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AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Wednesday instructed ministries and public institutions to start precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of harsh weather during winter. 

The premier sent a communiqué to the local administration and public works and housing ministries and the Greater Amman Municipality to carry out a number of precautionary procedures, ensuring the Kingdom’s readiness for forecast weather conditions, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

Razzaz stressed the importance of forming and equipping emergency squads that work around the clock during times of rain and snowfall to assist citizens whose houses may incur damage as a result of flooding or whose streets experience closure following heavy snowfall. 

The premier pointed to the importance of safety assurances and opening central operations rooms in every governorate as well as control rooms in administrative areas that inform citizens of their contact numbers ahead of time.  

The communiqué noted the necessity of cleaning drainage pipes to boost their capacity to handle rainwater, in addition to cleaning sewage and clearing the surfaces of roads to ensure they pose no threat to pedestrians, Petra, reported. 

The document stipulated the construction of Gabion walls along mountains and hills that divert dust and rocks from streets and prevent the closure of culverts.  

AMMAN — An average of 30,000 vulnerable refugee families benefit each month from assistance in form of a social (cash) transfer to cover their most vital and essential needs, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said.

Jordan is one of the countries that is most affected by the Syria crisis, hosting the second highest share of refugees per capita in the world, according to a UN fact sheet that was distributed recently to the press.

The UN refugee agencies declared that as of September 2019, there were 747,080 refugees in Jordan from 57 nationalities, 16.5 per cent of whom live in refugee camps, according to the UNHCR statement.

The highest number of refugees in Jordan, according to the UNHCR, is Syrians, numbering 656,512, followed by 67,286 Iraqi refugees and 14,703 from Yemen.  

UNHCR Jordan was among the first UNHCR operations worldwide to introduce iris-scanning biometrics technology as an integrated, systematic part of its refugee registration in 2013, according to the UNHCR statement. 

"Almost all registered Syrians are since enrolled with biometrics. Up to 4,000 refugees a day can be processed at the largest urban registration centre in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region," the UNHCR statement added.

Furthermore, the UNHCR has been directly providing psycho-social support and emergency cash assistance to sexual and gender-based violence survivors, the UN agency statement said. 

This, the statement added, has been complemented through partnerships with local NGOs who provide specialised support to survivors in safe spaces in Jordan. Survivors are referred to health, legal and safe-shelter options and other services, the statement said, adding that the agency also implements prevention activities such as women's empowerment workshops, self-defence classes led by refugee women and various awareness activities within communities.

The Disability Task Force continues developing the Guidance Note on Disability Inclusion in gender-based violence (GBV) programming, which aims to support a standardised approach among the GBV service providers in Jordan on disability inclusion in the GBV programming and to ensure that GBV prevention and response services are inclusive and well-positioned to appropriately meet the needs of GBV survivors with disabilities, the UNHCR statement added.

The UNHCR statement said that following the London and Brussels Conferences, the Jordan Compact and the EU–Jordan Compact, the government of Jordan waived the fees required to obtain a work permit for Syrian refugees in a number of occupations open to foreign workers and simplified the documentation requirements. 

"These measures have encouraged employers to regularise their workers; over 153,000 work permits have been issued for refugees since early 2016 allowing refugees to look for jobs mainly in the agriculture and construction sectors," the UNHCR said.

The development of electrical infrastructure in Jordan’s Syrian refugee camps, ensuring that all refugees are able to satisfy their energy needs for cooking and lighting in a safe and sustainable manner without fear or risk to their health, well-being and personal security, is one of the UNHCR's main goals, the UN agency's statements stressed.

In line with Jordan’s strategy to become a green economy by 2020, the UNHCR provided access to clean and renewable energy in refugee camps, as Jordan is now home to the first refugee camp in the world powered by renewable energy, the statement added. 

The solar plant in Azraq refugee camp was inaugurated in May 2017 while the one in Zaatari camp opened in November 2017. Solar plants help the UNHCR to save an average of approximately $6 million per year in electricity bills, the UNHCR statement said.

AMMAN — Ghabawi landfill project has been generating electricity since the end of May by converting waste into bio-gas, according to an official at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM).

The “non-hazardous” Ghabawi landfill, located some 25km east of Amman, was established in 2003 and is expected to operate until 2035, adhering to all European safety regulations on the use of tanks specifically built for energy-generating purposes, Ameen Saraireh, Bio-gas projects manager at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) told the Jordan Times on Wednesday.

The landfill intakes 55 per cent of the country’s daily waste from 45 GAM machineries and dozens of garbage trucks from Rusaifa and Zarqa, which bring in an average of 4,300 tonnes of waste, Saraireh said, adding that it also receives waste from Amman.

The project manager said that bio-gas is produced from biomass through several chemical reactions and anaerobic decomposition processes, with the appropriate temperatures and humidity.

“We focus on health and environment, through limiting harmful gases,” he said.

The waste-to-energy project aims to optimise waste treatment by producing bio-methane and valuable fertilisers. It also aims to reduce greenhouse gases, Saraireh noted.  

