AZRAQ CAMP, JORDAN, 14 April 2019 – The Japanese Ambassador to Jordan, H.E. Mr. Hidenao Yanagi, visited Azraq refugee camp today to commemorate the start of Japanese funding for a reproductive health clinic in Village 6 that is supported by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.  

Ambassador Yanagi gave a speech on the clinic grounds before initiating a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new funding cycle, which is just one of the many steps that Japan has taken to support Jordan’s resilience in providing for Syrian refugees under the Jordan Response Plan 2019/2020.

Ambassador Yanagi expressed his appreciation for the generosity and readiness of the government and people of Jordan in receiving massive numbers of refugees. He added that realizing universal health coverage is one of the priorities of Japanese diplomacy and that it is critically important to ensure universal access of comprehensive reproductive health services.

“Refugees residing in camps are extremely vulnerable and women and girls, in particular, are facing a number of challenges, such as lack of medical care and a high risk of gender-based violence,” said Ambassador Yanagi.

UNFPA Jordan Representative Laila Baker reiterated the importance of supporting women’s reproductive health and rights through the work of the clinic and its managing partner, the International Rescue Committee, especially focusing on the prevention of maternal death and ending gender-based violence.

“Too often, women and girls are seen as ‘peripheral’ to the health of a family,” said Ms. Baker. “The clinic in Azraq provides safe, quality care to women in the camp so that they and their families can experience better health. It sets the standard so that women demand quality care.”

Since 2014, UNFPA has been supporting three reproductive health clinics in Azraq refugee camp. Around 8,000 women and girls of childbearing age depend on these clinics to access services, such as individual and couple’s family planning counseling, antenatal care, postnatal care, management of the immediate consequences of sexual violence, post-abortion care as well as referral services to a network of affiliated hospitals inside and outside the camp.