Jordan king calls for help to refugee-hosting states

AMMAN

King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday called on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards the countries hosting Syrian refugees.

This came during a meeting between the Jordanian monarch and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, who arrived in the kingdom on Sunday for an official visit.

The meeting focused on cooperation between Amman and UNHCR, particularly the provision of services to refugees in the country, according to a statement issued by the Jordanian Royal Court.

The two sides discussed the growing pressure on services in Jordan due to the high numbers of Syrian refugees in the country, the statement said.

King Abdullah II, the statement said, underlined the importance for the international community to "assume its responsibilities towards the host countries of Syrian refugees, first and foremost Jordan."

He also called for continued coordination between Jordan and UNHCR to ensure that "refugees and host communities receive the necessary support."

Grandi, for his part, praised Jordan's "great role" in providing humanitarian and relief services to refugees.

Jordan shares a 375-kilometer border with next-door Syria, which fell into civil war in 2011.

There are more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Reporting by Laith al-Junidi; Writing by Ali Abo Rezeg