VOA标准英语2013--叙利亚内战,难民危机挑战约旦（在线收听）

Syrian Civil War, Refugee Crisis Challenge Jordan 叙利亚内战,难民危机挑战约旦

STATE DEPARTMENT — Syria's civil war and the refugee crisis it has  created are presenting a growing challenge to the government of  neighboring Jordan.

The impact of the fighting in Syria is felt far beyond its borders; it  has drawn in militia from Lebanon and Iraq and seen refugees flee to  Turkey and Jordan.

In an interview with Turkish television, President Bashar al-Assad said  all of Syria's neighbors are paying a price for the war against him.

"If we look at it as though it is a raging fire that is burning  society, it must extend its reach.  So it's impossible that Syria will  be on fire and Turkey is cold, comfortable. The same goes for Iraq and  Lebanon and Jordan," explained Assad.

In Jordan, there have been demonstrations against the Kingdom's  alliance with the United States.  It is a public discontent emboldened  by the war in Syria, according to former U.S. ambassador Adam Ereli.

"Domestic unrest and political unrest and popular dissatisfaction with  governmental policies is present in Jordan.  And looking at what's  happening in Syria influences that," said Ereli.

Fighting in Syria unsettles Jordan, which is already at the crossroads  of regional crises, claims American University professor Akbar Ahmed.

"Sooner or later that would affect the Palestinians, draw in Hezbollah  and then back to the Shia/Sunni confrontation and the regional powers.  And that is a nightmare for Jordan," said Ahmed.

The most visible impact on Jordan is more than half-a-million Syrian  refugees. Jordan's King Abdullah told the United Nations that, "the  damage and dangers are mounting."

"These are not just numbers. They are people, who need food, water,  shelter, sanitation, electricity, health care, and more.  Not even the  strongest global economies could absorb this demand on infrastructure  and resources," continued Abdullah.

That challenges the structure of Jordanian society, says U.N. High  Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.

"They are going through huge demographic changes following the refugee  influx, unsettling their social and economic fabric," explained  Guterres.

Ahmed points out that this is all happening at an especially precarious  time for King Abdullah.

"Jordan is a very fragile state. So it has a charismatic, intelligent,  wise ruler but a fragile base to it," said Ahmed.

The demands of Syrian refugees only make that worse as Jordanian  leaders try to insulate themselves from the conflict.

"It requires money, which they don't have. It requires flexibility,  innovation, reform which they do have and they are working on.  But I  would say it is a very tense situation," said Ereli.

Jordan wants to avoid being drawn further into Syria's civil war and is  part of efforts by the United States and Russia to find a political  solution to a conflict that has already killed more than 100,000  people.