Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Saturday marks the 36th anniversary of the passing of Queen Alia Al Hussein, whose life was taken in a tragic helicopter accident on February 9th, 1977 while carrying out her selfless humanitarian role in serving the Jordanian people, especially those in rural areas.

Queen Alia Al Hussein was known as ''Um Al Fuqara'' or "Mother of the Poor,' for her distinguished and generous contribution to the social welfare and development of the Jordanian underprivileged and poor.

Born Alia Toukan in Cairo in 1948 to a Jordanian diplomat, Baha Uddin Toukan and his wife Hanan Hashem while her Toukan was posted as Jordan's first Ambassador to Jordan.

Because of the nature of her father's career, the young Alia spent most of her childhood and youth traveling with her parents. She studied at the Ahliyyeh School for Girls in Amman until her father was named Arab League Ambassador to Italy in 1965.

Alia enrolled in the Rome Centre of the Loyola University of Chicago where she studied political science and social psychology. She later enrolled in Hunter College in New York and studied public relations.

Alia developed and excelled in sports, especially skiing, writing, and loved the arts. She had taken interest in writing about the Arab Women's movement in Jordan and the Arab World.

After meeting him early in her childhood, destiny brought her together again with King Hussein initially when she was asked by the Late King to oversee managing the first international water skiing festival in Jordan in 1972.

Alia Toukan married King Hussein Bin Talal on December 24, 1972 and hence was given the title of Queen Alia Al Hussein. They had two children: Their Royal Highnesses Princess Haya and Prince Ali.

During her short-lived reign, the young Queen endeavored into numerous charitable, children and women's causes, in addition to her distinguished contributions to improving the living and daily conditions of Jordanians throughout the kingdom.

Active in charity and social work, the late Queen represented Jordanian women at many international conferences, serving as a model for Arab women, supporting Arab women’s causes and their participation in socio-economic development.

The Queen always stressed that women must work with men to achieve the developmental goals of Jordan and empower themselves and their role in various fields of life.

In memorial of the late Queen, her daughter Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein 25 yeas after her mother's passing, took up the late Queen's vision in bringing to life 'Tkiyet Umm Ali' in 2004. 'Tkiyet' traces its roots back to the beginnings of Islam within a tradition similar to that of the contemporary 'soup kitchen' in the West, Princesshaya.net described, providing charity to the underprivileged.

Jordan commemorates Her Majesty Queen Alia Al Hussein, as her contributions to the daily lives of Jordanians are still being felt, especially through the selfless service of her son Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and her daughter Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein.