Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Gaza is the "most dangerous operation" for the World Food Programme of all its recent missions, the UN body's regional director for Mena and Eastern Europe Corinne Fleischer told The National.
WFP's aid workers not only risk being injured or killed by Israeli shelling and air strikes in the enclave, but also face further danger from the "breakdown in law and order", she said.
At least 200 humanitarian staff members have been killed in Gaza since Israel's war began on October 7, which the UN said is the deadliest conflict in history for aid workers.
"The numbers speak for themselves," Ms Fleischer told The National.
In February, the WFP suspended operations in northern Gaza, where 70 per cent of the population are facing "catastrophic levels of hunger", according to the UN. The suspension came after food convoys were being attacked by starving Gazans who did not know when their next meal would be, Ms Fleischer said.
"People were so hungry that as soon as the trucks would arrive, they would not only run to the trucks but jump on them, open the boxes and eat the food before bringing some back to their families."
As the security of both those distributing aid and receiving it is essential, Ms Fleischer said the WFP began negotiations with the Israelis to expand its operations and ensure that its staff were provided with a safe pathway to the north.
The WFP resumed its operation three weeks after the suspension and is now in talks to bring food through more access points.
Other crises 'forgotten'
The WFP operates in more than 120 countries and territories, with about 23,000 members of staff worldwide.
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have overshadowed longer, protracted conflicts and humanitarian crises such as Syria, which have been "forgotten", Ms Fleischer said.
This has exacerbated the gap between the needs of people and the funding of aid groups such as the WFP, she said.
"Twelve years ago, we supported six million people. Now, we support 36 million – six times more," she said.
People are in more need of assistance not only due to new wars, but also climate change and economic shocks, she added.
The war in Ukraine "broke the camel's back", Ms Fleischer said, as food prices went up and needs soared to "record levels".
Yemen struggling
The focus on Ukraine and Gaza has also caused NGOs such as the WFP to downgrade operations in countries that rely heavily on assistance, such as Syria and Yemen.
In Yemen, the WFP used to feed 9.5 million people and is bringing that number down to 6.5 million due to lack of funds and worsening security.
"Now we have five governorates that are at a record high in levels of hunger, unlike anything we've seen since 2018t," Ms Fleischer said. "Acute malnutrition in children has gone up by 20 per cent."
In August last year, the WFP launched an appeal for Yemen, after announcing it would have to make cuts to its food assistance programme across the country by September if the funding gap was not bridged. The situation has since deteriorated.
The war in Gaza is the latest to erupt in the region but with Israeli-Iranian tensions on the horizon, Ms Fleischer said it was imperative not to allow another conflict to break out.
"What is brewing is quite big and a lot of efforts are being made not to have it," Ms Fleischer said.
Another war would "exceed all our capabilities".
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Januzaj's club record
Manchester United 50 appearances, 5 goals
Borussia Dortmund (loan) 6 appearances, 0 goals
Sunderland (loan) 25 appearances, 0 goals
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
Brief scores:
Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first
Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)
Watson 42; Munaf 3-20
Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)
Shahzad 74 not out
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
