Jordan king: ‘The dam is going to burst’ on Syrian refugees

Special to WorldTribune.com

Jordan can no longer take in Syrian refugees without international assistance, King Abdullah said.

The country is at its “boiling point,” Abdullah told the BBC. He said that Jordan has spent 25 percent of its budget on the hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Syrian refugees at a camp in Jordan.
Syrian refugees at a camp in Jordan.

“Sooner or later, I think, the dam is going to burst,” Abdullah said, adding that the international community must provide more funding if it wants Jordan to continue accepting refugees.

Abdullah said that Europeans are now more understanding of Jordan’s plight as Europe is suffering from similar issues. “They realize that if they don’t help Jordan, it’s going to be more difficult for them to deal with the refugee crisis.”

The United Nations said $7.7 billion is needed to help Syrians in 2016. Last year, the UN was only able to raise $1.2 billion, less than half of its intended goal.

Jordanian officials say only one percent of the Syrian refugees have received work permits, as the public fears the immigrants will take jobs from them.

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