Jordan

Healthcare

International Medical Corps provides free and comprehensive primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services in hospitals, health clinics and emergency rooms—both within and outside the camps. Across Jordan, we support dedicated health teams in numerous medical specialities, including general practice, reproductive healthcare, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, and paediatric, mental health, pharmaceutical and diagnostic services.

We have provided extensive healthcare services at the Azraq camp since it was established in 2014 and now run the camp’s only hospital, providing comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care, emergency and general medicine interventions, a paediatric in-patient department, X-ray, laboratory analysis and a pharmacy. At the hospital and in three primary healthcare clinics, we provide an average of 16,500 consultations every month.

We have provided healthcare services at the Zaatari camp since 2018, including primary healthcare, mental health care, emergency and triage services, and ambulatory treatment for cases of moderate and severe acute malnutrition. In 2020, we established a 24/7 emergency room to manage acute medical and surgical emergencies. In Zaatari, as in Azraq, International Medical Corps is the sole provider of 24/7 health services.

To help people inside and outside of the camp to access treatment, we work with a network of public and private hospitals to manage emergency, urgent, non-acute and elective referrals. Our advanced health informatics systems increase the efficiency of service delivery. This includes the Pharmaceutical Information Management System (PIMS), inventory management and automation software developed by International Medical Corps for use in remote and low-resource settings. We also leverage continuity-of-care software that manages patient processing across all healthcare service levels.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)

The psychological toll of the Syrian war on refugees is immense. Forced from their homes, many have experienced extreme levels of violence, fear and loss. In Jordan, they face a multitude of psychosocial stressors, including the pressure to start again in a new country—uncertain when, or even if, they will return home.

We are the country’s largest provider of MHPSS services after the Ministry of Health (MoH), and we co-chair the national MHPSS Working Group. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive support to the population and building the country’s capacity through our training, advocacy and research efforts.

We deliver comprehensive mental health services at 18 clinics, including four clinics inside Azraq and Zaatari camps, where we lead the MHPSS programmes. Our multidisciplinary teams include psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, pharmacists and case managers. Through a case management approach that prioritises clients’ bio-psychosocial needs and goals, we provide specialised mental health services to approximately 8,000 people each year. These include psychiatric consultations, psychotherapy, psychoeducation and home visits. We train staff to provide holistic care that is integrated with other services, such as GBV prevention, child protection and livelihoods assistance. We also provide caregiver training for families of children with developmental delays or disabilities.

We advocate for the integration of mental health care into the primary healthcare, education and social protection sectors. Since 2015, our staff have provided MHPSS services at clinics run by the MoH, and train MoH staff and other primary healthcare providers on MHPSS topics. By providing training and capacity-building services to a range of stakeholders, and by partnering with local universities to provide internship and training opportunities, we are increasing access to MHPSS services while reducing the stigma surrounding them.

We have also developed a free mobile app to make MHPSS services available online. First launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, when access to in-person MHPSS services became restricted, the RELAX app continues to provide flexible support to people who need it.

Child Protection (CP) and Youth Empowerment

International Medical Corps is a leading specialised provider of comprehensive CP case management in Jordan, providing services in nine child-friendly safe-space facilities, both in the refugee camps and in urban areas. We manage the most complex CP concerns, safeguarding the well-being of children at risk of various forms of concerns, such as violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. We also manage cases of separated and unaccompanied children, child marriage and child labour.

By identifying children who are at risk of emotional distress due to these CP concerns, we deliver a range of psychosocial support offerings, including individual or group sessions and structured or unstructured activities. Our psychosocial support also targets children’s families, helping caregivers provide a healthier environment for children.

Through our Youth Empowerment Programme, we engage children and teens under 18 in psychosocial support activities, helping them build the skills and knowledge they need to develop community-driven projects that promote social cohesion.

Our efforts to build local capacity for CP include training partner NGOs, governmental stakeholders and local community-based organisations on case management and other related topics. As an active member of the Child Protection Information Management System—and former administrator and co-chair of its steering committee—our CP team has led efforts to ensure high-quality service delivery. We play a key role in coordination and collaboration by co-chairing a sub-working group and participating in various working groups and task forces.

Gender-based Violence (GBV)

Collaborating with the Ministry of Social Development, we provide GBV case management services, referrals, psychosocial support, awareness raising, counselling, and life skills and empowerment activities for child survivors of GBV. We train other frontline humanitarian workers in GBV case management and safe referral, including GBV mandatory reporting to the government’s Family Protection and Juvenile Department.

Recognizing that addressing GBV requires more than immediate interventions, we’re committed to holistic care and support, as well as long-term solutions that address underlying factors and promote resilience. We participate in public-awareness and behavioral-change campaigns, including 16 Days of Activism, International Women’s Day and the Day of the Girl Child.

Nutrition

International Medical Corps remains the primary agency implementing nutrition programmes through four nutrition clinics across Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps. Our comprehensive nutrition programme encompasses two key components: a supplementary and therapeutic feeding programme, which closely follows guidelines for integrated management of acute malnutrition, and an infant and young-child feeding programme, which operates in line with the global standards set by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. We worked through 2023 with the World Food Programme to implement a social- and behavioral-change communication approach to improving maternal and child nutrition among refugee populations.

Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment

In Amman and Irbid, we lead vocational training courses that equip refugees and Jordanians with valuable skills that improve their job prospects and enable them to generate a sustainable income. We follow a holistic approach that integrates vocational training with child protection and mental health programming, and provide comprehensive support and care to whole families throughout the process.