Japanese ambassador visits UNRWA school, health centre in Amman New Camp

AMMAN — Japan’s Ambassador to Jordan Kaoru Shimazaki on Tuesday visited a United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school and health centre in Amman New Camp (ANC). 

He met with Palestine refugees and agency staff, according to an UNRWA statement. 

The Japanese delegation was welcomed by Acting Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan Olaf Becker and Acting Director of UNRWA Directorate at the Department of Palestinian Affairs Heba Al Ma’ani.

Becker who conveyed the agency’s appreciation for the Government of Japan for its financial and political support to Palestine refugees, the statement said. 

The delegation then met with UNRWA Amman New Camp Preparatory Girls’ School students, as well as student parliamentarians. They later visited an UNRWA health clinic.

Shimazaki, said: “UNRWA has contributed to supporting Palestine refugees by helping them get access to essential services in their daily lives. Recognising the significance of UNRWA operations from a humanitarian perspective and for the regional stability, we need to ensure UNRWA to fulfill its mandate for the well-being of Palestine refugees. Today, I was able to witness the lives of Palestine refugees and the commitment of UNRWA and Jordan on this issue.”

UNRWA briefed the delegation on the agency’s preventive and curative health services, including family planning, pre-conception care, antenatal care and postnatal follow-up, infant care (growth monitoring, medical check-ups and immunisation), school and dental health, outpatient consultations, laboratory services and management of chronic non-communicable diseases.

Becker said: “Japan has always been a committed partner to UNRWA. Today’s visit demonstrates Japan’s ongoing commitment in supporting Palestine refugees in Jordan. We thank the Government and people of Japan for this partnership and support.”

The Government of Japan has been an ongoing donor to UNRWA since 1953. In 2021, the Government of Japan was the fifth largest contributor to the agency donating a total of $50.4 million. 

By the end of the second quarter of 2022, Japan contributed $29.5 million to UNRWA, including three contributions for Gaza. The last $1.5 million contribution was announced in late August and another $5 million contribution was announced earlier in June. 

It is thanks to enduring support of donors like the Government of Japan that UNRWA provides vital services to Palestine refugees across the Middle East.