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AMMAN — A Jordanian couple decided last week to forgo conventional wedding celebrations in favour of throwing a party for refugees from different nationalities residing in the Kingdom.

Mutaz Mango and Basma Omar chose to celebrate their wedding day at Prince Ghazi Hotel in downtown Amman with refugees from Syria, Iraq and other countries.

The couple divided their wedding budget into two parts: one for a humanitarian initiative in collaboration with a local NGO, the Collateral Repair Project, and the other for a party for family members, according to Mango. 

He said the humanitarian aspect consisted of three parts: holding a party for refugee children and their families, distributing food coupons among refugees, and fundraising for a business project that would generate further income for the residents of Amman’s Hashemi Shamali neighbourhood.

“We thought of organising this whole initiative to inspire people. The party... included some entertainment shows for children to let them know that they can do things themselves,” Mango told The Jordan Times.

Mango added that the decision to distribute food coupons to 30 families came after the UN announced in September that it would discontinue funding for around 229,000 Syrian families in the Kingdom. 

Until recently, Syrian refugees residing outside camps received coupons of $14 per month for each family member. However, Mango said that as a result of the UN discontinuance, half of the families have ceased to receive aid and the other half will be cut off at the end of October.

Refugees residing in camps continue to get around $28 each month.

The groom, who works at a family-owned business, said that his bride Basma works at a tailor’s shop that aims to benefit women in Hashemi Shamali and provide them with sewing machines to generate income on a continuous basis.  

“We asked the people invited to the wedding to bring gifts the refugees can benefit from since we are donating our wedding gifts to them as well,” Mango said.

Speaking about the party, Mango said, “[It] was a joy. When we first walked in, we were overwhelmed with so many people who were genuinely happy for us. Real human joy has no borders.” 

According to UNHCR, Jordan has an immigrant and refugee population of 4.4 million alongside 6.6 million Jordanian citizens.

AMMAN — The Japanese government has given the Civil Defence Department (CDD) four “fully equipped” paramedic ambulances as part of the project “Increasing Access to Emergency Response Services for Syrian Refugees in Azraq Refugee Camp and the Surrounding Host Communities”, a Japanese embassy statement said Monday.

The government also gave two movable light vehicles to the CDD, purchased under the project “Improving Safety and Security for Syrian Refugees in Azraq Refugee Camp”.

The projects were funded by the Japanese government and implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, on Monday visited army headquarters, according to a Royal Court statement. The King was received by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen.

Mashal Al Zaben, HRH Prince Feisal, commanders of different army departments, and Royal Jordanian Air Force Commander Major Mansour Jbour. His Majesty discussed with Zaben several issues concerning the army.

AMMAN — Public Security Department (PSD) Director Maj. Gen. Atef Saudi on Monday met with Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan Teguh Wardoyo and South Korean Ambassador to Jordan Choi Hong-ghi, and discussed boosting security relations.

The two ambassadors commended Jordan as a top regional achiever in terms of preserving security and stability, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Monday vowed the government’s commitment to convert to solar energy to produce electricity.

During an unannounced visit to the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO), Ensour said that there is a strong possibility to increase reliance on solar power in Jordan with the country’s blessing of more than 300 days of sunshine per year, citing the immense contributions of solar power in reducing the energy bill while being environment friendly.

The premier also urged NEPCO to increase its preparations for the shift from conventional energy resources to renewable energy in producing electricity, and to facilitate licensing measures for citizens and concerned companies. 

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday stressed his commitment to strengthening cooperation between the Kingdom and Romania in all fields, especially in economic areas, according to a Royal Court statement. 

At a meeting with Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta, the two sides stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation in several sectors, mainly agriculture and information technology, in addition to military manufacturing and civil defence cooperation.

At the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, King Abdullah highlighted the incentives and investment opportunities that Jordan’s economy offers, in addition to its function as a gate to regional markets, stressing the need for further economic cooperation. 

