Jordan and Syrian humanitarian refugees' dilemma: international law perspective

Jordan is not a signatory of the 1951 humanitarian refugees' treaty or its 1967 optional protocol. However, Jordan in 1998 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNHCR. Therefore, Jordan is legally obligate to receive refugees. As a result of the 2011 Syrian civil war, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled to Jordan. Syrian refugees have become a dilemma for Jordan, giving UNHCR, donor states, and the international community's failure to fulfill their obligations towards Jordan fully. This article reviews Refugees' protection under the global legal system. It informs Jordanian and UNHCR's legal and institutional framework while handling Syrian refugees' issues. It also evaluates Jordan's response to Syrian refugees and the challenges that have faced Jordan since 2011. Finally, the study examines whether or not UNHCR, donor countries, and the international community are committed to Jordan's obligations.