Ammon News - By Majed al Dabbas

AMMONNEWS - The Ministry of Finance announced on Sunday that over 100,000 requests for government fuel cash aid were processed and dispersed to low and medium-income Jordanian families.

The Finance Ministry dispersed nearly JD 10 million in cash aid as of Sunday, April 14, in part of the second installment of the new subsidy program introduced following the government's decision to lift fuel subsidies late last year.

The decision to lift fuel subsidies led to a substantial rise in prices of oil derivative products, stirring major protests and riots amid difficult economic conditions facing both the state and its citizens.

The government introduced the fuel cash aid subsidy program to compensate low and medium- income families of six or less members whose income is less than JD 800 per month.

The subsidy program provides JD 70 annually to compensate for fuel price hikes as a result of lifting the government subsidies on fuel products.

In part of the government's second installment dispersement, Secretary General of the Finance Ministry, Omar Zu'bi, told Ammon News that half a million Jordanian citizens benefited from the cash aid, noting that the ministry is continuing in dispersing payments through certified banks.

Zu'bi said that payments are dispersed to heads of households, noting that another member of the family may receive the payments if they carry an official authorization letter.

The Finance Ministry noted however that payments are only dispersed to Jordanians residing in the kingdom, while expatriates are excluded from the subsidy program.