The scenes from the UAE this week of volunteers working around the clock to organise, pack and ship public donations for the victims of the Turkey and Syria earthquake reveal the visceral need most people experience to help fellow human beings in distress.
In any crisis, with a huge outpouring of goodwill comes a responsibility to make sure aid is going to the right place and getting to the right people. While aid often goes to those who need it, there are instances of abuse. Where there is little scrutiny, there is a danger of essential support falling into the wrong hands or donations being sent to fraudsters who emerge to prey upon people’s generosity at times like these.
Like many countries, the UAE has strict laws governing donations and fundraising, and advises people to make sure they know where their money is going to. Unless a person or community group has permission from a licensed charity, such as the Emirates Red Crescent or Dar Al Ber Society, asking for donations can be an offence.
This kind of rigour will be needed internationally in the days, weeks and months ahead. The survivors of the earthquake badly need food, medicine, warm clothing and heating but in the longer term, they will require help to rebuild and this will need a sustained commitment from international donors.
Such a commitment will translate into large amounts of money, equipment and supplies – all requiring close oversight. Thousands of people have been left destitute – in the case of Turkey’s Syrian refugee population, twice or even three times so – and they will not look kindly upon any kind of mismanagement or diversion of life-saving aid.
But what this week has also revealed is that where there’s a will, there’s a way. In the hours after the earthquake, there was a rapid mobilisation of international aid, logistical hurdles were overcome, customs checks were cleared and flights carrying supplies and rescue teams from around the world took off. And while too many areas remain hard to reach, this mobilisation was important.
This unity of purpose needs to be sustained, both to prevent any lapse into self-interest and to set aside political divisions that could impede the vital work of getting earthquake survivors back on their feet.
It can be done. The world is trying to work together to find a way through climate change and the Covid pandemic, and our technology and communications are more advanced than ever. We already work together on critical networks such as international aviation, getting millions of people and pieces of cargo safely from A to B every day. The transnational police force Interpol, another example of important international co-operation, met in Abu Dhabi this week.
The aftermath of the earthquakes presents the world with a challenge – how to work together in a better way and how to apply those lessons to the other, more slow-moving crises that we face, such as global warming or another pandemic.
International co-operation is not perfect, nor will it ever be. Interoperability is all too rare. There will always be profiteers or those who try to make a quick buck from other people’s misery. Countries will have competing agendas, and some level of corruption is always inescapable in any society. Vigilance will always be required.
But if the scenes of cars and lorries queuing out of sight at aid collection points in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this week teach us anything, it is that the desire to take action and to help can trump whatever barriers are put in its way.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
MATCH INFO
Uefa Nations League
League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Keita 5', Firmino 26'
Porto 0
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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