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Hello, I am Laure Delacloche, and in June I flew from Beirut to Jordan to write an article about the consequences of the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel that started at the end of February.
Jordan is an ally to the United States and hosts 12 of their military bases, which have been used to intercept Iranian missiles on their way to Israel. Military bases have been bombarded in June and July, and at least 28 people were injured due to missiles’ debris falling on residential areas. This war reveals pre-existing economic vulnerabilities.
People I interviewed told me that they increasingly struggle to fill their fridges, saying that the price of meat and chicken in particular surged since the war started. In Jordan, meat and chicken are largely imported and, therefore, their price is impacted by the global increase in oil price.
Throughout my interviews, many people told me that the economic situation has been deteriorating since the pandemic of COVID-19. Our article places the focus on the most vulnerable — the Jordanians who live below the poverty line and the peoples who have fled wars in poor economic conditions and who sought refuge in Jordan because of its political stability.
In Jordan, Palestinians are the only ones to be considered refugees. Roughly half the population is originally Palestinian. They can access health care services through the United Nations agency for the Palestinians, the UNRWA. As for the Syrians and the Iraqis, they depend on the United Nations agency for the refugees, the UNHCR, to access support.
Problem is, these United Nations agencies that provide services to the most vulnerable have suffered from the sharp decrease of the United States’ foreign assistance, as well as cuts in foreign aid from European countries. As a result, not only do many of these families increasingly struggle to fill their fridges, but they also experience a decrease in the cash assistance that they used to receive and an access to health care that is becoming more complicated.
The ecosystem of aid has changed in the region, including in Jordan, and the war is only furthering economic difficulties and fueling fears that the country would be dragged into a long war.
During my interviews and my conversations, I also felt a kind of anger and maybe a kind of resolve in Jordan. In a country that has normalized relations with Israel, and where freedom of speech is somewhat limited, people openly criticize Israel.
Since 2023, the economy also shifted to reflect this opposition. At least four Starbucks branches have closed down due to pro-Palestinian boycott, and Jordanian alternatives to Pepsi-Cola, and 7-Up, which are seen as Western and therefore supporting Israel, can be found in every restaurant. Jordan is definitely a country of quiet contrasts.
Ms. Delacloche gives more detail about the situation in Jordan in “A Deepening Fragility,” in the September issue of ONE magazine.