UAE funds help Syrian refugees in Jordan

Syrian refugees at the Zaatari refugee camp near the Jordanian city of Mafraq. The camp is home to 115,000 Syrians. Khalil Mazraawi / AFP

ABU DHABI // The UAE funded more than 30 per cent of the health needs of Syrian refugees living in two camps in Jordan in the first nine months of this year.

State news agency Wam reported that organisations in this country had donated Dh18 million to health assistance in the Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps between January and September.

Of that total, Dh7 million was allocated to health activities and Dh11 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ water, sanitation and health initiative.

The UAE Ministry of International Cooperation and Development said the aid amounted to more than 30 per cent of the two camps’ total health needs.

The UNHCR has helped 94,000 Syrian refugees through two field hospitals, with 55 beds between them, as well as nine primary healthcare centres and a delivery unit in Zaatari camp.

The donations also support a clinic in Azraq camp that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as another health unit.

“This contribution reflects the deep and strategic humanitarian partnership established between UNHCR and the leadership, Government and people of the United Arab Emirates,” said Nabil Othman, UNHCR’s acting regional representative.

The support enabled UNHCR to “provide comprehensive health services and much-needed assistance in the form of water and sanitation to camp-based Syrian refugee populations in Jordan”, Mr Othman said.

The Government began providing humanitarian aid to Syria in 2012 and has contributed about Dh401 million since then. Other forms of support included education and health initiatives.

The funds provided healthcare services to about 80,000 refugees in Zaatari camp. It also provided mental health treatment for 704 people and reproductive health consultations for more than 52,000 people.

“With a worsening humanitarian crisis inside Syria and an unremitting influx of refugees seeking safety in neighbouring countries, the sustainable provision of health and other essential services remains a major challenge, and this can only be addressed through continuous cooperation and support from our donors,” said Mr Othman.