Amman, Jordan – Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, are pleased to launch an expanded partnership to respond to the health needs of refugees in Jordan through an innovative approach.
In partnership with UNHCR, IRUSA is piloting a medical mission program that deploys specialized medical staff to provide needed treatments for refugees and members of the host community. This will be paired with a $2.5 million commitment from IRUSA to support health services for refugees in the year ahead.
The strategic support aims to bolster health system capacity, expand access to specialist medical care, and strengthen the resilience of refugee-hosting communities in Jordan at a moment when global humanitarian resources are under pressure. In addition to this, IRUSA has committed funding to strengthen health system infrastructure, including supporting clinics and mobile outreach in refugee hosting areas, ensuring continuity of care and expanding capacity for complex medical needs.
Under this new commitment, IRUSA is launching a service mission program in partnership with the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) to deploy specialist medical personnel, including physicians, cardiologists, and other trained staff. Facilitated in part by the Jordan University Hospital (JUH), this medical mission will provide advanced treatments for refugees and host community patients at JU, as well as at Azraq Camp and Zaatari Camp.
“Jordan remains a pivotal country for hosting displaced individuals from the region, many of whom face significant healthcare challenges,” said Ahmed Shehata, CEO of IRUSA. “We are inspired by the work that UNHCR leads on the ground, and through this multi-pronged, health-focused approach, we are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, and that they are provided with essential, lifesaving health services” he added.
For his part, the Director General of the University of Jordan Hospital, Prof. Dr. Nader Al-Bsoul, emphasized that the hospital’s participation in the cardiac catheterization campaign embodies its mission to support humanitarian efforts and promote access to specialized care for refugees and underprivileged Jordanian patients. He explained that the hospital has provided all the necessary logistical and medical resources, including catheterization rooms, advanced equipment, and qualified medical, nursing, and technical staff, in addition to allocating a floor of beds and an intensive cardiac care unit to serve these cases.
Al-Bsoul added that the hospital’s cardiac teams have evaluated more than 80 cases, and conducted the necessary clinical and diagnostic tests in preparation for catheterization procedures and stent placement. He noted that these efforts are being carried out in partnership with the Islamic Relief USA team in collaboration with UNHCR, reflecting a complementarity of expertise and enhancing the quality of services provided.
This partnership underscores the power of faith-based humanitarian action to respond with dignity and urgency to the needs of forcibly displaced populations.
“UNHCR is deeply grateful to Islamic Relief USA for this critical partnership, which will have a direct impact on the lives of refugees in Jordan,” said Maria Stavropoulou, UNHCR Representative in Jordan. “At a moment where needs continue to increase, this partnership will help ensure access to specialized healthcare services and make real strides in meeting the needs of some of the most vulnerable displaced people and their host communities.”
“As a strategic partner of USA for UNHCR, IRUSA continues to demonstrate leadership in support of refugees around the world,” added Suzanne Ehlers, Executive Director and CEO of USA for UNHCR. “IRUSA’s partnership showcases how innovation can transform humanitarian outcomes through targeted health interventions and professional medical deployment.”
This announcement comes at a time when the need for specialized healthcare among refugee populations is growing. IRUSA’s support will help sustain and expand vital health services for refugees and host-communities in Jordan, reinforcing longer-term resilience and integration.
About Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA)
About Islamic Relief USA Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) is a U.S.-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering critical humanitarian aid and development to vulnerable communities both at home and abroad. Established in 1993, IRUSA has worked in over 40 countries and promoted domestic and international programming designed to eliminate poverty and create sustainable solutions to the most challenging humanitarian crises. Driven by our core values, IRUSA provides immediate and long-term health, food security, education, economic empowerment assistance to those who need it most in a dignified and non-discriminatory manner. Through world-class programming, IRUSA strives to promote lasting change and positively transform the lives of those we serve.
For more information, visit irusa.org or follow us on X @IslamicRelief and on Instagram at @IslamicReliefUSA.
About USA for UNHCR
USA for UNHCR protects and supports refugees by mobilizing resources, elevating awareness, and driving action through a network of engaged supporters. Established by concerned American citizens, USA for UNHCR is a non-profit organization that strives to meet the unmet needs of the more than 117 million children, women and men who have been forced to flee their
homes due to war, violence or persecution. As the only organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds in the U.S. for the UN Refugee Agency, USA for UNHCR has raised more than $700 million in cash and gift-in-kind revenue to help refugees in the past five years.
About UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency)
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is the United Nations body mandated to protect and assist people forced to flee their countries due to conflict, persecution, and human rights violations. Established in 1950, UNHCR has helped more than 100 million people worldwide, working in over 130 countries to ensure access to asylum, international protection, and durable solutions, such as resettlement. UNHCR in Jordan leads the refugee response and supports around 474,000 refugees from more than 35 nationalities, 90 per cent of whom are Syrian.
For more information please contact:
Islamic Relief USA:
Syed M. Hassan
+1 (571) 421-7032 | [email protected]
USA for UNHCR:
Junia Giesler, Senior Director of Communications
UNHCR Jordan:
Yousef Taha
Communications Officer / Spokesperson
+962 788 04 34 08 | [email protected]