Ministry f Public Wrks and Husing COMPREHENSIVE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT SECTOR TEMPLATE: SHELTER I. Sectr Intrductin Situatin Analysis Since the beginning f the Syrian cnflict, five year ag; the number f Syrian refugees is estimated t have reached 1.26 millin, f whm 655,217 are registered with UNHCR. Sme 79 percent f registered Syrian refugees live within Jrdanian hst cmmunities, utside f frmal camps, primarily in the nrthern gvernrates. Over 60 % f refugees have settled in Amman and Irbid gvernrates with anther 16 percent in Mafraq and 14 percent in Zarqa. 1 Accrding t UNHCR 2015 urban husehld survey, rental payments remain the main refugees cncern and the highest expenditure fr mst f them 2, averaging a whpping 50 percent f refugee husehld s mnthly expenditures; cmpared t an average f 20 percent fr Jrdanians 3. The search fr adequate and affrdable husing fllwed by livelihds have been the tw primary causes f tensin between Syrians and Jrdanians. 4 The Syria crisis is severely straining the absrptin capacity f the Jrdanian husing market being translated int a large demand fr husing. In 2016, the verall husing market gap exceeded 100,000 husing units, representing a significant increase frm the estimated annual average need by Jrdanians. Mre imprtantly, pre-crisis supply was nt well aligned with demand, with an versupply at the middle and upper end f the market. The price range f new husing units has been between JD 30,000 and JD 60,000 making them unaffrdable t lw- and lwer-middle incme grups5. Rental prices inflatin, put Jrdanian and pr Syrian families utside the camps ut f the market. In Mafraq, price f mnthly rent has increased frm 70 150 JOD befre the crisis t 200 300 JOD at present. 6 There are n entry-level husing ptins fr lwer middle incme Jrdanians, and rental husing is increasingly less affrdable fr lwer incme Jrdanian and Syrian families. Since the nset f the crisis, the cnsequences f the inadequate supply f affrdable residential units has led t increasing rental prices, sub-divisin f existing units, cnversin f utbuildings int rental accmmdatin, and sme limited cnstructin by individuals. There has nt been a scaled respnse either frm the private sectr r the gvernment. 7 In 2016; 29 percent 8 f ut f camps Syrian refugees have mved at least nce in the previus six mnths. Mrever, almst half f Syrian refugees have been n the mve in the preceding year reflecting the difficulties refugees cnfrnt in rder t secure stable accmmdatin. In urban areas, 1 Latest natinal census in 2015 2 REACH, Husing and Tensins in Jrdanian Cmmunities Hsting Syrian Refugees Thematic Assessment Reprt, June 2014. 3 HUDC http://www.hudc.gv.j/ 4 http://carnegieendwment.rg/2015/09/21/jrdan-s-refugee-crisis-pub-61338 5 UN-Habitat (2012), p. 6. 6 Omsh.H. [Mayr f Greater Municipality f Mafraq], Mafraq Gvernrate Wrkshp Speech, (Mafraq, 2014). 7 UN-Habitat Jrdan Rapid Husing Market Assessment, Nvember 2013. 8 NRC pre-registratin assessment, 2015-2016 fr the Syria crisis
Ministry f Public Wrks and Husing 25 percent f Syrians are severely shelter vulnerable and 50 percent are highly shelter vulnerable. 9 An estimated 10 percent f Syrian refugees are under immediate threat f evictin 10. Mre than 87 percent 11 f Syrian refugees utside f camps are in debt. One in five Syrian refugee families in hst cmmunities d nt have any frm f rental cntract which is nt nly a legal requirement fr freigners living in Jrdan, but als elementary prtectin frm evictin and a precnditin fr registratin with the MOI 12. Syrian refugees are ften frced t live in substandard and vercrwded accmmdatin increasing their vulnerability. Accrding t the latest UNHCR hme visits (2016): 28 percent f Syrian refugees are living in substandard shelters, including 8 percent living within infrmal settlements. Out f the ttal refugee caselad in urban areas, 14 percent are living in ne rm and 12 percent are in huses with mre than 4 individuals per rm. The entire ut f camp refugee caselad include 20 percent in accmmdatins that d nt prvide basic prtectin frm the elements and 28 percent have leaking rfs, damp r mldy buildings. In additin t the threats f evictins, and prtectin, substandard husing als affects the health f the residents including respiratry infectins, asthma 13. II. Interventins Addressing Identified Needs and Vulnerabilities Hst cmmunity (Resilience): With generus cntributin frm Gvernments f Switzerland and Denmark, the United Natins Human Settlements Prgramme (UN-Habitat), tgether with the Ministry f Public Wrks and Husing (MOPWH), has implemented the first phase f Jrdan Affrdable Husing Prgram (JAH), a private sectr funded slutin t prvide affrdable husing fr lwer-middle incme Jrdanians as wners and vulnerable Syrian refugees