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AMMAN — With the intention of drawing the world’s attention to children living in war, five Ukrainian photographers on Monday exhibited their work from the Donbass war, depicting the physical and psychological state of children on the frontlines.

The “Children in War” photo exhibition, held by the Ukrainian embassy in cooperation with the Cote d’Ivoire embassy at Broadway Gallery, displayed 25 photographs of children who have experienced war firsthand, to show the dangers of war beyond the physical world, organisers said.

Ukrainian photographer and vice president of the Volunteer Help International Foundation, Olena Prokopenko, said the most interesting part of working on the project was capturing the images of children who were “not posing”.

“The most difficult part was the conditions we worked [in], filming and [taking] pictures was... 1km or 2km from the frontline under the shelling,” she told The Jordan Times.

“Photographers were living under the constant threat of being shelled… We were also unofficial photographers, so we were [not] protected with any signs… We were risking a lot,” Prokopenko added.

The artist said the photographers involved in the project “rethought their lives after the experience”.

“We understood that our daily problems are incomparable with the problems those kids are experiencing in their everyday lives,” she added.

Yevgen Rokicki, president of the International Charity Fund and the Baltic-Black Sea Security Confederation, said the tragedy of children who experience war is depicted in the exhibition.

“The idea of the exhibition... appeared a-year-and-a-half ago, once our foundation started supporting children who were on the frontline area of war. Over the last two years, we have refurbished three schools that were demolished during the war,” Rokicki added.

“The tragedy of children depicted in the photo exhibition is because they are residing in the suburbs of big cities Luhansk and Donetsk, they are either from families with either father or mother, or both parents missing,” he said.

The confederation president noted that the children captured in some photos might even have psychological problems as post-war traumas.

“Those two big cities were captured by the Russians and… have no access to medical institutions, no possibility to go to hospitals; they can only go 300km from their home village to other regional centres, that is why we wanted to attract attention to the tragedies of children who suffer from the war,” Rokicki explained.

He added that medical and psychological support is also offered to children who require it, while “those talented people who… sing, paint, or dance” are brought to the capital so that they can demonstrate their talents and be exposed to TV channels and other institutions.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday hosted an iftar banquet in Al Hussein Youth City on Sunday attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, according to a Royal Court statement.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Senate President Abdur-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, Judicial Council President Hisham Tal, former prime ministers, senior officials and officers as well as Royal Family members, clerics, MPs and members of diplomatic missions in the Kingdom attended the iftar.

The King and Crown Prince performed maghrib prayer with the attendees.

AMMAN — The Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) on Wednesday called on municipalities with buildings that violate the National Construction Law to rectify their situation.

JEA President Majid Tabba said the law requires pre-construction building designs issued from a JEA-certified engineering firm, as well as the association’s accreditation.

 However, “a few” municipalities issue building licences without consulting certified engineering offices, a matter Tabba described as “illegal and unsafe” with potential defects in construction.

The phenomenon decreased after the JEA signed an agreement with municipalities in June 2014 to put an end to these violations, but some municipalities are still violating the law, he told The Jordan Times over the phone.

“Some are not aware of the importance of obtaining proper building designs, as violations often transgress construction standards as well as the allowed dimensions for buildings,” he said, adding that some violations involve buildings encroaching on streets. 

Contractors and housing developers tend to consult uncertified engineering firms to save money, especially since they receive “reduced fines” when they issue permits for already established buildings, according to Tabba.

“In fact it is cheaper to follow the law in consulting professional and competent engineers and obtaining an official permit, as it saves developers the burden of expensive defects that could result from unprofessional assessments,” he said.

“This is not the place to save money,” the JEA president stressed, explaining that violating construction standards jeopardises the safety and quality of a building, especially the ability to add floors or incorporate electromechanic facilities.

AMMAN — The interests of the country and citizens represent the ultimate goal the Interior Ministry and its security and executive institutions seek to achieve under all circumstances, Interior Minister Salameh Hammad said Wednesday. 

At a meeting with heads of security services, Hammad, who was sworn in before His Majesty King Abdullah on the same day, said that unifying efforts and coordinating among security institutions will help overcome security challenges the Kingdom is facing, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Civil Defence Department Director General Lt. Gen. Talal Kofahi, and acting directors of the Public Security Department (PSD) and the Gendarmerie Department, Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Abu Jumaa and Brig. Gen. Atef Hajaya, attended the meeting. 

