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AMMAN — Representatives of 27 United Nations agencies and international humanitarian organisations involved in the relief response in the Gaza Strip convened in Amman on November 30 for a meeting on “Coordinating Gaza Emergency Relief”.

The participants sounded the alarm over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed the need for immediate international action to address it, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation.

They examined present humanitarian and emergency relief needs in Gaza, and identified aid priorities and urgent needs on the ground, outlined in the joint statement.

Joint statement on Gaza’s humanitarian situation

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic; it is amongst the worst we have witnessed and will likely only get worse as hostilities continue. The large majority of the civilian population is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and protection.

Over 1.8 million people in Gaza, or nearly 80 per cent of the population, are estimated to be internally displaced. The majority of them are sheltering in over-congested UNRWA facilities across Gaza with extremely poor access to hygiene facilities. All of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants lack sufficient food and clean water, and face malnutrition.

Given the extent of damage to civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including health facilities, water and sanitation, the risk of disease outbreaks is very high. The disruption of vaccination activities, as well as lack of medicines for treating communicable diseases, further increase the risk of an accelerated spread of infectious diseases.

We, the undersigned, met during the Aqaba Process Informal Meeting on Coordinating Gaza Emergency Relief, held in Amman in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 30 November 2023, and had frank discussions on the gaps and challenges in the current response, and certain mechanisms, systems, and restrictions in place which are hampering relief efforts.

As humanitarian actors, neutrality and impartiality are defining principles of our work. Our guiding objective is to alleviate human suffering. No effort is being spared by all humanitarian organisations and agencies engaged in the ongoing relief response; however, the current scale of assistance amounts to only a fraction of escalating needs.

First and foremost, we call for an end to the hostilities to prevent further human suffering. Until such time, the scale and scope of humanitarian aid must be dramatically expanded and sustained.

Our top priorities include:

Scaling up all relief efforts through additional access points into Gaza — including by opening the Kerem Shalom crossing point — and the streamlining of approval and inspection processes. This is pertinent as the Rafah crossing was not built to accommodate such capacity.

Continuing to prioritise the safe, unimpeded,and unconditional provision of safe water, food — including fresh produce — and shelter.

Expediting the screening and transport of the critically wounded, particularly children, to medical facilities outside Gaza.

Significantly scaling up the delivery and regular resupply of essential medicines, medical supplies and equipment, including, but not limited to, wound dressings, anesthesia and antibiotics.

Expanding the delivery of fuel into Gaza, as it is a pre-condition for humanitarian relief in almost all priority areas.

Addressing the water and sanitation needs in Gaza through the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, in addition to the provision of toilets and shower units for over-congested shelters, small desalination units and compactors for solid waste.

Expanding the capacity of health services and medical operating rooms in Gaza through both new field hospitals and the rehabilitation of existing health facilities, where possible.

Addressing women’s specific needs, such as maternal care, and safeguarding the rights of children, including the right to education, protection, nutrition and health.

As temperatures drop, prioritising the provision of warm clothing, blankets, and other winter items.

Facilitating the regular rotation of humanitarian and medical staff in and out of Gaza.

Making available reliable telecommunications networks to enable humanitarian and emergency staff to stay connected during the coordination of response efforts. Gaza was facing severe humanitarian challenges even before the recent escalation and the situation now has escalated to unprecedented levels. The proposed priorities are feasible, practical and will alleviate the suffering of 2.3 million civilians; there is no reason not to implement them. We must provide the people of Gaza with the essential humanitarian aid and services they need, at the scale they need.

United Nations Children’s Fund, American Near East Refugee Aid, Jordanian Red Crescent Society, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, United Nations Office for Project Services, CARE International, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, Palestine Red Crescent Society, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Doctors Without Borders, Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Qatar Charity, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Egyptian Red Crescent, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Reel Foundation, United Nations Women, Handicap International, Mercy Corps, Save the Children International, United Nations World Food Programme, International Rescue Committee, Norwegian Refugee Council, World Health Organisation, Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, Oxfam, Turkish Red Crescent

AMMAN — Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed during COP28 in the field of green hydrogen and green ammonia are set to usher a new era of climate finance and reduced reliance on fossil fuels in Jordan, according to economists.

 Linda Abadi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, informed The Jordan Times that the ministry has entered five new MoUs in the field of green hydrogen and green ammonia production with various companies.

Additionally, there is one agreement for the joint development of a wind energy project with the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). 

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh listed the partners and goals of each MoU.

The wind energy agreement with Masdar aims to develop a 1 gigawatt wind power station with a Battery Energy Storage System in Jordan, as per a ministry statement.

