Amman, July 30 (Petra) – Ambassador of Japan to Jordan, ASARI Hideki,
visited Nuzha Boys and Girls Schools on Thursday.

During the visit, he observed the activities of the children at the
summer camp implemented by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Jordan Field Office
with the support from the Government of Japan.

Launched in summer 2023, this year’s edition is the fourth
consecutive summer camp held at UNRWA schools across Jordan, designed
to provide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and
learning support sessions to students.

Also during his visit, Asari was briefed about UNRWA’s recent
operations and programmes by Kunal Dhar, Deputy Director of UNRWA
Affairs, Programmes, Jordan.

Reflecting on the visit, Asari emphasised UNRWA’s role in providing
“essential and critical” services to the Palestine refugees across
the region including Jordan.

He also touched on the “significant” challenges UNRWA is facing in
recent years, expressing Japan’s support for UNRWA’s efforts to
improve its governance and ensure neutrality, and assured UNRWA of
Japan’s “unwavering” support to sustain the lives of the most
vulnerable people through the agency.

Furthermore, he stressed UNRWA’s “important” role has increased not
only to serve for Palestine refugees but also for the regional
stability amid current regional situation.

From UNRWA’s side, Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs Dhar said: “We
are delighted to welcome Ambassador Asari to our Summer Camp today
and to see first-hand the positive impact of Japan’s support on
Palestine refugee children.”

Thanks to Japan’s generous partnership, he noted children can enjoy a
safe and supportive summer environment that helps them return to
school academically prepared and emotionally ready to learn.

He added that Japan’s longstanding investment in education, mental
health and social protection continues to make a positive impact in
the lives of Palestine Refugee children”.

Between April 2026 and March 2027, he noted the Government of Japan
is allocating $3.33 million to UNRWA Jordan Office for ‘Mental
Health, Psychosocial, and Humanitarian Support for Palestine Refugees
in Jordan’ project, which provides basic needs for the vulnerable
Palestine refugees through cash assistance and shelter replacement,
and enhances access to MHPSS services for Palestine refugee students.

He said this intiative is implemented by recruiting additional 50
school counsellors and delivering MHPSS activities during semesters
and the summer break, and conducting an MHPSS assessment among UNRWA
students to better understand their psychosocial well-being and
inform future interventions and response planning.

//Petra// AG