Since the crisis in Syria started over a year ago, more than 7,000 Syrians have registered with UNHCR in Jordan, with an additional 2,000 waiting to register. A temporary guest house for illegal entrants, the Ramtha facility was occupied considerably beyond its capacity of 500 people at the time of the visit.
UNICEF has assisted more than 200 vulnerable Syrian children with psychosocial and remedial education in the Ramtha facility since December 2011. UNICEF also assists the Jordanian Ministry of Education, which has approved unconditional access for Syrian children to Jordanian schools, in covering cost of tuition, text books, teacher salaries as well as rental of school facilities. More than 5,000 Syrian children now benefit from uninterrupted education in Jordanian schools.
In addition to the earmarked funds to Syrian children in Jordan, Norway has contributed with an additional NOK 22 million to other organisations that are providing emergency relief to Syria and assisting Syrian refugees. Norway will also provide support for Syrian refugees in Lebanon through the UN and civil society organisations. Support will also be provided for internally displaced people in Syria who have been driven from their homes.