The first MoU in the field of green hydrogen, signed with Masdar during the climate conference aims to conduct a feasibility study for establishing a green hydrogen project. The plan includes constructing a factory near the Aqaba Port to annually produce up to 50,000 tonnes of competitively priced green hydrogen using de-salinated seawater and renewable energy. 

The second MoU for green hydrogen was signed with Aqua Power Saudi Arabia, allowing the company to conduct initial feasibility studies for a project aiming to annually produce 100–150 thousand tonnes of green ammonia. 

The third MoU was signed with the Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Xenel International, enabling the coalition to conduct initial feasibility studies for a project to produce green hydrogen and 1 million tonnes of green ammonia annually in Jordan. 

The fourth MoU was signed with Ocior Energy, an Indian/Emirati company. This allows the company to conduct initial feasibility studies for a project aiming to produce 1 million tonnes of green ammonia annually. The development will occur in stages, with the first phase producing 100,000 tonnes annually, gradually increasing to 1 million tonnes by 2030. 

The fifth MoU in the field of green hydrogen was signed with Catalyst Investment Management Jordan to produce green hydrogen in Jordan. The company will be able to conduct initial feasibility studies for its project, aiming to produce 150,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually.

The Jordanian government’s efforts are part of a serious and continuous initiative to enhance Jordan’s role as a regional hub for green energy production, Kharabsheh said. 

This includes providing high-quality and cost-competitive green hydrogen fuel by leveraging abundant renewable energy sources and the country’s strategic geographical location in the region that ensures access to European markets. 

Kharabsheh praised the regional and national cooperation undertaken to come to these agreements as well as the signing companies for their partnership. 

He also reinforced the ministry’s priorities and highlighted how they fit within the framework of the Jordanian government’s recently launched Economic Modernisation Vision (2023-2033). This includes investments in green hydrogen production projects, part of Jordan’s initiatives to transition to clean energy use aiming to achieve net-zero emissions.

Economist Hussam Ayesh told The Jordan Times that these projects will bring significant economic opportunities for Jordan.

“Investing in renewable energy to produce green ammonia and hydrogen will allow the export of energy from Jordan to other countries,” Ayesh said.

Ayesh described the return that renewable energy production has.  

“One kilo of hydrogen equals the same amount of energy generated from 1 kilo of gas. Therefore, the energy return from hydrogen is very high, making the investment in hydrogen extremely feasible,” Ayesh said.

Such opportunities will diversify energy sources in the Kingdom and will positively impact energy costs for investors, manufacturing sectors, and individuals, Ayesh said

Economist Khaled Salameh told The Jordan Times that these agreements will increase competitiveness in Jordan and will bring foreign currency. 

“These projects compromise an opportunity for the government to generate revenues,” Salameh said. 

Salameh also discussed the impact these projects will have on unemployment and future generations.

“Such projects help reduce university graduates’ unemployment. Such projects require advanced skills and knowledge, which will definitely help reshape future generations,” Salameh said. 

 “Jordan can benefit from these projects in all different sectors, from manufacturing, production and even transportation,” he explained.

These projects will reduce Jordan’s reliance on fossil fuels, decrease carbon emissions and usher Jordan into a new phase with better coping mechanisms to mitigate the impact of climate change, Salameh added.

AMMAN — The construction of the aquatic research centre to be established in Aqaba will start early next year, according to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA).

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said during an interview with the UAE Al Etihad newspaper on Monday that Jordan is in the process of establishing Aqaba Aquatic Research Centre with support from the Abu Dhabi Ports Company. 

Director of media at ASEZA, Fayez Al Fayez told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that a piece of land has been allocated for the project and its construction plans have been finalised. 

He estimated that the project will be completed within two to three years. Its purpose is to protect the marine environment in Aqaba and preserve its biodiversity through scientific research efforts, according to Fayez. 

He also noted that the Aqaba Marine Reserve, situated along an area of 7 kilometres, is the first marine area within the Jordan National Protected Areas network, and it was formally declared as such in 2020.

The Jordan Times also spoke with the biodiversity conservation and protected areas specialist Ehab Eid, who highlighted the uniqueness of the Gulf of Aqaba. 

Eid explained that the Gulf of Aqaba is a semi-enclosed Gulf, considered the only maritime area in Jordan, with only 27km length of coastal areas. 

It is considered a “bottleneck” for one of the most important migration routes globally; the Rift Valley, through which millions of birds pass through Jordan every year, he added. 

Despite its relatively small water-body, the Gulf of Aqaba hosts an “extraordinary” marine diversity, with the presence of 157 species of hard corals, including 11 endemic species, in addition to over 120 species of soft corals, and 510 of recorded fish species, of which 5 per cent are endemic, according to Eid.  

