The royal paid tribute to the local families’ “strong bonds”.
In her role as Queen of Jordan, Rania Al-Abdullah always makes plenty of time to meet the people of the nation.
However one of her most recent visits was even more touching than most, with the royal pictured laughing, joking and sharing tea with villagers from Al Balqa.
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Queen Rania met with families and village elders in Al Bayoudha to learn more about their community development projects, with several sweet exchanges caught on camera.
مع أهالي قرية البيوضة بالأمس. شكرا على استقبالكم الطيب #الأردن #حب_الأردن pic.twitter.com/GrPcxaSKEJ
— Rania Al Abdullah (@QueenRania) October 31, 2017
The village has launched several initiatives to generate income by using their natural resources, such as producing and selling olive oil, thyme, soap, and embroidery pieces.
“His Majesty [King Abdullah II] consistently calls for each area to make the most of its distinguishing features by developing and building upon them,” Queen Rania told community leaders during a meeting, as she praised their economic nous.
“This step lies at the core of decentralisation and sustainable local development.”
The royal also shared plenty of images from her visit, as she mixed with local women and families.
“The strong bonds between the families of Bayoudha Village have served as the cornerstone of its continuing success,” Queen Rania said on Instagram following her trip.
“Enjoyed hearing from the village’s families about the many projects they have launched in support of the area’s local community. Congratulations on a job well done.”
HRH’s visit came shortly after she made a heart-wrenching visit to Bangladesh, where she met with Rohingya Muslims living in refugee camps since fleeing persecution in their native Myanmar.
More than 600,000 Rohingya people have crossed into Bangladesh since August, in what Queen Rania described as “possibly the fastest growing humanitarian emergency the world has seen”.
“With no respect or regard for the principles of humanitarian and international law, the discrimination against and the persecution of the Rohingya minority has continued unabated, in full view of the world,” the mum of four said in a statement during her visit.
The royal spent time talking with refugees, many women and children, as she toured the Kutupalong camp and its surroundings in the Cox’s Bazar region.
“Before coming here, I had braced myself to witness some desperate conditions, but the stories I heard today were heartbreaking and harrowing,” HRH said, as she called for world donors “to respond effectively, quickly, and generously to this crisis”.
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“It is unforgivable that this crisis is unfolding on the world stage to a largely indifferent audience. The world seems to be silent to what many are acknowledging now as an ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya Muslims,” Queen Rania said.
“I urge the UN and the international community to do all that they can to stop the suffering and the violence that is being committed against the Rohingya Muslims, not because it is our job to do so, but because that is what justice demands.”
Images: HRH Queen Rania/Instagram, Facebook
