EU’s Borrell commends Jordan’s support to Syrian refugees

AMMAN — High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell on Monday commended Jordan's support to Syrian refugees.

In a statement, Borrell pointed out that Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey are hosting more than 5.6 million Syrian refugees, stressing that these countries require aid to meet the needs of refugees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The European Union provides support to the refugee-hosting nations to help both Syrian refugees and the people of the three countries to offer job opportunities and build infrastructure, including schools, as well as improve health and water services, he said.

The EU Regional Trust Fund "Madad" has helped communities in Lebanon and Jordan secure basic incomes, health services and education to ensure that both Syrian refugees and local host communities are provided with “a solid foundation for a better future”, Borrell noted.

He said that, as the conflict in Syria has entered its 10th year, Syrians “continue to live in fear and despair in the face of an uncertain future” as the war has forced half of the population to flee their homes and those who stayed have been left to endure an unprecedented economic crisis amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 4th Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, which will be held on June 29 and 30, will bring together more than 80 countries, regional and international organisations and United Nations agencies at a virtual roundtable to address key dimensions of the Syrian crisis politically, financially and regionally and in the humanitarian sense, he added.

"We will reaffirm our strong support for the United Nations’ efforts towards a political solution to the conflict and under the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2254," he said, underlining that a political solution is the “sole avenue” to reach a lasting peace in Syria.

"The European Union and its member states have supported Syrians everywhere since the conflict erupted, as more than 20 billion euros have been secured through humanitarian aid, stabilisation aid and resilience requirements since 2011 for Syrians and in support of neighbouring countries," Borrell said.