Raúl PiñaSpecial Envoy Jabal el Hussein Refugee Camp (Jordan)

Special Envoy Jabal el Hussein Refugee Camp (Jordan)

Updated Tuesday, April 2, 2024-10:53

  • War in Gaza José Andrés asks Israel to "stop killing civilians and aid workers" in Gaza after that country killed seven aid workers from his NGO

It is a narrow street. Only two vehicles enter. A simple gate with a blue sign gives access to the

Jabal el Hussein refugee camp

in

Amman

, which houses almost 30,000 people. It's 9 in the morning, peak entry time. The girls walk through the door to go to school. Opposite, a classic, a store already open early despite the Ramadan of ice cream, potatoes... Pedro Sánchez has visited this field, whose services are managed by

UNRWA

- education, health, social services... -, on his trip to

Jordan

, on the first stop of his tour of the

Middle East

. In one of the classes he has visited, one of the minors asked him what advice she would give him as a parent. "He studies," the President of the Government responded.

Before visiting this refugee camp, Sánchez has contacted the Spanish chef

José Andrés

, who heads the organization

World Central Kitchen

, and who has experienced the murder of seven humanitarian workers after the air attack carried out by Israel in Gaza in the last hours. The President of the Government, who has been watching this war action in the last hours, has expressed feeling "horrified" and has conveyed the support of the Spanish Executive. The president's team remembers that there is a close relationship between the two.

The first words of the Chief Executive were to show his "deep regret for the death of several aid workers" and he sent a message to the Prime Minister of

Israel

, Benjamin Netanyahu: "I demand that the Israeli Government clarify the circumstances of this attack as soon as possible. that has taken the lives of seven aid workers who were doing nothing other than helping.

From this refugee camp already blended with the city of Amman, Sánchez, who has defined the context of "extreme gravity", has valued the work of UNRWA and, after the Israeli attack, has made a "new call for the cessation definitive end to hostilities and the release of all hostages. It is urgent that the ceasefire demanded by the

United Nations Security Council

be implemented ."

The Jabal el Hussein camp is one of four camps established after 1948 to accommodate Palestine

refugees

who left as a result of the 1948 war between Arabs and Israelis.

The camp was established in 1952 for 8,000 refugees in an area of ​​421,000 square meters northwest of Amman. The refugees replaced the original tents with more durable shelters and UNRWA provided materials. The camp has since grown into the urban environment and has become part of Amman.

In this school in Jabal el Hussein, a total of 1,400 girls study, 700 in the morning shift and another 700 in the afternoon shift, between 6 and 15 years old. These are girls whose mothers and grandmothers already studied in this field and, as those responsible for this field admit, although they were born in Jordan, they hope to be able to return to Palestine.

In a context in which Israel leads the pressure for countries to stop contributing funds to UNRWA, something that in fact some nations have already done, also with accusations of terrorism against their workers, Spain announced a month ago a new voluntary contribution to this organization worth 20 million. "There is a polarization of the discourse around UNRWA. It is a very strong campaign but as we are a United Nations agency, it continues to work and confronts this campaign,"

Tamara Alrifai

, director of external relations and communication at UNRWA, told Spanish journalists.

UNRWA, as well as spokesperson.

Natalie Boucly

, deputy commissioner general of UNRWA, also

thanked Spain for its "contribution" and its "firm position" because "it is very important for us to develop our work and work."

"It is essential that the international community maintain adequate funding for UNRWA. And Spain is willing to lead by example," was the commitment made explicit by the President of the Government. Boucly has asked Sánchez to "continue to be the voice of those who have no voice."

"Spain will do everything in its power to help mitigate the terrible consequences of this conflict. And we will work together with our Arab partners," said Sánchez after visiting the school in the refugee camp, where he had the opportunity to visit two classes and talk with a group of students. "In recent weeks we have collaborated with Jordan in humanitarian aid air missions to Gaza. The Air Force has participated in one of the missions delivering 24 tons of food rations, and we have provided logistical support material for other operations."