Fakhoury discusses next regional response plan with UN official

AMMAN — Minister Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury on Wednesday stressed the importance of supporting Jordan to enable it to continue providing services to the Syrian refugees and the Jordanian host communities.

The support is also significant to enhance and sustain the Kingdom’s resilience, a ministry statement said.

The remark came during Fakhoury’s meeting with UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock.

Fakhoury stressed the importance of investing in Jordan and its stability to preserve its resilience in light of the regional situation.

The minister noted that Jordan is seeking the continuation of the partner’s support to bridge the financial gap through additional grants to support the public budget, which would lead to improving the quality of services provided to the Syrian refugees and the host communities.

Fakhoury briefed Lowcock on the economic challenges facing the Kingdom generated by the regional instability and the burdens of hosting the Syrian refugees.

He also outlined “the Jordanian model” in dealing with these challenges.

The Planning Minister reviewed the national economic situation and the economic and social challenges the Kingdom is facing, in addition to the efforts exerted to boost economic growth and combat unemployment and poverty.

He said that hosting refugees has added new economic and social burdens on the budget and affected the infrastructure, services, and the sectors of education, health, water and municipalities.

The minister highlighted the importance of the international community’s commitment to maintain the momentum of support to Jordan, especially the Jordan Response Plan.

He underscored the need for the UN organisations to deepen their coordination with the Jordanian government prior to preparing the regional response plan to the Syrian crisis by considering the national priorities of the Syrian refugees host countries and funding host communities development projects with the beneficiation of domestic expertise and capabilities. 

Fakhoury stressed that despite the current challenges that Jordan is facing, the government has continued its holistic programme of reform enhancing its resilience and transforming challenges into opportunities through preserving the macroeconomic and financial stability.

He noted the government’s action plan represented by the Executive Development Programme 2017-2019 and the Programme to Stimulate the Economic Growth 2018-2022, which is based on the Jordan Document 2025.

For his part, Lowcock commended Jordan’s pivotal role in the region, the reform programmes, and the holistic development led by His Majesty King Abdullah, citing the Kingdom as “a role model” in the region.

Fakhoury and Lowcock discussed preparations for the regional response to the Syrian crisis, which will be implemented by the UN organisations, in addition to Brussels conventions next spring, according to the statement.