Britain's ambassador in Jordan Edward Oakden gestures during a press conference. EPA
Britain's ambassador in Jordan Edward Oakden gestures during a press conference. EPA
Britain's ambassador in Jordan Edward Oakden gestures during a press conference. EPA
Britain's ambassador in Jordan Edward Oakden gestures during a press conference. EPA

UNRWA thanks Saudi Arabia for $50 million contribution as deficit slashed


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The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has thanked Saudi Arabia for its $50 million contribution to offset crippling aid cuts by US President Donald Trump's administration, a day after Britain doubled its own funding.

At a press conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, director of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, Abdullah Al Rabeea, reaffirmed the Saudi pledge of $50 million in aid that was announced in April. The agency said contributions from the Gulf and European states has seen its deficit drastically slashed.

"We remain grateful to Saudi Arabia and all donors who have helped reduce our deficit, which was nearly half a billion US dollars following the defund by the Trump administration, and which now stands at 21 million," UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness told The National.

"The response of our donors to the unprecedented financial and political crisis precipitated by the US decision sends a very strong signal that the international community will not tolerate unilateral attacks on the multilateral system of which UNRWA is a proud and longstanding member."

The press conference took place a day after the UK announced that it has more than doubled its annual assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for 2018, as the agency tries to narrow its budget deficit and sets its sights on raising funds to continue essential services into 2019.

Britain’s ambassador to Jordan Edward Oakden revealed that with a series of recent grants the UK has provided a total of $85 million (Dh312m) to UNRWA for 2018, more than twice its commitment for 2017 even as the United States announced massive cuts to its contribution.

Mr Oakden and UNRWA announced the increase in support at a press conference to unveil the latest tranche of British funds, £5 million which will be spent on 18,000 Palestinian refugees who fled from Syria to Jordan and faced having their essential cash assistance and medical services cut this month.

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UNRWA looks to Gulf countries for support in the long term

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Palestinian refugees displaced to Jordan are completely reliant on UNRWA for cash assistance for housing, food, medical assistance and education, and have been hit hard by ongoing funding struggles.

Unlike Syrian refugees who have access to permanent residencies and work permits in Jordan, Syrian Palestinians are unable to work legally or access other UN assistance. More than 90% of these refugees are women and children, and rely on the grant to pay for fuel for heating, food, medical support and winter clothes.

"The reality is that the withdrawal of US funding means that others will have to step up to replace that," Mr Oakden told The National. "This is going to need a lot of work, but it is not impossible."

Britain’s top diplomat in Jordan said that there remains a “political will” in London and across Europe to continue their outsized support of UNRWA amid the ongoing absence of US funds going into 2019 and beyond.

With the increased funds from the UK, along with Germany, China, India, and $50 million each from the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, UNRWA raised what many are calling a “miraculous” $400 million in 2018, cutting its budget deficit down to $21 million.

"Many people were doubting that we would survive this year, but the international community has stood with us," Roger Davies, director of UNRWA Operations in Jordan, told The National, noting that the increased funds, combined with a scale-back of programs allowed UNRWA to continue essential services.

Budget issues this fall threatened to close UNRWA schools, which provide education for more than 500,000 Palestinian refugees, and health clinics that serve three million Palestines.

Yet, UNRWA faces a similar dilemma in 2019 as it projects another $1.2 billion budget despite recent programme cuts, with rising costs due to emergency services to Palestinian refugees affected by violence in Syria and in Gaza.

While 2018 saw the US provide an initial $60 million before cutting aid entirely, next year UNRWA will be starting without those initial funds, creating an even larger deficit to cover.

“Next year will be a challenge as we will be without any US support, and we must go back and ask for our partners and new donors to step up and provide this incredible support again,” Mr Davies said. “We are very aware of the dangers of donor fatigue.”

As part of these efforts, UNRWA officials say they are looking to Muslim-majority southeast Asia countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, and to Latin America, home to Palestinian diaspora communities.

Another fundraising tool will be UNRWA’s accreditation by several Zakat funds, including the National Zakat Foundation Worldwide, and Indonesia’s National Zakat authority, as a legitimate destination under Sharia law for the Zakat tax compulsory for all Muslims.

Earlier this year, the US, long the single-largest contributor to UNRWA’s budget, froze and then cut $305 million in assistance earmarked for UNRWA’s budget.

The surprise funding cut and ongoing pressure from the Trump administration to dismantle UNRWA has been a threat to stability in Jordan, home to more than 2.2 million registered Palestinian refugees who rely on the agency for schools, healthcare, housing, cash assistance and employment.

RESULTS

Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO

Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke

Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke

Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO

Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision

Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision

Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO

Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)

Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)

Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision

Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke

Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO

Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision

Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision

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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

The Old Slave and the Mastiff

Patrick Chamoiseau

Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale

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match info

Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')

Liverpool 0

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)

Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)

Keep it fun and engaging

Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.

“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.

His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.

He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.

How to volunteer

The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

RACECARD
%3Cp%3E5pm%3A%20Al%20Shamkha%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E5.30pm%3A%20Khalifa%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E6pm%3A%20Masdar%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E6.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7pm%3A%20Emirates%20Championship%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20Dh1%2C000%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%3A%20Shakbout%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
 

12%20restaurants%20opening%20at%20the%20hotel%20this%20month
%3Cp%3EAriana%E2%80%99s%20Persian%20Kitchen%3Cbr%3EDinner%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EEstiatorio%20Milos%3Cbr%3EHouse%20of%20Desserts%3Cbr%3EJaleo%20by%20Jose%20Andres%3Cbr%3ELa%20Mar%3Cbr%3ELing%20Ling%3Cbr%3ELittle%20Venice%20Cake%20Company%3Cbr%3EMalibu%2090265%3Cbr%3ENobu%20by%20the%20Beach%3Cbr%3EResonance%20by%20Heston%20Blumenthal%3Cbr%3EThe%20Royal%20Tearoom%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Mobile phone packages comparison
Keane on …

Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”

Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,400m. Winner: Al Ajeeb W’Rsan, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Jaci Wickham (trainer).

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m racing. Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Onward, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep Rated Conditions (PA) Dh 125,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle.

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: AF Arrab, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 90,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Irish Freedom, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab