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AMMAN — More than 50 per cent of the government's capital spending in 2019 will go to the education, health and transport sectors, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said on Tuesday. 

Razzaz made the remarks while announcing the fourth executive packages to improve the national economy.

The premier said that the first three packages cannot be sustainable without improving the quality of education, health and transport sectors, noting that many Jordanian families are not covered by health insurance and that public transport should serve all segments of society, "not only those without cars".

"The implementation of the first three packages are producing tangible results," the premier said, explaining that apartment sales have increased by 34 per cent from the announcement of the first package in October 21 until December 19. 

The sales of lands also increased by 48 per cent in the same period Razzaz said, adding that sales of vehicles have also increased. 

The aim of the fourth package is to improve the livelihood and wellbeing of citizens and improve the quality of services, he said.

“Jordan spends 8.12 per cent on health, which is more than the global average of 6.6 per cent,” Razzaz said, adding that spending on education and transport is also sufficient. 

One of the biggest challenges in the education sector is kindergarten, the premier said, adding that the government will cooperate with all concerned agencies to provide kindergarten education to every place in the Kingdom.

“The government will also ensure that no Jordanian citizen is deprived of comprehensive health insurance or public transport services.” 

In October, the government announced its comprehensive programme comprising four packages: Stimulating the economy and investments, management and financial reform, improving citizens’ livelihoods and improving services comprehensively.

The first package provided incentives in the real-estate sector, focused on boosting exports and production and introduced measures to improve labour and employment for Jordanians.

The second package lowered taxes on electric cars, removed the vehicle weight tax, reduced and controlled government purchases and resolved bureaucracy issues.

The third package focused on increasing the salaries of employees and pension of retirees in the public sector and the military.

AMMAN — The government on Tuesday announced its plans to develop the education, health and transport sectors during a panel session held to discuss the fourth incentive package to improve the national economy at the Royal Cultural Palace. 

The panel hosted Health Minister Saad Jaber, Education Minister Tayseer Nueimi, Transport Minister Khalid Saif and Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh.

Health 

Jaber announced the formation of four groups under the comprehensive civil health insurance system. The first group includes insured families with a total income of less than JD300, as well as families living in underprivileged areas, people with disabilities and families who benefit from national aid.

"The government will cover 100 per cent of the first group's health insurance subscription fees," Jaber said.

The second group includes families with a total income ranging between JD300 and JD1,000, for whom the government will cover between 30 to 90 per cent of subscription fees, the minister noted.

The third group includes families with a total income of over JD1,000, who are provided with "affordable annual instalment options" and privileges that encourage them to subscribe to health insurance. 

The fourth group is for optional subscribers who wish to receive health services from the private sector as well as the public sector, which was made possible through a public-private partnership with insurance companies, the minister noted.

"This system includes children of Jordanian women married to non-Jordanian men," Jaber said.

The minister said that in the first quarter of 2020, three new hospitals will be opened: Salt Public Hospital, a district hospital in Fuheis, and an emergency ward within Al Bashir Hospital with a capacity of 150 beds.

"The ministry will also add 400 beds through the expansion of Princess Rahma Hospital, Ghor Safi Hospital, Tutanji Hospital, Ramtha Hospital and new wards in Al Bashir Hospital," the minister said.

He said that this will increase the total number of beds provided by the Health Ministry from 5,200 to 6,100.

Education

Nueimi highlighted two developments in the education system: Inclusion of all five-year-old children in the Kingdom in KG2 education as of the academic year 2021 and enchancing school environments.

He cited studies showing the investment returns in kindergarten education, noting that every JD1 spent on kindergarten education is forecast to return JD10 to the GDP.

"A highly credible study from a trustworthy source revealed that the actual enrolment rate in kindergarten stands at 84 per cent in the public, private and civil sectors," Nueimi said, which, according to the Prime Ministry's presentation, includes 208,000 children. 

