Saving visually-impaired sisters from eviction

“If we get evicted, we will have no place to go,” Amer says.

Amer’s words reveal the harsh reality facing countless refugee families in Jordan. With no income and mounting debts, eviction doesn’t just mean losing a roof; it means losing safety, dignity, and hope. For Amer and his two daughters with visual disabilities, the fear is overwhelming. They fled Syria in 2013, but the struggle to survive has followed them ever since.

Before the conflict, Amer’s life was simple and full of promise. “Life was good. We had olive trees and livestock; we didn’t need anything, or any help,” he recalls.

Everything changed after arriving to Jordan. Following the death of his wife due to a stroke, Amer has been left to care for his two daughters alone. They depend on him for nearly every aspect of daily life. Without a work permit, Amer cannot legally earn an income, and the family has been evicted several times.  

A year ago, Amer and his daughters finally found a home where the girls felt safe, able to move confidently through the familiar space. But with six months of unpaid rent, even this fragile stability was under threat.

‍“The landlord keeps asking for the rent, but we don’t have the money to pay it,” Amer explains.

Winter has now arrived, and the family faces even more struggles: they have no heater, no blankets, no warm clothes – nothing to protect them from the cold. The daughters spend their days sitting at home or doing the chores that they are able to do, sometimes visited by neighbours who check on them. They cannot leave the house alone because they need someone to guide them.  

Thankfully, Medair has been able to step in to support the family with cash assistance. The support helped reimburse part of the outstanding rent, which has convinced the landlord to let them stay. “This assistance came out of nowhere to keep me and my daughters safe. Winter is coming; we cannot bear another eviction.”Yet, their situation remains heartbreaking. Without an income to support the family, their situation remains dire.  

Their debt have mounted to nearly 2,000 dinars ($2,800), owed to local shops, neighbours, and pharmacies. Amer feels the weight of it every day:

‍“Many people ask for their money back, and it causes problems. I feel embarrassed to go out because people ask me for money, and I have nothing to give.

Thousands of refugee families in Jordan face the same fear of eviction and the harshness of winter without basic necessities. For Amer and his daughters, Medair’s support has been life-saving. It provided not only financial relief, but protection, dignity, and the chance to stay in the only home where the girls can move around safely and confidently.  
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With support from the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Medair provides comprehensive assistance to refugees and vulnerable Jordanians.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.

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