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Ali Jneina hardly talks any more. The eight-year-old cancer patient, who is glued to his iPad when not asleep, has lost the will to leave his room in Jerusalem’s Augusta Victoria Hospital.
He is embarrassed about losing his hair and about the weight he has gained because of chemotherapy. Most of all though, his mother says, Ali just wants to go home.
The little boy and 11 other patients in the children's cancer ward are from Gaza.
Because of the devastating Israeli war in the Palestinian territory, which has killed more than 32,000 people since it started on October 7, they do not know when they will be able to go back.
I don’t know if I’ll recognise my husband when I see him. He’s lost a lot of weight, as have my children
Mai Jneina,
whose family is separated by the war
Ali's mother, Mai Jneina, is visibly exhausted as she sits by Ali's bed, trying to keep her son’s spirits up. She also has to find ways to communicate with her husband and the couple's two other children in Gaza.
“I don’t tell my husband about our son’s treatment. He just says he’s had enough and can’t stand it any more. So the pressure is all on me,” Mrs Jneina told The National. “I don’t know if I’ll recognise my husband when I see him. He’s lost a lot of weight, as have my children.”
Augusta Victoria and a few other hospitals in Jerusalem have historically welcomed the sickest Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza, who lack access to advanced medical care at home.
They have now become temporary homes for the Gazans who were receiving treatment before the war broke out.
It is a massive challenge for the hospital, which normally hosts the patients and their guardians only for the duration of treatment.
Despite the unexpected difficulties, Dr Fadi Mizyed, the hospital's CEO, says his staff will always prioritise patient well-being, particularly in this uniquely testing moment.
“They are not only fighting their disease now. They are fighting the war, the situation – they’re stressed the whole time, away from home,” he says.
“These are not the conditions in which a child should be treated. Two of the kids here have psychological problems now and are becoming less co-operative with staff."
It falls to Dr Khadra Hasan Salami to try to keep the children's treatment on course. She and her staff do their best to fill the ward with positive energy. Two Palestinian clowns even came to visit while The National was at the hospital.
But nothing works on Ali, whose eyes stay glued to his iPad as he sits surrounded by teddy bears, paper Ramadan lanterns and the scooter he will get to ride again when he is strong enough.
A nurse recounts a story that illustrates the horror of his situation. One day Ali was talking to his sister in Gaza. He told her that he ate meat that day, which made her cry because she was so hungry.
“I’m sure Ali feels guilty thinking about how he’s in a 'better’ situation,” Dr Salami explained.
“Ali has had anxiety attacks and is agitated. When he has a procedure now he loses his communication with us and gets angry.”
Most of the children on the ward are recovering from treatment. One is being actively treated and a few others are going into palliative care – a number of these children are likely to die so soon that they will never go back to Gaza.
It is a nightmare for the mothers, who make up the majority of the companions that Israeli authorities allow to accompany the patients. Many of their family homes have been bombed. Their other children have mostly been evacuated and are often living in tents. Some have lost family members.
Unlike Ali, Ameera Sabbagh, 11, dreads the prospect of going back to Gaza. Her mother, Eman Sabbagh, brought her to Augusta Victoria in September. They were supposed to stay for a month and a half. It has now been more than six months.
'Full of horror'
“When the war broke out we were terrified and full of horror,” Mrs Sabbagh told The National.
“At first Ameera was crying all the time. She wanted to see her siblings and her dad.”
Her treatment has gone well, and after a painful few months, she now walks around the ward with ease, chatting away.
“The hospital is beautiful and I’m friends with the doctors, nurses and the mothers of the patients,” says the little girl. “So I don’t want to go back to Gaza. It is destroyed and my family is staying in a tent – where would I go?”
It is a question that preoccupies the medical staff. Earlier in the month Israeli authorities set in motion a process to bring back to Gaza some cancer patients in another hospital who they deemed to be sufficiently recovered.
Dr Salami is desperate to keep her patients close.
“Many of our patients who are now in Gaza are in contact with us. Some have relapsed, some are living in terrible, unhygienic conditions and many are not able to get the nutrition they need,” she says.
“I lost a patient whose cancer I was in the process of curing very successfully. It’s extremely sad. Cancer treatment is not easy. You and your patient go through a special journey. At any point you might lose them.
"But to complete the journey and then lose them to a human cause is terrible,” she adds.
“He was a leukaemia patient. He presented in a very critical state. He was nine. We were trying to send medication to him, but we found out he was bombed. He and his family died. They were near Nuseirat refugee camp, I believe.”
Dr Salami says none of the staff will ever be the same again: “This has changed me a lot. I have to express myself honestly. I travel a lot to the US and Europe for conferences. I always hear about human rights, and that every child with cancer should live regardless of whether they are in the east or west.”
“After the war, we see that this mask has fallen. They are not doing the best they can to stop this from happening.”
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24
July 8: New Zealand v Lions
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
