By Andrew Warshaw
January 14 – FIFA Vice President Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s efforts to use football as a tool for change in Asia has been extended to the Syrian refugee crisis in his native Jordan.
Prince Ali, who runs Asia’s Football Development Project, paid a visit at the weekend to the Za’atari Refugee Camp and three sport clubs in northern Jordan accompanied by Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke.
The tour was organised to raise awareness in the international community on the severity of the crisis and the role of sport in rehabilitation amongst the refugee communities.
“The international community must come together to assist the Syrian refugees. They continue to face problems especially in such harsh weather conditions and despite the tireless efforts of UNHCR staff and their Jordanian partners,” Prince Ali, who is also president of the Jordanian Football Association, said in a statement.
More than 230,000 Syrian refugees are on Jordanian territory and UNHCR and Jordanian authorities estimate that around two thirds are under the age of 20.
“It is clear from what we have seen at Za’atari that there are no available safe spaces for children to play football or other sports,” said Prince Ali.
“The Syrian members of the sport committee have shared with us the challenges they face in the camp, noting that sport plays a crucial role in bringing their community together and in creating a healthy outlet for their children.”
Lemke added: “In this kind of very difficult and often hopeless environments, sport can greatly contribute to hope and relief and can also provide the platform for developing role models for the community, which is, in particular important for the children and youth growing up in these environments.”
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