Norway PM and Queen Rania of Jordan discussed regional needs

The topics Prime Minister Solberg discussed with Queen Rania included the refugee crisis resulting from the conflict in Syria, the situation for Jordan as a host country, and the international donor conference for Syria. They agreed that the international community must step up its efforts to support refugees and civilians in need in Syria and its neighbouring countries.

‘It is a tragedy that the conflict in Syria is still continuing, that innocent people are being killed and forced to flee their homes, and that children are being deprived of the opportunity to go to school. As long as the war continues, the risk of further instability in the region will increase,’ Ms Solberg said.   

‘Around 4.3 million people have fled from the conflict in Syria, most of them to neighbouring countries. The Jordanian authorities have shown great hospitality in hosting more than 600 000 refugees. I visited Jordan and Lebanon last November and had the chance to visit several refugee settlements. The refugees are in great need of humanitarian assistance, and dealing with the influx of refugees has posed many challenges for the countries in the region,’ Ms Solberg said after the meeting.

Prime Minister Solberg’s visit to Lebanon and Jordan in November was part of the work to follow up the Norwegian initiative to hold a donor conference for Syria. The conference is being organised jointly by Norway, the UK, Germany, Kuwait, and the UN, kindly hosted by the UK in London.

‘I hope that with such a broad and influential group hosting the conference we will be able to mobilise unprecedented levels of funding for those affected by the conflict in Syria, both in Syria and in its neighbouring countries,’ Ms Solberg said.