$70m from Netherlands to support refugee host communities

AMMAN — The Netherlands will allocate an additional 60 million euros ($70 million and around JD49 million) to Jordan to help the country cope with refugees, a Dutch embassy statement said Wednesday.

The Dutch government, through Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen, announced the grant. 

The statement said the assistance will be used to invest in communities hosting Syrian refugees, providing basic services such as education, and boosting employment and opportunities for starting a business.

“People are increasingly realising they will not be able to go home any time soon. At the same time, the situation in host countries is progressively becoming unmaintainable,” the statement quoted Ploumen as saying. 

“Our help is needed, to provide people with perspective and ensure the region does not become more unstable,” she added.

The support is part of a broader package aimed at providing additional assistance to countries neighbouring Syria that have provided a safe haven for refugees over the past years, according to the statement. 

The package of 260 million euros ($300 million) over the next two years was announced to the Parliament of the Netherlands on Monday.

The support comes in addition to the 360 million euros ($415 million) that the Netherlands has pledged for the region so far. 

In 2016, the Netherlands has provided the region with 75 million euros ($86 million) in humanitarian assistance. 

Furthermore, the Netherlands supports Jordan by strengthening its economy, such as by contributing to the World Bank fund for soft loans, scholarships, support for young entrepreneurs and support to civil society, the statement said. 

“Further projects to support Jordan are still being considered. It is likely that the amount of Dutch assistance will further increase in the course of this year,” the embassy added.