Local

AMMAN — Qatar On Thursday condemned the Israeli occupation's permission for extremists to march through the Old City of Jerusalem under the banner of imposing control over Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Qatar considered the Israeli action a provocation to the sentiments and an assault on the rights of the Palestinian people and the Jordanian Hashemite custodianship over the holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Thursday, warned against Israeli efforts to change the historical and legal status in Jerusalem and its holy sites.

The ministry also said that such provocative actions would escalate tensions and widen the circle of violence in the region.

The ministry emphasised in its statement the necessity for the Israeli occupation to respect the historical and legal status of the Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem.

The statement also underscored the importance of the historical Hashemite custodianship in protecting the holy sites in Jerusalem.

Qatar's foreign ministry called on the international community to take  urgent action to force Israel into adhering to international laws and stopping its violations against the rights of the Palestinian people, as well as on the Islamic and Christian sanctities.

AMMAN — Since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza, the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) sent 17 relief planes in bid to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, according to an JHCO representative.

“The JHCO on Thursday sent two additional planes carrying urgent medical supplies and medicine,” Secretary-General Hussein Shibli told The Jordan Times, adding that the medical supplies sent included medications specifically prescribed for dialysis patients. 

The second relief plane was sent in cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and was loaded with medicine.

The supplies are being transferred to the Egyptian Red Crescent which facilitates the delivery of aid to the strip via the Rafah border crossing, he added.

The organisation is also working with other relevant governmental entities in Gaza, local initiatives, local and international non-governmental organisations to provide the people of Gaza with cooked meals. He pointed out that relief convoys carrying a total of 286 tonnes have been dispatched to transport food packages, prepared meals, as well as urgent and humanitarian relief. 

In a joint statement sent to The Jordan Times, the JHCO described the extent of displacement in Gaza with over 1.8 million people are internally displaced, which is nearly 80 per cent of the population.  “All of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants lack sufficient food and clean water, and face malnutrition,” the statement added. 

Increasing the regular delivery and resupply of essential medicine and medical equipment are among the proposed priorities to help reduce the suffering of 2.3 million civilians in Gaza, the statement read.

The JHCO, is receiving donations for Gaza via its accounts in Bank al Etihad: JO32 UBSI 1030 0000 4010 1659 9151 06, CliQ: JHCOGAZA.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture will adopt modern forestry management technologies, including remote sensing and artificial intelligence, in its efforts to protect the country’s green cover from illegal logging and wildfires, according to a ministry’s official.

Director of the Forestry Department Khaled Manasir said that the ministry’s strategy for 2022-2025 will embrace contemporary forestry management technologies, incorporating tools such as remote sensing and artificial intelligence.

“The agricultural sector’s contribution to the national GDP has decreased by almost 20 per cent due to climate change, so there is a need to employ digital technologies to help the agricultural sector regain its value through agricultural digitalisation,” Manasir told The Jordan Times.

He added that with the aim of fighting climate change and pollution, Jordan has signed several agreements focused on carbon reduction.

Manasir said forest products are a cornerstone of Jordan’s revenue; safeguarding the sustainable supply of these products is essential amidst major threats such as fires, illegal logging, diseases, insect pests and adverse climate conditions.

To this end, the Ministry of Agriculture and Growtech Company signed earlier this week a memorandum of understanding to study the use of remote sensing in forest management.

Manasir highlighted the alignment between the Ministry’s field results and the company’s findings, leading to the decision to adopt remote sensing due to its speed, ease of use and cost-effectiveness.

Manasir noted that the data obtained in previous years using traditional methods required extensive equipment and surveyors, contrasting with the efficiency of remote sensing.

“The memorandum aims to prepare a proposal for the company and the ministry, seeking funding from donors to initiate the project for inventorying and monitoring Jordan’s forests,” he noed.

Abrar Otibi, founder and director manager of Growtech, said that remote sensing helps in monitoring de-forestation, illegal logging and assessing the impact of natural disturbances without direct physical contact. 

