AMMAN — The
World Bank
(WB) approved on June 16, 2021, $63.75 million in additional financing for the ongoing Jordan COVID-19 Emergency Response
project to support the country’s
efforts to promote safe, efficient, and equitable access to COVID-19
vaccines,
the bank said in a press statement
emailed to
Jordan News.
اضافة اعلان
It will help accelerate Jordan’s
progressive vaccination program which is vital for reopening the economy,
schools, and hard-hit sectors, the statement said, adding that the project will
support Jordan in reaching its target of vaccinating 75 percent of its adult
population which will contribute to an early and resilient recovery, the
statement said.
The additional financing includes a
$50 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD), a $12.5 million concessional amount from the Global
Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF),
and a $1.25 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
Trust Fund.
“The Government of Jordan
appreciates this additional financing for vaccine support which is part of the
$1.1 billion in combined loans and grant financing from the World Bank and
international partners recently announced to support Jordan in responding to
the pandemic and promoting an early, climate-resilient, and inclusive
recovery,” Nasser Shraideh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation,
was quoted in the press release as saying.
With concessional financing support
from the GCFF, the project will provide inclusive and equitable access to
COVID-19 vaccines for Syrian refugees. Jordan is one of the first countries in
the world to include refugees as vaccine beneficiaries per the National
Deployment and Vaccination Guide for COVID-19. In addition, with financial
support from the HEPRTF, the project will strengthen COVID-19 case management
for Syrian refugees.
“The government has accelerated its
efforts and set ambitious vaccination targets for a phased and safe reopening,”
Minister of Health Feras Hawari said, commenting on the assistance. “World Bank
financing support will help us meet these goals.”
According to the World Bank, Jordan
remains highly vulnerable to COVID-19. By mid-June 2021, there have been over
739,000 confirmed cumulative cases, with more than 9,500 confirmed deaths.
Jordan started its COVID-19 vaccination campaign on January 13, 2021. More than
2 million adults were vaccinated with the first dose, while over 800,000 adults
are fully vaccinated, 33 percent and 13 percent of the eligible adult
population, respectively.
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