Thailand will provide financial assistance worth 7.26 million baht to Jordan and Lebanon to help Syrian refugees sheltering in the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said Sunday.
The money is designed to ease the countries' burden in providing food, shelter and healthcare for Syrian refugees, a burden it has undertaken since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011.
Thailand will provide US$100,000 (3.63 million baht) each to the governments to help them care for more than 3 million Syrian refugees scattered throughout the two countries in refugee camps.
"Increasing numbers of refugees are in dire need of food, water, medicine and temporary shelter,'' Mr Sek said.
Last year, the government provided $200,000 through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine and the Palestine Red Crescent Society for Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, according to Mr Sek.
Thailand also contributed another $100,000 through the Yemen Red Crescent Society to Yemenis affected by political conflicts in their country, he added.
"Providing humanitarian assistance to victims of conflicts and disasters all over the world has been a long-standing policy of the government,'' Mr Sek said.
The money will help Jordan support the refugees, says Thai ambassador to Jordan, Apichart Phetcharatana.
About 1.4 million refugees in Jordan are registered with the authorities, he said.
Mr Apichart told the Bangkok Post that Jordan has joined hands with the United Nations and donor-countries in setting up refugee camps along the northern border connecting to Syria.
"Jordan is a stable country but has no oil or gas, so the government needs help shouldering tasks such as healthcare, shelters, and providing education and employment,'' he said, adding many countries and orgainisations are also using Jordan as a hub to monitor the Middle East situation.
The Jordan Response Plan 2016-2018 was launched to help the Syrian refugees and requires a $7.9-billion budget for implementation.
All stakeholders, including Thailand, are moving in the right direction to help solve the refugee crisis, he said.
"The violence began five years ago, prompting a huge number of Syrians to cross the border to Jordan and nearby," Mr Apichart said.
"The issue gained worldwide attention when the situation escalated and many refugees fled to Europe in the later part of last year."
The refugees who fled to Jordan instead of European countries see the country as a neighbour with a similar identity.
But many are waiting for the chance to return to their homeland when Syria returns to normal.
He said relations between Jordan and Thailand are close, with the two countries marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.