Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Authorities in Gaza on Wednesday said Israel’s order to evacuate the European Hospital and its surrounding area is a “historic crime” against the Palestinian people.
The hospital in Khan Younis is one of the enclave’s last standing medical complexes and is within the evacuation zone ordered by Israel on Monday.
Doctors at the hospital say a number of patients, including those in intensive care and babies in incubators, have been transferred elsewhere “in fear of bloodshed”.
Dr Hossam Shahwan said those seeking safety began fleeing in panic after the Israeli warning.
“Patients were also evacuated by ambulance to Nasser Medical Hospital along with some medical staff and nurses, fearing attacks by the Israeli army,” Dr Shahwan told The National.
Doctors and nurses made the decision to leave after seeing the violence and brutality that had ensued at the Al Shifa and Nasser hospitals, he said.
Dr Shahwan said the European Hospital, which is now out of service because of the fighting nearby, had been the only medical complex providing treatment to the wounded and sick in the area.
“No services are being provided and there are no medical staff here,” he said.
The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned the Israeli army's orders to evacuate the hospital, describing it as a new "historical crime."
"The Israeli army is committing a historical crime by issuing orders and maps forcing the European Hospital and hundreds of medical teams east of Khan Younis to evacuate and leave the hospital," it said.
The evacuation "constitutes as a humanitarian disaster that deepens the health crisis in the Gaza Strip, which has reached an unprecedented level, threatening the lives of thousands of injured and sick people, as the occupation has placed it in the red target zone and ordered immediate evacuation”, said the statement.
The Israeli army said the area surrounding the European Hospital is now a “dangerous combat zone”.
The World Health Organisation said 270 patients reportedly self-evacuated on Monday, along with medical staff, and Gaza's Health Ministry evacuated more patients the following day.
"Now only three patients remain at the European Gaza Hospital and three at the ICRC field hospital. Most patients have been referred to Nasser Medical Complex," the WHO said.
"As witnessed several times during the ongoing war, insecurity in a hospital's proximity and lack of access for patients, health workers and humanitarians to resupply fuel, medical supplies, water and food can make hospitals non-functional very quickly."
The UN health agency said it would try to support attempts to transfer valuable medical equipment and supplies out of the hospital.
"European Gaza Hospital was one of the few remaining key referral hospitals south of Wadi Gaza, where the majority of the population is," said Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories.
Having seen the effect that previous evacuation orders have had, "this time, the hospital staff and the patients decided to evacuate themselves", he added.
He said that 16 of the 36 hospitals in Gaza were partly functioning, while of the 10 field hospitals, four were fully functioning and another four partially.
A total of 43 of 99 primary healthcare centres remain functional at some level.
Mr Peeperkorn said he hoped the European Hospital "will be spared" in any Israeli military assault on the area.
He said "most staff" had left, though some medical workers are staying alongside the three remaining patients.
More than 37,900 Palestinians have been killed and 87,266 injured in the Israeli military offensive since October 7, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
The biog
Age: 19
Profession: medical student at UAE university
Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
Role model: Parents, followed by Fazza (Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed)
Favourite poet: Edger Allen Poe
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
