'It is scary. We don't want to die': Arab students stuck in Ukraine call for help


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Arab students stuck in Ukraine are appealing for help to get out of the country as Russia continues its military assault.

They say there are thousands caught in the country trying to shelter from bombing raids and fast running out of money.

They come from countries across the Arab World and have called for anyone who can help to do so.

Ghassan Abdallah, 28, said he and his brother were caught off-guard on Thursday when Russian forces surrounded Kharkiv.

The Lebanese medical student appealed for help to leave the city, in the country’s north-east.

The shelters are full and are not safe. We don’t have any money because the banks are closed. This is a nightmare. We are stuck in a war.
Fadwa Ali,
Tunisian student in Ukraine

Kharkiv is the second-largest city in Ukraine. Its residents were woken on Thursday by the sounds of rockets and bombs as Russian forces began their assault.

“We didn’t think we would be affected,” Mr Abdallah said, because of the city’s high number of Russian-speaking residents.

“There is no one on the roads and long queues in front of the supermarket and [petrol] station.

“I left briefly to buy supplies and to stock up. It isn’t safe here any more and we are worried for our lives.”

Ghassan Abdallah, 28. 'There is no one on the roads and long queues in front of the supermarket and gas station,' he said. Photo: Ghassan Abdallah
Ghassan Abdallah, 28. 'There is no one on the roads and long queues in front of the supermarket and gas station,' he said. Photo: Ghassan Abdallah

It is believed that more than 1,000 Lebanese students are studying in Kharkiv. In a video, Mr Abdallah asked his government for help to get them out.

“It is scary. We asked the embassy and they said to be careful, but how would that benefit us now? We don’t want to lose our lives,” he said. “Please find us a solution and help us to leave.

“True, this country took us in and educated us but it isn’t more precious than our lives.”

Fadwa Ali, 22, a medical student from Tunisia, also appealed for help.

"We are all Arab students. Please help us,” said Ms Ali, who was hiding out in an apartment in Kiev with classmates from Tunisia, Yemen and Iraq.

They were told to go to a shelter but the roads to the shelters are closed and most safe places are overflowing with people.

“The shelters are full and are not safe," Ms Ali said. "We don’t have any money because the banks are closed.

"This is a nightmare. We are stuck in a war. Our families are worried about us and there is nothing we can do. Please help us quickly. Anything can happen at any moment."

Ms Ali was told by her embassy that a bus would arrive to take them to the borders but buses are yet to arrive.

“They don’t know where we are so how and when will these buses come?" she asked. "The airports are closed and there are no taxis around. I don’t know how we will survive in this situation. It is very bad here.”

Egyptian Hossam Mohamad, 30, and his friends were also fleeing.

“The situation is desperate,” he said while on his way from Kiev to Lviv.

Mr Mohamad, who is taking a master's degree in construction engineering, booked a flight to Egypt for 8pm on Thursday, but it was cancelled.

“We never expected this to happen," he said. "We didn’t know it would affect civilians.”

Mr Mohamad said they were told to hide in shelters or metro stations.

“That doesn’t feel safe for us, so we will go to Lviv, where a couple of friends are expecting us and have agreed to take us in.”

Protests across Europe as Russia invades Ukraine - in pictures

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The Details

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Our rating: 4/5 

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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

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MATCH DETAILS

Juventus 2 (Bonucci 36, Ronaldo 90 6)

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Retail gloom

Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.

It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.

The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.

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While you're here
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Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Jordan cabinet changes

In

  • Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
  • Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
  • Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
  • Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
  • Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
  • Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth

Out

  • Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
  • Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
  • Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
  • Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
  • Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
  • Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
  • Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
  • Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
  • Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
Updated: February 25, 2022, 3:49 AM`