US Ambassador inaugurates new UNRWA health centre in Amir Hassan Quarter- UNRWA press release

US Ambassador inaugurates a new UNRWA health centre

in Amir Hassan Quarter

Amman: The Ambassador of the United States of America in Jordan, Mr. David Hale, today inaugurated the Agency’s new health centre in Amir Hassan quarter, which was built and equipped through a US contribution of $306,238. The new clinic was constructed on a plot of land provided by Greater Amman Municipality to replace an old building in the neighbourhood, which, over the years, has become unsuitable to provide health services to some 75,000 Palestine refugees living in the area.

Officially inaugurating the health centre, which began operation in September this year, Ambassador Hale said: "The United States is committed to continuing its support for UNRWA’s critical mandate. We provided over $137 million to UNRWA this year to ensure that Palestinian refugees continue to receive the vital health, education and relief services provided by UNRWA’s dedicated staff, such as the doctors working here in Amir Hassan.

This new facility replaces an older facility, and I am pleased that it is just one of many such facilities financed by the United States to benefit Palestinian refugees in this country".

UNRWA Deputy Commissioner General Mr. Filippo Grandi also spoke at the ceremony, expressing his appreciation for the generous and continued support provided by the US government to UNRWA. He also thanked Greater Amman Municipality for providing the plot of land on which the clinic was constructed and commended the support UNRWA receives from the Jordanian government through the Department of Palestinian Affairs. Grandi said:  “This project represents a good example of the partnership that exists between the Agency, the donors, the host governments and the refugee community”.

Grandi also reviewed the improvements the Agency has succeeded in introducing into its health programme in Jordan this year, including the establishment of a clinic in Aqaba, the conclusion of a hospitalization agreement with the Ministry of Health and the replacement of old health facilities with new ones, the latest of which is the Amir Hassan health centre.

Also present at ceremony were the Director of UNRWA Operations in Jordan Mr. Sheldon Pitterman, the Director General of the Department of Palestinian Affairs engineer Wajeeh Azayzeh and officials from the Ministry of Health and Greater Amman Municipality, in addition to local community representatives.

In Jordan, UNRWA provides curative and preventive primary health care services for some 1.8 million refugees through a network of 24 health centres inside and outside camps.

In addition to health services, UNRWA provides education, relief and social services for some 4.3 million Palestine refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip where the Agency also provides emergency assistance.

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