Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 13. Reuters
Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 13. Reuters
Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 13. Reuters
Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on February 13. Reuters


Do human rights not apply to people in Gaza?


The National
  • English
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February 16, 2024

In reference to Adla Massoud's report 'No one has enough to eat' in Gaza, UN chief warns (February 13): Hunger is one of the most demeaning realities human beings are forced to endure daily when living through war. Who can help the people of Gaza and when will the killings stop? The UN chief has rightly pointed out "the deliberate policies of denial." Of the 700,000 hungriest people in the world, four in five inhabit that tiny strip of land, he said. The world has just been watching and now more than 28,500 people have been killed. It is astounding to me that there are supposed to be human rights in this world. But it seems like those are not for everyone.

Ahmed Abbi Agote, Kemise, Ethiopia

The world is so evidently failing the people of Gaza. Where is our humanity? I feel for all the Palestinian people living through the daily attacks being displaced repeatedly, and especially the children and the elderly. It is one world. These are our brothers and sisters. I keep waiting to hear about a political solution having been reached. The ceasefire and long-term peace is overdue. I hope and pray for this sorrow to end.

Hamisi Mugoya, Sironko, Uganda

The alternative to Biden

Regarding Jihan Abdalla's report Palestinian Americans in Dearborn say they 'will never forget' Biden's stance on Gaza (February 12): They have valid reason. I can understand why Arab Americans might feel that they "paid for the bullet or the bomb" with their taxes. But is not voting for Biden the right way? It's Hobson's choice unfortunately.

K McLaren, Gloucestershire, UK

Overseas students in the UK are good for the British economy

With regard to Soraya Ebrahimi's piece Rise in overseas students applying to study at UK universities (February 15): This is always a good thing. Students from all around the world have historically always wanted to come to the UK for higher studies. Even so, it's remarkable that the number of overseas applicants, nearly 96,000 students, from non-EU countries climbed to such a record figure.

This will be good for the UK economy – both money-wise, as foreign students pay higher tuition fees, and in providing fresh talent. When students graduate, many are able to get jobs in the country. Companies in the UK benefit from recruiting young talented people who are keen to work hard. This has a positive effect across so many sectors and the economy.

Mohammad Khalid, Manchester, UK

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt

Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure

Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers

Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels

Step by step

2070km to run

38 days

273,600 calories consumed

28kg of fruit

40kg of vegetables

45 pairs of running shoes

1 yoga matt

1 oxygen chamber

Updated: February 16, 2024, 7:15 AM`