It has now been a little over a month since the World Health Organisation announced that it would begin testing people for coronavirus in Idlib, northwest Syria. Half of the population of the province, the last rebel-held area in the country, has been displaced. Hundreds of thousands of its 3 million civilians live in crowded tents near the border with Turkey.
The good news is that, as of last week, there have been zero laboratory-confirmed cases in northwest Syria. The bad news is that samples from only 191 individuals have been tested, which means we have nowhere near a basic understanding of whether the virus has taken hold there, or the measures needed to limit the outbreak.
As the pandemic continues to ravage both wealthy and impoverished societies around the world, a lack of testing has posed a major challenge for many countries. But the virus's spread among the most vulnerable populations remains unclear. A new study by the Norwegian Refugee Council released this week found that a record 50.8 million are internally displaced around the world, and the NRC says they will be rendered more vulnerable by the pandemic.
Where tests have been conducted in refugee camps in Europe, including in Greece and Germany, dozens of cases are found and the camps are locked down. By the time the first infected person is discovered, the virus has already spread through the camp like wildfire.
The WHO has championed the idea of widespread testing as a key element of getting to grips with the spread of the novel coronavirus. Countries like the UAE and Germany have tested broadly, and consequently appear better equipped to quell the virus’s threat. In addition to gathering personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks and gloves for healthcare workers, countries have scrambled to buy test kits from foreign sellers, some of which ended up being scams, like in a recent case in which the British government bought faulty testing kits from a Chinese company. That’s how crucial testing is to engaging in the fight.
Conditions in crowded camps in Idlib, now the epicentre of Syria's humanitarian crisis, are a cause for grave concern and a public health catastrophe in waiting.
Of course, the challenges in Idlib are unique and myriad, including the context of the Syrian war itself, the systematic destruction of hospitals and targeting of healthcare workers throughout the war that has left the province with precious few locations to conduct testing or isolate potential cases, and the challenge of procuring PPE and delivering it across the border into a war zone. Even the US and Europe do not have enough tests yet to screen all the people they want to. If and when cases are identified, the prospect of social distancing, quarantine, and widespread use of hand sanitizers and masks amid the destitute conditions of refugee camps is remote.
But the challenges of testing in Idlib are also reminiscent of those in other refugee and internally displaced camps all over the world, and the lack of enough testing will leave vulnerable communities exposed to a deadly pandemic without recourse for ensuring their well-being. Simply pretending that they do not exist will not make the problem go away.
By the time the first infected person is discovered, the virus has already spread through the camp like wildfire
In Idlib, there is just one testing facility catering to an enormous displaced population of three million, and just three facilities that are equipped to host Covid-19 patients. The WHO has a 40 per cent shortfall in funding for its response plan in the area, which will likely be exacerbated by the incredible decision of US President Donald Trump’s administration to sever funding amid a global pandemic. The lack of testing so far, in Idlib and Syria more broadly, where rumours of cases had been rife even before the first one was officially announced in March, likely means coronavirus has been silently spreading. If it has ravaged the first world, what will it do to a destroyed Syria? Or what will it do to communities in refugee and IDP camps in Lebanon and Iraq, where recently discovered cases of Covid-19 have given life to fears of a major outbreak?
It is essential that widespread testing is made available in Idlib as well as other refugee and internally displaced camps around the world. These are among the most vulnerable individuals in society, and they do not have the luxury of self-isolating at home or social distancing and losing access to basic services like food and water distribution. It is essential to make testing available for those communities if we are to get a true handle on the extent of the pandemic, and to plan the interventions that will be needed to protect refugees and IDPs.
The lack of testing in these communities is so far a shameful failing in the global fight against Covid-19. But there is no good reason to allow present failures to become permanent legacies.
Kareem Shaheen is a former Middle East correspondent in Canada
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
The%20specs
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FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
The%C2%A0specs%20
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Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
57%20Seconds
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Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
New schools in Dubai
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
