Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
Children under four exposed to violence inside the war zones of Israel and Gaza have a greater risk of suffering long-lasting psychological damage, medics have said.
Healthcare workers dealing with battlefield injuries, as well as families sheltering from rocket attacks with young children, are also most likely to need psychological support.
Dr Maya Bizri, a clinical psychiatrist and global mental health consultant in disaster psychiatry in Beirut, said the psychological risks to people exposed to violence were two-fold, especially in children under four.
“There is a risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), even if there is only indirect exposure to trauma,” she told The National.
“This is especially true for children who have had history of adverse childhood events, regardless of the type of previous trauma, such as neglect, bullying or physical violence.
“There are also non-war related studies that look at the risks of just social media violence – a topic that has been controversial for years.”
Millions of people have been exposed to horrific images by internet video.
Dr Bizri said that exposure to violent media can cause aggressive thoughts and behaviour, angry feelings, physiological arousal, desensitisation to violence and a view of the world or other people as hostile.
Every Israeli and Palestinian has some form of PTSD
Sarah Tuttle-Singer,
42, Israel
“It also decreases prosocial behaviour, such as helping others and empathy,” she said. “Again, this is not necessarily pertaining to war itself.”
More than 1,500 people in Gaza have been killed in six days of Israeli strikes, while Saturday's Hamas attack on Israeli settlements killed about 1,300 people. The majority of the dead on both sides were civilians.
Children in Israel have been told to delete social media apps to shelter from videos showing Israeli residents being shot at point-blank range, the massacre of revellers at a music festival and the abduction of young children and the elderly.
Home petrol bombed
Sarah Tuttle-Singer, a 42-year-old mother of three and author from California, has been living in Israel since 2010, and in Jerusalem since 2018.
Since the outbreak of violence, her home has been petrol bombed.
“There was no major damage or injuries, but the psychological impact is pretty tremendous,” she said.
“Most of the apartments don't have safe rooms, our building doesn't seem to have a safe place to go.
“We've always felt like Jerusalem was fairly safe because there are holy sites here, but not any more.”
Her family lives in a flat in southern Jerusalem, close to an access road that leads into the desert and the West Bank.
Schools have been shut across Israel since the first Hamas attacks on Saturday.
Ms Tuttle-Singer is worried about the conflict's impact on her three children – a baby boy, her 14-year-old son and daughter, who is 15.
“The impact is severe, but we don't quite understand it yet because we’re still living this,” said Ms Tuttle-Singer.
“I still have PTSD from the 2014 war. Every Israeli and also every Palestinian has some form of PTSD I’m sure.
“When things settle down, it's probably going to hit my children in a very real and painful way.
“Luckily here in Israel, online psychological services are offering free treatments.
“Therapists are working at a discounted rate in order to help kids and parents cope.”
Mental health support
The kind of mental health support framework in place across Israel is far from a priority in Gaza, where two million people are battling for survival, without power or running water.
An evacuation of north Gaza ahead of an impending ground invasion from Israeli troops will compound the trauma of many who have been under intense shelling for days, with more than 6,000 bombs already unleashed.
Dr Marc Sinclair, a Dubai-based specialist paediatric orthopaedic surgeon, was among six volunteer medics working for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund who were trapped inside Gaza during shelling in May.
He now fears for the mental welfare of children forced to flee their homes, and medics inside the enclave.
“I've been going there for 12 years, so I have a lot of sympathy with the doctors working there,” said Dr Sinclair.
“These children cannot go anywhere and they see this every one to two years, so the psychology for them is huge.
“More than half the children in Gaza are clinically depressed, but I think the number is actually more like two-thirds.
“Children self-harm because of the stress, and it's horribly upsetting.”
Without the luxury of widespread hospitals and clinics, psychological support for those in need will be in short supply, Dr Sinclair said.
“Psychological counselling is a specialty that requires repeat visits, a process that needs time,” said Dr Sinclair.
“If we're going to have volunteer psychologists that are available remotely on Zoom, where you can book appointments and talk to them, maybe that's a good thing.
“The need is there, there's no question.”
Frontline carers at risk
Mental pressures are also taking a toll on frontline healthcare professionals.
Despite being the first line of care for those with battlefield injuries, medics at Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, Israel's largest hospital, have struggled to come to terms with the unfolding carnage.
Yoel Har-Even is director of Sheba Global at the centre, where more than 200 people have been treated since the latest conflict began.
“The most senior staff at our hospital are ready to see and treat such events – but we are all human beings,” he told The National.
“At the end of the shift, when you have a few minutes to think about what has happened, you get flashbacks on the way home or even when you are trying to get some sleep.”
The hospital has support services to help, including social workers working with staff and senior physicians who are debriefed every morning.
“You develop a resilience while you are working in such an area, in such a country,” said Mr Har-Even, who served in the army medical corps for 28 years.
“I heard one of the doctors say to me, as tough as it is for him to deal with, working on wounded patients is actually therapy for him.
“He's saving a life and he's putting people back together again. That makes him feel good.
“If he had to think about everything he had to deal with, it would destroy him.”
UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
Bawaal%20
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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
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Jawan
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAtlee%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Nayanthara%2C%20Vijay%20Sethupathi%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Christopher Robin
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Haley Atwell, Jim Cummings, Peter Capaldi
Three stars
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
