Palestinian refugees in Jordan: Jolie visits, expresses thanks

While on a private trip to Jordan last week, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie spent an afternoon at the refugee camp at Ruweished, near Jordan's eastern border with Iraq that houses more than 500 refugees from Iraq, mostly Palestinians. During her visit, Jolie thanked Jordan for providing sanctuary to people who left Iraq, and UNHCR is similarly grateful for the hospitality Jordan has long provided refugees.

We remain particularly concerned about the fate of 427 Palestinians in the border sites. Seventeen have travel documents issued by Egypt and Lebanon, while the majority hold Iraqi resident permits. The Palestinian Authority has said that it is willing to accept Palestinians seeking to go to the West Bank and Gaza.

We would like to meet with Palestinian and Israeli officials to arrange for these people to re-enter the Territories. We would also welcome initiatives from other countries in the region that would like to be part of a solution to this humanitarian problem and offer sanctuary to some of the Palestinians. The number of people involved is not large, and we hope that countries in the region will come forward to help find a solution for the Palestinians. Jordan has said that it wants to see the Ruweished camps closed. All the refugees are living under tents in wintry conditions out in the desert zone.