earthquake

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department- Amman) In a special two-hour edition of CNN’s Larry King dedicated to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, on Monday, urged the international community to support the United Nations Foundation’s emergency relief efforts and UNICEF, which is working to rescue thousands of orphaned and injured children in the aftermath of the catastrophic quake.

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department - Bam) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah visited the Iranian city of Bam taking a first hand look at the devastation of the ancient city which was nearly flattened as a result of the December 26 earthquake, claiming the lives of at least 30,000 people and leaving over 35,000 injured.

A C-130 Jordanian military plane, accompanied Queen Rania, carrying further relief including medical supplies, tents, blankets and heaters for thousands of people left homeless in the freezing temperatures.

Mothers’ faces wretched in agony as they stumble through debris crying out their children’s names. Despair. My stomach tightens in fear for them.

Little ones, no older than my youngest, crouching bewildered, jostled by surging crowds. Soft, tear stained, skin sprinkled with concrete dust. Frightened. I close my eyes in prayer.

The shaky steps of the frail and disorientated, searching for anything, anyone familiar. Lives ebbing away.

A primeval howl of loss. The fragile frame of a tiny girl collapses onto a lifeless body. She clings. She clings.