How Ramadan guides Amal Mudallali in her work as Lebanon's UN representative


Fatima Al Mahmoud
  • English
  • Arabic

Every step Amal Mudallali has taken on her career path has been made with the aim of serving public interest.

And, as the first female UN ambassador from Lebanon, she is making history with each foot forward.

Mudallali was first appointed permanent representative of Lebanon to the United Nations in 2017. However, she still identifies as a journalist at heart, which was her professional dream while growing up.

She previously worked as a correspondent for Arabic and English language broadcasters and publications, as well as a foreign policy adviser to the late prime minister Rafic Hariri.

"I love to share knowledge, tell stories and have a connection with people," she tells The National. "It's all about serving people, because the more they know, the more informed they are and the better decisions they make."

Amal Mudallali speaks as part of the Security Council at the UN headquarters in 2019. AP
Amal Mudallali speaks as part of the Security Council at the UN headquarters in 2019. AP

This ideology paves the way for a better and more democratic society which, according to Mudallali, embodies the value of giving back.

The diplomat reveals she frequently takes inspiration from Ramadan, one of her favourite times of year. She recalls spending time at her grandparents’ home as a child, where the family gathered around the table for iftar every night.

“It was magic,” she says. “To me, Ramadan means goodness, sharing and caring about others. It’s about remembering what is important in life and being good to others.”

Helping others, that's what the UN and life are all about

While the spiritual sentiment of Ramadan persists, the holy month is different in Lebanon this year. Owing to Covid-19, gatherings have been limited to small family get-togethers and virtual meet-ups.

“Isolation is more the norm than getting together this Ramadan, which is the opposite of what the month is all about,” Mudallali says.

But that’s not all that has changed in Lebanon. The country is reeling under the impact of mounting crises which have pushed more than 50 per cent of the population into poverty.

Consequently, Mudallali’s job at the UN shifted from pioneering global change to rallying for international support for her struggling country.

“It’s not an easy situation,” she says. “You go to represent a country that was doing well, you wanted to have a legacy, make Lebanon prominent. You turn to appealing for help because of how difficult our lives have become. It’s not the positive contribution I wanted us to have.”

The August 4, 2020 blast at Beirut port, which killed more than 200 people, injured thousands more and destroyed large swathes of the city, was particularly affecting. Mudallali had been attending a general assembly discussing food insecurity in Lebanon following the explosion.

“Sitting there, listening to them talk about poverty and food insecurity in Lebanon was too much to handle,” she said. “Lebanon became an example of hunger. This isn't what we worked for.”

Despite such hurdles, Mudallali still does her best to support vulnerable communities the world over.

Her appeal for vaccine equity was supported by 182 countries out of 193 in total, and eventually presented at the UN General Assembly, where she called for equal vaccine distribution to vulnerable countries with no resources to purchase the shots themselves.

"All the countries thanked Lebanon for the initiative, I was so proud. This was the heart of my job," she says. "Helping others, that's what the UN and life are all about."

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It's up to you to go green

Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.

“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”

When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.

He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.

“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.

One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.  

The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.

Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.

But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”

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The biog

Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology

Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels

Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs

Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends

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What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

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Results

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Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes

Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai

The specs
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The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES

Saturday
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Sunday
5.30pm: Kalba v Al Jazira
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8.15pm: Al Nasr v Al Wasl