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Signs of solidarity: Jordanians, visitors express support for refugees

By Muath Freij - Jun 20,2017 - Last updated at Jun 20,2017

Jordanians and tourists leave their signatures on a white wall in Jabal Amman’s Souq Jara last weekend (Photo by Muath Freij)

AMMAN — In a show of solidarity with refugees, Jordanians and tourists in Amman left their signatures on a white wall in Jabal Amman’s Souq Jara last weekend. 

Organised by the UNHCR, the event was held on the occasion of World Refugee Day, which takes place on June 20 every year, according to Nidaa Yaseen, an external affairs officer at the UNHCR.

“The event is held under the theme and hashtag #Withrefugees, and is trying to make the local community, or people outside Jordan, support us by leaving their signature in support of refugees,” she added. 

The UNHCR official said the event was also organised to raise awareness about the importance of refugees receiving good-quality education, safe places to live and job opportunities. 

“We want to show the international community that there are people who support refugees, and to encourage governments to take action in solidarity with refugees,” she told The Jordan Times.  

Yaseen said similar events were held to mark the occasion around Amman up until Monday. 

“There are 48 nationalities registered at the UNHCR as refugees and they need support. There might be some Ammanis who do not have any idea about these refugees,” she added.  

The UNHCR said there are 700,000 refugees registered in Jordan from various nationalities, adding that the majority is Syrian.  

 

Raed Far, who joined in signing the wall, said the event is important for refugees because it shows that Jordanians are here “standing alongside them”. 

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