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The city of Al Arish, which had held significant volumes of aid bound for Gaza, finds itself oddly quiet four days after a ceasefire deal allowed the entry of humanitarian assistance to resume. The lifting of restrictions under the truce has sparked an increase in aid shipments travelling to the Rafah crossing, with lorries lining the roads leading to Egypt's border with Gaza.
Since the war in Gaza began on October 7 2023, Al Arish has served as the main city for aid destined for the enclave, with supplies piling up in warehouses and storage units amid Israeli restrictions on the border.
“All the action is at Rafah now,” said an Egyptian Red Crescent officer in the city. “No more lorries must come and unload or wait here in Al Arish. The crossing is fully open now, so they usually go straight there and wait outside there instead of coming here.”
Shipments of blankets, undergarments and winter clothes have continued to enter Gaza through Egypt since Sunday, according to Abdo Nasr, a driver at the Rafah border crossing delivering a shipment of blankets.
Drivers of the large aid lorries, sent to the Egypt-Gaza border since the start of the war, have had to endure long wait times at the border due to repeated closures of the crossing by the Israeli military, which has been in control of the Rafah crossing since May.
“It’s a really hard job but it’s only a small part of what we have to do for our Palestinian brothers to whom I want to offer my deepest apologies that we couldn’t do more to stop their suffering. So many of them were killed. I am happy to be a part of getting whatever Palestinians need for them in Gaza, it makes me proud,” Mr Nasr said.
Ibrahim Asaad, 34, is parked near the entrance of the Tahya Misr tunnel in Ismailia, which cuts under the Suez Canal and into the Sinai Peninsula. He has been waiting in a queue of what he described as “thousands of lorries” for the past two days. He is waiting on clearance from Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS) to cross into Sinai. Mr Asaad is carrying World Food Programme food packages, which he loaded from a warehouse in Cairo, according to his shipment manifesto which he shared with The National.
The shipments were sent to Egypt by the WFP on October 2 but have been in storage since due to border closures.
Clearance from the GIS to enter the Sinai Peninsula is a routine procedure, even for tourists. The GIS has been one of the main Egyptian agencies involved in ceasefire talks and handles the movement and security permits of both people and goods in and out of Gaza, in co-ordination with the Israeli army.
The drivers of the aid lorries are employed by contractors who are granted rights by the government to distribute aid, a representative from Sina Scape, a company sending WFP food packages to Gaza, told The National. Relief is also sent by charities.
Once they arrive in Rafah, drivers are given a number and wait before entering Gaza.
Queues and searches
“We, the drivers, are not entirely clear on who gets to enter first and for what reasons. We are sure that it is not on a first come first serve basis, because some contractors’ lorries enter with minimal searches while others wait for weeks and months to enter,” said Mr Nasr.
When it is their turn to enter, they are notified by their company and are asked to drive to the crossing, where they are searched by the Egyptian military first then once again by representatives of Abnaa Sina – a trading and contracting firm owned by the pro-government Bedouin magnate Ibrahim Al Organi.
“After the military is done with searching us, we drive a little further down where agents in vests that read Abnaa Sina and Al Organi Group search us again. These searches are different from the military checkpoints because they are usually searching for contraband being snuck into Gaza that previous checks might have missed,” said Mr Asaad.
“Many drivers had made a habit throughout the war of smuggling cigarettes into Gaza. There had been shortages inside the strip and cigarettes were being sold for US dollars to agents inside. Many have been caught by the military or Al Organi’s people,” he claimed.
Once past the searches, the lorries proceed to Israeli inspection points, which often present a challenge.
Ahmed Husseiny, a driver waiting at Rafah with a shipment of shoes, said he had been parked at the border for 20 days as part of the group of vehicles awaiting entry into the enclave before the ceasefire.
Mr Husseiny described the unpredictable nature of the crossing in December, with the Israelis allowing only a handful of lorries through each day. “Some days, the Israelis would close the crossing and we would have to wait. Some days, they would allow in two or three lorries. Other days they would allow a little more or a little less.”
After entering through the Awga border crossing on Sunday night and waiting at the inspection unit until Monday morning, Mr Husseiny said he was denied entry and was asked to return to the Egyptian side to obtain a new queue number. He believes this was due to an altercation with an Israeli soldier who accused him of trying to run him over, an allegation he denies.
“The Israeli officer who searched my documents was very rude and aggressive. They are often that way. Very rough and always ready to take offence,” he said. Upon returning to the Egyptian side, an intelligence officer reviewed security footage from the incident and cleared Mr Husseiny to rejoin the queue.
After passing the Israeli checkpoints, the aid lorries currently unload their cargo at the Karam Abu Salem, where it is transferred to UN vehicles for distribution within the enclave. However, this process is expected to change soon, as the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing undergoes repairs after damage sustained during Israeli bombardments.
The Egyptian Red Crescent officer reported that between 10 and 15 lorries carrying construction equipment, including bulldozers, cranes and building materials, entered Gaza to allow the repair work. The crossing is anticipated to be operational by Sunday.
During a media conference in Rafah on Tuesday, North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer announced that the border crossing was no longer closed. However, he said repairs were necessary before aid shipments could resume to the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, rather than at Karem Abu Salem under Israeli supervision.
This shift marks a return to the prewar aid delivery process, where drivers would cross directly to the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing to unload their cargo without the additional step of passing through an Israeli-controlled checkpoint.
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Match info
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Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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.”
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
