Mursal Hedayat knows all too well the prolonged trauma of being a refugee. For her and her mother, the journey to safety from Afghanistan did not end when they were granted asylum in the UK. Her mother, a qualified civil engineer, never practiced again and had to rebuild a career from nothing.
This is a burden carried by more than 26 million refugees today. That number is about to climb sharply, as the conflict in Ukraine creates what is expected to be the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. The EU believes the total number of Ukrainians fleeing westwards could rise to 7 million people.
The remarkable generosity shown by Ukraine's neighbours is one of the only positive stories to emerge from the conflict. Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, has taken in the most per capita. Poland, which hosts more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees, has taken the largest number, a surprise to some in western parts of the EU who for years have been decrying what they view as a growing culture of intolerance in the country's politics. Warsaw is already buckling under the strain, however, and its mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski, is pleading for help. Similar calls are coming from Poland's neighbours.
Aid must continue to flow to the areas currently serving as processing centres, but European countries also need to start asking themselves complex, longer-term questions about the next phase of integrating traumatised millions. For Ukrainians, whose lives changed overnight, keeping professional and personal continuity is key to mitigating mass psychological injury. Unfortunately, many countries have a record of failing in this regard. Almost 12,000 Afghan refugees are still waiting to leave temporary accommodation in the UK, arrangements that make it very difficult to find jobs and the stability needed to recover.
Fortunately, where government initiative might be lacking, private companies can help. Last week, The National wrote about Chatterbox, Ms Hedayat's start-up that uses AI to train and employ refugees as language teachers. It has just raised almost $2mn in pre-seed investment. Other companies are stepping up. The National also reported on major British retailers, such as retailer Marks & Spencer and Asos, offering jobs to Ukrainian refugees as they arrive in the UK.
It is important to note that these gestures are not charity. By taking the initiative, companies are getting much-needed employees, who are often highly qualified. Refugees are finding more than an income, but a degree of autonomy, key to overcoming the limbo and idleness that risks prolonging trauma.
It is also incumbent on hosts and employers, private or public, to understand the complexity of the commitment they are taking on. The charity Refugee Trauma Initiative encourages hosts to learn about "trauma-informed care", the recognition that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to caring for asylum seekers and fulfilling the holistic needs they have.
Charity will only go so far. To truly care for the millions of people en route, as well as those who have arrived but are still in limbo, governments will have to start consulting the full range of experts on offer. Ms Hedayat is one. Psychologists, translators, employers and teachers will be among others. They need to brought in now.
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
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
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Result
Tottenhan Hotspur 2 Roma 3
Tottenham: Winks 87', Janssen 90 1'
Roma 3
D Perotti 13' (pen), C Under 70', M Tumminello 90 2"
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Torino (Kick-off 10.45pm UAE)
Saturday Atalanta v Sampdoria (5pm),
Genoa v Inter Milan (8pm),
Lazio v Bologna (10.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Crotone (3.30pm)
Benevento v Napoli (6pm)
Parma v Spezia (6pm)
Fiorentina v Udinese (9pm)
Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
