Locusts in Dubai have not been the most common sight – until now

Our readers have their say on locust sightings, the WHO suspending trials of an anti-malaria drug, chaotic air travel and a mother's heartbreak

A desert locust rests after heavy rain storms forced many swarms of locusts to the ground in Dakar, Senegal, 31 August 2004. Nic Bothma / EPA 

With reference to Gillian Duncan and Ashleigh Stewart's report Officials monitor suspected locust swarms after sightings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (May 25): we had a huge one in our garage which really freaked me out. And a small one on our balcony. We live in JVC. We see them often in Lebanon but this was the first time I saw them in Dubai and I have been here for 20 years.

Joumana Saoud, Dubai 

A mother died almost 14 months after her son was killed

With reference to Nicky Harley's story Mother of stabbed British-Lebanese schoolboy Yousef Makki dies of 'broken heart' (May 25): my heart goes out to her and her family. Losing a child, that too to crime, is the hardest burden to bear.

Monika Arora Agarwal, Dubai 

So hard for parents to deal with such tragedy. May she be reunited with her son.

Nora Tatarka, Dubai 

There is so much injustice in a supposedly civilised world. Condolences to the family.
Millie Liie Mai, Abu Dhabi 

Sensible to avert risk and suspend the trial of anti-malaria drug

With reference to the report Coronavirus: WHO suspends trials of hydroxychloroquine as treatment (May 26): the decision of the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is a good and timely move. His decision came after a study suggested the drug could increase the risk of death among Covid-19 patients. Safety is important during this hour. Already the virus has taken too many lives, the toll in the US alone nearing 100,000. Even though US President Donald Trump had been taking it, if the drug is any threat to life, it is sensible to pause trials.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

Citizens are customers looking for good governance

With reference to Gillian Duncan's report Coronavirus: next wave of UAE repatriation flights to India to begin this week (May 24): even within India, domestic flights started on May 25 despite the reservations of some state governments. In reality, however, about 600 flights were cancelled. Passengers went to the airports braving odds like lack of transport and early reporting times only to find their flights cancelled without prior intimation. This is sad.

To compound issues the few passengers who were able to travel found that there was no local transport available to take the from the airports to their homes. Women, children and mothers with babies, waited outside the airport buildings for taxis or rickshaws to take them home.

If the flights were resumed, then authorities should have ensured that transport was available to ferry arriving passengers to their homes. Such co-ordination is critical in ensuring seamless service. The citizens of any country are really customers looking for good governance.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai