World Bank approves $100 million in financing to create 100,000 jobs for Jordanians, Syrian refugees

AMMAN

AFP photo

Aiming to create 100,000 new jobs for Jordanians and Syrian refugees in the next five years, the World Bank’s Board of Directors has agreed to offer Jordan $100 million in financing at rates usually reserved for the poorest countries, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announced on March 27.

The announcement was made during a joint visit by Yong Kim and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The visit reaffirmed the global commitment to help address the impact of the Syria crisis through immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term development support, according to a written statement on World Bank’s website. 

The focus of the visit has been to find innovative solutions that begin to address the severe economic and social stresses resulting from the influx of refugees, including shoring up basic services and creating job opportunities for Syrian refugees and Jordanians alike. More than 4.8 million Syrians have fled their country since the start of the Syria conflict in 2011.

“The Jordanian government has done an exceptional job in helping to meet the challenges posed by the large flows of refugees,” said Yong Kim, who was visiting Jordan for the second time in two years. “It is now up to the international community to do more to help Jordan – and provide it with the innovative financing it needs to continue hosting refugees. It’s also important for Jordan to enact necessary reforms that will attract investments needed for the economy to grow and provide shared prosperity for all Jordanians.”