Sports
Shortages in Syrian refugee camps
Shortages in Syrian refugee camps Amanda Fisher / 15 July 2013 Chronic shortages of resources are causing tensions to flare in Syrian refugee camps, says the managing partner of a Dubai-based company that has built accommodation for 6,000 more people fleeing the ongoing conflict. UAE-based company Modular & Mobile Solutions UAE managed the camp, which was knocked up along the Syria-Turkey border in three short months. Kilis Camp, which houses four schools, two mosques, a hospital, clinic, rehabilitation clinic, kitchen and 1,000 “modular homes” that can each accommodate a family of six, was opened two weeks ago and was at half capacity already. The homes, made up of pre-fabricated modules, measure 21 square metres and have running water and electricity, but company managing partner Ben Long said the new camp was no solution to alleviating the pressures facing the ever-growing number of refugees. “Absolutely not, there’s lots more needed. If you look at the project, it’s a big project, there’s 6,000 refugees but there’s 1.6 million registered refugees, and at least that number unregistered.” Tensions were rising inside camps, as people who had had to leave behind their livelihoods battled to get a share of limited resources. “Things are happening at the camps, incidents unfortunately, because there isn’t enough resources, there isn’t enough food or enough water.” Long’s company jointly managed the $6 million project, funded primarily by Kuwaiti charity Islamic Charitable Organisation, alongside Turkish company IHH which works closely with the United Nations — while the Turkish government was providing food. The British expatriate said there were measures in place in order to keep the number of people living at the camp capped with fences around the perimeter and security manning the entrances. “Security is one of the key issues and it is a secure camp, they’ve made sure people can’t just come in…there is an issue with there not being enough housing, but that’s why we need to act together to make more of these communities. We can do it quickly, that the whole thing has been done in three months and we can do it even faster if we get more people working together.” The rehabilitation centre that was operating at the camp was run by doctors and psychologists in order to help people through the emotional turmoil they had experienced. “We have people who can come in and talk about their issues…there’s all kinds of things happening that we can’t even begin to imagine so the rehabilitation team have gone in there with specialists to deal with it,” he said. The community also had provision to help people start working, including a workshop for sewing, while it was hoped a market would eventually start running to “get some trade going”. “Everything’s sort of there in place for people to start moving forward. You’ve got some families who might have a little bit but you’ve got other families with nothing.” amanda@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Reciting Quran repeatedly is not enough, says scholar
Reciting Quran repeatedly is not enough, says scholar Ahmed Shaaban / 15 July 2013 Muslims around the world are not mostly well aware that the Holy Quran, with its diverse and incredible verses and teachings, is the real miracle of the nation at all times, said Saudi scholar Dr Sheikh Ibrahim Al Duwaish in a lecture on the ‘Prophet’s deep thinking of the Quran’ on Saturday night. The lecture saw the presence of Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, other dignitaries and senior officials. In the fourth lecture in a series of 22, being held as part of the 17th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Al Duwaish said: “Not only do we need to keep reciting the Quran on a regular basis, but more importantly mull over its verses for more benefits in life and the Hereafter. It is not a matter of how much we read, but rather how deep we understand for application.” The professor of Prophetic Sunnah (sayings and acts) at Al Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, said the Quran is very rich in all types of miracles, be they scientific, lingual, numerical or educational. “To know, understand, and feel such miraculous aspects and others, we should first recite the Quran as due, mull over its verses, and live them as a reality not as a set of instructions for just mental, spiritual and religious grounds.” Giving an example, he said the first chapter of the Quran (Al Fatiha) is the greatest and most comprehensive in the holy book that Muslims need to recite 17 times in the daily obligatory five prayers. “However, very few know about the secrets of such repetition; it is like a perfect weapon we do not know how to use. “Based on the authentic prophetic sayings, Al Fatiha chapter may be recited with the intention of treatment, immunity, supplication, true worship, and wish for guidance to the right path and happiness in life and Hereafter.” Dr Duwaish noted that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to humbly and properly recite the Quran all the year round, particularly in Ramadan and at night, in prayer, verse by verse, alone and in group. “He also preferred to listen to the Quran from others, and never read the Quran in full in less than three days.” Getting ready for recitation alone, with ablution, in a pure place, free mind, confidence, and mulling over every word and context for application are important as well, he added. On Sunday night, Sheikh Talal Fakhir would deliver a lecture on the ‘Prophet’s training to achieve set goals’ and popular Egyptian scholar Dr Sheikh Omar Abdul Kafi will give a lecture on ‘How the Prophet is a harbinger of good and bad tidings’ today. All lectures are slated to start at 10.30pm after the Taraweeh prayer. Valuable prizes await attendees all along the 1 to 20 Ramadan Award. More details are available at the award website (www.quran.gov.ae), by emailing to quran@eim.ae, or on the phone at 04-2610666. ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Hypermarket chain slashes food prices
Hypermarket chain slashes food prices Silvia Radan / 15 July 2013 Dozens of products are to have their prices slashed by Lulu Hypermarket during the holy month of Ramadan. Every week, new dry and fresh goods are chosen for a significant price cut, including fruit and vegetables, sweets and cooking oil “At the moment we have 34 items on Ramadan sale, with more and different ones to come next week,” said Nanda Kumar, head of corporate communications at LuLu Hypermarket. Lulu announced its Ramadan promotions during an official visit from Dr Hashem Al Nuaimi, Director of the Customer Protection Department in the Ministry of Economy, which took place on Sunday at Abu Dhabi’s Lulu Al Wahda Mall. Dr Al Nuaimi toured the food section of the hypermarket, seeing to it that the prices are not hiked, and also launching LuLu’s Ramadan baskets. “I want to tell consumers that Lulu does a lot of hard work and makes all products available during Ramadan without increasing prices,” said Dr Al Nuaimi. He also revealed that the hypermarket is contributing free food to the Ministry of Economy’s families in need. “We have about 10,000 poor families across the UAE, mostly comprising five to seven members. Lulu is helping us to feed them by providing 700 vouchers,” explained Dr Al Nuaimi. In store, the Ramadan sale included items such as Crown Dates, the price of which was reduced from Dh20 to Dh16.90. Apart from these particular Ramadan price cuts, the hypermarket is also running a price lock promotion for certain food products. “We have 80 items under price lock, which means their prices will not change for one year,” said Ashraf Ali, executive director of Lulu Group. These include a pack of eight cans of tomato paste, each weighing 198gms, sold for Dh8.95. “We are also launching, for the sixth year, our Ramadan kits,” he added. The “kits” are two boxes of various dry foods. The Dh130 one contains 20 items, including cooking oil, rice, sugar, pasta, dates, tomato paste, and lentils, while the smaller, Dh90 kit contains 12 items such as salt, dates, ketchup and UHT milk. On July 28, Lulu hypermarket will also launch its Dates Festival, which will include over 100 different types of dates from the UAE and elsewhere. silvia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
