VZCZCXYZ0016
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #2599/01 2521225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADXD41908 MSI7331 540A)
O 081225Z SEP 08 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3477
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0675

UNCLAS AMMAN 002599 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
Department for NEA/ELA and PRM/ANE 
 
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y  (TEXT) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF EAID JO
SUBJECT: UNHCR Jordan Budget and Program planning for 
2009 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: UNHCR Jordan Deputy Representative 
Arafat Jamal told RefCoord September 3 that the UNHCR 09 
budget would be approximately 44 million USD.  Some of 
those funds, he noted, would go directly to Jordanian 
line ministries that provide services to Iraqi refugees. 
Food distribution would give way to cash distribution for 
urban refugees.  UNHCR planned to allocate resources to 
learning more about the caseload, including the effect of 
returns, resettlement, and internal relocation.  Public 
outreach to the beneficiaries continues to be a challenge 
for UNHCR.  End summary. 
 
Serving Iraqis with a Leaner Budget in 09 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In 2009, UNHCR-Jordan will propose to Geneva a 
budget of approximately USD 44 million.  In 2007-08 UNHCR 
assisted 3000 Iraqi refugee families and hopes to reach 
7000 Iraqi refugee families in FY09 with appropriate 
assistance programs.  Jamal said that UNHCR contributions 
to the budgets of the education and health ministries 
would reach a total of USD 9 million.  Eight million of 
that would come from the Government of Iraq's 
contribution to UNHCR's Iraqi appeal.  In order to 
monitor the use of the funds, UNHCR asked both ministries 
to document how Iraqi refugees have impacted GOJ 
expenditures in 2008, but neither ministry responded with 
precise figures. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Ministry of health provided what Jamal 
called a shopping list of material needs, without 
connecting those needs to services provided to Iraqi 
refugees.  The Ministry of Education submitted a school 
construction plan to meet the general needs of the 
education systems, to include refugees.  Meanwhile the 
GOJ resisted drawing linkages between programming and 
Iraqi refugees. 
 
Cash instead of Food for Urban Refugees 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) According to Jamal, in FY2009 UNHCR plans to 
introduce a cash distribution scheme in Jordan, to 
replace the food distribution system.  UNHCR would use an 
ATM card/cash system to allow vulnerable, registered 
refugees to withdraw a fixed amount of cash on a monthly 
basis.  The program, coordinated with the GOJ, would 
provide the same benefits as a similar GOJ program for 
vulnerable Jordanians. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Jamal was confident that the criteria used for 
selecting vulnerable refugees are precise enough to 
ensure the cash disbursements went to the truly needy. 
UNHCR planned to assist 3050 registered families with the 
new program.  In late 2008, UNHCR planned to sign the 
final agreement with their banking partner, the Amman 
Cairo Bank, which would administer the program.  The 
formula for monthly cash distributions would be as 
follows: Men would receive JD 50; women would be entitled 
to JD 60; and each dependent would be entitled to JD 10. 
 
Uncovering the Facts on Iraqi Refugees 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Jamal said that uncertainty about numbers and 
demographics is a barrier to efficient assistance to the 
Iraqi population.  To address this, UNHCR contracted the 
University of JordanQs Center for Strategic Studies 
(JCSS) to compile and analyze all available data on 
refugee demographics and to produce reports that partners 
might use in program planning.  The JCSS research should 
be available in November 2008. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) UNHCR also plans to increase its outreach 
programs, within the limits set by the GOJ, which has not 
permitted UNHCR to use mass media to disseminate 
information to refugees.  Instead, the refugee 
organization has distributed printed material from 16 
UNHCR-supported community centers around the Kingdom. 
Registered refugees with cell phone service also receive 
UNHCR digital text messages with updates and urgent 
protection information. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Jamal said that local press had recently 
interviewed UNHCR-Jordan Country Representative Imran 
Riza.  Jamal said that press interviews served as an 
opportunity to disseminate information about UNHCR 
programs and to dispel security concerns and 
misconceptions about UNHCR activities among the local 
2009 
 
population. 
 
Comment: Cash Distribution is a good Alternative to Food 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Although the UNHCR cash distribution approach 
is unconventional, it has two advantages over previous 
methods: 1) As registration is a prerequisite for 
participation, it may encourage unregistered refugees to 
come forward; 2) Distribution sites would be located 
throughout the region, allowing wide access.  UNHCR 
partners would not have to go out looking for 
beneficiaries.  After the program has been in effect for 
one quarter, UNHCR and its donors will look at results. 
At that time, UNHCR would reassess the program. 
 
BEECROFT