The only things coming thicker and faster than the snowfall witnessed across much of the Middle East this week are photographs of it. The flurry of attention is understandable; while the region gets some snow every year, recent blankets have covered areas where it is far less common. Even cities used to freezing weather got a much heavier rate.
In Iraq’s Kurdistan autonomous region, revellers danced around a fire; in Lebanon, cedar trees were blanketed, as were the Roman ruins at Baalbek; in Istanbul, children slid through the streets of Kucukcekmece on sleds. And near the western Saudi city of Tabuk, friends drank tea and started a snow fight.
Pictures of children playing in the snow also came out of Syria, but in a far grimmer setting: a camp for internally displaced people in Raju. Accompanying images captured children removing snow from the tops of tents in which they were living; last week, a child died and their mother was put in intensive care after the roof of the shelter in which they were staying collapsed under the weight of snowfall. In Aleppo province, two other children are reported to have died as a result of freezing temperatures. According to the UN, at least 22 sites in Aleppo and nine in Idlib have been affected, a crisis touching 429 displaced families.
In Jordan, authorities are on alert to deal with plunging temperatures. Prime Minister Bisher Al Khasawneh has highlighted the need to have enough blankets for Syrian refugee camps in his country, and prepare for the possibility of flash floods within them.
The cold does not just pose a danger to those who are displaced. Muhammad Addali, who lives in the Lebanese town of Fneidek, spoke to The National about how the country’s economic crisis is hampering his ability to heat his home, where he lives with his family, including a four-month-old baby. “I broke two doors in my house to burn for heating”, he said.
Even in capital cities people are suffering. In Baghdad, temperatures are reaching close to 0°C at night. This is the same city that saw record summer highs in 2020, reaching almost 53°C. In both seasons, frequent power cuts that can last most of the day make it intolerably difficult to heat or cool homes. Vulnerable communities across the Arab world, particularly in countries impacted by conflict, are suffering from similarly extreme conditions.
The situation affecting refugees, impoverished workers in rural areas and city-dwellers is a reminder of how short-term, flash events can exacerbate unsolved longstanding problems. The danger posed by fragile tents during snowstorms would not be an issue if more had been done during the past 10 years to house refugees. Baghdad would not be so cold if politicians had focussed minds earlier on fixing the country’s collapsing electricity network, and people would not be burning household items in Lebanon if the economy was not so much the victim of corruption and chronic mismanagement.
On a global level, an increase in storms, floods, snow and drought, all of which the Middle East suffered in 2021, must be a call to take the climate crisis seriously.
Snow is a joyous novelty for the region, and people should celebrate pictures of its wintry beauty, from Egypt to Iraq. Amid the excitement, however, it is worth remembering that in the valleys bordering blanketed mountains, people, many of whom were already dealing with enough hardship, might be finding themselves in a fight for survival. They must be provided with all the help and support possible.
Company%20profile
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Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Company%C2%A0profile
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
THE%20SWIMMERS
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Company%20profile
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SUZUME
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Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
SPECS
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
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OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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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)
