Bishop asks help for Jordan's refugee programs
January 07, 2013
A European bishop has called for international support for Jordan’s efforts to accommodate a flood of refugees from Syria.
Archbishop Joan Enric Vives i Sicilia of Urgell—a diocese that spans Spain and the principality of Andorra—made his appeal on Vatican Radio after taking part in a visit to the Holy Land by a group of bishops from Europe and North America. He pointed out that Jordan has been hosting refugees for 50 years. The country first accepted thousands of Palestinian families after the birth of the Israeli state, and more recently absorbed refugees from war-torn Iraq.
In the past month, Archbishop Vives reported, about 250,000 people have fled to Jordan to escape the fighting in Syria. In total there are now about 600,000 refugees living in Jordan.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
