WB Pledges to Support Jordan to Address Economic Hardships Due to Refugee Crisis

Hundreds of refugees make their way across the Syrian border into Jordan. Many have walked up to 20 km to flee the civil war in Syria.

Amman, 20 Jumadal Awwal 1437/29 Februay 2016 (MINA) – Representative of the World Bank in Jordan, Mirza Hassan, on Sunday, voiced the bank’s support to Jordan to help it grapple with economic burdens arising from the Syrian refugee crisis.

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation following a meeting that brought together Jordanian officials and a delegation of members of the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank (WB), Hassan said challenges facing Jordan due to regional turmoil go beyond its economic capacity, urging the international community to shoulder part of the burdens Jordan bears.

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Imad Fakhoury, said Jordan has received guarantees from the World Bank to receive this year loans up to $500 million at an interest rate of no more than 3 per cent, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Petra News.

He added that he discussed with the delegation Jordan’s response plan to the Syrian refugee crisis.

More than 4.5 million refugees from Syria are in just five countries Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

Jordan hosts approximately 635,324 refugees from Syria, which amounts to about 10% of the population. (R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)