No one can fail to have been moved by the harrowing images coming out of Libya this week, where floods caused by Storm Daniel have claimed thousands of lives, smashed through dams, swept away entire neighbourhoods and led to infrastructural damage of almost unprecedented scale. As fellow North African nation Morocco gets to grips with the death and destruction of its own recent disaster – Friday’s 6.8-magnitude earthquake – Libyans will face similar challenges in the days, weeks and months ahead.
However, although both nations have suffered a grievous loss of human life and profound physical damage, their circumstances are very different. Whereas Morocco operates under a stable and unified government, one that can design and implement risk assessments and disaster response plans, Libya remains divided between two rival political authorities that also must contend with the presence of armed groups outside state control.
Years of political feuding by Libya’s various factions, which has at times spilled over into violence, has not only affected the country’s governance; it has hampered its ability to prepare for and deal with crises such as these. This is reflected in the vastly different number of deaths caused by the same storm across the Mediterranean in Greece last week.
In Greece, three days of heavy rains caused widespread damage and killed more than a dozen people. Although tragic, this loss of life was not nearly on the scale seen thus far in Libya, where the number of missing people alone has passed the 10,000 mark – and this is despite Greece having a larger population than Libya. Although there have been some criticisms of the Greek state’s preparedness for and response to Storm Daniel, the country’s stable governance and strong regional relationships, such as that with the EU, make a faster recovery much more likely.
Libya’s conflict has left it with crumbling and inadequate infrastructure. Intisar Shennib, a member of the House of Representatives – the legislature of Libya’s eastern government – told The National the country was “not equipped” to handle the type of flooding that struck on Sunday. “The resources inside Libya aren't enough to face this tragedy,” she said. Given that Libya has Africa’s largest reserves of oil, the fact that its leaders cannot muster the resources to cope with floods and other disasters is a tragic reflection of the political paralysis that has dogged the nation for so long.
And while domestic cohesion is vital to meet such challenges, it is also important for making the most of outside help. Whereas the international community, regional allies and NGOs can work closely with a united Moroccan government, the existence of different authorities and centres of power in Libya complicates what is already a difficult situation. What is certain is that Libya will need help to recover, but it must be, analyst Ethan Chorin recently noted in The National, “from friends who see the country as a potential asset, not a perpetual problem, or a lever to score domestic political points”.
This is a moment of profound national crisis for Libya. However, it is also a moment for Libyans to come together for the good of their country. That means moving beyond the divisions of the past and beginning the process of building a state that can not only respond to sudden disaster but prepare for them and rebuild a better future. Although these early days of grief, pain and acute need are not the right time for that conversation, there will come a time when Libyans must, for the common good, set aside merely managing conflict and disunity.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
T20 World Cup Qualifier
Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets
Qualified teams
1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman
T20 World Cup 2020, Australia
Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Mobile phone packages comparison
MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
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
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
RACE CARD
6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m
8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Barbie
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