‘48,600 Syrians born in Jordan between 2011, September 2015’

AMMAN — A total of 48,600 Syrian were born in Jordan between 2011 and September 1, 2015, according to Interior Minister Salameh Hammad.

In an interview with pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al Awsat published on Wednesday, Hammad said the Civil Status and Passports Department registered these births.

He added that the aid provided to the Kingdom by the international community so far does not exceed 38 per cent of its needs to cover the cost of hosting Syrian refugees and address the impact of the influx on its infrastructure.

Stressing that the Kingdom has limited resources, the minister said the refugee burden has taken its toll on all vital sectors, especially in host communities where refugees are staying.

The closure of the Jordanian-Syrian border, he added, has also negatively affected the Kingdom, especially at the economic and security levels.

"The role of security forces on the border has grown twofold," he noted, explaining that personnel have to monitor both sides of the border and prevent smuggling attempts. 

Turning to internal matters, the minister said Jordan is moving forward in reform according to a stable agenda aimed at enabling citizens to effectively participate in policy making. 

The campaigns led by security apparatuses in the Kingdom, he added, are also important in entrenching the role of law and supporting the growth of tourism and investments.

Hammad said the campaigns have been successful so far, leading to a drop in crime rates and an increase in detecting smuggling attempts and violations committed on state-owned lands.