Jordan says to keep borders open to Syrian refugees

Jordan on Monday said it will keep its borders open to the influx of Syrian refugees, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Jordan's Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the country has been receiving Syrian refugees since the start of the unrest in Syria, adding that Jordan will continue to have its borders open for Syrian refugees, but Jordan will also take into account the security consideration.

Ensour made the remarks at a meeting in Amman with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi.

"Jordan is a small country with limited resources that also faces economic challenges that exceeds its capabilities. Yet, Jordan will keep its borders open to the Syrian refugees and is looking forward to receiving more aid from the international community in this regard," Ensour said, adding that Jordan is home to some 1.4 million Syrian refugees.

Also on Monday, King Abdullah II of Jordan expressed Jordan's desire to boost cooperation with the UN refugee agency to prompt the international community to play a bigger role in resolving Syrian refugee crisis, in light of the growing burden borne by the kingdom due to hosting a large number of refugees.

The King stressed the importance of enhancing international efforts to ensure a continued support to countries hosting Syrian refugees, mainly Jordan and reviewed efforts exerted by the kingdom to provide Syrian refugees with humanitarian aid.

Grandi expressed the UNHCR's commitment to supporting Jordan and coordinating with government bodies to alleviate the burdens imposed on the kingdom in this regard. Endit