DRC, Novo Nordisk Foundation’s COVID-19 response project in Jordan concludes

AMMAN — Based on an assessment conducted by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), it was observed that COVID-19 had and still has a severe impact on displacement-affected populations in the country, given that many of them are experiencing partial or complete loss of income, the international humanitarian organisation said in a statement.

As a response, the DRC partnered with Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) to implement the programme “Responding to COVID-19 outbreak in Jordan by supporting medically vulnerable households to limit their exposure to COVID-19 and meeting their basic and health needs”. The programme was funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The project has now been successfully implemented in affected areas in the capital and in the Madaba and Irbid governorates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable families in Jordan, the statement said.

2,111 families, where at least one family member has a chronic illness, were provided with cash assistance within the duration of the project, the council said.

In addition, 8,500 hygiene kits, including hand sanitiser, soap, bleach, buckets, cleaning cloths and female sanitary items were distributed, serving a total number of 10,016 families.

Awareness sessions have been conducted during the distribution, aiming to spread knowledge about the pandemic and what measures to take in order to prevent spreading it.

Jordan is one of the countries most affected by the Syrian crisis, currently hosting the second highest number of refugees per capita in the world. The majority of them remain in a situation of protracted displacement with over 80 per cent living below the poverty line and many living with chronic health conditions putting them at higher risk.

Stephan Deutekom, Danish Refugee Council’s Jordan Country Director, expressed DRC’s gratitude to both the donor and JHCO.

“DRC is very grateful to our Donor, Novo Nordisk Foundation, for their quick and significant contribution to the most vulnerable people of Jordanian society. We also would like to thank Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) for their great support in distributing the hygiene items as well as to the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation for their quick response to facilitate the implementation of the project,” he said in the statement.

“We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the DRC and the Novo Nordisk Foundation for their generous donation and continuous cooperation with JHCO who is a member of the National Social Protection Team, to reach the most vulnerable families across Jordan, and we couldn’t stress enough the coordination with the national aid fund and the Palestinian affairs department and the local CBOs”, said Mohammad Nasser Al Kilani, the deputy of secretary general of Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, in the statement.