Senate president, UNICEF representative talk cooperation 

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez and UNICEF Jordan Deputy Representative Shairose Mawji on Monday discussed cooperation in education, supporting the youth, social protection, health, water and sanitation projects.

Fayez went over challenges facing the Kingdom due to conditions in neighbouring countries and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

He noted that the Kingdom today faces major economic and social challenges due to regional crises, pointing out that the Syrian crisis alone caused Jordan to receive hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and provide them with decent living conditions, security and safety.

The Senate president added that hosting Syrian refugees affected several sectors, mainly water, sanitation, education, health, energy and infrastructure, stressing that these sectors now face “enormous” challenges.

Fayez said that the international community did not fulfil all of its pledges to support Jordan and the hosted refugees, noting that what the international community has offered to help refugees does not exceed 25 per cent of the financial burden the Kingdom incurs in order to fully support refugees. Fayez also praised the support offered from donors.

Mawji commended the major humanitarian role that Jordan is playing in offering healthcare, education and work services to refugees.

She stressed that UNICEF is keen on sustaining support and assistance to the Kingdom to help with issues related to and women and youth’s empowerment and childcare. She pledged to increase and diversify aid in this regard.

Also on Monday, the Senate’s Labour and Social Development Committee met with Mawji over means to enhance cooperation between the Kingdom and the UN agency, Petra reported.

Head of the committee Senator Issa Murad said that the meeting covered several issues related to education, social development and health, as well as training and employment projects.

Mawji referred to the “big” cooperation between Jordan and UNICEF, which aims to alleviate the impact of unemployment and to empower women and youth.