During his visit to Jordan, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se visited the Zaatari refugee camp operated by the UNHCR -- the UN Refugee Agency -- on December 19 to offer encouragement to Syrian refugees and to relay the willingness of the government of the Republic of Korea to assist them.
During his visit to the camp, Minister Yun delivered some one million US dollars in humanitarian assistance. Out of the fund, 900,000 US dollars will be used to buy 300 caravans, -- container houses -- with the rest to be channeled into improving school facilities on the camp.
◦ Minister Yun gave in person to refugee families the keys to two caravans out of the first batch of 40 caravans delivered during his visit to the camp.
◦The ROK government provided a total of 13 million US dollars in humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees in 2012-14, out of which 4.8 million was offered to Jordan .
- The Representative of the UNHCR to Jordan, which runs the Zaatari camp, and the head of the camp briefed Minister Yun about the camp and its operations. In the briefing, they highlighted the need for the international community to continue expanding its assistance, in particular, adding that they attach special significance to assistance from the ROK, a country that had experienced war and reconstruction.
◦ The Representative brought attention to the urgent need to build infrastructure necessary for daily lives, including electricity, sewerage and drinking water facilities, and to increase caravans and other living facilities, adding that education of children should be expanded as well. In that light, he took note of the great usefulness of the ROK assistance, including providing caravans, building a soccer field, and offering Taekwondo -- traditional Korean martial arts -- classes, and extended deep appreciation for the assistance.
◦ The Representative, citing the importance of assisting the regional community hosting Syrian refugees, stressed the need to assist Jordan, where the large refugee facility is located, through investment for the camp to be maintained as a sustainable facility in the country in the mid to long term.
Minister Yun expressed consent on the Representative’s view that the issue of Syrian refugees is a global task that the international community should work together on. He conveyed the commitment of the ROK government to do what it can to help reduce Jordan’s burden of hosting refugees and to continue cooperation with the UNHCR in an efficient way.
The visit to the Zaatari refugee camp by Minister Yun came as part of the ROK government’s diplomacy with the Middle East aimed to build comprehensive partnership with the region in a wide range of fields, including not only economy, but also politics, security and culture. It is also seen to have served as an opportunity to convey the willingness of the ROK to participate more actively as a responsible middle power country in international efforts to resolve the global issue of Syrian refugees.
Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA
- unofficial translation
