Jordan Times
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Humaimeh —
potential in the making
By Mahmoud Al Abed
HUMAIMEH — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday visited the Humaimeh region,
an underprivileged desert area 300km south of Amman, but with an archaeological
treasure holding socio-economic potential for nearby residents.
King Abdullah was briefed by officials and local leaders on a project that is
likely to improve the living of thousands of citizens in the area, known
historically as the cradle of Abbasid Caliphate — where underground preparations
in the 8th century AD were made to topple the Damascus-based Umayyad rule. The
Abbasids lived in the area and built many facilities there, including a mosque
and a palace for their leader.
The plan is designed to shift the focus of Humaimeh residents from government
income to locally run their own sustainable development projects, mainly in the
tourism sector.
Officials said the plan is to “put Humaimeh on the Kingdom's map of tourism.”
Hweimel Shayahin, head of a local tourism society in the area, said during a
meeting with the King that Humaimeh was being neglected by tourism agents and
guides.
The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation has allocated JD266,000
under its Productivity Enhancement Programme to revive archaeological sites in
old Humaimeh, a few kilometres to the northwest of the town. Under an agreement
with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Planning Ministry sponsored
since 2003 a project to reconstruct these historical sites.
The King, who was briefed by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Alia
Hattough-Bouran on the archaeological sites and the projects in the area, toured
the Abbasid site and directed authorities to proceed with the plan.
King Abdullah told officials to come up with other income generating projects
for the districts, where 36 per cent of residents live under the poverty line
and is considered one of the poorest areas in Jordan, according to official
surveys.
The Monarch met with Humaimeh's tribal leaders and residents and urged them to
suggest ideas for other projects that would generate funds and consequently
improve their living standards.
Omar Rafiei, in charge of the Planning Ministry's productivity programme, told
reporters that the government seeks to tackle poverty pockets in the country and
invest in them to eventually improve living standards there. During his visit to
Humaimeh, the Monarch told authorities to build housing units for poor families
there. He visited two of these families, who live in tents, with almost no
furniture and daily life needs.
King Abdullah promised Manfiyyeh Abu Juaibeh, a widow with almost no source of
income or medical insurance, to visit her in her future house.
Another widow, Thurayya Abu Zeitun, will also get a new house. She lives on JD40
a month, which is the pension allowance of her late husband. Both women also
received immediate financial assistance, along with scores of Humaimeh families.