Jordan’s King Abdullah II: Jordanians have been feeling that the world is turning its backs on them

WORLD, Dec. 14 (YPA) – Jordan’s King Abdullah II said that Jordanians feel that the world is turning its back on them and ignoring their efforts to host refugees, underlying the importance of international support to the Kingdom’s response plan for the Syrian refugee crisis.

His Majesty’s remarks came during the keynote address he delivered on Wednesday at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, co-convened by Jordan, Colombia, France, Japan and Uganda, and co-hosted by Switzerland and UNHCR.

Jordan hosts nearly 4 million refugees of different nationalities, including almost 1.4 million Syrians. All in all, this is over a third of our 11 million population, he said.

“Granting safe haven to refugees is an integral part of Jordan’s national principles, especially in this troubled region, and we cannot turn our backs on them, because this is contrary to our policies and identity,” he said.

He continued: “In an increasingly volatile region, welcoming refugees has become an indelible part of Jordan’s national identity. We cannot turn our backs on refugees, because that is who we are. But Jordanians have been increasingly feeling that the world is turning its backs on them, as refugee hosts. As serious crises compete for international attention, the plight of refugees and their host countries has taken a backseat. But this is a lapse that the international community can ill afford.”

E.M