British ambassador tours Balqa Governorate

AMMAN — British Ambassador Edward Oakden visited Balqa Governorate on Monday to meet Governor Nayef Al Hadayat and see first-hand a UK-funded project through DFID and International Medical Corps in the Governorate. 

The project is designed to support people with mental health conditions and strengthen the national system for mental and psychosocial health and protection services in Jordan, according to a British embassy statement.

This programme enhances the protection of refugee and Jordanian families most affected by poverty and vulnerability. These include persons with disabilities or mental health conditions, children requiring health and protection support, female-headed households, survivors of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and others without resources to exercise their legal rights, the programme will also seek to build the capacity of national system and local service providers to pave the way for more sustainable services, the statement added. 

The governor welcomed the visit and emphasised the importance of the relations between the two countries. He also discussed tourism in Balqa and highlighted the summer and winter tourist attractions and the UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Oakden also visited Balqa Applied University and met the President of the university, Abdallah Al Zoubi. The ambassador heard inspirational views from students on their aspirations and role in Jordan’s future.

"We happily welcome the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Mr Edward Oakden, to Al Balqa Applied University, and we cherish the historical relationship between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United Kingdom, which dates back to the history of Jordan. We also commend the UK’s supportive positions to Jordan in including the London initiative to support Jordan’s economy and its vision of growth and development,” the statement quoted Zoubi as saying.

The trip also included a visit to Fuheis Municipality and a meeting with Fuheis Mayor Jamal Hattar. The Mayor accompanied the ambassador for a walk in the Christmas lit streets of Fuheis, where they met with members of the local community, including representatives from three Christian communities. They wished the community a happy holiday season, the statement added.

The ambassador concluded his trip with a visit to the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Fuheis. 

 “It is always a pleasure to visit the governorate of Balqa, and the cities of As Salt and Fuheis in particular, with their unique combination of the old and the new. There is much shared history with Britain; while the local tourist industry in particular shows much potential. We saw in Balqa applied university how applied studies can be taken to a new level, in Amman and around the country, in a way which maximises jobs for young people,” the ambassador was quoted in the statement as saying.