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AMMAN — The Civil Defence Department on Sunday said it had dealt with 92 accidents resulting in 61 injuries and 295 cases of various illnesses during the past 24 hours.

AMMAN — US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Anne C. Richard is scheduled to visit Jordan this week, according to a statement issued by Washington on Sunday.

Richard will focus on the plight of Syrian and other refugees, the impact of the Syrian crisis on Jordan and meet with Jordanian government officials.

“Jordan is a generous host.

In addition to Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, Jordan hosts more than 576,000 refugees who have fled the fighting in Syria,” the statement said.

Since the start of the conflict, the US has provided more than $207 million in humanitarian assistance inside Jordan through UN organisations and NGOs and is providing more than $1 billion in development assistance to help Jordan alleviate strains arising from the Syria crisis.

Richard will be accompanied by Zeenat Rahman, special adviser for global youth issues and the US Department of State’s representative for the “No Lost Generation” Initiative.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Water and Irrigation signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Sunday to conduct a study on the effect of Syrian refugees on the water sector.

Under the agreement, a $20 million Japanese grant will be used to assess water and sewage services in host community areas over a period of three years, according to Water Authority of Jordan Secretary General Tawfiq Habashneh, who signed the deal.

Water authorities will also study establishing pumping stations in Irbid and Ramtha, Habashneh said, adding that the projects could also include the construction of new sewage networks in Irbid and Ramtha and the installation of new pumps in Mafraq.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday accepted an offer by the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) to purchase the current assets of the government-owned Arab Industrial Engineering Company, which is suffering financial problems.

The decision was taken in response to a recommendation by the Cabinet’s economic development committee.

The Council of Ministers also listened to a briefing by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation on the cost of the government’s support of basic services and commodities.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved a recommendation to facilitate the entry of Syrian investors.

In addition, skilled Syrian labourers will be allowed to work in remote areas and factories in industrial zones.

AQABA — The National Goodwill Campaign held a free medical day in Aqaba on Sunday, benefiting more than 500 people who are not covered by health insurance.

Some 26 patients were referred to hospitals for further checkups during the event, which was organised in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, the Aqaba Development Corporation and Orange Jordan.

Abdul Salam Abbadi, deputy president of the campaign’s higher committee, checked on the clinics and the mobile pharmacy.

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Sunday agreed on the ministerial appointment committee’s recommendation to name Anmar Khasawneh as secretary general of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.

The panel members interviewed five candidates for the post before deciding to recommend Khasawneh.

AMMAN —The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is scheduled to organise a major celebration on the occasion of Prophet Mohammad’s birthday at the Grand Conferences Hall in King Abdullah I Mosque on Monday.

Several religious figures will speak at the event, to be held under Royal patronage in cooperation with the National Committee for Celebrating Islamic Occasions.

AMMAN — HRH Prince Hassan on Sunday wished the Muslim nation well on the anniversary of Prophet Mohammad’s birthday, calling for peace and reconciliation.

In an article written on the occasion, the prince urged Muslims to put their disputes aside and extend a helping hand to each other, citing verses from the Koran and the prophet’s sayings on the need for Muslims to spread tolerance and peace.

AMMAN — The Kitab and Sunna Society distributed 65 food parcels to underprivileged families in Ajloun’s Kufranjah District on Saturday.

Also in Ajloun, the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation distributed aid to 150 Syrian families.

Moreover, Al Gharaa-Amman Charity Society, in cooperation with a team of Chinese Muslims, presented financial and material assistance to 200 Syrian and Jordanian families in Kufranjah.

AMMAN — Jordan and the EU will sign grant agreements worth 40 million euros on Monday to help the government and host communities deal with the consequences of hosting Syrian refugees, according to a statement issued by the EU mission in Jordan.

 Under the first agreement, to be signed by EU Ambassador to Jordan Joanna Wronecka, Planning Minister Ibrahim Saif and Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat, a total of 30 million euros will help the Education Ministry extend its services to 85,000 Syrian students enrolled at public schools in host communities, while covering the costs of hiring 2,400 extra teachers and printing 80,000 additional textbooks and distributing them to the Syrian students.

The second 10 million-euro agreement will be used for a project to improve sewage networks, to be implemented by the Water Authority of Jordan in cooperation with the German Development Bank.