UAE’s polio effort is laudable

Readers praise UAE's effort to eradicate polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Other topics: charity, Sharjah taxi, statesmanship, airline passenger

Readers thank the UAE for trying to eradicate polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Wam

Thank you UAE for taking on the killer disease (UAE and Gates Foundation to honour polio workers with new award, October 24). I am a victim of polio, which stuck me at the age of 3 and permanently disabled me.

Name withheld by request

Thank you UAE for taking steps to eradicate polio from Afghanistan and Pakistan. It’s true that volunteers put their lives in danger as they go to administer polio drops to children in those countries, but by doing so they are trying to save millions of people.

Imran Iqbal, Abu Dhabi

Let’s take part in entrepreneur’s charitable work

I appreciate the efforts of the Emirati restaurant owner who offers meals for free to those who can't afford them (Emirati restaurant owner offers free meals to people on low incomes, October 24). Why not give the option for paying customers to prepay a meal for others so that the owners are not paying for it all? They can write a note on the wall for whoever gets that meal and the person getting the meal gets a nice hello. That way everyone can participate.

Louise Lambert, Abu Dhabi

It is an act of courage. I think the act of this restaurant owner will encourage other like-minded people to to do the same.

Varghese Avicote Thomas, Dubai

It is heartening to read about this Emirati entrepreneur. It is great to have such generous and kind-hearted individuals who are more concerned about doing good and giving back to society than profit maximisation. He has surely earned a lot of blessings and prayers from those who have benefited from his policy. May Allah grant him abundantly for his selfless and noble gesture.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

Sharjah taxi fare is too high

Sharjah people face a lot of problems. Middle-class people like us have to live in Sharjah to save on rent and many other things, but the price we pay for that is often quite high. For example, we have to face daily traffic jams while going to and returning from our work. A short journey sometimes takes three hours. Now there is a new taxi fare (Sharjah commuters unhappy about taxi fare hike, October 23). There is nothing wrong in raising the minimum fare, but why does it have to be so high? As you have mentioned in the article, the price increase makes taxis in Sharjah the second most expensive in the country.

The residents of Sharjah will be grateful if the authorities can reconsider their decision.

Ahmed Shafi, Sharjah

Time to show statesmanship

US president Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, should put their egos aside and talk about how to sort out the imbroglio in Syria. The crisis is causing immense pain to ordinary citizens. This is not a time for sabre rattling, but a time to show statesmanship.

Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai

Irresponsible behaviour

The story about a woman deported to Taiwan after giving birth on a flight to the US is strange (Woman who gave birth on plane to US faces $33,000 emergency landing bill, October 24). It's an irresponsible thing to do, especially as she appears to have done it consciously so as to give her baby American citizenship. Not only did she waste a lot of money and people's time, but she put herself and her baby in danger.

Patricia Cooksey, US

Why didn’t the airline check her medical condition before boarding? It’s probably the airline’s fault.

Jweel Rana, Bangladesh