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No blame, here

Jul 09,2016 - Last updated at Jul 09,2016

According to UN sources, about 85,000 Syrians are stranded at the Syrian-Jordanian border, in urgent need of food, water, medicine and shelter.

This accumulation of so many Syrian refugees is, in part, the result of the Kingdom’s decision to close its northern border with Syria after the June 21 terrorist attack on a Jordanian military border post that killed seven soldiers and injured 12.

Jordan received nearly a million-and-half Syrians fleeing the civil war that has devastated their country, killed hundreds of thousands of their compatriots and jeopardises the safety of all.

The Kingdom’s open door policy was prompted by humanitarian considerations, and for that the country has earned praise and the gratefulness of those who found refuge here. 

But there is a limit to what Jordan can do on behalf of the international community, and when its security and stability are in danger, the country cannot be expected but to act.

Official estimates put the cost of looking after the Syrian refugees to two-and-a-half billion dollars. That is a sum beyond the means of many a country, let alone Jordan, which has meager resources, and most of the international aid promised to the country for this purpose has yet to be delivered.

If the UN and the world have now awakened to the plight of the Syrians stranded on our border with Syria and seek to extend the basic necessities of life to them, they should look for a way to do so, and there are a few. 

Major powers like Russia and the US are deploying their armed forces in big numbers to take part, and sides, in the Syrian conflict. 

All they need to do is convert their military intervention into humanitarian assistance to internally displaced Syrians or those who seek safe haven in neighbouring countries.

If all the war efforts were focused on making peace, the country would be in better shape in no time.

The UN Security Council has the power and the jurisdiction to act on that, but is there political will to do so, or are vested economic and political interests more powerful?

The answer is clear.

Granted, the situation of refugees stuck at the border is dire and can be expected to worsen.

But after five years of open door policy, Jordan, faced with the clear threat of terrorism, cannot be blamed for closing its border to them.

 

The country’s foremost duty is to do all it takes to preserve the life and safety of its citizens.

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