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Syria earthquake four months on: ‘Don’t forget those left behind’, says ICRC


More than 90 percent of people living in Syria who have lived through more than 12 years of a deadly armed conflict – compounded by the devastating earthquake in February – are living below the poverty line and need urgent humanitarian assistance, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned Wednesday.

Speaking to Al Arabiya English, Suhair Zakkout, ICRC spokesperson for Syria warned that more than 15 million across the Middle Eastern country need urgent access to basic human rights – such as water – as she urged the world to “not forget” those suffering from conflict, natural disaster and disease.

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Ahead of the European Union hosting the Seventh Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region’, Zakkout said, for the majority of the country, their existence is “no longer a life.”

“We are into the second decade of conflict in Syria, and this has been an enduring spell of immeasurable trauma, pain and loss for families across the county.”

She said the need to maintain the delivery of humanitarian aid to the northwest is even more critical after the February 6 earthquake.

“The impact of this crisis has reverberated across Syria… shaking the already fragile and traumatized people and fragile infrastructure.”

Giving an example, she said: “In every corner of Aleppo, for someone who visits this city for the first time, you start to actually ask if this damage is related to earthquake or does it relate to armed conflict. You find tears in the eyes of people when they start to talk about how they have experienced the past decade in Syria.”

Syrians have not only had to cope with the war and the earthquakes – which killed more than 6,000 in the war-torn country and displaced tens of thousands more – but also the effects of COVID-19 and climate change.

“Crisis after crisis” have left Syrians on the brink, she warned. Vulnerable communities must also overcome rampant inflation, economic recession, the collapse of public health services, the destruction of homes and the risk that crucial infrastructure may fail.

The risk of collapse of Syria’s critical infrastructure is a pressing concern, she said.

Restrictive measures and sanctions have hampered the import of spare parts, pushing the drinking water systems in eight major cities to the brink of collapse. Most treatment plants
are damaged, and their functionality is alarmingly low or nonexistent.

“People travel on foot for miles for a drop of water,” said Zakkout. “Water they can’t afford. This isn’t a life.”

Any collapse or any failure of the system, or the main infrastructure, especially water will mean catastrophic consequences for the population. It means that public health not only water public health, hygiene, food production, everything is impacted.

“What we appeal as an international humanitarian news organization, is that the needs of the population and the humanitarian consequences of what has happened in Syria to be put as a priority…because the collapse of these essential services is not a distant threat, but very much possible with devastating consequences for the Syrian people.”

Zakkout said other headline-grabbing conflicts – such as the Sudan crisis and the ongoing Ukraine-Russian conflict – have seen dwindling attention focused on Syria.

“We have been investing as the ICRC – together with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent – to maintain and increase the stabilizing of the water infrastructure in Syria by supporting the maintenance and operation of certain big water treatment plants across the country.”

This includes the water treatment plant in Aleppo, for example, which provides 3.5 million people with safe clean water.

However, despite Syria being one of the ICRC’s biggest operations – t has also been the most underfunded one in the region last year, said Zakkout.

“Unfortunately, the media headlines follow the news and the breaking news. And we don't want to let Syria be forgotten and the people of Syria to be forgotten among the headlines and the urgency of other complex conflicts globally or in the region.”

“We should not turn our backs to the people of Syria; countries and state donors should not turn a blind eye to what could be a lifeline for Syrians.”

The ICRC is appealing to donor states for an immediate international commitment to safeguard critical infrastructure and essential services and to ensure that a comprehensive humanitarian response can be sustained while more durable solutions can be found.

Coordinated efforts and increased funding are urgently needed to facilitate early recovery.

Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC’s regional director for the Near and Middle East, said: “The international community must confront the harsh reality that the current situation in Syria is untenable, and failure to act will have dire consequences for all those involved and hinder any prospects for sustainable recovery.”

“We must prioritize the preservation of critical infrastructure and provide comprehensive humanitarian responses.”

Read more:

UN: Staggering 15.3 million Syrians, nearly 70 percent of population, need aid

Syria calls for investments in war-torn country amid its return to the Arab League

Syria extends permission on post-quake aid border crossings for 3 months

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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