UNFPA Patron, H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Visits Syrian Refugees in Jordan

ZA’ATARI, Jordan – H.R.H The Crown Princess Mary of Denmark visited Za'atari refugee camp today, the second largest refugee camp in the world located in Jordan some 50 kilometres from the Syrian border. Known as the “endless” camp, it is home to more than 100,000 refugees who have fled the ongoing violence in Syria.

Together with the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Mr. Christian Friis Bach, they saw how UN agencies and humanitarian organizations are working to assist two million Syrians displaced by the conflict.

“They are in a tough situation. They have endured tragedies. Some have lost family members, others have lost all their belongings,” said the Crown Princess, who for three years has been a dedicated patron of UNFPA, the United Nations’ Population Fund.

The purpose of the visit to Za'atari was to highlight the enormous pressure put on neighbouring countries by the influx of refugees from Syria.

In cooperation with the Amman-based Jordanian Institute for Family Health, UNFPA has set up health clinics inside the camp, where some 3,000 women are pregnant, to provide sexual and reproductive health services to women and girls.

The UNFPA health facility is open 24/7 and the doctor and two nurses see more than 10 babies a day.

“There is always hope, I think. The people I have spoken to have arrived with their families. They now have the possibility to begin planning and rebuilding their future,” said the Crown Princess.