Two years since the Hamas attacks, which led to the war waged by Israel in Gaza, much has changed for the 3,000 Gazans living in Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi.
One of the most visible indications of such change is Rahaf Ayyad, 13, who arrived in the UAE in May on an evacuation flight carrying 101 patients accompanied by 87 family members.
She was 12 when she arrived in the Emirates, severely malnourished, and doctors said at the time that “death was inevitable".
After months of suffering, she had lost most of her hair and was unable to walk or lift her arm. She was also suffering from regular seizures. Her face was hollowed out by malnutrition, and her teeth were yellow.
Rahaf was treated at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City as soon as she arrived, and since then, her cheeks have filled out and her hair, which had fallen out, has grown back. “I can run and play again. I’m happy, and soon I’ll see my grandparents,” she said.
If Rahaf had not received treatment immediately, she would have died, Dr Tawfik Hen, general paediatric consultant at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, told The National this year.
There were scenes of joy last week at EHC when it was announced US President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in Gaza had been approved by Israel, with Hamas responding positively to key elements while demanding clarification on others.
Talks began on Monday in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh to discuss details of plan.
Glimmer of hope
“You have no idea what it means to no longer feel fear,” Rahaf’s mother, Shrooq, told The National. "To no longer fear that your children won’t come back if they leave the house, or to live minute by minute, expecting that you or your family can die any second.
But there has always been peace and hope at EHC – with 22 new births taking place at the centre among the Gazan community, the most recent in September, and 44 students now going to higher level education under a new partnership with Abu Dhabi University.
Speaking to The National, Mubarak Al Qahtani, spokesman for the EHC, said aid flights bringing in sick and injured Gazans were continuing until they received instructions suggesting otherwise.
“We were not told to stop providing aid,” he said. "The Gazans at EHC have become our family and since the very beginning – two years ago – President Sheikh Mohamed had instructed that patients be provided with treatment and care, and that is what we will continue to do.
“We hope for the war to end and for Gazans to rebuild Gaza and return to live in peace and prosperity, but we remain committed to their care.”
Rahaf’s mother said: “We can’t wait to start rebuilding Gaza and to return, but at the end of the day, if not for the UAE, then my daughter wouldn’t be here today by my side – and maybe not even me or my family."
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
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