His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the new premises of the Dar Al Hanan Orphanage in Irbid in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania.

The orphanage, originally established in 1980, currently accommodates 90 girls aged between eight and 18 years and also offers care and protection for another 35 girls who live in residential apartments in a family environment.

During the visit on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, Their Majesties, accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Iman, spent part of the afternoon with the orphans and checked on their condition.

The girls expressed their happiness with the Royal visit and spoke about the problems and challenges facing them.

One of the orphans, Farah, highlighted the educational, recreational and health services the orphanage provides for her and the other girls.

“I don’t feel I need anything. Everybody here works for us to be happy,” the 17-year-old said.

King Abdullah stressed the need to provide the orphans with all forms of support.

The King and the Queen toured the various facilities of the newly established orphanage, including the music, computer training and sports halls, as well as the kitchen.

They also checked on the condition of one of the residential apartments where surrogate mothers provide a family environment for the orphans.

The orphanage used to house children under the age of 12, but in the past five years it started accommodating only girls.

His Majesty was also accompanied by Royal Court Chief Khaled Karaki, Minister of Social Development Wajih Azaizeh and the King’s advisers Amer Hadidi and Yousef Issawi, during the visit.