President Obama visited Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan.

In the first foreign trip of his second term in office, President Obama visited Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan.

Trip Schedule

WEDNESDAY

• President Obama arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, marking the President's first trip to Israel as President of the United States.
  WATCH THE VIDEO
• President Obama viewed an *Iron Dome Battery in Tel Aviv, Israel.
• Later, President Obama attended a bilateral meeting with Israeli President Peres in Jerusalem.
• In the afternoon, President Obama attended a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, followed by a press conference.
  WATCH THE VIDEO
• In the evening, President Obama attended a working dinner hosted by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

* Iron Dome is a short range rocket and mortar defense system, which was developed by Israel and produced with U.S. assistance. The Iron Dome system has saved countless Israeli lives, most recently during the November 2012 Gaza conflict.

THURSDAY

• President Obama visited the Israel Museum, where he viewed the Dead Sea Scrolls and attended a technology expo.
• President Obama traveled to Ramallah, West Bank where he was greeted with an official arrival ceremony.
• In the afternoon, President Obama had a bilateral meeting with Palestinian Authority President Abbas.
• President Obama participated in a working lunch with Palestinian Authority President Abbas followed by a press conference.
• Later, President Obama attended a cultural event at Al-Bireh Youth Center and met with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Fayyad.
• President Obama gave a speech at the Jerusalem Convention Center.
  WATCH THE VIDEO
• In the evening, President Obama attended a dinner hosted by Israeli President Peres and received the Presidential Medal of Distinction.

FRIDAY

• The President attended wreath laying ceremonies at Mount Herzl at the grave sites of Theodor Herzl and Yitzhak Rabin.
• President Obama visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and participate in a wreath laying ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance.
• In the afternoon, President Obama traveled to Bethlehem where he will tour the Church of the Nativity.
• President Obama traveled to Amman, Jordan where he will be greeted by an official arrival ceremony.
• President Obama had a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan followed by a press conference.
• In the evening, the President had dinner with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

SATURDAY

• President Obama traveled to Petra.
• President Obama returned back to the United States.

Aid for a Syrian Baby

BY REBECCA GUSTAFSON
Rebecca Gustafson serves on USAID's Syria Response Management Team.

In January 2013, a mortar shell struck an apartment in Dar'a Governorate. A mother in an adjoining apartment grabbed her 7-month old son Dia'a* and ran to check for survivors.

Just as she discovered her brother was killed in the attack, another mortar shell hit the building -- this time killing one of her other sons. The explosion also ruptured a water heater, blasting scalding water on Dia'a's face and right arm.

Dia'a was rushed to a nearby Syrian government-run medical clinic, where many believe that women and children can safely receive care. After Dia'a received basic aid, a worker at the clinic discreetly warned the mother that they should leave before she and her son were both killed.

The family fled to the Jordanian border and were received by Jordanian border guards, who transported them to Za'atri refugee camp. During the trip, Dia'a contracted a severe infection, which needed to heal before further he could receive treatment.

Every four hours, a medical team at a U.S.-funded clinic is changing the dressings on Dia'a's burns. As soon as the infection is gone, doctors at the clinic will perform a skin graft. Doctors expect Dia'a will make a full recovery, despite the scars from his burns.

Dia'a's mother expressed gratefulness for the care her son is receiving at the U.S.-funded medical clinic and also thanked the Jordanian government for assisting her family and countless other Syrians in their time of need.

In total, the United States is providing nearly $385 million to help the innocent children, women, and men affected by the crisis in Syria. U.S. humanitarian aid includes emergency medical care and medical supplies, food aid, and winterization and other relief supplies that will help more than 2.4 million people in Syria, as well as the more than 1 million who have fled to the safety of neighboring countries.

http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/aid_syrian_baby

Assistant Secretary Anne C. Richard to Travel to Jordan and Lebanon

Ann C. Richard

RCN America Network

Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Anne C. Richard is Jordan and Lebanon from November 25-30, 2012.

In Jordan, Assistant Secretary Richard is attending the Advisory Commission Meetings of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA). At the meetings, she will hold bilateral discussions with refugee-hosting governments and other members of the Advisory Commission. She will also meet with Government of Jordan, international, and non-governmental officials to discuss policy and program issues regarding displaced Syrians in Jordan, and Iraqi and Palestinian refugees.

In Lebanon, Assistant Secretary Richard will meet with Government of Lebanon, international, and non-governmental officials to discuss the humanitarian situation in Lebanon and the situation of Syrian, Iraqi, and Palestinian refugees.