EU Civil Protection Mechanism supports health care of Syrian refugees in Jordan

A six member EU civil protection team is currently in Jordan to draw up a detailed plan for the establishment of a health centre to assist Syrian refugees in Azraq refugee camp. The team will identify the needs and requirements for setting up and managing the new EU- supported health facilities. It will also liaise with partner organisations on the ground who could take over the management of the health centre. Newly arrived refugees are in a significant need of health care and treatment, and the Azraq region has no health facilities that could treat the increasing number of people fleeing the violence in Syria. The largest refugee camp in Jordan, Za'atari, is reaching its maximum capacity.

The Jordanian Government estimates there are more than 540 000 Syrian refugees in Jordan. On 23 April 2013 it sent a request for assistance to the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) to support the response to the refugee crisis in the country. In response, in-kind assistance such as blankets, heaters and ambulances was provided through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in October last year, while ECHO's humanitarian aid to Jordan significantly increased to a total of €61.5 million.