Visit of UK Prime Minister to Jordan
The Prime Minister commended the strength of the UK-Jordan relationship, which expands well beyond the refugee crisis.
PM David Cameron meets HM King Abdullah II
Yesterday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron visited Jordan, to strengthen the historic and growing partnership between the two countries.
During his visit, Prime Minister Cameron visited Zaatari refugee camp, where he saw how the UK is helping the most vulnerable refugees. He visited a UK-supported centre run by Handicap International and talked to some of those who were seriously injured as a result of the war in Syria and were now being helped with rehabilitation, as well as a UK-supported UNICEF Makani Centre, which provides psychological support, basic education and life skills support to children who are not in the formal education system. He then went on to visit the local Jordanian community in Zaatari village, where he met community leaders and saw a UK-supported school, run by Mercy Corps, which brings Syrian and Jordanian pupils together.
After his visits in Zaatari, the Prime Minister met with His Majesty King Abdullah II. During the meeting His Majesty said that he wanted to “commend the role” played by Britain in addressing the refugee crisis in Jordan.
Since the start of the Syria cisis, the UK has contributed $0.5 billion in support to Jordan to help deal with the Syrian refugee crisis. This year, the UK will spend $100m in Jordan, around half of which will be used to support those Jordanian communities which are hosting the largest numbers of Syrian refugees, by supporting provision of education, healthcare and municipal services such as waste management and clean water.
The Prime Minister also commended the strength of the UK-Jordan relationship, which expands well beyond the refugee crisis. The UK and Jordan enjoy strong military links as well as a growing trade relationship that grew by 30% in 2014 alone. The two countries are also expanding cultural ties, with more Jordanians studying in the UK this year on UK-government scholarships than ever before.