A major food drive in Abu Dhabi is delivering vital support to hard-hit workers who have lost jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak and others forced to remain at home to curb the spread of the disease.
The crucial aid has brought welcome relief to embattled residents left with no salaries and no means of purchasing food.
On Sunday alone, five tonnes of supplies was delivered to 750 people by the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi. The aid could last a month.
A similar amount was handed out a week earlier to a different set of residents.
Ahmed Iqbal, who is employed in a watch and jewellery store in Madinat Zayed and lives in the same area, was among those to benefit.
He shares a flat with 21 people, two of whom tested positive for the virus and were taken to hospital last week.
A second test was conducted on all residents of the building on Monday.
“I tested negative the first time,” said Mr Iqbal, 43, who has been working in the UAE for 20 years.
“We stay inside and hope our new tests are negative.
"Our shop is shut so we don’t get any income. It's a very bad situation.”
Like most workers, Mr Iqbal sends home the bulk of his Dh2,200 monthly earnings. He spends about Dh500 on rent and electricity.
He and his flatmates are among 500 people who for the past 10 days have received two meals a day from volunteers.
“The main thing we need is food, so we are happy we can eat. But what will we do about rent and electricity? We don't have any money," he said.
Local businesses, charity groups, government officials and diplomats are involved in the mammoth task of getting aid to those in need.
After shops and malls closed across the country to slow the spread of the virus, workers have run out of funds.
They say they are also worried about contracting Covid-19.
The government has asked property owners to defer rent payments from tenants but workers remain apprehensive.
Sameer Berkka, a shop assistant who lives with 20 others in a Baniyas flat, said his diabetic flatmate tested positive two weeks ago.
“He was taken to hospital and 150 of us were tested,” said Mr Berkka, 38, who worked in a store selling abayas.
“All of us got negative test messages, so everyone is happy. Now we have food for a few months so there is less tension.”
Food parcels are distributed to residents with the means to cook in their apartments and the number given out depends on how many people live in each flat.
Each parcel is worth Dh320 and includes supplies for five to 10 people.
Two packages are supplied to apartments with 15 to 20 people. Smaller parcels are prepared for rooms shared by two to three people.
The kits include 20 kilograms of rice, 10kg of frozen chicken and 5kg of onions, as well as spices and cooking oil.
The Kerala group works with the Indian Islamic Centre and the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to lead the humanitarian campaign.
Companies that sponsor the food include a healthcare provider, an electrical company and a restaurant.
About 70 volunteers pack vans and cars with supplies for apartments on Electra Street, Old Passport Road, Baniyas and workers’ accommodation in Mussaffah.
“After we get calls or WhatsApp messages for help, we prepare an Excel contact list with names and building details,” said Abdul Rahman Povval, who leads the Kasaragod district of the Kerala group.
Volunteers alert the embassy, which in turn informs health authorities so access is granted to homes.
Aid workers also comfort residents who are concerned they lived with people who tested positive for the virus.
“They frequently cry, so we have to build up their courage and tell them how the government is taking good care of them,” said Mr Povval, who runs an office supplies business.
“We try to raise their spirits.”
India's ambassador to the UAE, Pavan Kapoor, posted a video on Twitter in which he said people living in the UAE would overcome the pandemic together.
He told The National how embassy officials co-ordinated and assisted volunteers.
“The message is not to panic, people should stay home, stay safe and follow advisories,” he said.
“The government is doing everything they can. The community volunteers have really been a big help, as have Abu Dhabi authorities.”
Indian residents have called their embassy’s 24-hour helpline with information about people who need medical help or food.
“When it’s to do with people in quarantine who need food then we step in and ask how much is required and where,” said Mr Kapoor.
“We bring cases to the attention of the foreign office and the health ministry. It’s an ongoing effort.”
The embassy has also delivered provisions to 60 workers living in Mussaffah and whose company has shut down.
The phones of volunteers constantly buzz with appeals for help.
Shukoor Ali Kallungal, president of the Kerala group in Abu Dhabi, said volunteers helped residents come to terms with the outbreak.
“It has affected people mentally because they lived in the same room,” he said.
“When they ask why there are so many confirmed cases, we explain cases will rise because the UAE is doing so much testing.
“We motivate them by talking about recovered cases and say they are helping by not going outside."
There have been several initiatives in which people have offered money, medical aid and the use of hospitals and residential buildings to boost the fight against Covid-19.
Millions of dirhams have been raised in the Together We Are Good campaign, organised by the Authority of Social Contribution in Abu Dhabi.
Supplies for 20 people for a month:
30kg of boiled rice
20kg of basmati rice
5kg of semolina
5kg of onions
3kg of black chickpeas
3kg of white beans
3kg of green gram
250 grams of garlic
250g of green chili peppers
250g of ginger
Five packets of salt
5kg of sugar
500g of tea
250g of coffee
Five packets of bread
1kg of chilli powder
500g of coriander powder
150g of turmeric powder
100g of mustard seeds
Three bottles of cooking oil
Two boxes of eggs
Three jars of jam
1kg of powered milk
Biscuits
One packet of chicken powder
One packet of sambar curry powder
10 pieces of frozen chicken
One pack of disposable plates
One pack of disposable glasses
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff
By Sean Penn
Simon & Schuster
Dubai Rugby Sevens, December 5 -7
World Sevens Series Pools
A – Fiji, France, Argentina, Japan
B – United States, Australia, Scotland, Ireland
C – New Zealand, Samoa, Canada, Wales
D – South Africa, England, Spain, Kenya
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Mountain%20Boy
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