His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to four underprivileged families residing in tents in Safout neighbourhood, north of Amman.

King Abdullah checked on the families' living conditions and listened to their needs and demands.

His Majesty instructed concerned authorities to build four housing units for the families to replace the tents they live in.

Two of the tents' residents are sanitation workers at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), the third works as a quarry guard, while the fourth family has no supporter, and the mother lives with her two children, one of whom is disabled, on a JD45 allowance from the government.

The woman said she always dreamed of living in a house with her children, and she was surprised when the King walked into her tent.

"I knew relief was coming. Today, the King ordered that a house be built for me. This is my dream, to put a life of difficulty and suffering behind me after 30 years," she added.

One of the GAM sanitation workers, whose six-member family lives in a neighbouring tent, said he chose to live in a tent because he cannot afford his family's daily needs.

The families, whose tents are erected on a piece of land they rent for JD200 a year, voiced appreciation for the King's gesture.