Ammon News - US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, expressed her country's deep appreciation for the partnership with Jordan, its hospitality and support for refugees.
In a joint statement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Jordan, Dominik Bartsch, Zeya said the United States stands with Jordan as an ally and friend, to help meeting the needs of refugees and host communities no matter what it takes.
"I've witnessed Jordan's commitment to ensuring the safety of all refugees, and its belief that the return of refugees takes place in a safe, voluntary manner and in a manner that preserves their dignity," Zeya added.
"The United States is proud to be the leading international donor to humanitarian programs in Jordan, providing more than $2.4 billion to support refugees and host communities since 2012, including more than $257 million in humanitarian assistance last year," Zeya further added.
She said that work will continue with partners such as the UNHCR, UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, UNRWA, and NGOs to provide cash assistance, food vouchers, and other services to refugees in Jordan, in addition to providing training opportunities for skills development and small business management.
"This support comes in addition to more than $1.65 billion in assistance provided last year as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Jordan to improve critical sectors including water, education, and the healthcare system. We also provide security assistance to support our partnership to enhance regional stability," Zeya explained.
She added, "The United States is also doing its part to increase refugee resettlement in the United States. President Biden has increased the number of refugees admitted to the United States to 125,000 this year, working with UNHCR, the Jordanian government, and other partners to resettle the most vulnerable cases," Zeya noted.
She described as "exceptional" Jordan's assistance to the Syrian people, including hosting such a large number of refugees. "We look forward to continuing to partner with UNHCR Jordan, the Jordanian government and the Jordanian people to support the refugees who are welcomed here."
In turn, Bartsch said that the United States is the largest donor to UNHCR in Jordan and around the world. It also provides the largest number of resettlement opportunities for refugees, with more than 3,000 refugee departures recorded last year..
"Since the beginning of the crisis, Jordan has allowed Syrian refugees to access health care, education, and access to the labor market. These critical political decisions facilitated the inclusion of refugees in national systems, and these decisions remain a model to be followed around the world," Bartsch added.
He noted that Jordan was the first country to include refugees in its coronavirus vaccination campaign, which is another example of its firm commitment to doing the right thing for people in need of protection.
He indicated that as a result of this generous approach, many of the approximately 660,000 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Jordan were able to rebuild their lives and support their families.
He expressed concern that the decline in donor support in light of the economic challenges may lead to an increase in humanitarian needs, as vulnerability assessments conducted by UNHCR show that many refugee families fall further below the poverty line, and this is where cash assistance remains key lifeline to meet basic needs and enable refugees to live in dignity.
The UN official said that there are nearly a quarter of a million refugees currently receiving valuable assistance, pointing out that the UNHCR supports nearly 740,000 refugees of all nationalities, in cooperation with major organizations, including the World Food Program, UNICEF and many other UN agencies as well as NGOs, the private sector, civil society and development partners.
"We are preparing for the Global Refugee Forum in December, with Jordan assuming a prominent role as a co-convener for this event. This event will be an important platform to renew the international community's support for key host countries like Jordan, and to show international solidarity in action," Bartsch announced.
"12 years into the Syrian crisis, the international community must continue supporting Jordan, which has been a reliable, committed and generous host to people who have been forced to flee their countries," Bartsch conculded.
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