Abu Dhabi ruler Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan affirmed the UAE’s support for the Lebanese people during a meeting with Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Al-Hariri. The Abu Dhabi ruler said that the UAE supported the ambitions of the Lebanese people for “unity, stability and development,” state news agency WAM reported. During …
Read More »Saudi pledges to repair Aden airport after Houthi missile attack
A Saudi-backed team of engineering experts has been drafted in to assess and repair the damage to Aden’s airport following Wednesday’s deadly missile attack. The specialists’ work is being carried out as part of the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SDRPY). Yemen blames Iranian military experts …
Read More »Americans threatened with homelessness as Trump refuses them COVID relief
Millions of Americans are about to see their jobless benefits expire on Saturday as President Donald Trump has so far refused to sign into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, insisting that it did not do enough to help everyday people. Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats alike …
Read More »Saudi clearing thousands of landmines in Yemen
The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen dismantled 1 antipersonnel mine, 417 anti-tank mines, and 1,439 unexploded ordnance — totaling 1,857 mines — during the first week of October. A total of 191,054 mines have been extracted since the beginning of the project. More than 1.1 million mines …
Read More »US to use aid to win favour of Syrians, Sudanese
The United States said on Thursday it would provide more than $720 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis in Syria, plus nearly $152 million for Africa’s Sahel region and almost $108 million for South Sudan. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun made the announcement on Syria at …
Read More »UPDATE – Lavrov in Syria for talks, calls for peace and rebuilding
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Damascus on Monday for talks with President Bashar al-Assad and Syria’s foreign minister, the RIA news agency reported. Following his meeting with the Syrian president Lavrov said that Syria needed international help to rebuild its economy. For his part Syrian President Bashar al Assad …
Read More »Assad regime bemouns latest US sanctions
Syrian President Bashar al Assad said on Wednesday that sweeping new U.S. sanctions amounted to a new stage of economic warfare against his government and were part of long-standing U.S. efforts to “choke” the living standards of Syrians. In a speech to deputies at the presidential palace, Assad also blamed …
Read More »Skeptics ponder if government resignation change anything for Lebanon
By DAVID ROMANO So, Lebanon’s prime minister and leading government ministers announced their resignation on Monday evening. They evidently preferred to fall on their swords after demonstrations in Beirut featured effigies with nooses around the necks of Hassan Diab, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others. The question is, will …
Read More »Calls for international intervention in Lebanon, from home and abroad
Lebanon’s leading Druze politician Walid Jumblatt called on Thursday for an international investigation into the Beirut port explosion and said he had “no trust” in the government to find out the truth about it. “We have no trust at all in this ruling gang,” said Jumblatt, whose party has lawmakers …
Read More »Yemen agriculture weathers storms with UAE help
On a yearly basis, Yemen’s Socotra experiences a ruthless south-west monsoon season ripping through the archipelago’s lands, leading to the closure of its air and sea ports. This year, fruit plantations developed by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation have survived May’s hurricane-strength winds, enabling Socotran farmers to develop …
Read More »OPEC development fund outlines new strategy
OFID’s highest policy-making body, the Ministerial Council, approved during its 40th Annual Session in Vienna, Austria, the general principles of OFID’s new Strategic Framework. The new strategy affirms OFID’s commitment to providing support to developing countries – especially low-income countries – in an increasingly complex and challenging development landscape. At …
Read More »Pakistan-UAE discussing economic relations
Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, met with Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, and Imran Ismail, Governor of Sindh, in Karachi on Friday. They discussed the investment, development and humanitarian projects being carried out by the UAE in the Sindh region of Pakistan. During a …
Read More »Gambia ambassador thanks UAE for generous humanitarian aid
Fansu Bojang, Ambassador of Gambia to the UAE, has expressed his sincere gratitude to the UAE’s leadership for providing humanitarian aid to his country that contributed to alleviating the suffering of Gambian citizens and developing the standard of living. This said this during his meeting with Hamad Salem bin Kardous …
Read More »UAE investment $10 million worth of development funds in the Comoros
In line with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has ordered the execution of development projects worth US$10 million in the Comoros. …
Read More »UAE will stick by Sudan through thick and thin
The United Arab Emirates congratulated Sudan after its military council and opposition reached a power-sharing deal and said it would stand with Khartoum in “good times and bad times”, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said. “We hope that the next phase will witness the foundation of a …
