Syrian Refugees in Jordan and Lebanon

Opened the debate

I am concerned about the situation of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, particularly focusing on a constituent's family where an adult daughter, son-in-law, and grandson remain in Lebanon. The daughter had previously been vulnerable to mental ill health due to her husband's detention and ill treatment in Syria, and they currently reside in a garage working for accommodation. A child of the family lost his life after being refused admission to hospital and left untreated for seven hours due to his status as a Syrian refugee. Statistics from UNHCR show that over 5.6 million refugees have fled Syria since 2011, with around 89% of Syrian refugee families in Lebanon now living below the extreme poverty line.

Government Response

It is a pleasure to serve under you as Chair today, Mrs Cummins. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (Stuart C. McDonald) for securing this debate. Over the last 10 years, Assad's regime has inflicted untold suffering on the Syrian people; over half of Syria's population has been displaced by violence; more than 6.4 million people have fled their homes within Syria and an estimated 5.5 million have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, including 1.5 million in Lebanon. The UK has committed over £3.7 billion to the crisis—our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis—and since 2012 we have provided over 28 million food rations, over 21 million medical consultations, 6 million cash grants or vouchers, 10 million relief packages and over 14 million vaccinations across Syria and the region. In Jordan and Lebanon alone, the UK has contributed £720 million in bilateral development assistance to Jordan since 2012 and £780 million in humanitarian and development funding to Lebanon since the start of the crisis. Despite economic challenges, the UK pledged at least £205 million to the Syrian crisis for 2021 during the Brussels conference on supporting the future of Syria and the region in March this year. Our aid provides life support to millions of Syrians and enables host communities to manage a protracted refugee presence. In Jordan, we have helped enrol 83% of all Syrian children in education, the highest proportion in the region. We have provided over £720 million in bilateral development assistance to Jordan since 2012. The UK Government recognise the generosity of Jordan and Lebanon in hosting refugees and will continue to support vulnerable individuals with cash transfers for food and basic needs in Jordan while providing protection services to cover essentials, reducing gender-based violence, and ensuring access to quality formal and non-formal education in Lebanon. We are also concerned about forced returns and strive for voluntary, safe and dignified refugee returns. The UK supports peace-building initiatives and stresses the need to uphold commitments to no forced returns. We continue to work with the UN on a political process for lasting peace in Syria.