IOM Jordan provides assistance to refugees accepted for resettlement to third countries, including Australia, Canada, the United States of America and a number of European countries. IOM provides those accepted for resettlement with cultural orientation and support during their travel and upon arrival.  The resettled refugees are mainly from Iraq and Syria, although nationals from Somalia, Sudan and other countries are included in the program. The Resettlement Support Center for the Middle East and North Africa (RSC MENA) is based in Amman, Jordan and assists with the processing of refugee cases under consideration for resettlement to the United States. 

IOM also assists governments in ad hoc operations when requested. At the beginning of 2016, IOM carried out the resettlement process of some 9,000 refugees to Canada from Jordan in collaboration and coordination with the Canadian government, UNHCR and other agencies. Within the same project, IOM Amman also assisted with 13,102 transits from Lebanon. 

The Resettlement Support Center for the Middle East and North Africa (RSC MENA) 

RSC MENA is operated by IOM Jordan and conducts resettlement processing for the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in sixteen countries throughout the MENA region. Funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), RSC MENA provides processing services to refugees who are eligible for resettlement to the United States under the USRAP.  In US fiscal year 2016 over 18,300 refugees arrived in the United States with the assistance of RSC MENA. For more information about RSC MENA’s work and the resettlement process in general, please refer to RSC MENA’s Refugee Information website: 

US Ambassador to Jordan, Alice G. Wells, and IOM Chief of Mission, Enrico Ponziani, visiting a group of refugees at IOM’s RSC in Amman. Photo: Victoria Hazou, IOM

 

Operations

Image of migrants boarding a UN flight

 

The department of Operations of IOM Amman is responsible for: 

  • Departures for resettling refugees 
  • Assited voluntary returns 
  • Assisting victims of trafficking 

IOM in Jordan arranges the transportation for all refugees from the Middle East and North Africa region as well as the transportation of Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) beneficiaries worldwide. IOM Amman Operations works closely with UNHCR, USCIS, RSC Amman, embassies, the ICRC, and US based Resettlement Agencies to arrange safe and timely transportation to the airport of final destination. IOM Amman coordinates the transportation for refugees resettling to Canada, Australia, and a number of European countries. IOM Amman Operations also assists victims of trafficking and other migrants in need of voluntary returns.