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