The newly appointed minister also commended the high level of proficiency of security personnel and their ability to deal with security challenges.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour attended Hammad’s swearing in ceremony at Al Husseiniya Palace, according to Petra.

Hammad was appointed as interior minister on Tuesday, replacing Hussein Majali, a former PSD director, who resigned on Sunday. 

Police and Gendarmerie chiefs, Gen. Tawfiq Tawalbeh and Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sweilmin were also referred to retirement the same day.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said in a statement that the minister’s resignation was a result of “the lack of coordination among security organisations that include the public security and the Gendarmerie departments”.

The new minister, Hammad, is known for administering the landmark 1989 parliamentary elections when he was secretary general of the Interior Ministry.

Born in Amman in 1944, he served as interior minister from 1993-1995 and 1995-1996.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Baghdad University and two higher diplomas in public administration from France. 

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Saturday approved a series of decisions it said aimed at modernising the public sector, improving government services, and advancing digital transformation.

A Prime Ministry statement said that the decisions include "critical" updates to the public sector human resources bylaw, a new policy on blockchain technology, and several legislative amendments.

The Cabinet, during its Saturday session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, endorsed the 2024 amendments to the Public Sector Human Resources bylaw, which will be sent to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for review.

The amendments aim to streamline governance by merging the bylaw with the amended Civil Service bylaw into a single, cohesive framework, the statement said.

The Cabinet also approved the Blockchain Technology Policy for 2025. Touted as a cornerstone of Jordan's digital transformation, the policy aims to strengthen government operations through improved transparency, security, and efficiency, according to the statement.

The policy outlines several objectives, including protecting sensitive data such as financial, educational, and health records, streamlining government processes to save time and money, encourage innovation in industries, supporting start-ups and building a skilled workforce that understands blockchain technology.

The Council of Ministers also approved new administrative regulations for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to improve its performance.

Several legislative measures were also approved by the Cabinet, including Law on the National Commission for Women's Affairs and the Civil Aviation Law.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday stressed the vital need for continued international support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), highlighting its crucial role in serving Palestinian refugees and safeguarding their right to return under international law.

The ministry expressed regret over Sweden's decision to cease its funding for UNRWA, urging the Swedish government to reconsider, particularly given its longstanding financial and political support of the agency, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The ministry underlined the indispensible role of UNRWA, and called for unaltered support to the relief agency, reiterating Jordan's firm opposition to any efforts to replace it with other UN organisations, weaken its mandate, or reduce its services.

AMMAN — The Southern Military Zone on Saturday foiled a smuggling attempt using a drone at the western front inside its area of operation.

A source at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) said that the border guards, in coordination with military security agencies and the Anti-Narcotics Department, intercepted a drone attempting to cross the border, according to a JAF statement.

The source noted that the drone was detected and tracked, and rules of engagement were applied, resulting in its interception and recovery of its payload inside the Jordanian territory.

Reiterating commitment to preventing all forms of infiltration and smuggling, the source stressed that JAF will continue to take all necessary measures, including the use of force, to protect the security and stability of the Kingdom.

AMMAN — Royal directives continue to drive Jordan's efforts to enhance rights and integration for persons with disabilities, Director of the Prime Ministry’s Human Rights Department (HRD) Khalil Abdallat said on Saturday.

At a dialogue session hosted by the Renaissance Association for Persons with Disabilities, Abdallat highlighted how Jordan, under His Majesty King Abdullah's leadership, is enhancing protections for people with disabilities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The nation's acceptance of all disability-related recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review underscores its sustained commitment to equality and justice, he stressed.

"The 'Without Discrimination' project represents a crucial step forward," Abdallat said during the session, which focused on employment and political participation challenges.

He stressed the project's role in addressing gender-based economic barriers while fostering an environment that enables persons with disabilities to realise their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.

The discussions addressed key challenges and proposed solutions, aligning with Jordan's human rights vision and sustainable development objectives.

Abdallat stressed that Royal support and national policies remain instrumental in advancing these initiatives.

Calling for enhanced national partnerships, Abdallat emphasised the importance of building a more inclusive society.

He pointed to the necessity of sustained coordination between government sectors and civil society organisations to implement the session's recommendations effectively.

President of the Renaissance Association for Persons with Disabilities Saleh Sharafat recognised the HRD's "significant" contribution to implementing Universal Periodic Review recommendations, particularly in supporting vulnerable segments of the population.

The session brought together government officials and civil society representatives, facilitating dialogue between stakeholders and policymakers to advance inclusivity and justice in the Jordanian society.