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January 2009
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Queen Rania Discusses Gaza Crisis With UN Secretary General

Jordan’s Queen met with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon in Amman to talk about the continuing Israeli offensive in Gaza. During the meeting, Queen Rania noted the UN’s efforts in calling for an immediate end to the violence, but said that more pressure needs to be put on Israel. r2814626883

Despite numerous calls on behalf of the international community for an immediate ceasefire, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate while the ability of relief agencies to assist is impeded, she said.

“The scale of the humanitarian disaster requires more efforts on everybody’s part,” she said to the Secretary General.

Queen Rania told Ban Ki-Moon that Jordan is ready to expand the efforts of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization in coordinating aid passing through Jordan, but that Israel must open the crossings to allow the passage of aid and aid workers.

According to relief workers in Gaza, more patients need to be evacuated through the Rafah crossing in order to relieve pressure on Shifa Hospital; fears of disease outbreaks continue as the damage to the water and sanitation network has not been fixed; the number of people who are seeking refuge in UNRWA and other shelters continues to rise and has reached tens of thousands; and many basic food items remain unavailable for infants and malnourished children as well as the population at large.

Queen Rania, who earlier this week joined first ladies from the region in calling for an immediate ceasefire and for the international donor community to contribute to UNRWA’s emergency appeal, said she is committed to supporting the efforts of UNRWA and UNICEF in Gaza.

Parts of article taken from Jordan News Agency


Felipe & Letizia Meet People With Down’s Syndrome

At Zarzuela Palace, over a dozen members of Spain’s Down’s Syndrome Association got the chance to meet with their future King and Queen. princefelipeprincessletiziaattendzarzuela_tkzfpxknicl

Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia spoke personally with each of the Association’s members. The royal couple have an interest in issues that affect the young, and in the Princess’ case, youth affected by health issues.

The guests told Felipe and Letizia on the readings and the music they like, as well as the need to improve their quality of life.

One has told that he would like to be an actor, one has good knowledge of their policy to discuss the new U.S. president, Barack Obama, and one third has explained how he was in Shanghai to participate in a swimming contest.

The Association was born in 1985 with the aim of improving the living conditions of people with Down Syndrome and their families, so it works with public and private local, regional, national and international conventions and has more than 90 companies through the Club Estela entrepreneurs.

Crown Princess Letizia’s concern for health issues has been getting increasing attention. Last month, she met with a group who suffer from rare diseases at Zarzuela Palace. Then, just before Christmas, the Princess went to local hospitals to visit sick children. The latter was done privately, with no cameras or photographers following her around.