The meeting also addressed developments pertaining to the crisis in Syria and international efforts exerted to arrive at a political solution to the situation there, and the importance of the international community’s continued support for countries hosting Syrian refugees, with Jordan topping the list to help it continue its humanitarian mission. 

Ponta pointed to the strong relations between Jordan, Romania and the European Union, stressing the importance of developing economic cooperation. 

He thanked Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty, for hosting around 1.5 million refugees, “while Europe struggles with a few thousands”. He commended the King’s courageous positions to achieve and boost global peace and stability. 

The visiting prime minister said Romania seeks a bigger role in the Middle East, saying the EU and the international community should further support Jordan to help it deal with the influx of Syrian refugees. 

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh who also met separately with his Romanian counterpart. 

Judeh discussed ways to boost bilateral relations and reviewed the latest regional developments and challenges with Romania Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.

During the meeting, they stressed the strong Jordanian-Romanian relations. Discussions also addressed investment opportunities available in the Kingdom. 

Judeh and his Romanian peer also discussed anti-terrorism efforts and developments related to Palestine. 

With regard to the Palestinian issue, Judeh  stressed the importance of an immediate stoppage to the Israeli violations, which block peace efforts. 

Judeh expressed his appreciation of Romania’s support, at the bilateral level and through the European Union, calling on the international community to pursue its support of the country’s humanitarian efforts.  

The two sides also reviewed the developments in several Arab countries, including Iraq, Libya and Yemen and the importance of arriving at political solutions for the crises there. 

AMMAN — Cabinet on Sunday endorsed $266 million in soft loans, extended by the French Development Agency (AFD) and described as critical to the Kingdom’s infrastructure.

The three loans will support Jordan in diversifying its energy mix, support water infrastructure and the general budget tied to additional water projects, a Planning Ministry statement said.

Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury said the loans are part of Jordan’s efforts led by His Majesty King Abdullah to increase grants and international soft loans coming to Jordan in spite of its classification as an upper-middle-income economy by the World Bank.

The French loans were coordinated by the planning and the finance ministries, the official said.

The first soft loan, of $54.9 million, will be used to finance the green corridor project, which will allow the National Electric Power Company to connect renewable energy projects, mainly wind and solar, to the national electricity grid. 

“This will reduce electricity generation costs and diversify Jordan’s energy mix as per the National Energy Efficiency Strategy and Jordan 2025,” Fakhoury said.

The national strategy seeks to diversify energy sources, setting a 10 per cent renewable energy contribution to the total energy mix by 2020. The government announced signing 13 agreements to build several wind and solar power plants in June.

The second soft loan, $43 million, will be allocated to the Wadi Al Arab Water Conveyance project, which will contribute to the provision of 30 million cubic metres of water annually to the Wadi Al Arab Dam.

The project will help solve water problems in the northern region, exacerbated by the large number of Syrian refugees living in the area. Jordan currently hosts over 1.4 Syrians, with only some 100,000 living in official refugee camps.

The third loan will support the state budget, and is earmarked for projects to improve the water sector in accordance with the economic blueprint “Jordan 2025”, at $168.1 million.

The third soft loan is extended for 17 years with a 4-year grace period.

AMMAN — The Lower House’s Legal Committee on Sunday held its first meeting dedicated to discussing the 2015 draft elections law. 

The meeting,  chaired by Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, was attended by Senate President Abdur-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh and a number of former ministers, Senate presidents and Lower House speakers, as well as several MPs. 

The attendees offered suggestions on the electoral system, contituency map and  the number of Lower House members in the new draft, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

They also discussed election lists and commended His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts to enhance political life.

AMMAN — Over 90 per cent of Jordanians prefer sweet snacks to salty ones, with kunafa and cakes being the favoured ones, according to a nutritionist, Majd Khatib.