Otibi said that remote sensing process in term of inventorying start with taking pictures by satellites, which are equipped with spectral waves, providing insights into the health of forests and plants.

The team, which includes remote sensing specialists, geographic information systems experts, and agricultural specialists, will analyse data obtained from spectral wave reflections, she added. 

Otibi added remote sensing in terms of fire detection and logging monitoring require ground-based sensors for real-time data on forest temperature, fires, and logging activities. 

The forests’ data will be linked around the clock with the operations room in the Forestry Directorate, where specialists will manage and respond to the information.

Thanks to well-studied plans in collaboration with the local community, violations have decreased significantly by about 60 per cent, Manasir said, adding that fires incidence has also declined, with only three reports this year compared to an average of over 200 in previous years.

AMMAN — A total of 7,183 vagrants were arrested in Jordan during the first eleven months of 2023, according to the Ministry of Social Development. 

It revealed in a statement sent to The Jordan Times that these include 3,454 adults, and 3,729 juveniles. 

It showed that 4,774 of the total number of arrested vagrants are males, while the remaining 2,409 are females. 

Arrested vagrants are referred to the concerned security authorities to take the necessary legal action against them, according to the ministry statement, which highlighted its policies and procedures when it comes to dealing with seized vagrants. 

The statement noted that the ministry is working on establishing set prevention and rehabilitation programmes to combat vagrancy, in addition to implementing anti-vagrancy campaigns through field teams distributed across the Kingdom. 

The ministry is also responsible for overseeing the provision of care and rehabilitation services for children who are vagrant, who are referred to centres that specialise in such cases, it noted. 

The statement explained that programmes implemented at these centres aim to work on safely reintegrating children into their natural environment through methods that align with the rights of children guaranteed by law.  

This is done through the care team at the Anti-Vagrancy Department, in cooperation with partner organisations, who work to “enable” children involved in vagrancy and their families, it added. 

2022 figures issued by the Ministry of Social Development show that a total of 11,261 vagrants were arrested last year, including 4084 juvenile. 

The ministry urges people to refrain from giving money to vagrants, and direct their donations to trusted charity organisations, who work to support families in need. 

Vagrancy cases can be reported to the ministry by contacting 0780777660, 0790777660, or 0770044033 via WhatsApp or through the hotline number: 0793344330. 

AMMAN — The 6 per cent increase in prices for “special formula” types since the beginning of 2023 is causing concern among parents, who claim that the monthly budget for formula now exceeds JD30. 

In a parliamentary oversight session held on Wednesday, Nizar Mhedat, the president of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), shed light on the decision-making process behind formula pricing. 

Mhedat emphasised that pricing decisions are carefully deliberated by specialised technical committees within the FDA.  

He asserted that the prices of infant formula in Jordan are comparatively lower than those observed in neighbouring countries, underscoring that these pricing decisions are crucially supported by the administration. 

Mhedat clarified that the recent 6 per cent increase particularly targeted a unique formula composition that witnessed an increase in demand due to its perceived “lower” prices compared with regular formula. 

However, the Jordanian Society for Consumer Protection, represented by its secretary-general, Hussein Omoosh, urged authorities to find alternatives for infant formula that saw an increase in price. 

“FDA is urged to explore alternatives in the market, taking into consideration the income variation among Jordanian consumers,” Omoosh told The Jordan Times. 

Omoosh underscored the importance of finding solutions that accommodate the financial constraints of families, especially given that many infants rely on these specific formula compositions. 

Mhedat highlighted that the recent 6 per cent increase was fueled by the escalating demand for a “special formula composition”. This particular composition is often consumed by infants grappling with challenges related to digestion or milk absorption. Mhedat also drew attention to the fact that, despite the increase, the prices of infant formula in Jordan remain considerably lower compared with regional counterparts. 

Mhedat said that the cost of the JD5 formula in Jordan is equivalent to approximately JD12 in neighbouring countries. 

