The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrapped up a two-day trip to the Middle East last week, with the World Health Organisation director giving his own verdict on what has been dubbed a ‘quasi-royal tour’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle completed a whirlwind two-day trip to Jordan last week to support the humanitarian needs of refugees in the country. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited to the Middle East by the World Health Organisation’s director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who hosted them for a roundtable discussion alongside senior figures from UN agencies like UNRWA, UNHCR and diplomatic attendees from countries like the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Canada and the EU.
Some royal watchers were encouraging of Harry and Meghan’s trip to help refugee initiatives, while others were more critical of what was dubbed a ‘pseudo-royal’ trip. Now, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has delivered his verdict of their poignant visit.
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In a post on X featuring pictures of the Sussex couple from the visit, the WHO chief said he is “grateful” for their “generosity and compassion” and thanked them for bringing “attention to the need for sustained action”.
In his post, he wrote: “I am grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, for their generosity and compassion shown this week in Jordan to recognise the efforts of the Kingdom, and many partners, to advance universal health coverage.
“Importantly, they brought attention to the need for sustained action to promote and protect the health of all people, from injured and ill children from Gaza receiving lifesaving care in Jordan, to delivering dignified mental health services to those in need, and providing health care services to Syrian refugees.
“At a time of division and turbulence, I appreciate Prince Harry and Meghan’s support to the World Health Organisation and others, as humanitarians and philanthropists committed to improving global health and wellbeing.”
Over Harry and Meghan’s two-day trip, they learned more about the tireless humanitarian effort to support the health and wellbeing of displaced Syrians and Palestinians who have sought sanctuary in Jordan over many decades.
Jordan has received wave after wave of refugees beginning with Palestinians more than 80 years ago, who now number around 2.5 million people, and Syrians who fled conflict in their country until recently ruled by President Bashar al-Assad.
On the first day of their visit, the Duke and Duchess watched a music class at the QuestScope youth centre at Za’atari refugee camp, and took part in a football kickabout where Meghan. Afterwards, they visited the Specialty Hospital in Amman where they talked to doctors looking after medical evacuees.
Harry and Meghan kicked off the second day of their visit with a trip to the World Central Kitchen, before making an emotional stop at the National Centre for Rehabilitation of Addicts, where they shared letters of support for the patients.
While their trip is not an official royal visit, given that the Sussexes took a step back from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to America, they spent their trip engaging with various charities and philanthropic efforts in the region.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.mirror.co.uk ’
