Jordan

In Jordan:

• There are 761,100 registered refugees (not including the Palestine refugees under UNRWA’s mandate)
• Of this 87% of refugees live in urban areas whilst 17% live in three camps – Zaatari, Azraq and Emirati Jordanian Camp.

Many of these refugees have fled war and armed conflict. As a result, a large number have devastating injuries caused by explosives, shrapnel and blast injuries that often require maxillofacial surgery. Chemical warfare, prevalent during the ISIS period, has been linked to a higher incidence of cleft lip and palate among children.

Furthermore, much of the refugee population has poor access to oral health care, and it is estimated that 75% of 6-year-old Syrian refugees have untreated dental caries, that can lead to serious infection. Researchers have also noted that head and neck cancers in countries in the Middle East tend to present at a more advanced stage.

How FaceForward is responding:

• By addressing major facial disfigurements/deformities in the refugee population through surgery, enabling refugees to return to a better quality of life.
• By providing basic dental care and oral health education.
• By establishing a collaborative partnership between Cambridge and Jordan and promote the full scope of oral and maxillofacial training in Jordan.