'Jordan has often warned of the dangers of leaving a lost generation behind'

King Abdullah of Jordan on Wednesday delivered the keynote address at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, co-convened by Jordan, Colombia, France, Japan and Uganda, and co-hosted by Switzerland and UNHCR.

He warned of the waning international attention to the ongoing refugee crisis.

“And now, as we speak, we find ourselves dealing with another internal displacement crisis in the region. Over 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza, many of whom are themselves refugees, have been forced to flee their homes amid a relentless bombing campaign,” he said.

“With all eyes on Gaza, the international community must recognise, more than ever, that band-aid solutions are no longer feasible, and that global crises demand long-term responsibility-sharing,” the King added.

Abdullah said Jordan is pushing for a more coordinated humanitarian response in Gaza, and supporting the Palestinians and UNRWA “in any way we can”.

“But our country is still bearing the heavy costs and burdens of the refugee communities in our midst,” the King added, urging the international community not to leave the most vulnerable behind.