDPs. Geographically, RAATA is an extended territory situated along the northern borders of the Syrian cities of Raqqa and Hasakeh. It is encircled by the SDF on all sides except the northern side, which borders Türkiye. World Vision is currently the only INGO working in the area. The minimal presence of active humanitarian service providers in NCS, coupled with the exclusion of the area from the current humanitarian coordination mechanism (HRP), means that humanitarian needs in Ras Al Ain and Tel Abyad are largely overlooked thus leaving significant gaps in almost all sectors. According to the 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), an estimated 182,327 individuals (84% of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance in Tel Abyad and Ras Al Ain, and the intersectoral severity of needs in both districts is classified as extreme.

Impact of climate change crisis and environmental actions

General overview Since October 2023, World Vision Lebanon has been responding to the devastating impacts of military escalations in Southern Lebanon. On 23 September, the conflict started to escalate quickly, its impact reaching the central part of Lebanon, including Bekaa and Beirut. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reports that as of 26 October, nearly 2,672 people have been killed, including at least 155 children, and more than 12,468 have been injured. More than 1.2 million people have been directly affected and/or have been forced to flee from their homes for safety to other parts of the country. More than 191,692 internally displaced people (IDP), half of them women and more than 400,000 displaced children, have sought safety at one of the more than 1,097 temporary shelters set up in schools and other administrative buildings.

Aline Rahbany and Kate Kobaidze ask, what does amplifying children's voices on climate change and mental health have to do with World Urban Forum?

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