The Syrian Refugee Crisis in Jordan and Lebanon: Impact and Implications

This paper investigates the implications and impact of the Syrian refugees on Lebanon and Jordan. Using a multidisciplinary approach, it critically analyses the effect of the crisis at three different levels: government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs), and society. At the state level, although Jordan and Lebanon exhibited similar policy shift toward the Syrian refugees, the confessional divides and decentralized nature of the political system posed further challenges to the country of cedars. At the NGO level, while the refugee crisis gave birth to an innovative 3RP, the lack of coordination between the international and the domestic stakeholders impeded the efficiency of the relief. Finally, the demographic pressure inexorably led to an increased demand for public services, infrastructures, and jobs. As such, the crisis exacerbated vulnerabilities for the poorest segments of the Jordanian and Lebanese populations, deepened the divide between refugee and host communities, and aggravated the distrusts in the governments. This paper sheds light on the reality and consequences of humanitarian crises in developing countries. In concludes by suggesting some lessons learned and ways forward for the future of conflict mitigation.