Amman, Jordan – Through an official ceremony in the presence of H.E. the Jordanian Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Hyasat, IOM’s Chief of Mission, Mr. Enrico Ponziani, and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) representative, Mr. Jeffrey Tudor, IOM Jordan officially transferred to the Ministry of Health (MoH) buses used within the activities of a two and a half year project funded by DFID. 

The purpose of the project was to address the Syrian crisis in Jordan. The two buses, with a capacity of holding 50 persons each, were used to transport refugees from the borders to the camps inside Jordan and are now being transferred to the Ministry of Health to further contribute to the latter’s humanitarian activities. 

Mr. Tudor, the Head of DFID Jordan, stated that, “The Ministry of Health is providing an essential service to the refugees in Jordan. Transferring these buses over to the ministry will ensure that they continue to be put to good use now that the project with IOM has finished.” 

IOM Chief of Mission thanked DFID for their continuous support, citing “the generous funding by DFID which allowed IOM to ensure the safe and humane transportation of 464,719 refugees from reception areas to the camps between January 2013 and June 2015 as well as emergency health assistance services.” 

DFID funding also supported the distribution of much needed shoes to 31,201 beneficiaries inside Azraq Camp who left everything they owned behind as they fled the war as well as non-food item voucher assistance to 1,723 beneficiaries, fit-to-travel health assessments and other health services. 

Mr. Ponziani voiced his confidence that “IOM and MoH will continue to work closely to mitigate the negative impacts of the crisis on Jordan and address health concerns by joining forces and utilizing resources as the crisis persists.” 

This donation by DFID to MoH will allow the latter to continue serving the health needs of the Syrian refugees and the Jordanian host communities through health campaigns throughout the country.