Ammon News - Funding provided to the Jordan Response Plan to the Syrian Crisis has so far reached $125 million, constituting 5.1 per cent of the aid set under the scheme totalling $2.432 billion, according to data released by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on Wednesday.

The ministry's figures revealed that funding percentage of the plan's requirements in the first half of 2021 is close to disbursements in the same period last year, which stood at 7 percent, based on a quarterly update of the plan's financing status.

The ministry added that passing judgement on the volume of the plan's funding is "too early", which usually increases significantly, after the United Nations organizations directly deposit allocations to projects implemented by them in December each year, attributing part of the shortfall in funding provided to the plan due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic impact on most donor countries.

The ministry indicated that high-level government engagement in international meetings, conferences and forums, sheds light on the Syrian crisis and its consequences on the Jordanian economy, and extent of its impact on the quality of services provided to Jordanians and Syrians.

The ministry also said the government "constantly" urges donor countries to assume their responsibilities towards this crisis, highlighting importance of international community's commitment to its humanitarian duties, and its financial pledges towards Syrian refugees and the hosting communities, the most recent of which was the recent Brussels Conference, in addition to providing the necessary funding for the plan, to help Jordan carry out its humanitarian missions on behalf of the international community.

The ministry said the government views presence of Syrian refugees on Jordanian territory as "temporary," until Syria restores stability over its territories, adding that Jordan is committed to its policy of "free, voluntary" return of refugees to Syria.

In light of the "low" level of assistance provided by donor countries to Jordan, the ministry said this shorfall affects quality of services provided to Syrian refugees inside camps and host communities in various basic sectors, such as education, health and food security.

In this regard, the ministry noted Jordan urges the international community and donors to work within three main axes: Continuing support to the host communities by providing sufficient funding for Jordan Response Plan to the Syrian Crisis, securing sufficient grants and concessional financing to meet the financing needs in Jordan over the next three years, in addition to supporting national institutions and raising efficiency of their workers, strengthening health and educational systems and infrastructure, and financing capital projects.