“The call for the FDA to consider alternatives that cater to the varying income levels of Jordanian consumers reflects an ongoing dialogue about the accessibility and affordability of vital infant care products in the country,” Shatha Shehab, a mother of three children told The Jordan Times.  

Shehab expressed concern about the increasing cost of formula, stating that it puts a strain on her family’s budget.  

“FDA is urged to explore affordable alternatives that meet the nutritional needs of all children,” Shehab added.  

 Hassan Shehadeh, a father of a newborn, shared his worries about the recent price hike. He called for transparency in pricing decisions and urged authorities to prioritise the well-being of infants by considering the financial challenges faced by families. 

 “Parents need accessible options for families with varying incomes,” Shehadeh added.  

Shehadeh claims that the increase in demand for “special formula” might be triggered by pediatricians who “might be taking a commission of these special formulas”. 

 “My monthly formula budget exceeds JD30,” Shehadeh added.  

Shehadeh expressed concern about how would an employee with a minimum wage of JD260 buy formula for their newborn.  

AMMAN — In light of the multifaceted threats to human security posed by climate change in Jordan and the disproportionate impact on women, a research paper by the WANA Institute and International Alert explored approaches to local development, agriculture and management of natural resources that integrate an understanding of the gendered impacts of climate change on human security and social cohesion in Jordan.

The research paper identifies a series of entry points and recommendations to enhance the social cohesion and climate security outcomes of climate action, while supporting gender equality in Jordan, which advocates for the inclusion of gender sensitivity in climate action at all levels, according to a press release issued by the WANA Institute on Thursday.

The research paper, titled “Gender, Climate and Cohesion -Uncovering the Linkages between Climate Change, Human Security and Gender in Jordan”, was published in alignment with the gender day at COP 28.

It highlights the linkages between climate change and social cohesion, human security and gender in Jordan. The research paper examines how women are particularly impacted by climate change, facing significant economic, social and cultural challenges and exposure to climate-related social tensions.

The framing of human security explored in the research paper involves an approach that encompasses the sense of safety in one’s household and community, well-being, access to water security, food security, energy security, socioeconomic (livelihoods) security and gender equality. The concept of human security is closely linked to the concepts of social cohesion (relationships between groups and between communities and duty bearers) with climate-related shocks as a compound risk as they threaten to widen social cleavages and exacerbate tensions.

During the gender day in COP28, over 60 parties, including Jordan, endorsed the Gender-Responsive Just Transitions & Climate Action Partnership centred around three core pillars; better quality data to support decision-making in transition planning, more effective finance flows to regions most impacted by climate change and education, skills and capacity building to support individual engagement in transitions.

AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali on Thursday attended the opening 8th environmental conference entitled, "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Protection", Organised by the American Digital Schools. The event saw the participation of 28 private and public schools, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. The conference discussed scientific papers and projects related to rain and temperature measurement technologies, as well as water, soil and air pollution, and modern agriculture.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, along with other members of the ministerial committee, formed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, traveled to Washington on Thursday, the first leg of a diplomatic tour that includes other countries ,according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. The tour, aims to mobilise international efforts to end the ongoing war on Gaza.

AMMAN — Jordanian expatriates' remittances in October this year reached $299.2 million, an increase of 3 per cent compared to with the same month in 2022. Jordanians’ remittances amounted to $2.862 billion during the first ten months of 2023, an increase of 1.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2022, when they reached $2.829 billion, according to the Central Bank of Jordan. 

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that 62 Jordanians have been evacuated from the war-torn Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing to Egypt's Nuweiba, 37 of whom have disembarked at Aqaba Port.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry's spokesperson Sufian Qudah said that the total number of Jordanians evacuated from Gaza through Rafah crossing has reached 525 so far, out of 924 Jordanians registered on the ministry's lists.

The spokesperson reaffirmed commitment to evacuate all Jordanians from the Gaza Strip.

Qudah urged Jordanians in Gaza to seek assistance from the ministry's operations centre available 24/7 through the following contact numbers: +962799562903, +962799562471, +962799562193, or by e-mail at op.ctr@fm.gov.jo.