The Ambassador of Japan to Jordan Kaoru Shimazaki 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).

The ambassador met with Palestine refugees and Agency staff. 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.

Shimazaki met with Becker who conveyed the Agency’s appreciation to the Government of Japan for its financial and political support to Palestine refugees. The delegation then met 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. Recognizing 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 immunization), school and dental health, outpatient consultations, laboratory services and management of chronic non-communicable diseases.

Acting Director of UNRWA Affairs, Olaf 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 5th largest contributor to the Agency donating a total of US$ 50.4 million. By the end of the second quarter of 2022, Japan contributed US$ 29.5 million to UNRWA, including three contributions for Gaza. The last US$ 1.5 million contribution was announced in late August and another US$ 5 million contribution was announced earlier in June.