Jordan begins to feel the strain as security concerns mount

Posted: 25/06/2013

Jordan has traditionally been a peaceful Kingdom in the Middle East, however events taking place in neighbouring countries have meant the security threats and peoples’ attitudes towards them are now changing.

Iraq and Syria are squeezing the small country and as the population expands to take in refugees and displaced people, Jordan’s social problems are increasing.  600,000 refugees from the Syrian conflict now live in Zaatarya refugee camp; now being counted as the fifth largest city in Jordan.  240,000 Iraqis have not returned to Iraq and have stayed in Jordan.  The Kingdom is paying the social price for its neighbours conflicts.

Crime and social issues are becoming more of a worry to the average Jordanian. Unemployment is on the increase, hospitals are close to becoming full, schooling and food are becoming issues amongst the people. Civil unrest has become commonplace with the King currently holding onto control as his internal issues impact on the local economy and its 60 million population.

RPS Partnership has reviewed the crime statistics and these seem to indicate that Jordan is a society undergoing change. Between 2007 and 2011 murders increased from 98 to 133, car thefts doubled from 2819 to 4348 and firearms incidents increasing nearly threefold from 535 to 1384. (source: Jordanian Public Security Directorate)   The region has seen firearms freely moving across borders as conflicts rise and it seems that the firearms incidents have proportionally increased.

Political instability makes Jordan less secure as a Kingdom than it has been in the past, with the number of protests increasing as time goes by. RPS Partnership advises all foreigners to avoid any form of protest or demonstration and to seek local advice for the dates when these are to take place.  

Regional instability ensures that Jordan has to face the spillover of its neighbours’ actions, with a greater impact on the lives of its population.

The nature of the Jordanian tribal society means that conflict around tribal issues is commonplace. Ma’am has had 4 fatalities in the last year.

The threat of terrorism is still a major issue and a very real concern, as the country remains an attractive target for potential extremist groups in the region; Al Qaeda (AQ), global Jihadis, as well as sitting on one of the main transit routes for the movement of illegal weapons.

Jordan has a history of terrorism, even in recent years; 2005 saw 3 hotels blown up with 60 dead.

2010 saw two bombs targeting US and Israeli diplomats in Sahab. The fact that in October 2012 a plot was uncovered to stage a Mumbai style attack must have proved a huge concern to the Jordanian security forces and its government. The eleven men arrested appeared to have links to AQ; proving that even Jordan is not beyond its tentacles and may be on its future hit list.

How the country will cope with the contuining number of refugees pouring across it borders remains to be seen.  The threats in Jordan are changing and travellers to the country need to be aware of this.

For further information and advice/assistance with your travel plans to Jordan please contact [email protected].  We have consultants in Amman this week who can answer any questions you may have.

 

Photos: worldnews.nbcnews.com and www.demotix.com

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