EU Commission Vice-President urges more aid to Jordan, refugee host countries

European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas Tuesday urged the international community to live up to its pledge to support Jordan and other refugee host countries, a role the European Union has committed to carry out. In remarks during a visit to the Azraq camp for Syrian refugees in Zarqa Governorate, Schinas commended Jordan for the "exceptional generosity" of hosting a large number of refugees of various nationalities over the past decades as a result of wars and dire humanitarian conditions in their countries. Since the conflict broke out in Syria, he said, the EU has played an outstanding role and become the largest donor to Syria and neighboring countries, offering more than 33 billion euros in humanitarian, developmental and economic aid to achieve stability in the region. During the eighth session of the Brussels Conference on Syria last week, the bloc and member states pledged an additional 6 billion euros to support countries hosting refugees, including Jordan, Schinas added. He pointed out that since the conflict began in Syria in 2011, the EU has provided 4 billion euros to Jordan in humanitarian aid and financial facilities to help it cope with the repercussions of the refugee crisis. EU aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan focused on access to basic services, such as education, health, social protection, and self-reliance (opportunities to earn a living), both within the Azraq and Zaatari camps, as well as neighboring communities, said Schinas. For his part, UNICEF Representative in Jordan, Philippe Duamelle, hailed EU aid to Jordan and UNICEF to enable the organization to pursue its work to care for refugees and provide health services to them through hospitals and health centers inside the refugee camps, noting facilities and logistical support provided by the Jordanian government to the children's organization. He also urged more EU aid after some international bodies interrupted assistance, so that relief operations continue until Syrian refugee can return to their country. Source: Jordan News Agency