AMMAN, July 18 (Xinhua) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called for immediate action to address its funding crisis and avoid dire consequences for refugees.
Dominik Bartsch, the representative of the UN refugee agency in Jordan, stated that the current lack of funds for refugee response is putting at risk the progress made over the past decade, as reported by state-run Al Mamlaka TV.
Bartsch expressed concerns about the Jordanian government’s ability to sustain vital health and education services for the refugees in the country.
In previous years, ongoing support facilitated the entry of Syrian refugees into the labor market, but there is a potential for the overall refugee situation to develop into a humanitarian crisis for both refugees and host communities, according to Bartsch.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Tuesday that it will have to make further cuts in food assistance to refugees in Jordan due to insufficient funds.
In the Zaatari and Azraq camps of Jordan, monthly aid for the 119,000 Syrian refugees will be reduced by a third. From August onwards, Syrian refugees in these camps will receive 21 U.S. dollars instead of 32 dollars per month.
These WFP cuts follow a series of aid reductions in recent months, resulting in NGOs suspending health services in the Zaatari and Azraq camps and a significant decline in the quality and availability of healthcare.
Praising Jordan’s substantial efforts to assist refugees, Bartsch urged donors to recognize the risks ahead. He emphasized the necessity for a coordinated and strategic response to ensure the successful hosting of refugees in Jordan.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
