His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday issued directives to distribute JD5.4 million in financial and in-kind aid to a number of underprivileged families across the Kingdom as well as several care centres and societies.

A total of 30,000 families across the Kingdom will benefit from JD3 million financial aid, in addition to in-kind assistance. Assistance will also be provided to a number of centres and societies in areas across the Kingdom, at a total cost of JD1.1 million, to enable these charities to carry out their development work.

King Abdullah directed concerned authorities to continue supporting a total of 1,500 orphans in the Gaza Strip through Al Wiam Charitable Society (WCS) at a cost of JD1.3 million.

The aid, which is aimed at alleviating the suffering of these impoverished families to enable them to meet their basic needs, replaces the Hashemite Charity Caravans, an initiative launched in 2004 to serve underprivileged families.

The Ministry of Social Development will compile a list of families that will benefit from the assistance according to its database and the studies it has carried out regularly in targeted areas across the Kingdom.

Last year, His Majesty took responsibility for supporting 1,500 orphans under the age of 13 in Gaza in response to a call for aid by the WCS, based on reports provided by Jordan’s Military Field Hospital in the coastal enclave on the difficult living conditions facing these orphans.