November 19, 2021 — This week, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales met with refugees and business owners supported by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Amman. The IRC runs economic recovery and development programmes, as well as women’s protection and empowerment programmes. These respond to the increasing pressure felt by refugees as COVID-19 adds more pressure to a weak Jordanian economy.
His Royal Highness, who is Patron of IRC UK, was able to hear first hand about the financial stress and protection issues for women and girls arising from the COVID-19 crisis, including early marriage, increased child labour, sexual exploitation, and gender-based violence.
After over 10 years of armed conflict, the crisis in Syria remains a major humanitarian emergency. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict and food insecurity due to gender inequality. It is vital to look at supporting economic recovery through a gender lens.
Amongst the refugees His Royal Highness met is Faihaa, who fled Syria in 2012, in search of safety after a bomb exploded. Today, with support from the IRC’s economic recovery programme, she has her own art workshop in Jordan. She is one of the 10,625 refugees and vulnerable Jordanians the IRC works with, who are now trained in market relevant skills through IRC training on entrepreneurship.
Laura Kyrke-Smith, Executive Director of IRC UK, said: "We are extremely grateful for His Royal Highness’s support as we bring urgent assistance to the most vulnerable, including women and children, in a context of conflict, climate change and COVID-19.
"Helping women refugees from Syria gain greater economic independence is crucial to fostering conditions in which women and girls not only survive the effects of the Syrian conflict, but ultimately thrive."