His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday inaugurated three development projects in the impoverished town of Azraq, 90km east of Amman.

The Azraq Comprehensive Tourism and Development, Azraq Environmental and Tourism Inn and the Urban Development Housing School projects in the province are meant to enhance the potential of the oasis town and create jobs for its 10,000 inhabitants.

On the sidelines of the inauguration, His Majesty was briefed by several Azraq residents and local community leaders on the challenges and problems facing the area, especially regarding the education, health and water sectors, as well as the distribution of state-owned lands to residents.

The area's representatives highlighted Azraq's need for new schools, health centres, community service institutions, rehabilitation of water and sewer networks and waste landfill, as well as maintenance to its main roads connecting the district to Zarqa.

King Abdullah promised to solve them as soon as possible during this year.

Zarqa Governor Ahmad Shuyyab noted in his remarks at the meeting the fact that Azraq Oasis was home to one of most beautiful nature reserves that had rare species of wildlife, but no more due to ecosystem degradation.

The official voiced hope the King's visit would be a turning point and would lead to restoring and utilizing the natural resources of the town.

Azraq is categorized as one of the poverty pockets in the Kingdom, speakers noted, also calling for scholarships for school graduates, a maternity hospital, restoration of the town's worn-out water network, which causes a 75 per cent water loss.

The residents requested reoperating the Azraq Salt Factory, which used to support more than 1,500 families and was shut down due to accumulated losses, particularly after establishing Al Safi Salt Factory at the Dead Sea.

The King said he will form a team in order to set forth a comprehensive plan to tackle the problems of Azraq before the end of 2008, stressing that he will revisit the area mid-July to stand on the progress in implementation.

Azraq Comprehensive Tourism and Development Project is located on an 11-dunum plot and affiliated to the Ministry of Social Development. It comprises a tourist restaurant, stores, a children's library and a public park.

Construction work started in 2003 and ground to a halt in 2005 for lack of funding. Under the directives of the King, the Royal Court funded the project which was completed within 20 days. The project created 30 jobs for residents and provided means for local cooperative societies to market their products.

His Majesty had ordered the construction of a basic school for children of underprivileged families residing in a 100-unit housing project in the area.

The school offers the children, who used to travel more than 3km back and forth to their previous school in north Azraq, a chance to study in a secure environment, residents said.

During holidays, the well-equipped school holds three free courses for more than 75 students from other schools to train on basic computer skills, voluntary work and environment awareness.

The Azraq Environmental and Tourism Inn was an old English hospital during the British mandate. In early 2007, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature renovated the building and changed it to a 16-room inn that attracts tourists seeking to spend days in the tranquil desert area.

The inn also includes six workshops providing 30 local girls with jobs such as painting ostrich eggs, sewing and tailoring in addition to producing toys from recyclable materials.