Moreover, it includes three globally endangered species of the marine turtle; the Green Sea Turtle, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, he said. 

Eid also noted that coral reefs have been occurring in the Gulf of Aqaba in Jordan since the middle Pleistocene (from 781,000 to 126,000 years ago).

He said that although coral reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba are “threatened”, they are “unique”, as recent studies have showed that they are a “refuge for coral species, and they could be used to re-seed degraded reefs in the Red Sea and perhaps even around the world”. 

Threats currently facing the Gulf of Aqaba include some natural predators, diseases and the extreme low tides, he added, highlighting a number of “anthropogenic” threats, such as fishing gears thought limited in scale, tourism impact, ports establishments, solid waste, coral harvesting, floods and climate change. 

Eid views that establishing the Aqaba Marine Reserve in 2020 was an “important” step towards the “protection of a representative sample of the main ecosystems in the Gulf of Aqaba, namely coral reefs, seagrass beds, sandy bottoms and the deep sea”. 

He said that the marine research hub ASEZA is working on establishing will play an important role in “understanding, protecting, and managing” the Gulf of Aqaba. 

“This facility is essential for informing policy decisions, developing sustainable practices, educating the public and safeguarding the health of the Gulf of Aqaba,” noted Eid. 

He added that it will play a “major” role in regional and international partnerships, especially after issuing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which aims to conserve at least 30 per cent of the global ocean by 2030 with at least 10 per cent of the ocean effectively conserved and managed through highly protected areas.

AMMAN — The Information and Research Centre at the King Hussein Foundation (IRCKHF), on Wednesday released its policy paper, highlighting challenges faced by Egyptian workers in the Kingdom’s labour market.

The policy paper comes as part of a wider project initiated in 2022. It casts light on labour violations and contract breaches, as well as the current employment regimes of Egyptian workers who are usually employed by intermediaries who facilitate the recruitment of migrant workers in Jordan.

Speaking during the launch event, Director of Tamkeen Linda Kalash said that Jordan’s migrant workers come predominantly from Egypt and yet they face dire conditions. She highlighted that among the major issues facing Egyptian workers in Jordan is obtaining the clearance paper upon contract completion. Plenty of employers create obstacles for Egyptian employees, occasionally refusing to grant them the clearance. 

She noted that safeguarding the rights of migrant workers contributes directly to immediate economic growth.

IRCKHF Director Ayman Halaseh said that Jordan held the 23rd place on the 2023 Global Slavery Index.

Speaking during the session, Head of the Workers’ House Hamada Abu Nijmeh said that “current realities show that there are discriminatory practices... and the sponsorship system is practiced”. 

The system of sponsorship known locally as “Kafala” ties migrant worker’s fate to the employer’s decision, thereby facilitating major labour abuses in the Kingdom, Abu Nijmeh explained.

He stressed the imperativeness of breaking free from the sponsorship system, and the need to develop transparent mechanisms for handling migrant workers in a proper and equitable manner. 

“There is a clear legal violation and there is a clear distinction happening when we speak about the contracts of Jordanian and Egyptian workers in Jordan... the abuses are serious,” he said. 

The labour law should be applied without any form of discrimination, he added. 

AMMAN — With human presence known for at least 400,000 years ago, the Azraq basin and adjacent areas of northeast Jordan preserve one of the most continuous and well-known sequences of early prehistoric settlement in the Levant. 

“Although the northeast Badia of Jordan had for a long time been thought of as a largely inhospitable region, hostile to permanent human occupation, archaeological fieldwork over the past four decades has demonstrated that the region’s early occupation spans from the later part of the Lower Palaeolithic to the end of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic,” noted Professor Tobias Richter from The University of Copenhagen, adding that  the idea that northeast Jordan was a landscape in which, due to the environmental constraints of the semi-arid steppe and arid desert, survival was difficult and life was harsh, has therefore been undergoing active revision.

The Black Desert was definitely not a cultural periphery or desolated place.

“Key cultural, economic and social advances have commonly been described as having occurred outside this region and were introduced to the Badia only later. Certain developments in the prehistory of northeast Jordan can actually be seen as locally-specific processes, independent of events taking place elsewhere,” said Richter.

Furthermore, it is important not to judge the archaeological record of this semi-arid steppe and desert through the perspective of a modern, western individual, he continued.

“Oftentimes, we tend to judge the suitability of landscapes for human occupation based on the idea how suitable, or not, such an area is or was for agriculture, especially when it comes to more recent periods. While it is clear that farming was probably always opportunistic and seasonal in eastern Jordan, we ought to recognise that the inhabitants of this region would not have seen it the same way,” Richter elaborated. 

