by Taylor Luck | Petra | JORDAN TIMES

RAMTHA/AMMAN — A Swiss humanitarian envoy on Monday confirmed his country’s support for Jordan’s efforts to host refugees, as relief agencies reported a rise in the number of injured Syrians crossing into the Kingdom.

During a field visit to Mafraq and Ramtha — the northern cities that have become epicentres of the growing refugee community — Manuel Bessler, delegate of the Federal Council for Swiss Humanitarian Aid, lauded Jordan’s ongoing efforts to provide services to Syrian refugees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Bessler commended Jordanians for “opening their homes” to displaced Syrians, noting that Syria’s neighbours are shouldering the bulk of the burden of the growing humanitarian crisis there.

The Swiss envoy called for greater international assistance to the Kingdom to enable Amman to maintain its open-border policy, which according to officials has led to the entrance of over 110,000 Syrians since March 2011.

The Swiss envoy stressed that his government will continue to extend support to Jordan through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, in coordination with UNICEF and other international organisations and “without any political agenda”, Petra reported.

In light of the emerging humanitarian crisis, Bessler noted that Switzerland will increase its humanitarian aid for refugees from JD3.1 million to JD4.6 million this year.

Injured refugees

Meanwhile, local charitable societies reported a rise in injured refugees crossing into the Kingdom in light of an ongoing Syrian military crackdown in the border region.

According to the Islamic Charitable Society, some 45 injured Syrians have crossed into the Kingdom in the last 48 hours, with the majority exhibiting injuries ranging from bullet wounds to amputations.

Syrian activists confirmed that the number of refugees arriving in need of urgent medical care was on the rise, with dozens injured in a Syrian army ambush on a group of families attempting to cross into Jordan late Saturday.

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