and Jrdanian families as renters. An extensive Affrdable Husing Demand Survey was undertaken in eight gvernrates and in-depth analysis f the financial sectr in Jrdan that has cnfirmed ability and capacity t prvide suitable financing. An agreement was reached t participate in the JAH prgramme frm eleven financial institutins in Jrdan and prequalified letters were issued t qualified citizens. A natinal design cmpetitin was launched with the Jrdan Engineers Assciatin t design husing that is innvative and lcally suitable. The cnstructin f 14 Demnstratin units in fur different lcatins thrugh the Jrdan Cnstructin Cntractrs Assciatin is cmpleted. Fllwing the successful initiatin f the first Pilt Prject in Ramtha, arund 900 citizens indicated their interest t participate in the prgram. Hst cmmunities (Refugees) A cmbinatin f interventins targeting shelter needs f refugees living in the hst cmmunities has been implemented since the start f the refugee influx. As utlined in the sectr bjectives, these prjects include interventins such as (1) targeted cash fr rent fr extremely vulnerable Syrian 9 Inter-Agency, Baseline Reprt, Vulnerability Assessment Framewrk, May 2015 10 NRC hme visits, 2015 11 CARE internatinal assessment 12 UNHCR, Living in the Shadws Jrdan Hme Visits Reprt 2014, January 2015. 13 http://www.eur.wh.int/ data/assets/pdf_file/0003/78636/damp_muld_brchure.pdf fr the Syria crisis
Ministry f Public Wrks and Husing refugees and Jrdanians, (2) supprt the increase in the number f husing units thrugh the cmpletin f unfinished husing units and (3) the upgrade f substandard husing units in urban and rural areas. These interventins supprt bth refugee and hst cmmunities in addressing immediate shelter needs. They are als targeted interventins, where selectin and priritizatin are based n clearly develped vulnerability criteria. Accrding t the latest vulnerability assessments, 25% f Syrian refugees living in hst cmmunities are extremely shelter vulnerable and in dire need f assistance. Refugee camp setting: The 2015 JRP Refugee Shelter Respnse Plan highlights the cntinuing need t invest in additinal camp extensin wrks, land develpment, infrastructure wrks, cnstructin f new basic service facilities and additinal shelter units. Eleven prjects have been prpsed csting a ttal f US$ 83.5 millin. T date interventins valued at USD 7.1 millin have been initiated r apprved, cvering 8.5 % f the requested amunt. Since its establishment in 2012, ver 400,000 refugees have passed thrugh the refugee camp f za atari. Currently, the camp is accmmdating arund 80,000 refugees (13,500 HH), residing in 12 districts. The majrity f refugees relcated within the hst cmmunities acrss Jrdan, while sme vluntarily returned t Syria. The mbile nature f the refugee ppulatin in/ut f the camp, cupled with cntinued new arrivals up t April 2014 when Azraq Camp was established, disrupted infrastructural planning and assistance delivery as refugees tended t change their lcatins within the camp very frequently. In rder t imprve the camp infrastructure and upgrade refugee shelters, UNHCR has maintained the grid system f Za atari n the masterplan, creating blcks and streets t clarify the skeletn and land use, facilitating cmmunicatin within the cmmunity by creating a cmmunity structure. The restructuring plan fr all settlements within the camp has been recently implemented this year, prir t the nging infrastructure prjects such as waste water, water supply, rad and electricity netwrks. The result f the prject includes the implementatin f an address system fr every husehld, and mapping their bundaries n the masterplan. 14 Za atari Refugee Camp: 2,343 emergency shelters (tents) prvided 2,738 semi-permanent shelters (pre-fabricated caravans) installed 683 (new design) prefabricated caravans installed 1,583 husehlds relcated under the nging restructuring exercise f the camp In April 2014 the secnd largest site, Azraq Camp, was pened with an initial capacity f sme 54,000 individuals. Fur villages (Village II, III, V, VI) have been cnstructed with cncrete flring added t the Transitinal-shelters (caravans). Tw market areas with varius cmmunity facilities were established. The existing villages can be extended t accmmdate an additinal 13,000 t 15,000 refugees and the cnstructin f additinal villages is als pssible shuld the need arise. 14 UNHCR, Camp Restructure Prject Zaatari Refugee Camp, April 2016. fr the Syria crisis
