Queen Rania of Jordan calls for more aid to refugees

Queen Rania of Jordan, who has become known for her philanthropic work, on Monday called for more aid for refugees during a visit to the Kara Tepe camp here.

Rania urged the international community to "support local and international humanitarian agencies, like International Rescue Committee and UNHCR, which do incredible work and prove to be the only lifeline for the refugees," according to a statement.

During her two-hour visit on the island, Rania talked with women refugees and their children who narrated to her their stories about leaving their countries. "They have seen unspeakable horror and have experienced unspeakable tragedy and hardship. They have risked everything, their families and their possessions," Rania said.

"It is impossible to understand the magnitude of this crisis until you come face-to-face with it. And it is very difficult to say which story is harder than the other," she stressed in the statement.

Rania also lauded local society and Greece for showing remarkable empathy for refugees. "I am aware of the challenge this crisis presents to Europe," she said.

"It's an exceptional crisis and requires an exceptional response, and Greece can't be the last stop of the refugees. The responsibility of this crisis cannot be defined by geography," she added.

Referring to the migrant deal between the EU and Turkey, she noted that many of the humanitarian agencies had expressed deep concerns.

"I think the deep concern here is that many of the refugees, who will continue out of desperation to seek safety and security, will now start to seek more dangerous routes," she said.

"It's crucial for us to see legal alternatives and more safe and effective pathways to Europe and to areas of safety. And look for more long and sustainable solutions to this crisis. We can't just deal with it as a temporary situation," Rania underlined.

The Greek island in the Aegean Sea, which has been visited over the last year by politicians and artists aiming to raise awareness about the ongoing refugee crisis, has been the main gate into Europe for refugees and migrants during 2015.

Boats with refugees from Turkey continue to reach Lesvos, despite the European Union-Turkey deal which came into effect on March 20 to stem the influx.

Lesvos is now hosting around 4,000 refugees and migrants, according to latest figures released by local police.

Jordan hosts 1.4 million refugees, many of whom are living in camps close to the country's northern border. Endit