Crown Princess Mary of Denmark Visits Jordan: August 20-22, 2013


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dazzling

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HRH CROWN PRINCESS AND THE MINISTER VISITS SYRIAN REFUGEES

HRH Crown Princess and Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach leaving today to Jordan to focus on the war in Syria and the millions of refugees pouring across the border into neighboring countries.

The visit to Jordan consists of a field visit to a refugee camp where the Crown Princess and the minister will have the opportunity to talk with Syrian refugees and get a first-hand impression of the situation, relief efforts and new humanitarian needs.

The Crown Princess is patron of the Danish Refugee Council, which is responsible for the distribution of basic relief items in refugee camps for victims of the war, both in neighboring countries, but also inside Syria. Danish Refugee Council and the Danish Red Cross are some of the few humanitarian organizations that the Syrian regime allowed to operate in the country and therefore plays a central role in the international community's humanitarian efforts.

More than six million people have fled because of the Syrian civil war, two million to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon and Northern Africa. Four million refugees inside Syria. The situation is particularly chaotic in the western part of the country and around the cities of Aleppo and Homs. Here's population trapped between the fighting forces, and it is very difficult for international aid agencies to get help.

As part of the Crown's and development minister's program in Jordan are also included visits to projects not directly related to the war. Here is Danish-supported initiatives in the Arab Initiative, which focuses on women's rights - including violence prevention.

Gender equality and women's rights is also a priority area for Danish development assistance. The Crown Princess and the minister has previously visited Mozambique to focus on the area.​

Source: kongehuset.dk
 
good work. do you think her trip in jordan is private since it just has been annonced today or will get photos? i hope so.
 
I'll presume she'll pay a curtesy visit to the JRF while down there or at least meet with a representative of the royal family.

good work. do you think her trip in jordan is private since it just has been annonced today or will get photos? i hope so.

I think it's safe to expect pictures from this visit. The statement points out that the purpose is to put focus on the refugee situation - so that means press.
And BB writes that they are sending a journalist, so they must have been alerted some time ago and they are probably not the only representatives from the press.
It is in my opinion much more plausible that the visit has been kept secret for security reasons, there are plenty of desperate people, let alone nutcases in that area. - And as such my guess is that FET will be responsible for Mary's safety.
 
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Article from Berlingske
Kronprinsessen sætter fokus på Syriens katastrofe - Politiko | www.b.dk

The visit will focus on the huge humanitarian catastrophe in Syria and the neighboring countries, where more than six million Syrians needing immediate lifesaving assistance.

Mary travels together with our Minister for Development Cooperation, Christian Friis Bach, and he greatly appreciate Mary's participation. You may remember that these two have traveled together many times before.

"Crown Princess Mary commitment is unique. She does an incredible amount of work internationally to focus on women's and girls' rights and they are particularly vulnerable in a catastrophe situation such as we see in Syria right now."

Berlingske has a gallery as well with the headline: A Syrian refugee camp - this can Mary expect to experience. Picture 6 and 9 shocked me.
En syrisk flygningelejr - det kan Mary forvente | www.b.dk


good work. do you think her trip in jordan is private since it just has been annonced today or will get photos? i hope so.

Billedbladet informs us that their journalist, Ulrik Ulriken and their photographers are traveled with Mary to Jordan and will cover the visit on both their website and in their magazine. I don't know about other media since the visit have been published so late? But it's certainly something with the safety.

Kronprinsesse Mary er i Mellemøsten

I wonder how many days they will be in Jordan? The visit isn't mentioned in Mary's official calendar.
 
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Good for Mary in her role as patron. :flowers:
and wow, what a contrast with Frederik's current trip to the US.

I do wonder how many days she will be there, her next event is not until the 29th.
 
Good for Mary in her role as patron. :flowers:
and wow, what a contrast with Frederik's current trip to the US.

I do wonder how many days she will be there, her next event is not until the 29th.

I don't think this will be more than a 3-4 day trip. Her last trip to Mozambique for the DRC was 4 days.
 
BT informs us that Mary was evacuated from a refugee camp in Jordan: Mary bragt i sikkerhed i Jordan: Afbrudt midt i interview - Royale | www.bt.dk

Mary had completed the schedule in Za'atari camp, when security was alerted because a demonstration in the camp by refugees was getting very close and the demonstraters were apparantly deemed aggressive or threathning enough for security to decide that Mary should be removed to safety.
It was a UN soldier who alerted the Jordanian security around Mary.
Mary was actually giving an interview when it happened.
This is the second largest camp in Jordan, with more than 120.000 refugees.

