Jordan Shannon Doocy PhD at School of Public Health; Department of Health Policy and Management
Many Iraqi’s fled their nation as result of the 2003 invasion. According to the United Nations (U.N.), 1.6 million Iraqis are displaced internally and up to 2.1 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries, mostly Jordan and Syria. An estimated 400,000 to 700,000 of the displaced Iraqi population is currently in Jordan and continues to increase. Because these populations are highly mobile, difficult to reach, and have tenuous access to social services, little is known about their status and needs. The population is becoming increasingly vulnerable due to high unemployment and depletion of savings. The deteriorating financial situation in conjunction with concerns about legal status in Jordan and potential deportation are two significant barriers in terms of seeking health and education. Recently, efforts have been made by the Jordanian Government and U.N. agencies to encourage Iraqis to use public education and health services. However, little is known about the proportion of Iraqis using available services or barriers to accessing services. This study is a cross-sectional population survey of the Iraqi population residing in Jordan that will provide baseline information on the needs and status of the Iraqi population as whole, as well as specific information on vulnerable groups such as female headed households and the most economically vulnerable populations. Content areas that are of particular interest to organizations working to support the Iraqi population including household economy and livelihoods, health needs and chronic diseases, psychosocial needs, and family planning will also be included.
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James Cope
