The Secretary-General met today with Mr. Ibrahim Saif, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan, on the margins of the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria, held in Kuwait City today.

The Minister expressed his appreciation for the work of the United Nations in Jordan and for the strong cooperation on the ground to assist Syrian refugees. The Secretary-General reiterated the UN's commitment in that regard and also praised Jordan’s generosity while calling the country to continue to keep its border open. He also noted the deteriorating humanitarian situation, the growing number of refugees and their impact on host communities. They also stressed the need for a political solution to the Syrian crisis and looked ahead to next week's Geneva Conference on Syria as an important step toward that end.