His Majesty King Abdullah called on Sunday for drawing up a comprehensive strategy for Wadi Arabah area to improve the living standard of citizens and contribute to establishing development projects to fight poverty and unemployment.

In a meeting with local residents, King Abdullah confirmed all development and demands of the district will be met in near future.

As his visits dedicated to pockets of poverty across the Kingdom, the King ordered to expand the housing project for the needy families and carry out services projects including those related to health and education.

The King's visit to Wadi Arabah came within frame of His Majesty's continued and personal follow up on the citizens' condition and his keenness to look into their needs by himself, particularly in the pockets of poverty, which were included in the Social Safety net, launched by His Majesty King Abdullah in Ghur Al Safi last year.

King Abdullah and Wadi Arabah citizens exchanged views on major challenges encountering the area, a home for 6000 people. They affirmed that they need financial assistance to help them implement income generating products and change their situation from mere recipients of money to producers and contributors to the march wheel of development. Wadi Arabah is considered one of most underprivileged area in the Kingdom.

Local residents, who were happy with the royal visit, said their needs centered in agricultural projects, raising livestock, organizing uses of arable land and establishing government offices to run their affairs.

Petra