The project will span 50 years, during which the 9 fuel cells will “significantly increase” electrical efficiency, Saraireh said, noting that each cell covers an area of 150-200 dunums and is 11 to 12 metres deep.

“The last cell will be used in 2035. After that, we will apply our closure plan which involves several procedures and strict regulations,” he added.

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday met UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo over means to enhance partnership in various fields between Jordan and the world organisation.   

Talks also went over the Kingdom's role in combating terrorism, with DiCarlo valuing Jordan's role in enhancing regional security and stability and the importance of the Aqaba meetings in formulating a holistic anti-terrorism approach, according to a ministry statement.  

She also drew attention to His Majesty King Abdullah's participation in the Christchurch Call to Action Summit in Paris that aimed at bringing an end to the threats of online extremism and hate speech, the statement said.

For his part, Safadi reaffirmed that terrorism is a common enemy that Jordan will always fight in cooperation with the international community, underlying in this context the recent memorandum of understanding signed between Jordan and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism.

Talks also covered the latest developments in the Mideast peace process, with Safadi calling for a firm international position against all Israeli unilateral measures. The top diplomat also affirmed that comprehensive and lasting peace is a strategic Arab choice to be realised on the basis of the two-state solution that can lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to the statement. 

Talks also covered efforts under way to resolve the Syrian crisis and create suitable conditions to ensure a voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their home. 

AMMAN — The Civil Defence Department (CDD) and the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) on Tuesday signed a cooperation agreement that aims at training CDD personnel and developing their capabilities in the cyber security field.

CDD Director Maj. Gen. Mustafa Bazaiah highlighted the importance of sustaining cooperation between public and private institutions, commending the “advanced level” of KADDB in the fields of research, development and defence industries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

KADDB Director General Amjad Al-Shuhail lauded the professionalism displayed by CDD personnel. 

AMMAN — Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Saja Majali on Tuesday received the credentials of ambassador Shirin Shanika Dissanayake of Sri Lanka as an accredited resident ambassador to the Kingdom.

During their meeting, Majali wished the new ambassador success and expressed hopes for the further development of bilateral relations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Labour Ministry and Crown Prince Foundation (CPF) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to activate joint cooperation in capacity-building and developing youth leadership skills.

The memo was signed by Labour Minister Nidal Bataineh and CPF CEO Tamam Mango, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Bataineh said that the memo is among the government's priorities that aim at bettering Jordanian lives and fulfilling their ambitions to channel young people's capabilities towards leadership.

Mango, during the ceremony, commended the ministry's efforts to open new prospects of cooperation to serve CPF's policy aiming at improving youths’ leadership qualities and social work skills.

AMMAN — During a public hearing of the so-called “tobacco case” at the State Security Court (SSC) on Tuesday, a witness said that he had been coerced into changing his testimony by acquaintances of two main suspects.

The SSC also heard the testimonies of two witnesses before adjourning the session on Wednesday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Two other witnesses had reportedly committed perjury and changed the testimonies they made to the prosecutor general.

So far, the SSC has heard the testimonies of 60 witnesses in the case involving 29 defendants, out of whom six remain at large and one dead, in addition to 24 companies, including 22 registered under the names of 22 defendants.

AMMAN — The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), the Greater Irbid Municipality and the Yarmouk University on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the first phase of the national plan for accessibility in public facilities.

The plan, launched in March, includes establishing areas that provide suitable public facilities, roads and pavements in Amman and the northern and southern regions of the Kingdom, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

HRH Prince Mired, HCD president, said that establishing such areas in vital places with services is a “milestone” towards instilling the concept of accessible public spaces. 

AMMAN — The 10th Palestinian Cultural Centre Exhibition, showcasing Palestinian culture, local cuisines and many activities and events will begin on Thursday at 12:30pm. 

The exhibition will feature embroidery made by 550 women, food prepared by 60 women volunteers and the work of the centre's 27 staff during the three-day exhibition, Siham Abu Ghazaleh, head of the centre, told The Jordan Times over the phone on Tuesday.

The aim of the exhibition, held under the patronage of Culture and Youth Minister Mohammad Abu Rumman, is to protect the Palestinian identity through tradition, which is displayed in embroidery, ceramics, books and local cuisine, she said. 

The exhibition will display posters to shed light on the rights of Palestinian children under UN resolutions, she said, noting that this includes the right to freedom, to play, to be healthy and many other rights guaranteed by international laws.

"The latest books and publications on the Palestinian cause and regional issues as well as Hebron's signature ceramics and pottery will be available for purchase at the exhibition," she added.

Guests will have the opportunity to experience the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit with virtual reality gear at the exhibition, according to Abu Ghazaleh.

Visitors can donate food to the centre's "goodwill plate" (tabaq al khair), revenues from which will support the backpacks project in Palestine, hospitals, underprivileged families and children with disabilities, among many others, the centre's head said. 

Activities include a children’s reading of "Little Lantern" by Ghassan Kanafani at 5pm on Thursday, as well as dabkeh performances by Jerusalem Band (Ferqat Al Quds) at 6pm on Friday and Saturday, she said, noting that each year, the exhibition highlights the works of different Palestinian writers.