Ammon News - AMMAN (Petra) – Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ibrahim Saif discussed on Wednesday with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos the economic challenges facing Jordan, the country’s reform programs and the government’s action plan for 2013-2016.

The minister highlighted the repercussions of providing services and humanitarian assistance to the Syrian refugees from the Kingdom's scarce resources as well as the pressures being exerted on the budget, water, education, health and energy because of them.

"More than half a million Syrian refugees are currently in Jordan," the minister told the UN official.

Saif said the UN organizations have a role to play in urging the international community to support Jordan to mitigate the repercussions on the national economy as a result of hosting such a large number of refugees.

The UN official said that her organization recognizes the challenges facing Jordan due to hosting a huge number of Syrian refugees. She also said the international community should stand by Jordan to help it overcome the challenges caused by the Syrian crisis.