Queen highlights Jordan’s Syrian refugee burden in Davos

AMMAN — Although Jordan appreciates the international support it has received to cover the cost of hosting refugees, the needs far outpace and outweigh the assistance provided, according to Her Majesty Queen Rania. 

In an interview with British Channel 4 News, conducted by Cathy Newman in Davos, Switzerland, Queen Rania explained that there is tremendous pressure on Jordan’s economy and infrastructure with around 90 per cent of Syrian refugees living in towns and cities, as opposed to camps, according to a statement released Friday by Her Majesty’s office.

“Sometimes, there’s a misconception and Jordan gets lumped in with some of the rich countries in the Gulf. But Jordan is not an oil producing country. We were in a difficult financial situation even before the refugees,” the Queen said.

She added that the UK is a major donor in providing assistance for Syrian refugees and highlighted the importance of the upcoming Syria Donors Conference, slated for early February in London, in providing long-term solutions for the crisis.

In earlier discussions at Davos, Her Majesty insisted that resolving the Syrian refugee crisis cannot come at the expense of Jordanians or Jordanian jobs, which are already in short supply. 

She underlined the need for the international community’s help in strengthening Jordan’s resilience, supporting development, and creating growth and opportunities that can benefit both Jordanians and Syrians.

Asked about the thousands of Syrian refugees living in camps in no-man’s land between Jordan and Syria, the Queen said Jordan is doing its best with the help of humanitarian organisations to cover their needs. 

But she explained that because the refugees are coming from areas under Daesh’s control in northern Syria, there are concerns that they have been infiltrated. 

“The number one concern for Jordan is the safety and stability and security of our country,” Queen Rania stressed.

In her response to a question about her thoughts on attacks against Muslim refugees in Europe, Her Majesty explained that some of these attacks happen when people act out of fear, but the vast majority of the European public has shown compassion towards refugees.