Nueimi reiterated the benefits of investing in early education, noting that the changes will create 800 jobs.

Regarding school environment improvements, the minister noted that 60 new schools will be built next year.

The government will improve integrative education for all segments of society, especially for people with disabilities, and will also work on improving schools' nutrition programmes and cleanliness, in addition to revamping 50 schools. 

"The environment is not only physical about the building and its safety, but it is also about feeling safe from within," Nueimi said.

Transport

The Transport Ministry will distribute "support tickets" to public transport users who are eligible for the Takaful programme, totalling around 10,000 families, Saif said. 

The ministry will implement the programme over  several phases, the first of which will begin in the first quarter of 2020, costing a total of JD1.8 million, Saif said. 

The transport minister said that there will be an application that allows people to track public transport services and pay electronically.

The pilot phase will start in mid-2020 for a total of 622 buses in Jerash and 265 buses for university routes, benefitting 120,000 students, according to Saif. 

For his part, Shawarbeh said that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is 55 per cent complete, noting that operation will begin by the end of 2021.

Regarding the Amman Bus project, the mayor said that the first phase saw the launch of 135 buses in 2019, adding that an additional 151 buses will be added in 2020. 

"The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) offers JD9 million annual support to the Amman Bus project," he said, adding: "Public transport is a service, not an investment, which is why it requires support."

Shawarbeh also said that the cesspit known as the “Pepsi Pool” in Ruseifa will be turned into a public park by March of 2020 at a cost of JD12 million.

He also said that next month, more than 80 per cent of GAM's services will be digitised. 

AMMAN — Authorities have uncovered illegal water diversion into tankers from the Disi Water Conveyance Project's supply pipeline, according to a statement from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Tuesday. 

The violation was reported in the Qatraneh area, the statement said, adding that this form of theft puts the pumping of water to Abu Alanda at risk.

The alleged violation at the Disi pipline, one of the Kingdom’s strategic water resources that meets some 55 per cent of Amman, Zarqa and Madaba's water needs, endangers the Kingdom's already scarce water resources, the statement said. 

The statement added that ministry cadres are working round-the-clock to complete maintenance to avoid a halt in pumping resulting from repeated violations.

During the first six months of this year, the ministry recorded 61 violations and acts of sabotage at the Disi project’s facilities, despite state-assigned patrols to protect them.

The project was launched in 2013 and supplies water to Amman via a pipeline that passes through several stations in Maan, Tafileh, Karak, Madaba before reaching Amman and continuing north via the national carrier.

Under the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) Law, those who abuse water carriers and mains, wastewater, pumping, purification or desalination stations, pollute water resources, pipes or stations used for drinking water, or are involved in digging wells without a licence face jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to JD7,000. 

Violators of WAJ water and wastewater projects can also be jailed for up to three years and fined up to JD5,000.

AMMAN — Funding for the 2019 Jordan Response Plan, aimed at helping the Kingdom overcome challenges ensuing from the Syrian crisis, has so far reached 40.2 per cent of the aid required under the scheme.

Some $966.9 million in funding was granted out of a total of around $2.4 billion requested for 2019 under the plan, designed to support refugees and mitigate the consequences of the crisis on host communities, figures by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on Tuesday showed.

Of the total amount of aid received under the plan, $101 million was allocated to support education and $88 million to support the health sector.

 Some $87 million was earmarked for water sector support, while $61 million was allocated to livelihood support, $49 million for local governance and municipal services and $36 million for social protection.

The US topped the list of countries that committed funds to the plan with $402 million, followed by Germany, which has provided $177.4 million so far. 

Funds from the EU reached $44 million, while Canada provided $19  million and Switzerland provided $10 million, according to the ministry website.

The remainder of the assistance came from, South Korea, Italy, the UAE, France, Kuwait, Japan, Poland, Australia, Finland and Malaysia, among others.

