INT’L AID FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES INSUFFICIENT: JORDAN MINISTER

Amman, 3 Dzul hijjah 1434/8 October 2013 (MINA) – Jordanian Interior Minister Hussein Majali said on Monday that international aid for Syrian refugees in Jordan is insufficient and covers only 30 percent of the real cost.

The impact of the influx of Syrian refugees is evident on the Jordanian economy, as there are about 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, accounting for about 15 percent of the country’s population, Majali said.

About 146,000 Syrian refugees live in camps in Jordan, while the rest live in cities, towns and villages in the Arab kingdom, he said, Xin Hua reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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The minister said the influx of the Syrian refugees also increased burdens on the security apparatuses, which have foiled attempts of armed groups to infiltrate into the country.

The head of the UN refugee agency Antonio Guterres announced on Sunday the establishment of a joint operation centre between UN agencies and the Jordanian government. The agency’s commissioner for humanitarian aid said the move is to better coordinate response in anticipation of a “more dramatic” increase in Syrian refugees in the new year.

Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner of Int’L Co-Op., Humanitarian Aid & Crises Response, said, “Ultimately, the biggest suffering is inside Syria, so we will continue to press for more help to people trapped in the country, but we see the numbers growing rapidly of refugees in the neighbours and therefore we must step up our assistance here.”

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Guterres said it is urgent for the international community to offer financial support to the refugees. He added the UN has only received half of the 484 million US dollars it needs to assist refugees this year.

The UN estimated that 1.1 million Syrian refugees will be sheltering in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon by June next year, as the violence deepens in Syria. But some projections put the number of refugees as high as 1.8 million. On Wednesday, the UN will launch a new appeal for aid .(T/ P04/E1).

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)