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AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday met in Amman with US Senators James Inhofe and Michael Enzi and an accompanying delegation, according to a Royal Court statement. 

They discussed the strategic relations between Jordan and the United States and ways of expanding cooperation in various fields.

During the meeting, which was attended by HRH Prince Feisal, King Abdullah expressed Jordan's appreciation for the support provided by the US to the Kingdom, especially in the defence field.

The meeting dealt with regional developments, particularly the efforts to revive the peace process and the importance of the US role in this regard.

The meeting also touched on the crises in the region and the efforts aimed at finding political solutions to them, restoring security and stability for their people, in addition to the burdens imposed by the Syrian refugee influx on the national economy and the already meagre resources.

They also went over regional and international efforts in the war on terrorism and the need for a holistic approach to the threat.

The US lawmakers expressed their appreciation for Jordan's efforts under the leadership of His Majesty the King to achieve peace and enhance security and stability in the region, the statement added. 

The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan. 

AMMAN — Amman hosts 32 per cent of the 1.4 million refugees currently living in Jordan, a recent report by the World Bank and Feinstein International Centre, that looked into the impact of urban displacement in the MENA cities, found. 

With the multiplication of regional crises and waves of unrest, the issue of forcibly displaced people relocation has become one of the most pressing challenges in the region, according to the report titled “Cities of Refuge in the Middle East”, which stressed that most of these people live outside of camps.

In Jordan, 80 per cent of the Syrian refugees live in host communities across the Kingdom, mostly concentrated in urban areas, according to official figures. This is due to a perception that cities offer better economic opportunities, increased security, a degree of anonymity, greater access to services, and proximity to markets, the report stated.

The urbanisation of forced displacement means the displaced are no longer in isolated areas, but now blend into existing urban populations, creating a number of social, cultural, economic and human challenges. 

"It used to be easy to find a good place to live for a decent price. Now, the rents have gone crazy and we are forced to lower our standards," said Anna Khoury, a 48-year-old resident of Shmeisani, who cited immigration as "the main reason" for this hike. 

Based on global trends, forced displacement in MENA is projected to be protracted and long lasting; more than 80 per cent of refugee crises last for 10 years or more, and two out of five last 20 years or more, the report showed, calling for the implementation of sustainable strategies to address the issue.

“The shift in displacement from camps to towns and cities means changing the paradigm for how humanitarian and development agencies work with displaced populations,” the report stated, adding “instead of providing stand-alone solutions to displaced people in camps or rural areas, the challenge is to support host communities to scale up existing services, shelter and jobs to meet the needs of both the original residents and the displaced”.

A recent study by the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan showed that Jordanians have had a lower sense of security than Syrians since the onset of the refugee crisis, with 49 per cent of Jordanians believing that the existence of refugees outside the camps “highly threatens the security and stability of Jordan”.

“I do not feel safe walking at night anymore. I used to send my children for grocery shopping in the evenings but now, with the new settlements around the area, I do not let them go alone anymore,” said Leila Abu Jaber, a mother of three living in the eastern part of Amman.

“Local governments need to leverage the delivery of services in urban areas to increase confidence and build trust within the communities as a basis for social cohesion,” the report said, noting that approaches that target assistance only for the displaced tend to heighten social tensions between the displaced and host communities. 

However, some consider the blame on Syrians as exaggerated. Myriam Saleh, who recently took her 3-year-old daughter to the doctor for a fever due to a “bacterial infection”, recalled: “The paediatrician instantly blamed the refugees, saying that Jordan was hosting too many and that they bring all kinds of illnesses with them”.

Another issue raised by the report pertained to the varied impact of urban displacement between primary and secondary cities, as well as within cities. 

Capital cities and major urban agglomerations like Amman tend to have the highest numbers of forcibly displaced people, whereas secondary cities near the borders have extremely high proportions of refugees compared to their initial population and are therefore often more affected, the report showed.

In Jordan, the proportion of refugees in the northeast governorates of Mafraq and Irbid relative to their populations amounts to 32 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively, according to government figures published in 2015. 

In addition, those populations tend to concentrate in specific areas, usually low-income neighbourhoods and informal settlements in and adjacent to urban centres, where rents are lower and there is greater availability of informal housing arrangements, the report noted

A recent report by the non-governmental organisation CARE showed that 4 out of 10 Syrians said they had been evicted or forced out of accommodations while in Jordan in 2017, with an especially high rate of evictions in the Zarqa Governorate. 

