With reference to Stefanie Glinski's report 'I am both your father and your mother', Afghan husbands mourn wives killed in maternity clinic attack (May 23): the attack on the Afghanistan maternity clinic was numbing. The actions of the perpetrators are an unacceptable. Gunmen dressed in police uniforms storming a maternity clinic and killing 24 – including newborn babies and 16 mothers who had just given birth is a new low. I pray for the souls of these innocent victims and their grieving families.
K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India
A return to an old stomping ground in Abu Dhabi
Regarding the piece 'It's a time to understand what's important': how a visit to Khalidiya uncovered some touching life lessons (May 20): I want to thank the writer Saeed Saeed for the beautifully written, sensitive, poignant and evocative article.
Kay Gallagher, Abu Dhabi
Mumbai is feeling the pinch as much as anywhere else
The report Mumbai companies feel the pain of extended lockdown measures by Rebecca Bundhun (May 24) was excellent. The stimulus package announced by India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman over five days has not inspired industrialists or businessmen. The stimulus is principally in the form of loans to farmers and small businesses. It does not offer any immediate succour to the groups adversely affected by the protracted lockdown. There is no relief to the millions of migrant workers, who have lost their jobs and are struggling to go back to their homes. The salaried section could have been given some tax concessions in a dreadful year, in which many will lose jobs.
We have a situation where a patient is on the operating table needing blood urgently to survive but the doctors are writing the prescription of medicines to be taken post the surgery. We have to first save the patient.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
South America is a new hub of the pandemic
With reference to Brazil surges to second in coronavirus cases worldwide (May 23): I have a college student in NYC who's from Brazil and has lost family from this. She's devastated.
Rosemary George, New York, US
Syria has a huge place in our collective history
With reference to the images in The Middle East Framed – regional photography for May 23, 2020: these pictures are beautiful. I really hope everything will be okay in Syria. It has such an important place in our collective history.
Noorie Ansari, New Delhi, India
