UNFPA today handed-over a total of six ambulances to support efforts in refugee camps and surrounding host communities in Dollo Ado, Somali Region of Ethiopia, in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The ambulances will be providing services in five refugee camps and one surrounding host community health center.

Five of the ambulances were handed over to the Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) while the remaining one was provided to the Somali Region Health Bureau. Dignity and Emergency Reproductive Health kits were also handed-over at the ceremony.

The ambulances and kits were procured as part of the “Emergency Reproductive Health and Gender Based Violence Responses to Somali Refugees in Dollo Ado refugee camps and surrounding host communities in Ethiopia” project whose implementation commenced in July last year. In addition to its goal of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, the project is also providing services on the prevention and response to Gender Based Violence.

The project is being implemented through partnership with ARRA, the Somali Region Health Bureau, UNHCR, NGO partners and local associations.

UNFPA Ethiopia has been providing support to refugees from Somalia in Dollo Ado since 2011 targeting vulnerable groups. 

Representatives of ARRA, the Somali Region Health Bureau, and UNHCR were present at the handover ceremony.