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As Israeli strikes pummel the valleys of southern Lebanon, the head of Marjayoun's civil defence centre Anis Abla watches from his terrace, thumbing important instructions into his phone with his burnt and blistered fingers.
Just a few weeks after shadowing Mr Abla as he tackled blazes on the southern Lebanese border, The National returns to find him severely injured, but still coordinating rescue missions with his team.
The threat of a bigger war with Israel is looming after, in the span of two days, device detonations killed at least 32 people and injured thousands of others across Lebanon. The country's Health Ministry said at least 20 people were killed in Wednesday's explosions, a day after pager attacks killed 12 people, including two children. The attack is one of the "largest security breaches" to the Hezbollah group.
The Lebanese-Israeli border is visible from the small town, which is no stranger to war. Still, the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel that broke out on October 8 has taken a particularly heavy toll on civil defence workers in the area who have battled increasing fires ignited by Israeli shelling, including the use of controversial white phosphorus, as well as high temperatures and drought.
Despite the challenges, they say they remain dedicated to their jobs.
"I can’t leave, I’m helping my parents and neighbours – we are all one family," Mr Abla told The National.
On what began as an ordinary Tuesday morning on August 13, Mr Abla received a call about a fire. He and his colleagues responded without hesitation, deploying two fire lorries – one large and one small.
The wind shifted against them, causing the fire to intensify and scorch his smaller vehicle. At that moment, Mr Abla realised he could not control the fire. While fleeing for his life, he noticed that part of the hose remained intact. “The car’s windows were closed,” he recalled, “so there was a chance to save it”.
He grabbed his knife and cut away the damaged section of the hose and began to extinguish the flames on both himself and the vehicle. His determination to save what was left led to him sustaining severe burns to his hands and face, forcing him to improvise with a damaged hose and a malfunctioning generator.
While the cause of the fire is unknown, Mr Abla said he doesn't believe it was caused by a direct strike but that it could have been a drone.
"Definitely not [a strike] because no one heard it, maybe it was a drone," he added. However, once these blazes are ignited, rescue teams also face additional hurdles when trying to reach the location of the blaze due to constant Israeli shelling of areas in the south.
Stretched to limits
The vehicle was saved but Mr Abla spent 17 days in hospital followed by regular trips for treatment for his burns. His ordeal is one example of the wider struggles Lebanon's civil defence teams face as they attempt to put out fires with limited and inadequate resources. The vehicle he risked his life to save was more than just equipment to him, it was a precious asset.
“In the civil defence and the entire state, you know how the situation is. Getting another car would be like a dream come true," he said, referring to the wider economic crisis crash-strapped Lebanon has been engulfed in for about five years, rendering support for the civil defence scarce.
“It’s a dream to get another one,” he explains, “this car was donated through the efforts of my village people.”
Due to the lack of external financial assistance, the local community came together in 2019 to raise funds for the municipality, facilitating the purchase of the vehicle. Mr Abla had previously said their main lorry is almost 30 years old.
In almost two decades as a fireman, Mr Abla had never confronted a fire as huge as the one on that Tuesday, nor had he sustained injuries as severe, but he remains resolute to continue. “This doesn’t stop me. If anything, it makes me more determined."
His mother said she worries about her son's safety but would never stop him from returning to work.
“I went to the hospital and saw Anis in a state that no one should ever witness. I ran to his legs, kissed them; I didn’t know what else to do. I was in another world, my heart and blood felt like they had dried up," Sonia Abla said.
When asked how she felt about the prospect of Mr Abla returning to work and his missions, she responded with pride and acceptance, stressing, “I’ll tell him, God be with you".
His story highlights the personal sacrifices of Lebanon's first responders and the broader struggles these essential workers face.
Since the conflict broke out on October 8, at least 25 paramedics from different ambulance teams and two health workers have been killed and 94 others injured by "Israeli aggression," according to the Lebanese health ministry.
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
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The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Summer special
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes.
Where to stay
The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