However, it is also important to recognise that the landscape that characterises northeast Jordan today has changed dramatically since the beginning of human settlement in the region. 

The more contemporary relief of the eastern Badia has been different from that time.

“Intensive research since the mid-1970s has produced a rich record of the near-continuous human occupation of northeast Jordan, stretching from the Lower Palaeolithic to the end of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B. Although there are periods during which less material is present, or is absent entirely (notably from the later part of the Middle Palaeolithic to the earlier part of the Upper Palaeolithic), it is important to bear in mind that the research potential of northeast Jordan is not yet exhausted,” Richter underlined. 

Furthermore, large parts of this region have not yet been intensively surveyed, according to the professor. 

“Our knowledge and understanding of the early human occupation of this region is therefore not complete,” and needs a further research, Richter said.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi urged on Wednesday the United States to collaborate with Jordan and Arab countries to develop an executable plan, with specific timelines and implementation mechanisms, to end the occupation and fulfill all the rights of the Palestinian people.

Safadi said in an interview with Al Jazeera news  channel that the United States is required to confront the brutality, racism and policies of the Israeli government if it seeks security, peace and stability in the region.

He underlined that international silence on Israeli aggression against Palestinians is unacceptable, asserting that this silence covers Israeli brutality in Gaza.

Safadi said that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, adding that it had broken the seven-day ceasefire, holding 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza hostage to its aggressive and racist agenda and refuses to listen to its friends who advise it to adhere to international law in this barbaric aggression it is launching against the Palestinians.

The minister said that the Arab-Islamic Joint Ministerial Committee initiated a new round of discussions involving several countries, highlighting that Israel has exceeded all limits and the current silence is no longer acceptable. He added that the committee is set to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Safadi called on the international community to take action to protect its interests significantly affected in the region.

He said that there is a shift in international positions towards the war on Gaza, with some countries joining Arab nations in demanding an immediate ceasefire and an end to the conflict.

He emphasised that Jordan is using all available tools, including political pressure, to halt the war on Gaza, sending clear and stern messages that Israel's actions significantly impact its political relations with Jordan.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that work was under way to facilitate the evacuation of more 110 Jordanian citizens from the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Sufian Qudah, the ministry's spokesperson, said that teams were at the Rafah crossing on Wednesday to coordinate the departure of the 110 Jordanians to Egypt.

Upon arrival to Rafah border crossing, the embassy's team will provide the Jordanian evacuees with necessary assistance and facilitate their return to the Kingdom, Sufian Qudah, the ministry's spokesperson, said.

He added that out of the 913 Jordanians in Gaza registered in the ministry's database, 458 have been successfully evacuated since the start of the war (on October 7).

Reaffirming the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to the evacuation of all its citizens 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 via e-mail at op.ctr@fm.gov.jo.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Government Communication on Tuesday wrapped up the first phase of its three-year training and capacity building initiative for government communication professionals. Launched earlier this year, the programme aims to equip 81 government communication professionals and 54 spokespersons with essential skills, the Jordan News Agency Petra, reported on Wednesday. During this phase, 25 government communication professionals and 22 spokespersons have participated in a comprehensive training programme. The training covered key areas, such as strategic communication, effective response strategies, media interview techniques, managing misinformation, navigating government media agendas and staying updated on media communication tools. Minister of Government Communications Muhannad Mubaidin, who is also the government spokesperson, said that this training initiative aligns with the government's ongoing reform, especially in the administrative sector, and has a key role in modernising of the public sector. He made the remarks during a meeting of the Lower House Administrative Committee.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Water and Irrigation reported on Wednesday an increase in registered rainfall, reaching 24.2 per cent of the country's long-term average of 8.1 billion cubic metres. Following the recent weather unstable weather conditions, 4.3 million cubic metres (mcm) of water flowed into the Kingdom's 15 main dams, increasing their storage to 76 mcm, approximately 26 per cent of their total capacity of 288.128 mcm. At the governorate level, Zarqa recorded the highest precipitation, with 27.4 millimetres (mm), according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

AMMAN — Qatari Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Bin Jassim Al Thani on Wednesday inaugurated the Qatar Charity-affiliated comprehensive medical centre in the Zaatari refugee camp. The ambassador said, at the opening ceremony, that the centre has been established to support Syrian refugees in Jordan under the directives of the Emir of Qatar, Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. He thanked Jordan for its partnership in establishing the medical centre, as well as the Qatar Fund for Development for sponsoring the project, Qatar Charity and the Qatar Red Crescent. Manager of Humanitarian Aid Department at Qatar Fund for Development Aisha Kuwari said that the entire Qatari medical centres in the camp are funded by Qatar Fund for Development, adding that the amount of funding for the centres amounted to $8 million.Top of Form