Collateral Repair Project on the Refugee Crisis in Jordan—Stories from the Field

As the refugee crisis slips from the headlines, Jordan, according to its government, continues to host over a million refugees. This discussion with Amanda Lane, executive director of Collateral Repair Project, a refugee aid organization in Jordan, provides a deep dive into this complex and difficult context.

Collateral Repair Project is a small community-based organization working to meet the basic needs of the Hashemi Shamali neighborhood of Amman. Collateral Repair Project aims to fill a number of aid gaps: providing essential food aid to those overlooked by larger international NGOs, providing children with education opportunities, and building on the organization’s rapport with the community to tackle sensitive issues like post-traumatic stress disorder.

In addition to Syrians and Iraqis, Jordan is also host to Sudanese, Yemeni, and Somali refugees, now adding to the strain on Jordan’s precarious situation. Lane describes Collateral Repair Project’s work to serve these communities, who are often excluded by other aid programs altogether. Her presentation weaves together information about political and economic developments in Jordan, daily experiences and challenges faced by the Hashemi Shamali community, and how Collateral Repair Project is working to improve conditions in an extremely challenging situation.