20 JANUARY 2003
Queen Rania of Jordan has spent the weekend in London in an effort to raise funds for the people of Palestine.

The 32-year-old royal came to Britain to take part in a fundraising event organised by Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Arab Women's Association. The fundraiser, which is held every year, aims to raise funds to enable MAP and AWA to continue their humanitarian work in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria.

The elegant royal, who was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, has won the respect of the international community through her work as a campaigner for human rights and women's issues in the Arab world.

In June last year she visited MAP offices in London and jointly launched a major appeal with Cherie Blair to provide medical and food aid to people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. MAP is working throughout the Palestinian territories and in refugee camps to provide basic medical assistance and rehabilitation services to teenagers traumatized by the continuing conflict.

The Palestinian Ambassador to London Afeef Safieh and renowned human rights activist Mustapha Barghouthi were also in attendance.