Jordan opens new camp for Syrian refugees

Jordan Wednesday opened a new camp in the eastern part of the country that can accommodate as much as 130,000 refugees, the state media reported.

Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh said the opening of the camp, which is the second largest after the Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Mafraq, will be allocated for newly coming refugees, Xinhua reported.

The camp seeks to ease pressure on the Zaatari camp, which is home to more than 130,000 refugees at present. According to the minister, there are 1.3 million Syrians in Jordan, of whom about 600,000 are registered as refugees.

The minister reiterated Jordan's call for intensified efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

He also voiced appreciation for aid by the international community to Jordan to reduce pressure on the country amidst increasing influx of Syrian refugees.