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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Sunday that His Majesty King Abdullah had managed to convince world nations on the need for a holistic approach to support Jordan in hosting Syrian refugees, but not only the Syrians in the Kingdom.

He told a press conference on the outcome of Friday's donor conference in London that the spotlight had now been not only on the refugees' problem, but on Jordanians who are affected by the refugee crisis.

Ensour said at the press conference, in which the ministers of interior, planning, labour, information and industry and trade, as well as the Jordan Investment Commission took part, that the refugees issue is complex, pointing out that aid to Jordan was no begging or benevolence from donor nations.

"We thank the donor countries, but we carry this huge burden on behalf of the international community", added Ensour, referring to the Kingdom's hosting of about 1.3 million Syrian refugees.

"had Jordan not taken this burden, Western countries would take it", he explained, saying that the Syrian issue "is now hitting the borders, capitals and streets of Western countries".

"The Syrian crisis is a reality with hundreds of thousands of Syrian brothers, whose numbers stood at 1.3 million, as corroborated by the last population census", he said, adding that half of these were in the Kingdom before the Syrian war began and had become part of the problem.

The Syrian presence in Jordan, he said, affects the economy and society as well as education, health, security, environment and other sectors in a country with a 10-million population, including 7 million Jordanians.

"His Majesty is well aware of this issue and its complexities and impact on Jordan and its economy and development", he said, stressing that the refugees' issue is not a matter of food and drink, but it had a large impact on Jordanians' living conditions and job opportunities.

He said the constant message in His Majesty's meetings, both locally and internationally, had been that it was not possible to assist the Syrians and let down Jordanians, who should receive compensation for the pressures the refugees placed on job opportunities, services and the other sectors.

The premier said the London meeting had culminated in pledges of aid, grants and loans, stressing the need to exploit "this opportunity" and urging the government, all state institutions and the private sector to act and follow up on that outcome.

He described the London gathering a "big success", but said nothing should be taken for granted, adding that "this is the task of an entire country. If we do not fulfil what is required from us, what is required from them would not come about", he said.