Syrian crisis cost Jordan over $7b since 2011 — PM

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday said the Syrian crisis has cost Jordan over $7 billion since 2011. 

Delivering the opening speech at the “International Conference on Refugees, Security, and Sustainable Development in the Middle East: The Need for North-South Dialogue”, Ensour said that in addition to the crisis’ financial effect, the Kingdom’s commerce, education and tourism sectors have also suffered.

During the conference, organised by the Refugees, Displaced Persons and Forced Migration Studies Centre at Yarmouk University, the premier said the event is important, because it brings academics and students, rather than politicians, to discuss the refugee issue.

Ensour said 90 per cent of the Syrian refugees in Jordan live outside camps, the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported.

The premier added that the population doubled ten times during the past 55 years, especially since 2011 because of forced immigration from Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Palestine.

He said Jordan’s population amounts to 9.5 million, according to the 2015 population census, and Syrians constitute 20 per cent of that population, amounting to 1.266 million.

There are 5.5 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, 1 million in Germany and 8 million internally displaced, the prime minister said, noting that this crisis “is like no other” because it is not only an issue of refugees but it endangers neighbouring countries that host them and is bringing chaos to the region. 

Noting that UN studies revealed that refugees spend an average of 17 years in host countries, the premier said the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through a political solution accompanied with firm international commitments to reduce its effects. 

The Jordan Response Plan (JRP) 2016-2018 was developed with the international community and the UN, Ensour said, with $8 billion required to cover the needs of Syrian refugees over this period.

Saudi Prince Turki Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who attended the conference, said Jordan is a role model to follow when it comes to hosting refugees. 

For his part, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said Jordan’s stance towards the Syrian crisis has been the most realistic and strategic one, which focuses on a political solution.

The government spokesperson stressed that the Kingdom continues to receive all those in need of help and security, adding that the world should act as one to resolve the crisis and support host communities.