MAFRAQ, JORDAN // Little Ahmad's story drew tears from Emirati volunteers.
The eight-year-old Syrian refugee was smuggled into Jordan by his neighbours from his hometown in Homs. His parents had died, but he did not know how.
Mariam Al Darmaki, a nurse from Sharjah with the UAE Red Crescent, said it was the hardest case she had dealt with since her arrival in Mafraq three weeks ago to help in the UAE's relief work.
"He was telling us the story and he seemed fine, but we were all in tears," she said. "This eight-year-old boy has seen more in his life than what a 60-year-old man would."
The relief work at the refugee camp has proved to be emotionally draining for those volunteering with the Red Crescent and Sanid, an Emirati emergency unit team that arrived in Jordan earlier this week.
Yesterday, The National accompanied the two teams as they delivered aid to refugees in tents in the middle of the desert, and later to some of their small homes. Many were unprepared for the sight.
"We expected their injuries, but not their conditions," she said. "They live in places where animals would not."
Farima Atiq, 27, a Sanid volunteer from Dubai who took four days of annual leave from work to assist, said that when the volunteers went home, they discussed some of the tragic situations they had seen.
"One woman we found at a home had a stroke three times and was laying on the floor," she said. "She did not know about the hospital's free services."
Ms Atiq said that three or four families could be found in one room, each with at least six children. "I wish I could stay here longer," she said. "If not, I want to come back."
Seham Al Shehi, 38, from Sharjah, said she and the other women with her were ready to help, even if it meant staying in camps alongside the refugees.
"After we arrived we found out that the UAE ambassador did not want the children of his country to go through trouble and had us all in a hotel," she said. "But we were all prepared to stay in the camps."
Ms Al Shehi said she was moved by a family that had minimal access to water and could only shower once a week.
"They only have one change of clothes, they shower with their clothes on," she said. "These are all educated people with certificates.
"Their whole future has dissolved in front of them."
Ms Al Shehi was pleasantly surprised that their faith was strong enough to keep them going.
"We could not even do that," she added.
osalem@thenational.ae
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
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2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Final: UAE beat Qatar by nine wickets
Third-place play-off: Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by five runs
Table
1 UAE 5 5 0 10
2 Qatar 5 4 1 8
3 Saudi 5 3 2 6
4 Kuwait 5 2 3 4
5 Bahrain 5 1 4 2
6 Maldives 5 0 5 0
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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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
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
