The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recently submitted a project proposal to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) covering 16 countries, including Jordan, with a total value of USD 85 million. The project aims to enhance the capacity of these countries to address climate-change-driven and vector-borne diseases—human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria—according to Baha’ Al-Shaqareen, Director of the Climate Change Directorate.
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Al-Shaqareen told Al-Ghad that Jordan specifically targeted this sector in line with the Fourth National Communication Report, which highlighted rising rates of climate-related diseases in the Kingdom, particularly among children, the elderly, the poor, outdoor workers, and women.
According to the report, floods resulting from heavy rainfall will increase the prevalence of water- and food-related epidemics due to the mixing of wastewater with drinking water. Diseases such as schistosomiasis, malaria, and Rift Valley fever are also expected to spread.
Additionally, rising temperatures will lead to an increase in food-borne diseases and bacterial diarrheal infections such as salmonella, with projections indicating accelerated growth of microorganisms.
Beyond this specific project, Al-Shaqareen confirmed that Jordan, along with Iraq, Lebanon, and Tunisia, has received USD 100 million to prepare a joint health project document, funded by the global organization Pathfinder International.
In the broader health sector, the Ministries of Environment and Health—through the Hakeem program and health directorates across the Kingdom—are working to monitor climate-related epidemics. Indicators have been established to assess how to link disease outbreaks to climate change. For example, if diarrheal cases increase in a specific area, can the spike be associated with water scarcity caused by the climate crisis?
He noted that while available Ministry of Health data records the number and types of disease cases, it does not specify whether they are climate-related.
The goal, he added, is to develop indicators that can inform effective solutions and responses to health crises arising from climate change.
A previous Ministry of Health assessment of climate change impacts on health issues indicated that the most apparent effects will include increased water- and food-borne diseases and risks associated with extreme heatwaves. It also predicted that the eastern desert will face severe water scarcity, while heat stress from higher temperatures and humidity could increase mortality or lead to chronic health conditions following heatstroke.
Among the challenges the health sector will face due to reduced rainfall are increased infections among farmers, consumers, and children with water-borne diseases such as typhoid, schistosomiasis, and hepatitis A and E, compounded by shortages of safe water and rising malnutrition, according to the Fourth National Communication Report.