Read More »UAE water production project in Yemen
With the support of the UAE, a project to increase water production capacity was launched yesterday in Mocha, on Yemen’s Red Sea Coast. It will serve more than 30,000 residents of the city and neighbouring areas. Mohammed Al Junaibi, Director of Humanitarian Affairs for the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, in …
Read More »ADFD establishes Petroleum Storage Facilities project in Jordan
A high-level delegation from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, today participated in the inaugural ceremony of the AED771 million (US$210 million) Petroleum Storage Facilities project in Jordan. Fully financed by ADFD, the funding was made as part of the UAE government’s contribution of AED4.6 billion ($1.25 billion) in 2013 …
Read More »Yemeni PM discusses cooperation with UAE
H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, received on Thursday visiting Yemeni Prime Minister Dr Maeen Abdulmalik, to discuss progress on humanitarian, developmental and economic projects undertaken by the UAE in Yemen. The meeting, which took place at the Presidential Place, also …
Read More »UAE deposits $3 billion in Pakistan
The UAE’s US$3 billion deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan has contributed to alleviating the country’s financial crisis and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves, according to Pakistan’s State Minister for Revenues. Hammad Azhar made the remarks today as he presented to the National Assembly Pakistan’s general budget with …
Read More »UAE’s ‘1 Million School Shoes’ campaign in South Africa
The UAE Embassy in Pretoria has provided support to the ‘1 Million School Shoes’ campaign, which targets disadvantaged pupils in schools across Limpopo, a northernmost province of South Africa. While meeting Onicca Moloi, the campaign director, Fatima Al Suwaidi, First Secretary at the Embassy, said such humanitarian initiatives echo the …
Read More »Saudi-UAE aid council to Yemen convenes in Abu Dhabi
The UAE-Saudi Coordinating Council in charge of following up the joint US$1 billion financial contribution to Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP) held their third meeting at the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the UAE capital. The meeting, held in the presence of representatives of …
Read More »UAE relief package arrives safely at Khartoum airport
A UAE relief plane laden with 100 tonnes of aid has landed at the Khartoum International Airport in response to the torrential rains and flash floods that hit some Sudanese provinces recently. The US$600,000 aid, provided by the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, includes clothes, food stuff and household utensils, and …
Read More »Why are Americans giving almost four billion dollars of their money each year to a prosperous state such as Israel?
By Mohamed Mohamed* From presidents Truman to Trump, US administrations have never actually been an “honest broker” of peace between Palestinians and Israelis, regardless of all the rhetoric and official positions. On the contrary, the US has provided tremendous diplomatic, economic, and military support to Israel ever since its creation …
Read More »Dubai Cares distributes school bag kits for Syrian children
Dubai Cares has started distributing 50,000 school bags — packed during its volunteering initiative in Ramadan — to Syrian crisis-affected children in Jordan, in partnership with Save the Children. The charity organisation had launched the ‘Back to School’ edition of its ‘Volunteer Emirates’ initiative in May, to support refugee children …
Read More »France Sends Medical Aid To Assad’s Syria After Deal With Russia
France sent 50 tonnes of medical aid to government-controlled eastern Ghouta in Syria on Friday after Russia agreed to facilitate its delivery, raising hopes for future aid efforts, French officials said. The aid, which will arrive on a Russian plane to a Russian military base in north-western Syria from France …
Read More »China to offer aid of US$15 million to Palestine
China will offer 100 million yuan (US$15 million) in aid to Palestine, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, pledging greater Chinese financial backing for development in the Middle East. Xi’s remarks were made in a speech to representative of Arab states at a meeting in Beijing. Source: ChannelNews Asia
Read More »Dubai Cares launches Dh3.4m programme in Zimbabwe
Dubai Cares, part of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has launched a new programme in Zimbabwe titled ‘WASH UP! Girl Talk’, in partnership with Sesame Workshop. The Dh3.4-million ($952,000) programme aims to empower primary school-aged children to practise and promote healthy water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) behaviour, …
Read More »Abu Dhabi allocates Dh11b development aid for Ethiopia
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has allocated an economic aid package of Dh11 billion ($3 billion) for the Ethiopian government to support sustainable socioeconomic development in that country. The purpose of the funding from the UAE’s leading national entity for development aid is twofold, said a press release …
Read More »No food for foreigners
Jorg Sartor does not like to turn newcomers away from his food bank, especially single mothers like the young Syrian woman with her 5-year-old son who had waited outside since before dawn. But rules are rules. And for the moment, it is Germans only. ““The whole country is up in …
