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ABU DHABI // Princess Haya bint Al Hussein and her children have donated 28 million Jordanian dinars (Dh145 million) to the Tkiyet Um Ali charity to fight hunger and poverty across Jordan.
Princess Haya, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and their children, Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed and Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed, donated the money in memory of her parents King Hussein bin Talal and Queen Alia Al Hussein.
King Hussein died on February 7 1999, while Queen Alia died on February 9, 1977.
Queen Alia came up with the idea of Tkiyet Um Ali more than 40 years ago. In 2003, Princess Haya established the non-governmental organisation to provide hot meals and distribute food parcels to underprivileged people in Jordan.
Tkiyet Um Ali currently feeds 18,000 families that have been identified as living below the poverty line.
“The donation comes at a time where food insecurity in Jordan has tripled following the Syrian Refugee Crisis,” said Princess Haya. “We conducted studies that indicate today around 30,000 Jordanian families are food insecure, reinforcing the urgent need to reach an additional 10,000 households.”
Tkiyet Um Ali aims to aid these 30,000 families, with Princess Haya assigning a task force headed by her brother Prince Ali bin Al Hussein along with Hussein Al Majali and Zaid Al Hamdan to oversee its work.
“This year marks 18 years since the passing of King Hussein and 40 years since the passing of Queen Alia who, above all, were people who cared about humanity,” said Princess Haya. “There is no more fitting way to celebrate their lives and continue their legacies by doing something they would have done themselves.”
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