The rest of Mary's schedule will continue as planned for the rest of today and tomorrow Thursday.

- Whether the demonstration had anything to do with Mary or whether they even knew about Mary is not mentioned.

Confirmation from TV2 with a few more details: Demonstration i Jordan stopper kronprinsessens pressemøde - TV 2 Nyhederne

Mary was not in danger. The demonstration was not directed at her, or because of her presence. The demonstration was a reaction to the (alledged *) nervegas attack that should have taken place near Damascus in Syria.

It was only because the demonstrators got too close for comfort that the Danish delegation was evacuated.

(*) Alledged gas attack. Because it's a bit odd that the gas attack should take place right after UN inspectors entered Syria and even more odd that the attack took place not far from the hotel where the inspectors are housed. On top of that military experts say that it doesn't look like a gas attack.
But as we also saw in former Jugoslavia, shooting at your own side and blaming it on the other side was far from uncommon. Which is one of the reasons why it was prudent to keep Mary's visit and her whereabout as confidential as possible.

ADDED: Large picture from BT: http://www.bt.dk/sites/default/file...se-mary-besger-en-flygtningelejr-i-jordan.jpg

And now for the actual visit. A 14 pic (so far) gallery from BT: Se billederne: Mary besøger enorm flygtningelejr | www.bt.dk

And as I thought. It's FET agents and not PET who is protecting Mary. There is one keeping close to Mary when she is moving around.
 
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Goodness! glad HRH & the other visitors were taken to safety. Refugee camps can be dangerous places. Hope the rest of the trip continues along alright. Wishing them all the best, and a safe return.
 
Confirmation from TV2 with a few more details: Demonstration i Jordan stopper kronprinsessens pressemøde - TV 2 Nyhederne

Mary was not in danger. The demonstration was not directed at her, or because of her presence. The demonstration was a reaction to the (alleged *) nervegas attack that should have taken place near Damascus in Syria.

Still, I would feel antsy knowing that Frederick is abroad. I know some things are difficult to schedule, of course, but I feel for them as parents both being away from the children.
 
I'm glad to hear that everything was under control and Mary and the other visitors also seems to be fine when they leaved the refugee camp. Such a visit is no walk in the park. It's so terrible that so many people and children must live like this - and often for a very long time.

I like how simple Mary always is dressed on these trips. No jewelry at all (beyond her wedding ring.) I like to see her on such visits and I am sure that there will be taken good care of her.

Pictures and article from Billedbladet's Ulrik Ulriksen in Jordan
http://www.billedbladet.dk/sites/bi...nsesse-mary_jordan-lejr2_js.jpg?itok=TP0n9vMQ

http://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/kronprinsesse-mary-hastet-ud-af-jordansk-flygtningelejr

*

Picture gallery from Kongehuset.dk

H.K.H. Kronprinsessen i Jordan - Kongehuset

*

Minister for Development Cooperation, Christian Friis Bach, on his Facebook page:

"Tough refugees stories, but also provides space for a smile. HRH Crown Princess Mary praised the painting I had painted in company with three Syrian boys of 12 years in the children's center.
The favorable conditions in the camp was a small bright spot in the middle of a tragic humanitarian crisis."

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...64916319.19810.144514992317873&type=1&theater

More pictures

http://www.billedbladet.dk/sites/bi...insesse-mary-jordan-dag1_js.jpg?itok=vF1uoCM9
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BSLWEBcCYAAUgCm.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BSLzS4pCYAAsa8I.jpg:large
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8640/debp.jpg

Article and video from Billedbladet
Video fra Jordan: Kronprinsesse Mary et hit hos flygtningebørn
 
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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark visits Jordan: Aug 21-,2013

The crown princess paid a visit to Zaatari refugees camp
Petra picture 1 ... 2...3
 
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Gallery of photos
jv.dk

the first one is very heartbreaking, the woman giving a kiss to Mary
 
BT continue it's coverage of Mary's visit to Jordan: Marys hjertevarme ramte flygtningelejr - Royale | www.bt.dk

Here visiting the refugee camp. So far there are eight million refugees in and outside Syria, it is feared the number will reach twelve million by then end of next year.
During the visit Mary sat down next to eleven year old Brahim, who was painting something abstract: "I don't paint anything in particular. I just like the colors. Especially blue, yellow and green".
Mary: "You are really good at painting. Do you know how you make the green color"? Brahim nodded and smiled.

