Ms. Sheri Ritsema-Anderson Statement at the Ministerial Meeting Seventh Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

Today you have heard the UN call the status quo in Syria unacceptable and unsustainable. We have deplored the astronomical toll of the crisis on Syrians and neighboring countries. And we have urged that collective achievements be protected through sustained financial generosity towards unabated humanitarian and host community resilience needs.

From my vantage point in Jordan, I can attest to the imperative of each of these three statements. 

HE Minister Safadi clearly laid out the impacts on Jordan. These include disruptions to the Jordanian economy, the emergence of an illicit drug trade, the hosting of 1.3 million Syrians, accelerated draw-down of limited water resources, and increased challenges in the pathway to achieving the sustainable development goals in the country. 

Yet Jordan’s generosity and solidarity remains unwavering. It is truly commendable. 

I also commend the long-standing generous support of donors. And I thank you for your support and partnership. Working together for more than a decade, the international community and Jordan have jointly provided a lifeline to refugees and host communities alike. 

But at this, the 7th Brussels conference, we must not become complacent. Our collective achievements in Jordan can be undermined if future funding is not commensurate with unabated needs. 

And as noted earlier, funding for UN programs is running short, potentially as soon as in a few months. Let me also pause here to recall that in parallel, funding for UNRWA operations for Palestine refugees is also running short. 

The UN remains steadfast in our commitment to support refugees and host communities in Jordan affected by the Syria crisis, as well as the broader modernization efforts launched by HM King Abdullah II. And I thank HE Minister Safadi for his kind words about the good partnership between the UN in Jordan and the Kingdom. Let me repeat: the UN remains a  steadfast partner in Jordan. But as we have no funding of our own, we need increased funding to do this. 

This is why it is imperative that efforts towards comprehensive political solutions, and support for improving conditions for communities inside Syria, be accompanied by sustained international support for refugees and host communities in neighboring countries. 

12 years into the crisis, we have to find smarter and more efficient ways to continue supporting refugees and host communities, ways to support continuing humanitarian and resilience needs, while also in parallel, enabling host countries like Jordan to achieve their sustainable development goals. 

By maintaining humanitarian and resilience support, whilst also supporting Jordan’s modernization vision, the Kingdom will be able to continue providing hospitality to those in need of refuge, until durable solutions to regional crises are secured, and will also continue advancing towards sustainable development.

I appeal to donors for your continued generosity. After we have come so far together, let us not now undermine our collective achievements. Let us secure the gains and ensure we leave no man, woman or child behind in our efforts to advance people, peace and the planet.