In a recent world exclusive interview, Queen Rania of Jordan discussed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in her region, with a particular focus on the Syrian refugee situation and the broader Middle Eastern crisis. The interview aired live at 20:00 Amman time, 19:00 CET, on CNN International and later on PBS.
Queen Rania stressed the exceptional magnitude of the refugee crisis, urging for a heightened international response. The Queen pointed out that while Europe is now grappling with a surge in refugees, Jordan and neighboring countries have been hosting a far greater number for years. She highlighted that the 350,000 refugees entering Europe are a small percentage compared to the four million refugees residing in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq. She emphasized Jordan's significant humanitarian efforts despite its limited resources, hosting over 1.4 million Syrians with over 600,000 registered refugees. Her Majesty called for increased international support to manage the crisis and warned about the severe consequences if the international community fails to act, which might play into the hands of extremist groups fostering on desperation and division.
In another part of her discourse, Queen Rania discussed the ongoing conflict in Palestine, expressing her concerns and calling for empathy and humanity amid the 75-year-old struggle for freedom. Moreover, she addressed the media's double standards in covering the Israel-Gaza conflict during her interview with veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour, expressing disappointment over the prevailing biases.
Furthermore, Queen Rania has been vocal about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing that neither blockades nor bombings will bring peace to the region, as mentioned in another interview with CNN's Becky Anderson.
Through these discussions, Queen Rania continues to highlight the crucial need for a collective international effort to address the humanitarian crises unfolding in the Middle East, urging for more compassion, understanding, and substantial support to alleviate the suffering and work towards lasting solutions.