Jordan: The 45-year-old visited a counselling session of Syrian women who have been left psychologically scarred after fleeing conflict.
The women who had fled to Jordan received group counselling at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Women’s Protection and Empowerment Center in Ramtha, in the north of the country.
The centre also provides activities for their children and Rania was all smiles as she met youngsters who were busy colouring in together.
The ever young mother-of-four wore a graphic-print T-shirt and a mustard scarf along with the peach blazer and nude court shoes.
She carried her hair in a stylish half-up do and chose modern pearl earrings to go with her ensemble.
The Syrian women opened up about their challenges and pressures they have faced after fleeing to Jordan.
Um Qusai, a Syrian refugee who fled from Daraa three years ago, told Queen Rania that poverty, displacement, and uncertainty about her family’s future have left her in a bad psychological state.
The counselling sessions provided environment to women to discuss any abuse they face, and receive emotional support and advice on how to overcome psychological trauma.
They help women obtain a sense of routine and normalcy, while building social support networks with other women.
“We came here to find that we have to start our lives from scratch,” Um Qusai explained.
“The stress was more than I could tolerate, so my husband and I started having problems at home, and even my children started developing psychological issues because life all of a sudden became too difficult,” she added.
The counselling sessions, however, treated her to deal with her negative feelings, she added.
But the Syrian refugee crisis has not only taken a toll on displaced Syrians, it has also put an immense amount of pressure on Jordanian communities that host them, the statement said.
Rania also met with the heads of five Jordanian charity organisations working in the area to support local residents on Wednesday.
Ø The charity directors told the Queen that the closures of two border crossings and the free trade zone with Syria have led to skyrocketing unemployment among Jordanians.
Ø The refugee crisis has also raised up house rents in Ramtha and other towns and cities.
Ø The charity directors added that severe pressure on Jordan’s infrastructure has exhausted public services in Ramtha.
Queen Rania’s second stop in Ramtha was a visit to an IRC health clinic.
Her Majesty toured the facility and checked on Syrian and Jordanian patients with IRC Health Programme Manager Muhammad Fawad, and IRC Health Coordinator Caroline Boustany.
The Queen also stopped at an IRC mobile clinic, which treats refugees in remote locations who cannot afford transportation to health facilities in the city.