‘US to continue supporting Jordan amidst refugee crisis’

AMMAN — The US has extended $4.5 billion in humanitarian assistance since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, of which $600 million has gone to refugee-burdened Jordan, a senior US official said on Monday.

Anne C. Richard, US assistant secretary of state for population, refugees, and migration, said that the $600 million to Jordan has been spent on refugee-related matters through the UN system, including the
UNHCR and the World Food Programme. 

Under the US Refugee Admissions Programme, Richard said that 70,000 refugees from around the world have been brought to the US, adding that the programme for Syrian refugees has been enlarged.

“We brought 1,700 Syrians to the US last year. The president has announced that the US will help bring 10,000 Syrians this year,” the official added.

“It is not a big piece but we try to bring the most vulnerable Syrians, including small children, wives of missing or dead husbands, and people with medical needs and the disabled so that they can receive medication in the US.” 

Asked if there is a right-wing coalition in the US opposing the asylum programme for Syrians, Richard said, “There has traditionally been. My position is to keep the right and left together supporting the programme. I am seeing that some Democrats are trying to bring more refugees to the US and the Republicans are asking questions about security.”

“The Republicans neither oppose the programme nor [are they] against bringing Syrian refugees to the US. They ask tough questions regarding whether the refugees are anti-America or can be potential terrorists,” she explained.

However, Richard acknowledged that the process of taking in refugees to the US takes a long time due to intensive security checks, saying that the process on average takes 18 to 24 months.

“We are criticised that our process is slow and we are trying to speed it up. But there are issues related to security we cannot ignore. We have to make sure that all refugees coming to the US are innocent.”

Richard also commended Jordan’s humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, pledging constant US support to the Kingdom. 

Richard’s remarks came on the sidelines of a field visit on Monday to a UNICEF-run school in Marka District which the US government supports.

Jordanian, Iraqi and Syrian students are enrolled at the school, where they are offered safe access to quality services under the “Makani” [my space] approach.

A Makani centre, according to the UNICEF Jordan country office, offers a comprehensive approach to service provision covering alternative education, skill-building programmes and psychosocial support. 

Each Makani centre should have a community outreach component which is linked with the services being provided there.

Also on Monday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh met with Richard  and discussed bilateral ties and the consequences of the Syrian refugee crisis on Jordan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.