Mary also talked to a highly pregnant woman at the medical centre. The woman, Sana'a, who is already mother to six children explained: "I have three boys and three girls and soon to have my seventh child. It's the first time I'm giving birth outside Syria - in the camp - and that makes me afrais. That's why I have gone to the centre".
Large pic: http://www.bt.dk/sites/default/files-dk/node-images/740/6/6740287-crown-princess-mary.jpg

Mary aslo visited a crisis centre an the Jordanian capital, Amman. Some of them must also be refugees but most are very poor indeed.
Mary trøstede voldsramte kvinder - Royale | www.bt.dk
Half of the women who seek refuge here are foreigners. Palestinians, Egyptians Iraqies and even some from Bangladesh. Stranded as single women, often with children, in a foreign land, their situation is pretty much hopeless.
Many have been in domestic service, where they have suffered various kind of abuse, sometimes sexual.

Mary asked: "What do you hope for, when you come here"?
A woman replied: "We just want to go home. Home to our ow country" and then broke down in tears. Mary put a hand comforting on the woman's arm.
Large pic: http://www.bt.dk/sites/default/file...-syrian-refugees-and-poor-jordanians-in-t.jpg
 
The Syrian situation is devastating. I feel for the Jordanians as well...their country has had to accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees of neighbouring wars over the years. It is an unbelievably difficult situation for both sides.

Did no one from the Jordanian royal family meet with CP Mary?
 
A video from DR1: VIDEO: Kronprinsesse Mary sætter fokus på Syrien | Nyheder | DR

I won't write a translation of what Mary said, it's bedtime.
Towards the end Mary is informed by her LiW that they must leave now. While the FET agent handles her a bottle.

----------------------

- Let's have a closer look at what happened in this clip.

00:40: Mary talks about the plight of the refugees she has met: "The situation is tougher than (can't make it out).... They have lost everything. Some have lost members of the family, friends and of course children. So it's very moving to hear about the stories".

The refugees are of course pretty desperate. At 01.30 a woman plead the Danish delegation (and press) to end the war in Syria.
Then the Minister for Development explains the situation. This is the second largest refugee camp in the world and it is feared that by the end of this year up to ten million people may be refugees.

02.20. Mary is asked what she felt, what feelings were conveyed to her when she spoke to the refugees? Did they feel any hope?
M: "I think... There is always hope. That those who have come here with their families intact have the opportunity to again quiet and calmly to plan their future again and get (the) children back to school".

02:30. Mary is told by her LiW: "We have to go. A demonstration is heading this way". M: "Oh". (A somehwt bewildered oh, I'd say).

The demonstration was not directed at Mary but caused by the alledged chemical attack in Damaskus.

From TV2 yesterday I learned that the refugee camp is within reach of the mobile phone network inside Syria, so even though the camp is located 50 KM from the border, the refugees are well informed about what is going on in Syria.
She was also briefly interviewed for TV2 and this was an example of how good Mary is to get a message across to the Family Denmark, who have their evening coffee around that time. She said that these were people who just like at home until recently, had a house and children and a car, with dad going to work and mother looking after the house. I.e. painting a picture most Danes can instantly relate to even without thinking about it.

ADDED: BB has an article about Mary meeting the Jordanian Minister for Development (*), Ibrahim Saif, who thanked Mary and Denmark for the support and emphasized the moral support Mary gave by visiting the refugee camp.
http://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/kronprinsesse-mary-fik-tak-fra-jordansk-minister

(*) He is actually the counterpart for the Danish Minister for Development who is accompanying Mary and it is really a meeting between the two politicians, but as Mary is formally heading the delegation and far outranks the Danish minister, it is of course her the Jordanian minister addresses.

BB is up.
 
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A video from DR1: VIDEO: Kronprinsesse Mary sætter fokus på Syrien | Nyheder | DR

I won't write a translation of what Mary said, it's bedtime.
Towards the end Mary is informed by her LiW that they must leave now. While the FET agent handles her a bottle.

----------------------

- Let's have a closer look at what happened in this clip.

00:40: Mary talks about the plight of the refugees she has met: "The situation is tougher than (can't make it out).... They have lost everything. Some have lost members of the family, friends and of course children. So it's very moving to hear about the stories".

The refugees are of course pretty desperate. At 01.30 a woman plead the Danish delegation (and press) to end the war in Syria.
Then the Minister for Development explains the situation. This is the second largest refugee camp in the world and it is feared that by the end of this year up to ten million people may be refugees.

