Discussions on protection assistance in Syria took the front stage at the Brussels III conference, as the United Nations and its partners discussed how to provide life-saving aid and support to millions of people inside the war-torn country.
While the European Union, the largest aid donor to Syria, is expected to renew its financial, humanitarian and political commitments on Thursday, human rights advocates voiced concern over whether the international community can truly deliver protection as talks of return gather steam.
Panos Moumtzis, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis at the United Nations, said the ability of the UN and its partners to negotiate access to areas where people are in need of assistance had improved in 2018 and is expected to further improve in 2019.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimated that nearly 1.3 million Syrians, mostly internally displaced, returned home in 2018, but also that 1.4 million were newly displaced in the same period.
Speaking of those who returned, Mr Moumtzis said the number was likely to increase this year. “The government of Syria [must also] take a number of steps to guarantee the protection of citizens in all locations,” the UN representatives said as part of the conference’s “Days of Dialogue.”
Corinne Woods, Director of Communications at the World Food Programme, highlighted the WFP’s efforts to be present at distribution sites – which the organisation defines as “protection by presence” – and the establishment of a hotline to report abuses.
All humanitarian organisations admitted that access to Syrian communities – especially for protection activities – was still a major difficulty but expressed hope that new opportunities for intervention would open up.
Some Syrian and regional representatives, however, were sceptical the situation would stabilise enough to guarantee greater protection and more returns.
Anwar Al Bunni, Executive Director at the Syrian Centre for Legal Studies and Research reminded the representatives of international bodies of the previous failed negotiations with the Syrian government.
“Many people went back to Daraa and Duma to do reconciliation, the regime killed and arrested them,” he said.
"You couldn't and you will not be able to protect anyone who goes back to Syria," he said, addressing UN representatives and the broader international community.
Mr Al Bunni said talks of return were nothing but “propaganda” and that the Syrian people would only go back when they see concrete change on behalf of President Bashar Al Assad's regime.
Under Syrian law, Mr Al Assad and his military have full immunity from any crime and few believe the United Nations diplomatic push led by the newly appointed UN envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen will be able to change this.
But “without accountability this, any political solution will mean making a deal with the criminals,” and this will not yield long-lasting peace, Mr Bunni said.
Wadih Al Asmar, co-founder and president of the Lebanese Centre for Human Rights (CLDH), said that talking about return is not possible at a time in which there is no independent mechanism to effectively verify what happens to those Syrians who go back to their country.
"[We need to] make sure that in Syria people can benefit from legal protection, and this is not the case today," Mr Al Asmar told The National. "We are asking for Syria to respect the international agreements it has signed."
“Protection means protection of the law,” he said.
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
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Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
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Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Company Profile
Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
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