Khaberni - Minister of Interior Mazen Al-Faraya said on Tuesday that Jordan currently hosts 3.5 million refugees from 43 countries, including 1.4 million Syrians, with less than 100,000 of them residing in camps, while the rest are integrated into cities and Jordanian communities.
Al-Faraya added during his participation in the tenth edition of the Vienna Migration Conference, which is held this year in the Austrian capital Vienna, that Jordan provides them with quality healthcare, education, and job opportunities, despite the significant pressures this places on infrastructure and resources, particularly water, with the annual per capita share not exceeding 61 cubic meters.
Al-Faraya stated that due to the long Jordanian-Syrian border (378 km), strenuous efforts are being made with the Syrian brothers to protect this border and control it, as well as to curb drug smuggling and arms trafficking, with about 8 million Captagon pills seized during the current year.
Regarding the return of refugees, Al-Faraya explained that the number of those returning voluntarily remains limited in the absence of a safe and encouraging environment for return, cautioning that continued instability in the region could lead to a new refugee wave that countries cannot absorb.
In this context, Minister Al-Faraya called for Europe to open legal migration channels for skilled labor from the kingdom in sectors such as information technology and health, in addition to increasing funding to support refugees in light of the limited support where the support for the Syrian crisis response plan for the year 2025 reached only 12%.
He emphasized the need to achieve stability in Syria as it is the ultimate solution to reduce migration and ensure regional peace.
In response to a question about the prospects for international cooperation on migration, Al-Faraya said: "The equation is clear: every human needs security, a job opportunity, and basic services. If they don't find them, they will look for them anywhere in the world. We need to work together to ensure these essentials are available in their own countries."
Al-Faraya underscored the importance of enhancing the European Union's engagement in the region and continuing to support host countries, especially in the fields of health, water, and employment opportunities.
He concluded his remarks by warning that "Syria represents an opportunity, and if it is missed, we will witness a new wave of refugees."
Speakers, led by Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, praised the pivotal role that the kingdom plays in hosting refugees and maintaining stability in a troubled region. The Austrian minister thanked Jordan for its warm reception during his visit in March, which included a visit to the Zaatari camp, and said:
"You provide security and safety and are doing great work for the refugees and for our countries."
The meetings were attended by the accredited Jordanian Ambassador to Austria, Mohammed Hindawi, and the Vienna Migration Conference is an annual international platform that brings together senior ministers and representatives from Europe and the MENA region to discuss migration and asylum issues and regional cooperation.
