Impact of Syrian Refugees Crisis on Al-Mafraq Hosting Community: Lessons for Intervention with Social Work Profession

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research is to explore the impact of Syrian Refugees crisis on Al-Mafraq hosting community in an attempt to develop specialised interventions within social work profession. Eight focus group discussions were conducted from April to October 2018; 100 participants have been selected from stratified random sample according to gender. A broad overview of the literature on the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan has demonstrated that large bulk of reports; reviews and studies have investigated refugee needs and experiences. Furthermore, most studies conducted in Jordanian hosting community focused on its socioeconomic implications and few studies have explored the impact of this crisis on Jordanians. Therefore, in this research, we argue that not only should attention be given to refugees’ services and experiences, but that further, attention should be directed to the experiences of the hosting community; a population that is not often studied. Findings reveal that Jordanians in Al-Mafraq Governorate have been experienced different sorts of difficulties as a result of the Syrian refugees crisis and its socio-economic implications; they have developed feelings of alienation, interpersonal conflicts, symptoms of frustration and despair, fear, anger, hatred, jealousy, low self-esteem and hopelessness.