Harry and Meghan Return to International Stage with Jordan Refugee Crisis Visit
Amman, 25 February 2026
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex embarked on their first joint international trip in 18 months, arriving in Jordan on 24th February 2026 for a two-day humanitarian mission. Their visit, hosted by the World Health Organisation, focuses on supporting the 2.5 million refugees Jordan currently shelters, including displaced Palestinians and Syrian war survivors. The couple’s Archewell Foundation previously pledged £370,000 to refugee assistance programmes, including £148,000 specifically for medical evacuations from Gaza to Jordan.
Direct Engagement with Vulnerable Communities
On 24th February, the Sussexes visited the Specialty Hospital in Amman, where Meghan met Maria, a 14-year-old burns victim from Gaza [2]. The emotional encounter highlighted the direct human cost of ongoing conflicts in the region, with medical evacuations representing a critical lifeline for civilians caught in warfare. The couple also toured the QuestScope youth centre at Za’atari refugee camp near Mafraq, participating in a music class and football session with Syrian children [2]. During the football session, Meghan scored a penalty whilst engaging with young refugees, demonstrating the therapeutic value of sports and creative activities in trauma recovery [2].
WHO Partnership and Strategic Discussions
The visit was facilitated by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, who welcomed the couple to the WHO office in Amman on 24th February [1][2]. Their participation in a roundtable discussion brought together representatives from UN agencies, diplomatic corps, and international donors to address funding gaps and coordination challenges [1][4]. Philip Hall, British Ambassador to Jordan, emphasised the significance of their presence, stating: ‘Your visit, your support, your appreciation of the efforts that the United Nations, including of course, the World Health Organization, the government of Jordan and others, are making here is enormously appreciated’ [1][4].
Archewell Foundation’s Financial Commitment
The humanitarian mission builds upon substantial financial commitments made by the Archewell Foundation in September 2025, when it pledged $500,000 (£370,000) to refugee support projects [1]. The foundation’s targeted grants include $200,000 (£148,000) specifically allocated to WHO medical evacuation programmes transporting patients from Gaza to Jordan [1]. Additional funding of $150,000 (£111,000) supports Save the Children’s humanitarian operations in Gaza, whilst another $150,000 grant to the Centre of Blast Injury Studies focuses on developing prostheses for injured children from conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza [1]. These financial commitments demonstrate a strategic approach to addressing both immediate medical needs and longer-term rehabilitation requirements.
Regional Context and Future Challenges
Jordan’s role as a regional humanitarian hub cannot be overstated, with the kingdom currently hosting approximately 2.5 million refugees, including Syrians who fled their country’s civil war and Palestinians displaced by the Israel-Gaza conflict that escalated in October 2023 [2][4]. Ambassador Hall acknowledged the complexity of achieving sustainable solutions, noting: ‘And of course, the last point is just to say a lasting solution of this requires a regional peace. It requires, in particular, peace between Palestine and Israel and the two-state solution – that’s easily said, we all know it’s very hard to achieve’ [4]. Over the remainder of their two-day visit, Harry and Meghan are scheduled to meet Jordanian leaders, senior health officials, and World Central Kitchen staff, continuing their engagement with organisations addressing food security and medical care for displaced populations [1][4].