Fakhoury urges world’s support for Jordan’s role as refugee host

AMMAN — Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury has participated in an international conference in Helsinki to discuss humanitarian issues regarding Syria and the region, a ministry statement said on Wednesday.

Talks led to the launch of the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria and the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for 2017-2018, with Fakhoury presenting the 2017-2019 Jordan Response Plan (JRP).

Finland Prime Minister Juha Sipilä inaugurated the event, which his country co-organised with the UN, in the presence of senior officials of the international agency, government representatives of affected countries and NGOs.

Fakhoury again called on the international community to increase its support to Jordan to help it face economic challenges, boost its resilience and continue providing services to refugees.

The Kingdom hosts over 1.3 million Syrians, according to the latest census.

On the sidelines of the conference, the minister held several bilateral meetings to canvas support for the 2017-2019 JRP, holding talks with the US delegation and the Finnish minister for foreign trade and development.

The importance of resettling Syrian refugees from Jordan and other regional hosts to other countries was highlighted, so as to reduce burdens incurred by host countries.

The challenges facing the Kingdom are not only related to refugees; they affect all aspects of life in Jordan, Fakhoury said. 

He highlighted that the 2017-2019 JRP will focus on both assisting host communities and supporting the budget, according to the statement.

The Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for 2017-2018, to be accredited by the UN and the international community, will be based on the 2017-2019 JRP, the minister noted.

In this regard, he stressed the importance of balanced interventions by UN agencies in addressing humanitarian needs and boosting resilience, whether by supporting the budget or alleviating the burdens on the Treasury. 

The total amount received to support the 2016-2018 JRP reached $1.436 billion in 2016.

Although significant, the minister noted that this is 54.05 per cent of the aid needed, and he called on the international community to increase its support to the Kingdom. 

He said that a recent UNDP study estimated the indirect annual effect of the Syrian crisis on Jordan at between $3.1 billion and $3.5 billion, in addition to the direct annual effect of $2 billion.