Emotions ran high as donors, many with family ties to those affected by the Moroccan earthquake, gathered near Brussels to donate vital items.
Headlamps, sleeping bags, shampoo and nappies were all piled up to send to survivors of an earthquake in Morocco that has killed about 3,000 people.
The magnitude-6.8 quake on Friday evening affected several regions of the country, including the High Atlas Mountains.
“We're all human, this could happen to any of us,” said Hannache Abdellatif, a shopkeeper, as he donated several boxes containing 400 headlamps.
“We are afraid for them,” said one woman, who declined to give her name but revealed that her elderly mother – who lives in Agadir – had been forced to sleep outside without a tent.
The woman, in her 50s, was organising volunteers to collect her donations – fold-up beds, covers and mattresses – because she does not own a car.
“If everyone helps a little bit, it can do a lot,” said the woman, dabbing her eyes as she teared up.
She said that even four days after the earthquake, her relatives were still in shock.
“They're afraid of aftershocks,” she told The National.
Moroccans make up one of the largest migrant communities in Belgium.
Six mayors of municipalities in and around Brussels decided to set up the donation centre, a large shed near a canal in Anderlecht, a south-eastern municipality in the capital region.
Other municipalities have since joined in with the campaign.
The centre was launched on Tuesday and will remain open every day until the Belgian army decides the conditions are right to send the donations to Morocco, said Ridouane Chahid, the mayor of Evere.
“We aim first of all to collect tents, covers, sleeping bags, anything that helps people living in the mountains to get ready for winter,” he said.
Many Brussels residents were deeply affected by the earthquake, according to several mayors involved in setting up the centre.
“Some of my constituents have lost family members and in some cases have not heard from their parents, sisters or brothers since the earthquake,” said politician and mayor of Koekelberg, Ahmed Laaouej.
“The Moroccan community is very important in Belgium – it's the second biggest after Belgians of Italian origin,” said Mr Laaouej, himself of Moroccan origin.
“Emotions around me are very intense,” said Catherine Moureaux, the mayor of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.
“People are crying even if they don't have family there. It's a shock to discover that this kind of catastrophe can happen in Morocco.”
Some donations, including clothes and food, could not be accepted.
Retired construction worker Philippe Sosa had brought boots, shoes and bags, which he said he would donate elsewhere, though volunteers accepted his offer of a hygiene kit for children.
“We must share,” he said. “There's no point in throwing things out.”
Belgium's Development Co-operation Ministry has pledged €5 million [$5.4 million] for victims of the earthquake and to fund reconstruction, a sum which comes on top of smaller amounts offered by the country's various regions.
The ministry also offered to send rescue teams – though Rabat has yet to accept.
“It's up to Morocco to set the pace,” Mr Laaouej said.
“There is no point in rushing and creating logistical problems.”
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
On sale: now
Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
----
Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 GMC Terrain
Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L / 100km
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Mobile phone packages comparison
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Match info
Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335
Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000