Jordan and the international community in February endorsed a $2.4-billion Jordan Response Platform (JRP) for the Syria Crisis for the year 2019.

Of the funding requirements, $702.9 million was allocated to refugees, while $698.9 million was set to support the resilience of host communities and the remaining $998.2 million is assigned for budget support.

The JRP, formulated by governmental and international donor agencies, seeks to compensate Jordan for the hardship it has been shouldering as a result of regional crises. It aims at securing sufficient grants and concessional financing to address general budget needs over the next three years.

AMMAN — The National Unified Registry (NUR) and Outreach Worker Programme, funded by the World Bank (WB) and supervised by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, is 75-per cent complete, according to an implementation status and results report published by the WB this week.

The project began on October 8, 2013 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2019, the report stated, adding that its goal is to improve the targetting of social safety net programmes and develop an efficient outreach mechanism to support underprivileged families.

The NUR is the first component of a project built to target safety nets, according to the WB website.

The website adds that the NUR has two sub-components. The first is building a database of private and informal sector workers at the Income and Sales Tax Department and using the NUR at the Ministry of Finance. 

The aim is to help the government reach families more effectively, analyse their situation and determine the services required to improve their livelihoods. 

The second component focuses on piloting the Integrated Outreach Worker Programme. 

The first sub-component is about outreach design, planning and training of outreach workers, under which the report says that 371 skilled outreach workers have been deployed, 51 supervisors have been trained to train outreach workers and 93 per cent of eligible households have been referred to services according to the needs assessment against a target of 70 per cent.

The project is expected to disburse 98 per cent of grant funds, which total $9.5 million, by the project's closing date, according to the report. 

According to the report, the project has reached 83,927 direct beneficiary households, which is 75 per cent of its goal of 112,400 households. 

The NUR has been tested and piloted in the implementation of the Expansion of the National Aid Fund Program (Takaful), benefitting 151,815 individuals, including 71,971 females, according to the report. 

The report adds that besides cash support, the platform was used for targeting insurance, energy subsidy support and transportation subsidy, as 37,258 households were selected to receive health insurance and 1,028 households were selected to receive solar panels. 

AMMAN — The Lower House on Tuesday held a monitoring session in the presence of Cabinet members to discuss the government's responses to 13 questions raised by lawmakers. 

The lawmakers addressed several issues pertaining to opposition against gas import from Israel, announcing their intention to initiate a vote of no confidence against the government.

House members also discussed the need for specialised doctors in public hospitals and ways of addressing the H1N1 virus.

The MPs also discussed endeavours to support renewable energy projects, as well as demands pertaining to roads, higher education and supporting livestock farmers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Deputies also discussed House procedures to adopt a statement by the House Palestine Committee welcoming the International Criminal Court's decision to investigate war crimes perpetrated by the Israeli occupation army. 

In response to MP Mutaz Abu Rumman’s question about the delay in the opening of a new hospital in Salt, Health Minister Saad Jaber said that the health facility is scheduled to be opened during the first quarter of 2020.  

MP Awwad Zawaideh inquired about the role of the Tourism Ministry and the Jordan Tourism Board in developing desert, archaeological and religious tourism in addition to the cost of stimulating tourism in the golden triangle (Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba).

Deputy Mahmoud Titi also requested the government to clarify its plan to provide 30,000 jobs. 

Lawmaker Muhammad Riati did not object to the government's response refuting any intention to build a casino in Aqaba. 

First Deputy Lower House Speaker Nassar Qaisi adjourned the session due to lack of quorum.  

AMMAN — The Jordan Valley Authority called on farmers to take the necessary precautions in preparation for the expected depression, cautioning them and the general public not to approach waterways, valleys, dams or irrigation channels.

Secretary General of the Jordan Valley Authority Ali Kouz said in a recent statement that farmers should prepare for extreme weather conditions, as per the weather forecast, which expects heavy rains and torrents, especially in low-lying valleys.

