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This week, drivers for Toters, a well-known Lebanese food delivery app, say their shifts have been assigned under an unconventional new system: Lebanese drivers are given deliveries in Beirut’s Christian areas, while Syrians are tasked with deliveries in Muslim districts.
This new arrangement reflects a worrying trend in Lebanon, as Syrians say it has become too dangerous for them to venture into Christian areas.
“I'm terrified to go to East Beirut. Our managers say that things will return to normal once tensions ease, but for now, it's just too risky, with Syrians being arbitrarily assaulted on the streets,” said Ahmed*, a 24-year-old Toters delivery driver from Syria.
His reference to 'East Beirut' refers to the division of the Lebanese capital between the broadly Christian-controlled east and Muslim-controlled west during its civil war (1975-1990), a divide that still shapes demographics today.
Syrians are facing a surge of violent attacks following the killing of Pascal Sleiman, a senior official of the Lebanese Forces, a right-wing Christian political party that has historically opposed the presence of large numbers of Syrians in the country.
The Lebanese army said that Mr Sleiman was killed on Monday in a carjacking attempt by a Syrian gang who took his body to Syria.
The Lebanese Forces said it would consider Mr Sleiman's death a “political assassination until proven otherwise”, rejecting the Lebanese army's findings. The party has long been enemies of the Syrian regime in Damascus, which occupied Lebanon from the end of the civil war until 2005, and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah.
Both the Syrian government and Hezbollah have been accused of attacking and assassinating their political opponents, including officials from or close to the LF.
In a speech on Monday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah denied his group was involved, saying such false allegations would stir up “very dangerous” sectarian tensions.
On Friday, hundreds attended Mr Sleiman’s funeral in Byblos, in a ceremony presided over by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai.
LF leader Samir Geagea, a former civil war militia leader, called for the “failed, corrupt” authorities in Lebanon to be changed.
The patriarch said Syrian refugees “are now a danger for the Lebanese,” and “we must find a solution to this”.
Many LF supporters have taken their anger out on Syrians in Lebanon. About two million Syrians are living in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities, with 800,000 registered as refugees with the UN. Lebanon is thought to have a total population of about five million, including Syrians.
The status of Syrians remains a highly sensitive issue, especially since 2019, when Lebanon plunged into what the World Bank has described as one of the worst economic crises in centuries.
Against this backdrop of tensions and economic challenges, reports of attacks against Syrians have surged.
'Go back to Syria!'
Some residents in mainly Christian areas have attempted to impose curfews on Syrians, to force them to leave, security and UN sources told The National.
There were "dangerous reactions" in the wake of the killing of Mr Sleiman in several Christian areas, including outside Beirut, in Tabarja, and Byblos, a Lebanese security source confirmed to The National.
The source also reported that some people in Beirut's Christian neighbourhoods had set a "deadline" for Syrians to leave the areas by Friday and imposed an unofficial "curfew" for them.
A UNHCR source told The National that they have been receiving reports which “indicate that local residents in different Lebanese towns are issuing threats of mass evictions against Syrians, creating an environment of fear and intimidation.”
Some of this violence has been captured on videos, widely shared on social media, showing what appears to be Syrians being assaulted in random streets or subjected to public humiliation by groups of unidentified men.
“There's no humanity left. These people have nothing to do with the killing,” Ahmad said.
In the Christian neighbourhood of Ein El Remmaneh, The National spoke to Lebanese owners of a restaurant whose Syrian employee ended up in a hospital after being assaulted by a group of men because of his nationality.
“There were about 10 men, some masked and others not. They asked if he was Syrian, and then started beating him. They ran off when the army arrived,” the owner said.
The owner said the employee did not know the assailants.
“The army took our cameras, so they should be able to figure out what happened.”
No one has been arrested yet, the owner said. The driver has been discharged from the hospital.
“It's terrible. He's a genuinely good guy, works hard, and has nothing to do with any of this. They're targeting the wrong people,” the owner added.
“But others in the neighbourhood have a different perspective,” she warned.
Mohamed, 36, a Syrian resident of Ein El Remmaneh, said he also witnessed the scene.
“They shouted insults at him, telling him to go back to Syria. I felt offended, helpless, and absolutely terrified,” he said.
“I’m now constantly stressed, hyper-aware of my movements. I avoid unfamiliar places, especially in Christian areas, which I've completely stopped visiting for some parts.”
He said he is now considering moving to another neighbourhood.
“These people prey on the weak to assert their dominance, Syrian refugees are the most vulnerable in our society. And nobody seems to be taking action."
'Scapegoat'
The LF has officially “rejected” the violence, which it described as “suspicious in terms of form, content, and timing."
“The Lebanese Forces stress that demanding the return of Syrian refugees to their homes is one thing, while acting with hatred and brutality is completely different,” the party said.
Bashir Saade, a lecturer in politics and religion at the University of Stirling, told The National that although the official position of the Lebanese Forces is to advocate for a return to calm, “the off-the-record script is to let the violence escalate.”
“The Lebanese Forces may be capitalising on these events, as their political survival, as a Christian party, hinges on sectarian considerations.”
Politicians from various parties have frequently called for the return of refugees to Syria.
On Tuesday, Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam Mawlawi called for a reduction for the number of Syrians in Lebanon.
“The Syrian presence in Lebanon must be limited and we emphasised to the security forces the need to strictly enforce Lebanese laws on displaced Syrians.”
Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, told The National that the situation is “extremely concerning, especially given the heightened discriminatory rhetoric used by Lebanese officials to scapegoat an entire refugee population”.
“Anti-Syrian violence and discrimination have been happening for the past years. Lebanese society is in turmoil, especially the Christian community,” Mr Saade said.
The Syrian man who witnessed the assault, Mohamed, said that informal checkpoints set up by militia-like groups of men have existed for at least a year.
“My friend’s son was assaulted at one of these checkpoints. This happened well before the killing of Mr Sleiman,” he said
In July, Human Rights Watch denounced a wave of deportations, as the Lebanese Army summarily deported thousands of Syrians between April and May, including unaccompanied children, back to Syria.
“The violence is not new, it's only getting worse,” Mohamed said.
Jamie Prentis contributed to this report
* Names have been changed on request of the interviewees
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYodawy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarim%20Khashaba%2C%20Sherief%20El-Feky%20and%20Yasser%20AbdelGawad%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2424.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlgebra%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20MEVP%20and%20Delivery%20Hero%20Ventures%2C%20among%20others%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')
Manchester City 3 (Gundogan 18', Foden 21', De Bruyne 34')
Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)
Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZack%20Snyder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESofia%20Boutella%2C%20Djimon%20Hounsou%2C%20Ed%20Skrein%2C%20Michiel%20Huisman%2C%20Charlie%20Hunnam%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Calvin Harris
Columbia
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
