Fifty-five underprivileged families in Mafraq’s Ruwaished District on Saturday received new houses as part of the Royal initiative for housing for underprivileged families, which was launched in implementation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives.

The initiative, which was launched in 2005, covering all the Kingdom’s governorates, aims at providing decent and stable lives for beneficiary families that are chosen according to the Ministry of Social Development’s criteria, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Royal Court Chief Yousef Issawi handed over the house keys to beneficiary families under the second phase of the initiative in the district, and toured the residences that were furnished and provided with various house and electrical appliances.

In Um Al Quttain area, Issawi, who is also head of the follow-up committee for the implementation of Royal initiatives, in the presence of Social Development Minister Basma Ishaqat, handed over keys of a new residence, which was constructed with the highest technical specifications for people with disability, to Ahed Athamat who has a movement disability.

Following the handing over of keys, Issawi told Petra that 35 residences were funded by the UAE as part of a project Abu Dhabi implements to develop the local community in Al Ruwaished, which highlights the "deep-rooted and brotherly” relations between the two countries.

Ishaqat also said that the Royal initiatives highlight the leadership’s keenness to offer assistance to underprivileged households across the Kingdom and help them improve their social and economic circumstances.

Thirty-four families in Ruwaished got new homes in the first phase of the initiative in May, Petra added.