Ministry f Public Wrks and Husing Azraq Refugee Camp: 5,710 f existing shelters and assciated facilities upgraded 815 transitinal shelters (T-Shelters) cnstructed 9,735 existing T-shelters imprved thrugh the prvisin f cncrete flring 2,068 existing T-shelters imprved thrugh maintenance wrks 7,613,116 m² f site develped in accrdance with final designs 60m bridge, cnnecting villages three and six, cnstructed 1,640 m f drainage culverts installed 1,500 m² multipurpse area including gymnastic areas and ftball pitches cnstructed 224 m² f shades installed 2,500 m² f sealcat rads 200m f fences III. Unmet Needs and Vulnerabilities There is still a wide gap between demand and supply in the husing sectr that requires an accelerated respnse by the public and private sectrs t prvide additinal affrdable husing units fr bth vulnerable Jrdanians and Syrian refugees. T cmplement humanitarian and develpment interventins, a husing prfiling is needed t infrm the cming wrk n updating the husing strategy a prgram f legal, institutinal and plicy refrm is als required t which will address sme f the lng-term structural challenges in the husing sectr. This new strategy will cncretely demnstrate hw humanitarian and develpment issues can be linked within a specific sectr. In urban areas, the lack f adequate husing cupled t insecurity f tenure and high rental csts has frced the majrity f the Syrian refugees t live in sub-standard accmmdatin. There is a need t cntinue upgrading such substandard and prtect their rights when many Syrian refugees living in rented accmmdatin, lack basic security f tenure and are at risk f evictin. Despite pressing and bvius shelter needs in urban areas, nt many agencies are able t prvide tangible assistance. In 2015 the sectr cmprised 12 actrs; drpping t 6 appealing partners fr 2016. The lack f a targeted campaign advcating fr funds has resulted int the Shelter Sectr appeal t be nly 18% funded fr hst cmmunity prgramming. With regard t the existing refugee camps, living cnditins in bth Za atari and Azraq Camps require imprvements. The camps are vercrwded and require upgrading and the cnstructin f additinal infrastructure, including: rads, drainage structures, graveling, shelter imprvements, and markets. Maintenance f pre-existing infrastructure, shelters and basic service facilities are als necessary as are winterizatin upgrades. Depending n the flw f refugees t Azraq camp, it may als be necessary t increase capacity by expanding and upgrading existing villages and/r the cnstructin f additinal villages. Furthermre, in bth camp and urban/rural settings, it is vital cntinuing t address individually the needs f(wgbm) and peple with specific needs (such as thse with disabilities, female headed fr the Syria crisis
Ministry f Public Wrks and Husing husehlds and the elderly) and als take int cnsideratin cultural sensitivities such as privacy, family linkages and rigins. IV. Recmmendatins Resilience-based interventins, such as the prgram fr affrdable husing t bst supply fr affrdable husing units in the mstly affected gvernrates, (including but nt limited t Irbid and Mafraq), and Jrdan Husing prfiling prgram are designed t cmplement expected humanitarian shelter prgramming. If the numbers f refugees in camps cntinues t grw, investment in upgrading existing shelters and in additinal camp extensin wrks must be cnsidered. This includes investments in land develpment, infrastructure wrks and cnstructin f new basic service facilities. Invest in infrastructure upgrades in the existing villages and districts in Azraq and Za atari cnsecutively. In Za atari, this includes cnstructin f internal service rads, maintenance f camp infrastructure, and replacement f damaged prefabricated caravans and winterizatin activities. In Azraq, this includes the maintenance f existing shelters and installatins; imprvements t existing shelters (kitchen and bath units adjacent t each shelter, shade area, hme gardening); expanding existing market areas; upgrading rads and imprving accessibility between villages (new elevated rads, pathways, etc.). In urban areas recmmendatins include upgrading husing in pr cnditin and cmpleting unfinished buildings with the intentin f prviding adequate, secure shelter fr Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jrdanians and als supprt Jrdanian landlrds. Prvide targeted cnditinal cash fr rent t extremely vulnerable Syrian refugees in urban areas. Distribute hme adaptatin kits and develp a winterizatin strategy fr shelters that are nt insulated r prtected against damp and cld. Raise awareness n lease and rental laws targeting bth Syrian refugees and Jrdanian landlrds. Encurage resilience and innvatin by integrating energy saving, such as slar panels and passive cling systems; and water saving tls, such as tap fillings, int the shelter respnse. Cntinue t link with Prtectin sectr n evictin referrals and preventin, link with WASH sectr n upgrading tilets, kitchens and municipal cnnectins, link t Health sectr n the reductin f health hazards caused by inadequate husing cnditins. fr the Syria crisis