A Syrian Red Crescent aid convoy entered the mostly Druze province of Sweida on Tuesday, only the 13th to reach the city in a month-long government siege, while authorities have admitted a “big gap” in the humanitarian needs of the area.
Twelve aid convoys only have been sent to Sweida since the conflict started on July 13, excluding the one on Tuesday, according to a statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry issued on Tuesday – which does not cover the growing needs of the population.
The ministry staff met UN officials on Monday and discussed “gaps in the needs that have been observed on the ground”, the statement said. The ministry has granted 140 UN personnel permission to go to Sweida and to neighbouring Deraa, where hundreds of Sunni families fled last month, fearing retribution from the Druze.
“The Syrian government has not placed restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid since the crisis in the south,” the statement said, without explaining the trickle of aid that has been delivered to the province. The area's Druze leaders have refused to receive any aid unless it is delivered by a neutral organisation.
They have also accused the government of siege warfare aimed at breaking the will of the Druze and annihilating a community that had led resistance against the rule of former president Bashar Al Assad who was toppled in December by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, an offshoot group of Al Qaeda.
Photos on the official Syrian news agency Sana, showed UN cars escorting lorries that entered Swedia from the town of Busra Al Harir in Deraa, a front line in a low intensity war between the government and Sweida's Druze defenders.
Israeli military intervention last month pushed back government troops and allied militia from the provincial capital of Sweida, near the border with Jordan. Damascus posted the troops, backed by tanks and drones, to crush a defiant Druze cleric and his followers, who had demanded a civil state and local control of their areas, over the new security troops. However, the area remains encircled by forces loyal to the current state.
The Druze, who number about a million worldwide, are an offshoot of Islam. Only several hundred thousand members of the sect remain in Syria. The Druze are also present in Israel, Lebanon and Jordan.
The Druze's spiritual leadership, which is based in Sweida, have coalesced around Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri, since the government's offensive in December.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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Take Me Apart
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Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
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Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17
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The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Ticket prices
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Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
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ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
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Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
SCHEDULE
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All matches start at 10am
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Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
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- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
World Sevens Series standing after Dubai
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