“Farmers across the Kingdom, particularly in the Jordan Valley and Wadi Araba, can approach the Jordan Valley Authority for help at any time during the depression, as the authority will deploy its cadres to deal with developments in the weather situation,” he added.

The Authority will be in regular communication with the Operations and Control Centre at the Water Ministry, Water Ministry Spokesperson Omar Salameh said. 

He noted that the joint cadres “will deal with all requests with the utmost responsibility”.

He added: “The farmers’ cooperation and adherence to instructions is vital in protecting their crops. Any failure to take necessary precautionary measures will make the cadres’ job unnecessarily difficult during the depression.”

Kouz noted that maintenance cadres from the Jordan Valley Authority have also removed waste and dirt that could cause flooding from small-ferry canals near irrigation canals.

“Our round-the-clock teams are well-prepared to receive any calls for help during the depression, covering an area stretching from the Northern Jordan Valley and Adasiyah areas to the south of the valley and the south of the Kingdom,” he concluded.

AMMAN — More than 35,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria via the Jordanian-Syrian borders as of the beginning of December, according to Spokesperson for the UNHCR in Jordan Muhammad Hawari.

In a phone interview with The Jordan Times, Hawari said that more than 35,000 Syrian refugees in total have returned to their homes since the opening of the Jaber/Nasib Border in October 2018.

“Any refugee who has returned did so voluntarily. We stress that the refugees are the only decision makers in this regard, and that the return process happens without restrictions or obstacles that stand in the way of the refugee,” he added.

The UNHCR noted that its numbers match those of the Jordanian authorities.

According to the agency, Jordan hosts the second largest proportion of refugees in the world compared to its number of citizens, and one out of three of its population is a refugee. 

More than 80 per cent of refugees live outside the camps, and 20 per cent inside them, according to the agency.

Refugees have returned from both the camps and urban areas in the Kingdom, and the process has been described by Hawari as “smooth” since it began over a year ago.

“It should be noted that the return rates this time of year are below average, as it is the winter season and most refugees do not want to risk returning to an unstable housing situation in cold weather. Another reason is that some are still concerned about the security and safety situation in Syria,” concluded Hawari.

AMMAN — 10,000 vulnerable families will receive food parcels this winter under a new partnership between the UN World Food Progamme (WFP) and the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD).

 The agreement to distribute the winter food parcels was signed on Monday, and aims to reduce poverty and improve food security of the most vulnerable communities throughout the country, according to a WFP statement on Monday.

Distribution of 9,600 food parcels will start in early January, while an emergency stock of 400 parcels will be provided to families in case of flash floods or storms. Each parcel covers the basic food needs of a family of five for a month, and includes items such as olive oil, flour, sugar, beans, packed vegetables and zaatar, according to the statement. 

The MoSD is currently working to identify the families that will be receiving the food parcels, the statement said. 

Minister of Social Development Basma Ishaqat said that the partnership with the WFP aims to reach the most vulnerable families in Jordan and works to reduce poverty among these families. She added that the Ministry will distribute the 10,000 food packages with WFP’s support, the statement said.

 “Winter is a particularly difficult time of the year when some vulnerable families are forced to choose between heating, warm clothing or buying food, and these food parcels will help to ease the pressure for these families, while at the same time ensuring their food security,” WFP Country Director and Representative in Jordan Sarah Gordon-Gibson was quoted in the statement as saying. 

She added: “In line with national priorities, the WFP will focus on supporting national social protection efforts, and the partnership between MoSD and WFP is a first step in that direction”. 

AMMAN — Members of the Lower House’s Palestine Committee on Tuesday visited Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Atallah Hanna, who was admitted to the Jordan Hospital after an Israeli gas canister was fired into his church in Jerusalem.

During the visit, MP Yahya Saud, head of the committee, said that the attack falls within a series of attempts by Israel to “assassinate” Palestinian leaders, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Hanna, for his part, highlighted the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.