Qatar entities sign agreement to provide healthcare for Syrian refugees in Zaatari camp

AMMAN – Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has signed an agreement with the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) to support the provision of primary healthcare for Syrian refugees living in the Zaatari camp in Jordan on Wednesday.

The agreement ensures the continuation of previously established Qatari clinics in the Zaatari camp, according to a QRCS statement.

Zaatari camp, located some 90km northeast of Amman, is home to 76,602 refugees, nearly 20 per cent of whom are under five years old, according to figures published by UNHCR as of August 2019.

The clinics, under the supervision of the QRCS, have been providing primary health care services for over four years and are “a major contributor to the health care system within the camp”, according to the statement.

The clinics provide counselling and treatment for all ages, and have been offering dental services for the last three years, as well as prenatal care, the statement said.

The project includes three phases, the statement said, adding that the first phase focuses on renewing and reviewing licenses and registrations of the clinics in the camp.

The second phase will assess the status of the infrastructure and equipment of the clinics, and during the third phase, QFFD and QRCS will coordinate with UNHCR and health working groups in the camp.

Reiterating that the main objective is to ensure that all basic health needs are adequately met, the statement also mentioned that a high-level delegation from QFFD visited Zaatari camp at the beginning of this year.

By promoting health care systems, QFFD aims to facilitate the inclusion of Syrian refugees and reduce pressure on host communities while increasing flexibility, the statement concluded.

QFFD is a Qatari government entity established in 2002, and is responsible for Qatar’s international development and foreign aid.

QRCS was established in 1978 and is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is a humanitarian volunteering organisation that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities, according to the statement.