For the World Bank, this can be explained by the difference in settlements between the capital and other cities. While the capital somehow grew in a steady trend, the spatial expansion of smaller towns like Mafraq, Zaatari and Ramtha in northern Jordan was much more disorganised, with the multiplication of informal housing outside municipal boundaries.

Among its recommendations, the report called for a development approach to expand the focus from reducing the vulnerabilities of the forcibly displaced to also mitigating the impacts on host communities so that these “cities of refuge” do not become the victims of the refugee influx.

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday underlined Jordan's keenness to expand partnership with the EU in order to serve common interests and challenges, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a meeting with EU ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry to discuss issues related to cooperation between the two sides, the minister praised the union for its support for Jordan to help it meet its economic and developmental needs, highlighting  the EU's efforts to address the consequences of regional developments, especially the Syrian refugee crisis. 

During the meeting, the diplomats went over efforts to re-launching the Middle East peace process. 

In this context, the foreign minister thanked the EU for supporting the two-state solution as the sole workable formula to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Safadi outlined the burdens borne by the Kingdom in light of hosting more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees. He stressed that there is an urgent need for further support to cover the growing cost Jordan has incurred as a result of hosting the Syrian refugees. 

He said that Jordan has exceeded its capacity and cannot receive more refugees; however, he stressed, the Kingdom will not abandon its humanitarian responsibilities and will continue to provide assistance to refugees, provided that such assistance would not be at the expense of its national interests and security.

The minister also pointed out that the residents of Rukban camp across the northern border are Syrian citizens living on Syrian soil, which makes dealing with the camp an international, not a Jordanian, responsibility.

He stressed that the provision of assistance to the residents of Rukban must be carried out within the Syrian territory, since the situation in the field these days allows the delivery of aid to the makeshift town of around 80,000 dwellers.

Safadi said that the government is willing to cooperate with its EU partners and the international community to find a solution for the delivery of assistance and aid to the displaced people of the camp. 

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned the Syrian Chargé d’Affaires to Jordan Ayman Alloush, conveying to him utter condemnation of the remarks that he has made about the Kingdom and its pan-Arab stances.

The ministry told him that he has to commit to the diplomatic conventions and standards in his press statements and that it would take the necessary measures in accordance with diplomatic norms in case he repeated the remarks. 

During a seminar in Amman on Saturday, Alloush expressed doubts over Jordan’s participation in the 1973 war against Israel, saying that he “did not hear about such participation”.

“The Jordanian Air Force did not shoot one bullet during the war,” said the diplomat, as cited in local reports. 

The new episode in Jordan-Syria ties came amid reportedly improving ties between the two neighbours, especially after Jordan, the US and Russia succeeded in creating and sustaining a “replicable” de-escalation zone in southwestern Syria.  

The two sides are currently in talks to reach a final decision over the reopening of the Jaber border crossing with Syria, a senior official has said.

“Talks over the issue are under way on a tactical level,” he told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Sunday chaired a meeting of the Economic Policy Council to discuss the financial reform and the plan to stimulate economy growth, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During the meeting, Mulki stressed the importance of the programmes and measures of the economic stimulation, which would enhance the economy’s growth and resilience to face challenges. 

He noted that several internal and external factors have affected the national economy and imposed great burdens. The premier added that the "Arab Spring", the waves of refugees and the closure of borders and the Egyptian gas disruption have posed a difficult challenge to Jordan, leading to an increase in public debt. 

Mulki outlined the general framework of financial reform that aims to address the imbalances that face the economy.  

AMMAN — The Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) President Omar Jarrah on Sunday received a certificate from the Global QS classifying the institution as a five-star university.

During the ceremony, the Regional Director of Gobal QS Ashwin Fernandes handed over the certificate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Jarrah, in the presence of university staff, said the achievement of this classification grants the educational institution’s international recognition.

The global QS classification is an index of emerging universities established less than 50 years ago. JUST has been ranked in the category of 81-90. This category was started in 2012, and this year it includes 150 universities, Petra added.

AMMAN — The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), in cooperation with the Professional Associations Complex, on Sunday launched a campaign to collect aid for the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The organisation has got the permission from the Social Development Ministry to launch the campaign. Donors can deposit their contribution in the organisation’s account at the Jordan Islamic Bank (49992).

AMMAN — The Electricity Company of Irbid Governorate on Sunday disconnected the electricity supply to directorates and offices of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and Awqaf Ministry in the northern regions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The company’s spokesman Hisham Hijazi, said the company’s decision comes after the bill of theses departments exceeded JD2 million.

