People gathered for days to offer Rayan and emergency services their support. AFP
People gathered for days to offer Rayan and emergency services their support. AFP
People gathered for days to offer Rayan and emergency services their support. AFP
People gathered for days to offer Rayan and emergency services their support. AFP


What Rayan's story means for Morocco, the region and beyond


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  • Arabic

February 06, 2022

On Tuesday, five-year-old Rayan Aourram fell 32 metres down a dry well near the Moroccan town of Bab Berred. Within days, he became known the world over by his first name, as authorities attempted a hugely complex and brave operation to rescue him as quickly as possible.

No matter the technical expertise on the ground, a miracle would still have been needed for him to survive and tragically none was forthcoming. News of his death broke on Sunday, via a statement from Morocco's royal court, shortly after authorities pulled him to the surface. King Mohammed VI of Morocco expressed his condolences to Rayan’s parents in a phone call.

First thoughts must go to the child’s family, who should be given every support available. It is also right to acknowledge the particular significance this tragedy will have for Morocco, even the wider region. Rayan was one of many children in the Middle East and North Africa who needs a rescue of some kind. Unlike in his case, the world will not know the names of most of them.

It will also bring up memories of similar stories and traumatic memories for those who were involved in them, even the ones who survived. In 2010, 33 Chilean miners were pulled to the surface after a cave-in left them trapped underground for 69 days. Experts fashioned a custom rescue capsule, in part designed by the US space agency Nasa. In 2018, a global rescue operation was launched for a Thai football team of 12 teenage boys and their coach, who were trapped in a cave for more than two weeks. One rescuer died in the otherwise successful operation.

There have been few stronger scenes of global jubilation and emotion in recent years than after these rescues. It is always enthralling when people beat terrible odds to cheat death.

But Rayan's story is a reminder of quite how tough these odds are, and that even all the bravery and ingenuity of rescue teams is often not enough. The same can be said of Lama Al Rouqi, a six-year-old Saudi girl, who fell down a well in the north of the country in 2013, and two-year-old Sujith Wilson, who fell down a borehole in southern India in 2019. When such difficult missions fail, no one is to blame.

Much like they were not alone during the operation, Rayan's loved ones will also have the solidarity of people around the world as they grieve. Pictures of his parents walking from the scene have understandably been shared the world over. But they point to a shift that now needs to take place from a story that captivated the world in solidarity, to one that now needs to give his family privacy.

After all, positive media interest can take a negative turn. While the Thai football team was undergoing its near-catastrophic ordeal, global attention was briefly diverted by a bizarre and inappropriate spat between a key rescue diver in the operation and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk over the former's rejection of a rescue strategy proposed by Mr Musk.

So far, the mood over the past few days has been only that of solidarity on a remarkably wide scale. It must stay that way. But while the focus should be on helping Rayan's family grieve, the world can still remember him, his rescuers and supporters as part of an intense moment of rare global unity that will be remembered for years.

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW

Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2

Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC

Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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Second Test, Day 2:

South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining

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The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):

British group

Coldplay

Foals

Bring me the Horizon

D-Block Europe

Bastille

British Female

Mabel

Freya Ridings

FKA Twigs

Charli xcx

Mahalia​

British male

Harry Styles

Lewis Capaldi

Dave

Michael Kiwanuka

Stormzy​

Best new artist

Aitch

Lewis Capaldi

Dave

Mabel

Sam Fender

Best song

Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care

Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up

Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant

Dave - Location

Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove

Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved

Tom Walker - Just You and I

Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger

Stormzy - Vossi Bop

International female

Ariana Grande

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello

Lana Del Rey

Lizzo

International male

Bruce Springsteen

Burna Boy

Tyler, The Creator

Dermot Kennedy

Post Malone

Best album

Stormzy - Heavy is the Head

Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka

Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent

Dave - Psychodrama

Harry Styles - Fine Line

Rising star

Celeste

Joy Crookes

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Key Points
  • Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
  • Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
CREW
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Updated: February 08, 2022, 6:05 AM`