Last week, it was discovered that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels had blocked half the aid coming in to the country from the United Nations' programmes. This was the Houthis' attempt to gain leverage over the UN humanitarian efforts inside areas they control. The rebel group has been accused of siphoning off billions of dollars allocated to local governing bodies. In the ongoing civil war, this exacerbates one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
On Sunday, Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said he was "deeply concerned global attention to Yemen crisis is not keeping pace with urgent need for successful political process". The situation is indeed dire: according to the UN Refugee Agency, 80 per cent of the population needs some form of humanitarian assistance, half of it is on the brink of starvation, and more than one million cases of cholera have been reported since 2018. With millions of lives at stake, the international community must help pull the people of Yemen out of this humanitarian catastrophe, which has been exploited by the rebels.
During the nearly six years of conflict, the Houthis have committed egregious crimes, ranging from torture, kidnap and rape of citizens to indiscriminate bombing of cities. They have also used increasingly sophisticated drones and long-range ballistic missiles to strike populated areas across the border in Saudi Arabia. While they should be held accountable for such brutalities, it is just as important to focus on their use of strong-arm tactics, which do not necessarily involve guns, bombs or drones, but are much deadlier and have consequences that are more lasting.
For instance, as part of its efforts to control the distribution of supplies from ports such as Hodeidah, the rebels recently decided to impose a two per cent levy on all the aid being distributed in the country. Seen as a tax intended to fund their war effort, aid agencies refused to oblige, forcing the rebels to backtrack earlier this month. According to one UN official, nearly 300,000 pregnant and nursing mothers and children were denied nutrition supplements for more than six months, only because the Houthis "held beneficiaries hostage to the two per cent" demand, as reported by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, the rebels have been pushing back against UN efforts to better regulate the monitoring of funds.
The latest effort to hinder aid programmes, which among other things feed Yemen’s near-starving population, would be devastating for ordinary citizens. By placing conditions, such as who receives aid, before granting aid agencies access to areas under its control – conditions that these agencies are undoubtedly right to reject – the Houthis are essentially denying millions of Yemenis essentials like food, medical care and clothing. More than two million beneficiaries have already been directly affected by the Houthis’ latest act of cruelty. And it is impossible to tell how much worse the situation could get if donor countries such as the US, UK and Australia withhold aid, as their governments have threatened to do – and justifiably so, given the risk of billions of dollars being appropriated by the rebels.
Dr Gargash is right in urging all stakeholders, including NGOs, to work together. The world must also realise that Yemen needs, as the UAE minister of state said, its “continued attention”. A genuine international conversation will serve as an important first step towards finding solutions to save lives.
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Siblings: five brothers and one sister
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What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Bio Box
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
F1 The Movie
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Rating: 4/5
Gothia Cup 2025
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'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
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World record transfers
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6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
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8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
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10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Picture of Joumblatt and Hariri breaking bread sets Twitter alight
Mr Joumblatt’s pessimism regarding the Lebanese political situation didn’t stop him from enjoying a cheerful dinner on Tuesday with several politicians including Mr Hariri.
Caretaker Culture Minister Ghattas Khoury tweeted a picture of the group sitting around a table at a discrete fish restaurant in Beirut’s upscale Sodeco area.
Mr Joumblatt told The National that the fish served at Kelly’s Fish lounge had been very good.
“They really enjoyed their time”, remembers the restaurant owner. “Mr Hariri was taking selfies with everybody”.
Mr Hariri and Mr Joumblatt often have dinner together to discuss recent political developments.
Mr Joumblatt was a close ally of Mr Hariri’s assassinated father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The pair were leading figures in the political grouping against the 15-year Syrian occupation of Lebanon that ended after mass protests in 2005 in the wake of Rafik Hariri’s murder. After the younger Hariri took over his father’s mantle in 2004, the relationship with Mr Joumblatt endured.
However, the pair have not always been so close. In the run-up to the election last year, Messrs Hariri and Joumblatt went months without speaking over an argument regarding the new proportional electoral law to be used for the first time. Mr Joumblatt worried that a proportional system, which Mr Hariri backed, would see the influence of his small sect diminished.
With so much of Lebanese politics agreed in late-night meetings behind closed doors, the media and pundits put significant weight on how regularly, where and with who senior politicians meet.
In the picture, alongside Messrs Khoury and Hariri were Mr Joumbatt and his wife Nora, PSP politician Wael Abou Faour and Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Nazih el Nagari.
The picture of the dinner led to a flurry of excitement on Twitter that it signified an imminent government formation. “God willing, white smoke will rise soon and Walid Beik [a nickname for Walid Joumblatt] will accept to give up the minister of industry”, one user replied to the tweet. “Blessings to you…We would like you to form a cabinet”, wrote another.
The next few days will be crucial in determining whether these wishes come true.