He said that disconnecting lines are part of a campaign against subscribers who defaulted on paying electricity bills until the end of July, whether from public departments or regular subscribers.

AMMAN — The Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) on Sunday announced the launch of "Change Day 4" initiative and the "4th Quality Conference" in December with the slogan: "It's All About Patient Safety".

Held under the patronage of HRH Princess Muna, the "Change Day 4" initiative aims to enhance the quality of health sector, according to an HCAC statement.

During a press conference, Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab said that the Health Ministry seeks to participate in "Change Day 4" through offering pledges to comply with the highest standards of healthcare and quality services in state-run hospitals and health centres around the Kingdom.

"The percentage of the pledges offered by the ministry's staff has reached 32 per cent of the total pledges presented by all health sectors," Sheyyab said.

He also said that workers in health sector are the "main engine" to improve health services and provide safety for patients, stressing on the importance of investing in health cadres and providing them with the necessary information.

"'Change Day' is a global initiative, and Jordan is at the top of the medical sector among Arab countries," the minister said adding that “last year's 'Change Day 3' pledges reached about 80,000".

The minister added that this year's "Change Day" is focused on enhancing patients' care and rights, management and leadership, drugs management, infection protection and monitoring, environment safety and patients and their families' education.

Deputy CEO of  HCAC Fawzi  Hammouri stressed the council's “commitment and continuous efforts” to improve the quality of  services.

"The council is keen on launching this initiative every year and the quality conference every two. We believe in the importance of the participation of all our sector's workers to contribute to the development of patients' care and safety, so Jordan can always be in the lead among countries in the healthcare sector."

Also during the press meeting, Rowaidah Maaitah, the head of the quality conference, and Salah Mawajdeh, Hikma Pharmaceuticals Corporate vice president, highlighted the importance of improving patients' safety and quality of services.

The HCAC is the only non-profit ISQua accredited institution in Jordan and the region dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare services and promoting patient safety through accreditation, consultation and capacity building, according to the council's website.

Established in 2007, HCAC now  "reaps the fruits" of its experiences in driving change at the primary and tertiary care levels, through the generation of empowered teams, and by engaging a network of experts from practitioners to academia. HCAC works horizontally for overall services and vertically on specific topics such as family planning and reproductive health, non-communicable diseases, and emergency care, according to the website.

AMMAN — A study by the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan on Sunday stressed the importance of prioritising the legislative reform of economic laws, and the start of sectional and micro-measurable targets to increase transparency and accountability.

Titled “Analysis of IMF Programmes in Jordan from 1989 to 2016”, the study emphasised the need to define the scope and momentum of the reform, particularly in the areas of public finance and the public sector, as identified in the national reform plans, according to a statement from the centre.

It also called for a comprehensive review of the Income Tax Law, not only to increase the state’s fiscal revenues, but also to achieve social justice, especially through preventing tax evasion and stimulating economic growth, the statement said.

The study said that the government, by complying with the IMF programmes, aimed at restoring and maintaining the overall stability of the economy and at correcting the structural imbalances, especially in the field of public finance.

“The objectives of the fund’s programmes implemented in Jordan have not been met in performance indicators such as increasing economic growth rates, reducing inflation rates and addressing chronic structural imbalances in public finances,” the study noted. 

“The entire fund’s programmes do not have economic policies of a developmental dimension, mostly focusing on financial reform in the public budget and the monetary sector” while “the timeframe agreed upon between the government and the IMF has not been met, leaving a negative impact on the performance of the Jordanian economy”, the study added.

It also showed that many economic plans till the year 2004  “did not pay attention to the risks that may result from the decline in the volume of external aid received”.

It pointed out that the programmes “did not include long-term solutions and strategies, because of the rigidity of some items within the government spending such as wages, salaries and pensions, and instead focused on rationing the increase of these items, which led to the continuation of structural problems in government spending”.

“Most of the measures focused on significantly raising government revenues, which reduced the competitiveness of the Kingdom compared to neighbouring countries, especially the Gulf countries,” the study showed, adding that this “will reduce the chances of realising the assumptions on which this programme was built, especially increasing the volume of private sector investments”.

The cooperation of successive governments with the IMF has been in place for 30 years through two programmes of credit readiness (1989-2004), (2012-2015), in addition to the existing extended credit facility programme (2016-2019), aimed at restoring the overall stability of the Jordanian economy.