jordan pulse -

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday received UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Barham Salih.

Safadi and Salih discussed ways to enhance the ongoing cooperation between Jordan and UNHCR, affirming their commitment to strengthening it further.

They also addressed the challenges facing the agency due to declining financial contributions and the resulting impact on refugee assistance programmes, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Safadi emphasised that providing dignified living conditions for refugees is a shared responsibility between host countries and donors.

He highlighted the importance of continued collaboration among donor countries, host states, and relevant UN organisations in supporting Syrian refugees until voluntary conditions for their safe return to their homeland are established, noting that Syria’s stability is a cornerstone for regional security and stability.

He further stressed the importance of investing in conditions that enable voluntary return through support for Syria’s stability and reconstruction efforts.

For his part, Salih commended Jordan’s significant humanitarian role in hosting refugees and ensuring their welfare.

Safadi congratulated Salih on his appointment and expressed readiness to build upon the strong partnership between Jordan and UNHCR.

Also on Tuesday, Interior Minister Mazen Farrayeh and Salihon discussed mechanisms to enhance the voluntary return of Syrian refugees and the measures required to facilitate their repatriation.

During the meeting held at the ministry, both sides underlined the importance of providing necessary support to refugees to ensure a dignified life, while emphasising the need to assist host communities that share the burden of the refugee crisis.

Farrayeh and the UN official commended the strong bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the UNHCR, expressing their mutual commitment to further strengthening cooperation, according to a ministry statement.

The minister highlighted Jordan’s significant humanitarian role in hosting refugees, stressing the government's keenness to provide all essential services despite the mounting challenges.

Farrayeh also pointed out the profound impact of the refugee influx on various vital sectors, including health, education, water, and transport, noting the resulting pressure on the Kingdom’s infrastructure.

The UN official expressed his deep appreciation for Jordan’s active and leading role in hosting refugees, acknowledging the immense burdens the Kingdom continues to shoulder on behalf of the international community.

Also on Tuesday, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan and the UNHCR official discussed means to bolster cooperation between the Jordanian government and the UN refugee agency.

The meeting was attended by UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, UNHCR Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Rema Jamous Imseis, and UNHCR Representative to Jordan Maria Stavropoulou, according to a ministry statement.

During the meeting, Toukan commended the ongoing collaboration between Jordan and the UNHCR in providing essential services to refugees. She highlighted the pressing challenges arising from the decline in international financial resources and its direct impact on refugee support programmes.

The minister also stressed the importance of joint efforts to the necessary conditions for the "voluntary and safe return" of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

For his part, Salih expressed his appreciation for the high level of coordination with the Jordanian government. He praised Jordan’s tireless efforts in hosting refugees and its commitment to sustaining its humanitarian role by providing vital services