Five years into the Syrian refugee crisis, the dire water situation in Jordan has only been exacerbated further by an average increase of 25% in the population.
With approximately 85% of Syrian refugees living in host communities, a significant stress has been placed on the delivery of essential services like water supply, especially in the northern governorates of Mafraq and Irbid.
Accordingly, the ICRC in coordination with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Yarmouk Water Company carried out in 2014 and 2015 eight projects to repair critical water infrastructure in selected areas in North Badia and Ruwayshid. These particular areas in Mafraq governorate have experienced additional strain on what were already aging water supply systems due to the sharp increase in population.
With the completion of these water projects, 150,000 Jordanians and Syrians have had improved access to water in terms of both quantity and quality.
These efforts have helped to alleviate some of the humanitarian consequences suffered by both the host community and Syrian refugees in Jordan. The ICRC in coordination with local authorities continue to identify municipal water supply systems that are in need of repair for the benefit of Jordanians and Syrians alike.