02.20. Mary is asked what she felt, what feelings were conveyed to her when she spoke to the refugees? Did they feel any hope?
M: "I think... There is always hope. That those who have come here with their families intact have the opportunity to again quiet and calmly to plan their future again and get (the) children back to school".

02:30. Mary is told by her LiW: "We have to go. A demonstration is heading this way". M: "Oh". (A somehwt bewildered oh, I'd say).

The demonstration was not directed at Mary but caused by the alledged chemical attack in Damaskus.

From TV2 yesterday I learned that the refugee camp is within reach of the mobile phone network inside Syria, so even though the camp is located 50 KM from the border, the refugees are well informed about what is going on in Syria.
She was also briefly interviewed for TV2 and this was an example of how good Mary is to get a message across to the Family Denmark, who have their evening coffee around that time. She said that these were people who just like at home until recently, had a house and children and a car, with dad going to work and mother looking after the house. I.e. painting a picture most Danes can instantly relate to even without thinking about it.

Thanks Muhler,

More pictures from today at the crisis centre for battered women.

It's some touching pictures. These women have some sad fates, I think you can see it in their eyes..

http://b.bimg.dk/node-images/741/6/x...nians-in-t.jpg

http://drc.dk/typo3temp/pics/ce71ac02b1.jpg

http://a.bimg.dk/node-images/741/6/1...nians-in-t.jpg

http://b.bimg.dk/node-images/741/6/1...nians-in-t.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...43899303_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/h...27612850_n.jpg


Gallery from yesterday from tv2.dk
http://go.tv2.dk/2013-08-21-galleri-...ygtningelejr#1
 
Did no one from the Jordanian royal family meet with CP Mary?

So far no.
I was hope/hoping that someone will meet her. I was thinking a member would also accompany her but I was wrong.
 
http://jordantimes.com/princess-mary-of-denmark-visits-zaatari-camp
MAFRAQ — Princess Mary of Denmark, patron of the UNFPA, visited the Zaatari Refugee Camp on Wednesday and toured its facilities.

The princess visited the UNFPA’s safe women comprehensive centre in Zaatari 3 and was briefed on the services provided to Syrian women and children by the UN agency.
REX
http://www.rexfeatures.com/livefeed/2013/08/21/crown_princess_mary_in_jordan
HELLO
http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2013082214238/princess-mary-denmark-visit-syria/
 
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Goodness! glad HRH & the other visitors were taken to safety. Refugee camps can be dangerous places. Hope the rest of the trip continues along alright. Wishing them all the best, and a safe return.

Jordan is not a dangerous country.
 
Oh that’s so lovely nice & Humanitarian from CP Mary to Visit the Zaatari Refugee Camp , they truly needs to the every Visit & contributing , Very touching & impressive pics , A Big Like .

I would consider it pretty dangerous at the minute.

Jordan is not a dangerous conutry compared to other Middle-eastren countries , Jordan has Economically critical condition And this thing is causing increase in prices & the the citizen incomes is still low , so that cause some a problem & huge problem .
But Jordan from Security side is Safe . Pffff still only the one Except the Gulf states .
 
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CP of Denmark is called Mary, not Marie.

I think the poster was just repeating what the article stated, so blame the reporter not the poster.

This is what I like about Mary, bringing awareness of difficult situations that need to be highlighted. Fantastic that she draws comparisons to 'real life' we often forget that refugees are the displaced, worried mums and dads, ordinary citizens scared of the conflict. I really hope for resolution.
 
This is not against Mary, because she is invited by her patronage/government but I dont like the idea of royals going 'global', what the point of such visits other than PR because the representants mostly don't have a clue, they go with their designer dresses, high heels & diamond rings, its all about posing and photo ops and I sometimes feel sorry for the refugees/victims of all kinds that they are being exposed/used again like that.

Its sad that we need 'royals' to go there because only for that reasons the pictures will end up in certain magazines, so Mr Bach or the organisation will have extra coverage because of Mary, because if the experts on the issue go on their own nobody will notice.

Especially Mary is hardly working in Denmark any longer but increasingly going for a 'Rania-like' role, Africa, now Jordan, next week Morokko, I am a bit clueless why a Danish or whatever country's CP has to go there to promote what kind of interest again? But maybe its just the world we are living in, you need a pretty woman with a certain social standing to 'raise awareness' which means what, looking at the pictures afterwards, and Mary is a good candidate to fit such a role.
 
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