UNFPA Urges Intˈl Community To Increase Aid To Syrian Refugees, Displaced

Tehran, April 17, IRNA —The international community should urgently increase its support to refugees and displaced persons fleeing the Syrian crisis, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, said, following his recent visits to Syrian refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan. “It is heartening to see the open-door policy of Syria’s neighboring countries,” said Dr. Osotimehin. “But we are concerned that, with the number of refugees steadily increasing, the economies of host countries will be affected. The international community will need to step up.” There are currently more than 1.3 million registered refugees in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. The majority are living in host communities, outside of camp settings, which is putting strains on local services. According to a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC), in excess of 6.5 million people also need humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including 4.3 million internally displaced persons. UNFPA is providing life-saving reproductive health services across the region, including within Syria. In Jordan, Dr. Osotimehin visited Za’atri Camp, which hosts more than 120,000 refugees and where UNFPA runs two reproductive health clinics and three safe spaces for women and youth. “What struck me is the composition of the camp,” said Dr. Osotimehin. “It is clear that there is a majority of women and children, and these demographics define our work.” UNFPA’s clinics provide antenatal, delivery and postnatal care while also offering family planning services. It is estimated that there are currently more than 3,000 pregnant women in the camp. There are currently more than 400,000 refugees in Jordan and it is estimated that they will reach 1.2 million by the end of 2013. UNFPA has 9 clinics and 3 mobile teams within communities and at two other refugee sites. In Turkey, Dr. Osotimehin met with women and youth in Nizip Camp, which hosts nearly 14,000 Syrians and is fully operated by the Turkish Government. “I am impressed with what I have seen in terms of logistics, health care and services,” he said. “It is clear that the Government of Turkey and its people have not only invested money, but also care.” “Moving forward, we will need to expand our services and mobilize resources to protect women and girls and to provide for their needs,” Dr. Osotimehin explained. UNFPA, along with other United Nations agencies, will urgently require additional funds to continue responding to the crisis. More than $30 million will be necessary in the coming year for UNFPA to continue its work throughout the region, including in Syria. “But no matter how much we provide for the refugees, the problem is that this will never be home,” he noted, adding, “we need to reach a quick and peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria.”/end