Jordan’s role commended as host of Syrian refugees

by JT | Sep 11, 2012 | 22:55 Updated: Sep 11, 2012 | 22:55

His Majesty King Abdullah meets with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and UNHCR special envoy Angelina Jolie in Amman on Tuesday (Photo by Yousef Allan)

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday highlighted Jordan’s efforts to provide humanitarian services to Syrians, reiterating the need to reach a political solution to end the bloodshed in Syria.

During separate meetings with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, the King discussed the Syrian crisis and its repercussions, a Royal Court statement said.

He cited the growing burden the displaced community is placing on Jordan’s resources, commending the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) support to the Kingdom in providing aid to the refugees.

Guterres said the international community must shoulder its responsibility towards the Syrian refugees, particularly as the current level of support is still “insufficient”.

He commended Jordan’s role in alleviating the suffering of the Syrian refugees.

Guterres voiced the UNHCR’s intention to help the Kingdom bear the burden of hosting the growing number of Syrians, stressing that Jordan is a stabilising factor in the Middle East.

The meeting was attended by UN Refugee Agency’s special envoy Angelina Jolie, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and a number of senior officials from the UNHCR.

During his meeting with Burns, His Majesty also discussed bilateral ties and efforts to bring about peace in the Middle East on the basis of the two-state solution.

The Monarch underlined Jordan’s support for a political solution to the crisis that would protect its unity and put an end to the bloodshed, according to the statement.

Senate President Taher Masri also met with Burns and highlighted Jordan’s efforts to achieve comprehensive reform.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh met with Guterres and Jolie at the Prime Ministry and discussed the developments in Syria and their social and economic impact on Jordan.

He said the Kingdom expects more Syrian refugees to cross the border, especially as the security situation is worsening in Syria, specifically in its southern region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Tarawneh thanked the UN and other international agencies for supporting Jordan to enable it to continue its humanitarian role towards the refugees.

The premier noted that Jordan is establishing mobile schools inside the Syrian refugee camps and needs more support to develop these schools to accommodate Syrian students.

He added that the government also provides the Syrians with subsidised commodities on equal footing with citizens.

Guterres indicated that around 200,000 Syrians have crossed the borders to Jordan since the start of the unrest in Syria, stressing that this number places huge economic and social burdens on the Kingdom and that the world should understand the difficulties Jordan is facing.

For her part, Jolie voiced her appreciation of the “positive” role the Kingdom is playing to alleviate the suffering of the Syrians, Petra reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, Judeh met with Guterres and Jolie and outlined the services provided by the Kingdom to Syrian refugees. He also accompanied them on a tour of the Zaatari Refugee Camp.

At a joint press conference with Guterres and Jolie, Judeh stressed that Jordan has no intention to close its borders with Syria and will continue receiving Syrian refugees fleeing the violence.

Under Royal directives, the Kingdom will maintain its open-border policy despite its scarce resources.