Theophilos III urges global support for Jordan as overburdened refugee host

AMMAN — Orthodox Church Patriarch Theophilos III on Thursday thanked His Majesty King Abdullah and Jordanians for shouldering financial and humanitarian burdens as a result of the Syrian crisis despite the country’s meagre resources, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem, All Palestine and Jordan conducted a tour, organised by the Orthodox Initiative in Jordan, at a refugee settlement recently during which he checked on the condition of Syrian refugees in Sabha and Subhiya in the Northeastern Badia.

During the tour, Patriarch Theophilos III prayed for Syrians’ safety and safe return to their country as soon as possible. 

He urged the international community and all the concerned organisations to support Jordan, voicing his church’s support for the Kingdom to help refugees as part of the Orthodox Initiative, which, he said, aims at reducing the burdens shouldered by Jordan through supporting the refugees. 

The patriarch toured the camp, visiting Al Basita School, which was established by the initiative last year, and also spoke to camp dwellers. 

He distributed gifts to children and relief packages containing food and winter clothing. 

Theophilos III launched the Orthodox Initiative in 2011 in parallel with the Syrian crisis, employing the refugees themselves with the help of the local community to run its projects, of which Sabha and Subhiya is the fourth, according to Petra.