January 24, 2013 - Los Angeles, Calif. - As the ongoing conflict in Syria continues, some 10,500 Syrians have fled across the border into Jordan in the past five days alone, dramatically increasing the need for humanitarian relief. International Medical Corps is mobilizing additional medical and psychosocial support teams in Jordan to provide services at the border and working with partner Jordan Health Aid Society (JHAS) to deploy local medical personnel. International Medical Corps is also stockpiling medicines, medical supplies, and critical non-food items and working to expand mental health and psychosocial support services in country to respond to the growing humanitarian needs.
“Severe winter conditions across the region have exacerbated already difficult conditions for countless refugees – many of them women and children,” said Chris Skopec, Director of International Operations for International Medical Corps. “International Medical Corps is responding to the increased demands for essential services, including health care, with mobile medical units on standby as well as overflow beds ready to support cases that require hospitalization.”
International Medical Corps, which has been working in Jordan since 2007 to support Iraqi refugees and host populations, has also been providing health care and psychosocial services for Syrian refugees through static and mobile clinics in Ramtha and Mafraq. In addition, the organization has been providing support to hospitals and clinics in Jordan as they face rising caseloads from the influx of refugees.
To address the need for social, mental health and psychosocial services at Za'atri refugee camp in Jordan where more than 73,000 Syrians reside, International Medical Corps is providing mental health case management services, psychosocial activities and humanitarian guidelines training with support from UNICEF. In addition, as more than 55% of the displaced is comprised of people under the age of 18, and there are no structured activities for youth, International Medical Corps is also implementing youth empowerment activities. Furthermore, International Medical Corps is providing technical assistance to JHAS on the provision of primary health care services in the camp.
International Medical Corps is also working to address Syrian refugee needs in Lebanon and is providing critical health services in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent within Syria. The organization is operating mobile medical units in Damascus to provide health services to large numbers of people displaced by the fighting. International Medical Corps is also providing mental health and psychosocial support services to displaced Syrians throughout Damascus.
Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance.