Rich Jordanians Step Up Giving to Aid Syrians Crossing Border

Wealthy donors in Jordan are essentially subsidizing humanitarian work in camps overflowing with refugees fleeing Syria’s violent crackdown on anti-government forces in neighboring Syria, writes The New York Times.

The Al-Bashabsheh family, which made a fortune in international trade, pays about $395,000 a year to help operate a refugee camp in Ramtha in northwest Jordan, through which more than 10,000 refugees have passed in recent months.

Other businesses and private charities are picking up much of the tab for relief work as the Syrian conflict creates problems for Jordan, which has seen 100,000 refugees and had its trade disrupted by the crisis next-door. The private aid also allows Jordan’s government to deny it is harboring rebels wanted by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Nael Al-Kabariti, who heads the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, estimated that nearly 80 percent of the country’s refugee aid has come from the private sector. “We feel this is our social responsibility. We cannot see people suffering and stand by watching,” he said.