Jordan
Jordan — a land of historic and biblical significance — is today a land of refuge, welcoming migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Resource poor, with much of its land uninhabitable, the kingdom is struggling amid the influx of peoples, pushing its tourist-dependent economy to the brink of collapse.
While supportive of its Christian communities, government representation and financial support for vulnerable Christian communities are limited. Only seven of the 138 elected officials in the country’s house of representatives are Christian. Nevertheless, the Christian community, which makes up just 3 percent of the population, contributes 30 percent of the country’s economic activity.
CNEWA has deep roots in Jordan, having long supported programs for its many refugees — Christian and Muslim, Palestinian, Bangladeshi, Lebanese, Filipino, Iraqi and Syrian. Although the churches in Jordan are small and lack resources, their impact is significant, and CNEWA stands ready to help. The costs of medical services and educational expenses are out of reach for many refugees, who work mostly in the informal labor market with low earnings and poor working conditions, leading to exploitative situations. CNEWA works across the health, employment and education sectors to provide the vulnerable with resources to meet their needs, live with dignity and build a better future.
Accompanying the Church
CNEWA’s regional office in Amman works directly with the local Assyro-Chaldean, Melkite-Greek, Roman and Syriac Catholic churches in support of their pastoral and charitable activities and institutions. Collaborating closely with communities of religious sisters, CNEWA sponsors formation programs for youth and young adults, supports activities for at-risk youth and continues to offer emergency assistance to displaced Christian families seeking refuge from extremism and persecution.
Responding to Human Needs
Our mission calls us to lend a helping hand to those in need. CNEWA supports child care and health care programs, such as the Mother of Mercy Clinic in Zerqa and health care initiatives at the Italian hospitals in Amman and Kerak, sustainability projects for migrants and refugees and emergency relief efforts for refugee families struggling to make ends meet.
