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When Dr Nafea Al Yasi left Dubai for Gaza in January, he didn’t know what to expect. The scenes he encountered were nothing like what he had seen on his TV screen back home and he wasn't prepared for the psychological toll the four-week mission would take.
He saw parents desperate for their children to receive medical help, people suffering from a lack of treatment for basic conditions and families torn apart by the violence.
By the end of his journey, however, one thing was clear to the doctor. “Volunteering in Gaza changed me,” he told The National. “If the country asks me to go again, I won’t hesitate.”
Dr Al Yasi, a consultant paediatric gastroenterologist, was one of several Emirati doctors who volunteered as part of the UAE’s Gallant Knight 3 operation. His mission, alongside more than 80 others, involved providing urgent medical care in the UAE field hospital in Gaza.
The field hospital was established in December to help ease the significant pressure placed on Gaza's health service.
The death toll in Gaza rose to 42,847 on Thursday, the war-torn enclave's Health Ministry said, after 55 Palestinians were killed across the enclave in the previous 24 hours. Another 132 were wounded in the same period, taking the total number of injured to 100,544 since the war began last October. Thousands more remain missing.
Stories of resilience and hope
Dr Al Yasi remembers many heart-breaking cases from his time in Gaza but also moments that highlighted the courage of people he treated. One of the most emotional was that of Fatima, a young girl suffering from Budd-Chiari Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening liver disease.
Without proper medication, her condition was rapidly deteriorating. Her father, desperate for help, approached Dr Al Yasi, unaware he was a specialist in paediatric hepatology.
“When I opened her file, I was shaking,” Dr Al Yasi said. “Budd-Chiari Syndrome is incredibly rare and without the necessary medication, Fatima was on the brink of collapse.”
Luckily, Dr Al Yasi had access to the medicine Fatima needed. When he handed the box over, her father broke down in tears, kissing the package in gratitude.
“That moment hit me hard,” Dr Al Yasi said, reflecting on how easily accessible such medicine is in the UAE compared to Gaza. Fatima’s health stabilised and she later travelled to Turkey for a liver transplant, giving her a second chance at life.
Another case etched in his memory involves Yara, a young girl whose stomach was severely damaged by shrapnel from an Israeli air strike. “Her stomach was completely cut through, like an open book,” Dr Al Yasi said.
The girl required immediate surgery but the situation was complicated by the lack of resources. She could not ingest food or water and relied solely on intravenous nutrition. When medical supplies ran out, a donor stepped in, providing the necessary nutrition, administered by IV, that kept Yara alive. Eventually, her condition improved and she was transferred to the UAE for further treatment.
Another case he recalled involved Zahra, a young girl whose legs were shattered in a blast. After undergoing surgery a number of times, her blood count had dropped to a dangerously low level and her rare blood type, B-negative, made finding a donor nearly impossible.
But Zahra’s family and community rallied together and, against the odds, a match was found in time. Weeks later, Dr Al Yasi was overjoyed to see Zahra in Abu Dhabi, walking and smiling as she continued her recovery.
“Seeing patients recover gives me a deep sense of fulfilment,” he said. It’s that feeling that makes him want to return to the field hospital, he added, where he can continue making a difference where it’s needed most.
Psychological toll
Many people have asked Dr Al Yasi how he managed to cope with the psychological strain of the mission.
“Honestly, I don’t know the answer,” he said. “It wasn’t easy seeing dismembered bodies, corpses, people crying in pain. But as doctors, we have to put our emotions aside, even if just for a while. If you let your emotions control you, you won’t be able to work properly.”
He remembers suppressing his feelings until he boarded the plane back to the UAE. “That’s when most of the emotions came out. It was a difficult situation, but we say 'thank God' for everything.”
The hardest moments, he added, came when patients were discharged. “When you tell them to take care and go home, they say, ‘Home? My home was destroyed by the bombing’, or ‘My family died in the bombing.’ You’re tongue-tied. You don’t know what to say.”
“Leaving Gaza was both happy and painful for me,” Dr Al Yasi said. “Happy because I was finally going back to see my family after a month away but painful because I was going to miss the environment I had lived in, and my patients.”
One particular memory stays with him: as the convoy approached the Rafah crossing, he saw someone holding a UAE flag. “It was like a message of thank you to the Emirati convoy that came, helped, and left. It’s one of the moments I will never forget,” he said.
The road ahead
Though the mission was a success, Dr Al Yasi is candid about the challenges ahead for Gaza. “It’s going to take a long time to recover,” he said. “The healthcare infrastructure has been devastated and people with chronic illnesses are not receiving the care they need.”
He estimates that Gaza will need at least 10 to 20 more field hospitals to meet the overwhelming demand once the conflict ends.
Yet, despite the daunting obstacles, Dr Al Yasi is confident the UAE will continue to play a vital role in Gaza’s recovery. “The UAE has a clear vision. We are standing by our brothers and sisters in Gaza, not with words but with actions.”
Since returning from Gaza, Dr Al Yasi has been sharing his experiences on social media and has been working on a book to document the mission. “It’s important to tell these stories,” he said. “Years from now, people might forget but the stories of those who were there will remain.”
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
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."
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
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The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
