Nations must "depoliticise" the humanitarian response for earthquake victims in Syria, a UN special envoy said on Tuesday, as frustrations mount over the slow pace at which aid has flowed into the country.
More than 50,000 people have been killed in Turkey and Syria, including about 6,000 people in Syria, mostly in the north-west, since the February 6 earthquake.
The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, told the Security Council that Syrians in the north-west, in areas outside government control, have expressed “strong frustrations at the international community’s inability” to help them.
World Food Programme earthquake aid - in pictures
It is not the time “to play politics with crossings across borders or front lines … this is not the time for military action or violence", Mr Pedersen said by video link.
Six days after the first earthquake, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths acknowledged that the UN had "failed" the people of north-west Syria.
Rebel-held areas, the hardest hit by the earthquakes, did not receive their first UN humanitarian aid until four days after the disaster, leading to criticism of the world body.
The UN has been under mounting pressure to establish more border crossings from Turkey into Syria.
Efforts to do so have been repeatedly thwarted by Russia, which has veto power at the Security Council.
Moscow, the primary backer of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, opposes the delivery of assistance to rebel-held areas.
It says cross-border aid deliveries, which date to 2014, were meant to be temporary.
The Kremlin wants to ensure that all humanitarian assistance is channelled through the Syrian government and allow it to have control over distribution.
Mr Pedersen said that the situation was “unsustainable” and the status quo “totally unacceptable".
Acting deputy US ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, called on the Assad regime to enable humanitarian operations and “refrain from diverting or politicising aid".
“If that requires Council action, then we must be prepared to act," Mr Wood said.
Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, said Moscow did not “wish to work through the UN mechanisms primarily because despite all of our requests, they remain opaque for us".
“We cannot get basic information about the projects that are being carried out in general,” he added.
But Mr Al Assad ceded to calls this month to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid through two more border crossings to Syria's north-west, where four million people were already dependent on aid.
Mr Griffiths welcomed the agreement to open Bab Al Salam and Al Ra’ee border crossings for the UN to deliver humanitarian aid to north-west Syria.
The UAE's deputy ambassador to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab, reaffirmed the need to bring the Syrian regime “back into the fold”.
Mr Abushahab called for the international humanitarian response to Syria to be “intensified by every possible means to reach all those affected".
After the earthquake, 97 UAE relief flights carrying 2,624 tonnes of humanitarian aid landed on Syrian soil.
The UAE also offered Syria a fleet of 10 new ambulances as part of Operation Gallant Knight 2.
President Sheikh Mohamed pledged $50 million in response to an appeal made by the UN.
Earthquake aid collection at Expo City Dubai - in pictures
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
More coverage from the Future Forum
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Company%20profile
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