Goodwill Campaign comes to Ruseifa

RUSEIFA — Hitteen Refugee Camp in Ruseifa, some 12km east of Amman in Zarqa Governorate, was the focus of a Goodwill Campaign mission on Monday.

With a population of some 85,000, the poverty rate at the “very densely populated” camp stands at 20 per cent, according to Khalaf Daghdashi, who heads the camp’s committee.

HRH Princess Basma, president of the Goodwill Campaign’s higher committee, presented educational assistance to 21 university students in the camp.

Among them are Hanaa Abdul Nabi, Suad Abu Khouseh and Maha Akhras, who study medicine.

Accompanied by higher committee members, the princess also participated in presenting food aid to 250 families in the camp, in addition to financial assistance to establish a commercial kitchen at the women’s centre.

“We stand here as one family founded on cohesion, solidarity, love and the sense of responsibility,” Princess Basma said, voicing her appreciation for supporters of the campaign’s different activities.

Mahmoud Aqrabawi, director of the Department of Palestinian Affairs, noted that Palestinian refugee camps receive great attention from His Majesty King Abdullah, with Royal makrumas to the camps amounting to more than JD13 million over the past three years.

During Monday’s visit, Princess Basma also met with a number of families who suffer difficult economic, health and social conditions.

The families will be provided with the needed help thanks to the Goodwill Campaign, supported by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD).

In cooperation with JOHUD, the Foodstuff Traders Association (FTA) pledged to implement a food support programme in Zarqa and include underprivileged families from Hitteen camp.

Earlier this month, the Goodwill Campaign and the association signed a memorandum to facilitate cooperation in different areas of social responsibility.

Under the programme, beneficiaries will receive monthly food aid according to the requirements and size of each family.

The FTA will also promote the products of women’s committees at Princess Basma centres, in accordance with the three-year cooperation agreement.

Launched in 1991 by JOHUD, the Goodwill Campaign has grown over the years to become synonymous with support for the poor and the marginalised.