However, in some seasons demand for other sweets increases, such as qatayef and awwama during the month of Ramadan, where fasting Muslims find themselves in need to compensate for the long hours with no sugar intake.

Qatayef are pancakes stuffed with cheese, nuts, or cream and then baked or fried before they are dipped in condensed sugar syrup, usually served in Ramadan.

"We advise people not to consume over a 250 gramme kunafa piece every one or two weeks," she told The Jordan Times Sunday over phone, warning against the “unhealthy” consequences of excess sugar.

The World Health Organisation recommends adults and children to reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10 per cent of their total energy intake. A further reduction to below 5 per cent or roughly 25 grammes (six teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits.

Many of Khatib’s clients are used to a daily intake of a minibar of chocolate, a habit they say they “cannot live without”, according to her account, adding that some of them succeed in reducing their chocolate consumption.

The situation is similar for Abu Ahmad Bawwab, who calls himself a “sweets addict”.

The father of five spends weekly some JD20 on sweets, but when temperatures drop, he finds himself rushing to the sweets shop more often.

“My wife and I prefer traditional Arabic sweets, especially kunafa, but my kids prefer modern sweets, such as cakes and ice cream,” he told The Jordan Times, adding that he knows he is risking his health for diabetes “but cannot help it!”

Burning the calories

The nutritionist encourages a 30-minute walk three to five times a week in order to burn extra calories.

“Even what we think is an insignificant walk, such as going to the supermarket on foot instead of driving and walking to the kitchen to get ourselves a glass of water instead of asking anyone else to do it for us can help our bodies,” she said.

Busy mothers with many responsibilities must not neglect their bodies, she said, encouraging them to buy a workout DVD, such as zumba, and to exercise at home with their children.

“Not having the time to exercise is never an excuse,” she concluded.

AMMAN — A JD100 million fund was created by the University of Jordan (UJ) and two Palestinian organisations on Sunday to advance scientific research and rebuild Jerusalem.

UJ, Al Quds University and the Munib R. Masri Development Foundation (MDF) launched the Jerusalem Loyalty Stock campaign to collect donations and support the holy city in response to the recurrent Israeli assaults.

During the launch, head of the namesake foundation, Munib R. Masri, announced the establishment of Jerusalem Endowment Fund through which the donations will be collected.

Masri thanked His Majesty King Abdullah for his efforts to protect Jerusalem and its sanctuaries, extending his gratitude to Her Majesty Queen Rania and the Lower House Palestine Committee for their efforts in supporting the Palestinian cause. Head of the Lower House Palestine Committee MP Yihya Saud attended the launch.

The campaign aims to support scientific research in Arab and Islamic universities, including UJ and Al Quds University, targeting research conducted by students who are Jerusalemites in particular and Palestinians in general, UJ President Ekhleif Tarawneh told The Jordan Times.

Moreover, he said the waqf fund aims to raise JD100 million in the next 10 years, and part of the money will be allocated to opening markets, creating  job opportunities and rebuilding the more than 5,000 year old city.

He announced that Masri donated JD1 million to encourage others to donate, noting that Each Jerusalem Stock is worth JD1. 

Tarawneh said that the Engineering and Development Group, chaired by Masri’s grandson, will also donate a JD100,000 each year to the fund. 

He added that the campaign looks forward to raising JD10 million by September next year, and UJ will utilise both its student union and public relations team “to spread the word to Arab and Islamic universities in order to raise more funds”.

UJ has a history of supporting Jerusalem students, as it offers a JD10,000 award to the best PhD thesis written on Jerusalem, and requires Jerusalem students to pay tuition fees equal to those paid by Jordanians. 

Tarawneh announced November 29 to be UJ’s annual day for solidaritry with Jerusalem.

Mohammad Habahbeh, a student at UJ, said he has high hopes for the campaign and will help spread the word and urge people to donate to the Jerusalem Endowment Fund, as well as publicise the Jerusalem Loyalty Stock.