Prince of Wales praises Jordan for hospitality to refugees
THE Prince of Wales has praised the “unflinching and generous hospitality” of those who welcome refugees to their country, saying it was “truly humbling” to see during his royal visit to Jordan.
The Prince, who spent a morning with those who had fled their homelands, congratulated his host country on offering “not only a safe haven for refugees” but “hope and opportunity for the future” as he said: “I wish I could do more.”
During a visit to a community centre in Amman, he bonded with schoolchildren practising their English in the playground, and offered to swap pots of honey with a local beekeeper who is building a business with the help of international aid.
In a speech to dignitaries last night, at an event to celebrate the centenary of Jordan, the Prince hailed the country’s long diplomatic ties with Britain, praising its approach to religious tolerance
The Prince congratulated Jordan on offering ‘not only a safe haven’ but ‘hope and opportunity for the future’
and fighting climate change. He told them the writing of Lawrence of Arabia had given the region a “near-mythical place in British memory”.
On the “enlightened spirit” which showed respect to other faiths, he said his trip had let him see “this great tradition – now so dreadfully and tragically dismembered by the forces of intolerance and hatred – continued in the most moving way”.
Earlier that day, the Prince had visited families and volunteers at the Al Nuzha Community Centre, where displaced people from countries including Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Sudan are offered help to rebuild their lives.
“I so feel for you,” he told them. “I’m so glad you have this place.”
The Prince was offered gifts including a pencil portrait of himself and a pot of local honey, and promised he would reciprocate by sending one of his own jars of Highgrove honey over.
Impressed by the confidence of one four-year-old Sudanese girl, who was posing for photographers, he congratulated her on her early attempts at speaking English and said of her modelling skills: “I could pick up a thing or two!”
Yesterday, the Prince also spoke about the pressing need to help countries such as Jordan suffering long-term water shortages with action to combat climate change.
“The problem is we cannot go on mucking about any longer because the urgency is so great,” he said.