Read More »US withdrawing aid from northwest Syria
The United States is withdrawing assistance from northwest Syria as the Trump administration reviews hundreds of millions of dollars in stabilization aid to Syria, a State Department official has told CNN. The withdrawal of assistance comes as the US-led military coalition battles the remaining elements of ISIS in the Middle …
Read More »UAE contributes $50m to UNRWA
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has welcomed the $50 million (Dh183 million) contribution announced upon the directives of the President of the UAE, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan The move comes as UNRWA faces the most serious financial crisis in its history. UNRWA is a relief …
Read More »UNRWA chief appeals for Palestinian refugee funds after US cut
The head of the U.N. agency that provides aid to Palestinian refugees appealed on Wednesday for world donations after the United States withheld about half its planned funding for the organization, a move he said risks instability in the region. Washington said on Tuesday it would provide $60 million to …
Read More »Pakistan Summons U.S. Envoy Over Trump’s ‘Lies and Deceit’ Tweet
Pakistan civilian and military chiefs on Tuesday rejected “incomprehensible” U.S. comments after President Donald Trump tweeted angrily about Pakistani “lies and deceit”, with Islamabad summoning the U.S. ambassador. David Hale was summoned by the Pakistani foreign office late on Monday to explain Trump’s tweet, media said. The ministry could not …
Read More »UN official: Syria siege ‘an outrage,’ demands aid access
The top human rights official of the United Nations called the Syrian government’s siege of the capital’s suburbs “an outrage” on Friday and said food and medical supplies must be allowed to reach civilians inside. Residents of the Eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus are facing a “humanitarian emergency” as the …
Read More »South Korea approves aid to North Korea, North calls Trump ‘barking dog’
South Korea approved a plan on Thursday to send $8 million worth of aid to North Korea, as China warned the crisis on the Korean peninsula was getting more serious by the day and the war of words between Pyongyang and Washington continued. North Korea’s foreign minister likened U.S. President …
Read More »Trump calls Egypt’s Sisi, says keen to overcome obstacles
U.S. President Donald Trump called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday and said he was keen to overcome any obstacles in the way of cooperation, just days after the U.S. said it would withhold some financial aid to Egypt. “President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call tonight from …
Read More »US, Russia commit to further Syrian aid
THE LEVANT NEWS — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday and the two “recommitted” themselves to continued deliveries of aid to those affected by the war in Syria, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said. They also discussed the progress negotiators …
Read More »Egypt to host donor conference for war-hit Gaza
THE LEVANT – Envoys from dozens of countries will gather Sunday for a conference that aims to raise billions of dollars to rebuild conflict-battered Gaza, despite fears of renewed violence and “donor fatigue”. The United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency has described the financial needs as “unprecedented” ahead of the Cairo …
Read More »US delivers military aid to Lebanon
THE LEVANT – The United States has delivered its first emergency shipment of weapons to Lebanon, officials said Friday, to help bolster military forces as part of a broader regional response to combat the growing threat posed by Islamic extremists. The delivery is in response to a request by the …
Read More »Iran lashes out at Egypt over delayed aid to Gaza
THE LEVANT – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, lashed out on Wednesday at Egypt for delaying its humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. “Egypt has not issued a permit for Iranian planes carrying aid to Gaza despite the fact that it is now a long time Tehran has asked …
Read More »UN announces emergency aid for 500,000 northern Iraqis
THE LEVANT – The UN refugee agency said Tuesday it was poised to mount a massive aid operation for 500,000 Iraqis driven from their homes by jihadist rebels. “In response to the deteriorating situation in northern Iraq, UNHCR is this week launching one of its largest aid pushes aimed at …
Read More »WFP to aid Yemen destitutes
THE LEVANT – The World Food Program – WFP – announced on Sunday working to provide aid to six million impoverished Yemenis over the next two years. “We want to help [Yemeni] people help themselves,” Bishow Parajuli, WFP project director, said in a statement. He added that the WFP’s upcoming project …
Read More »Iraq crisis – RAF aborts air drop amid safety fears
THE LEVANT – An RAF aid drop in Iraq had to be abandoned overnight owing to fears people could be injured by the cargo. Food and water was due to be dropped to people in the north of the country who have fled from Islamist militants. David Cameron is facing pressure …
Read More »Kingdom gives Lebanon $1bn to defeat terrorism
THE LEVANT – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has granted $1 billion to help the Lebanese army bolster security as they battle militants who have seized the border town of Arsal on the Syrian frontier, the Saudi Press Agency said.The king “has issued an order to provide aid …
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