UN-Jordan talks to re-settle Syrian refugees currently in Jordan

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees' representative in Jordan Andrew Harper said, Monday, talks are ongoing with the Hashemite kingdom regarding a US initiative to re-settle Syrian refugees currently in Jordan, and the UN would make sure those re-located are the most in need of re-location. The representative's remarks were quoted by Al-Ghad newspaper here in today's issue. While stressing the UN agency would make sure the process is in the interest of both host-state and refugees, Harper said the number of those eligible for the relocation is still to be decided. The figure would be included in the overall 2,000 Syrian refugees the US is willing to host, and the current cases would be discussed with both governments to determine the details, he noted. Harper expressed hope to see the refugees return to their homeland, their work, and their extended families, stressing the majority of them wish to return. Expressing appreciation for some countries' hosting of the refugees, Harper said it is vital support be lent to the host-countries and communities as well as refugees. "Giving refuge to but a few thousand refugees" is nothing in comparison with the overall number of refugees in the region which is around 2 million. The UN official noted there is increased interest on the part of some European countries, Canada, and Australia, in addition to the US to host Syrian refugees. Germany was the first European state to offer such refuge, offering to host and repatriate 5,000 refugees. This last offer was till the Syrian crisis comes to an end, unlike the US offer of lasting re-location as with the US offer. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees previously announced it was working with several European governments to find ways to help the refugees which are expected to reach 3.45 million by end of 2013, half of which taking refuge in Jordan.