Hammad, UNHCR’s Bartsch affirm cooperation, mutual support to Kingdom’s refugees

AMMAN — Jordan appreciates the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) humanitarian role and its ongoing endeavours to stand in solidarity with refugee-hosting countries, Interior Minister Salameh Hammad said on Thursday.

During a meeting with UNHCR Jordan Representative Dominik Bartsch, Hammad and the UN official discussed means of helping Jordan bear the “significant pressures” of successive influxes of refugees that the Kingdom has welcomed from different countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The minister said that the Kingdom, since its foundation, has also been a “destination” for security seekers and has welcomed several waves of refugees, resulting in economic, social and security repercussions on the country.

Jordan's continuing humanitarian role towards refugees requires the international community to take into account its limited capabilities, he said, calling for international support for the Kingdom.

Hammad also stressed the ministry’s commitment to supporting UNHCR’s efforts in Jordan by facilitating its work to alleviate the burdens of the refugee crisis on Jordan and refugee communities alike.

For his part, the UN official voiced his appreciation for the ministry and its affiliated institutions’ support in facilitating UNHCR’s work to address the needs of refugees immediately and quickly, Petra reported.