• Tawfiq Al-Halawani, a shop owner in the Old City of Jerusalem, says fear of the virus, preventive measures and suspension of salaries have decimated the local economy. “Merchants living in East Jerusalem find themselves surrounded by trouble,” he says. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Tawfiq Al-Halawani, a shop owner in the Old City of Jerusalem, says fear of the virus, preventive measures and suspension of salaries have decimated the local economy. “Merchants living in East Jerusalem find themselves surrounded by trouble,” he says. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Ali Thweib, a barbershop owner from Bethlehem, is struggling. He has seen a serious decline in numbers of customers in light of the pandemic, as people prefer to cut their hair in their own homes to save money during the crisis. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Ali Thweib, a barbershop owner from Bethlehem, is struggling. He has seen a serious decline in numbers of customers in light of the pandemic, as people prefer to cut their hair in their own homes to save money during the crisis. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • The Al-Manna’ bakery in the Old City of Nablus is owned by five brothers who support their families with the income. They are baking a fraction of what they usually bake. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    The Al-Manna’ bakery in the Old City of Nablus is owned by five brothers who support their families with the income. They are baking a fraction of what they usually bake. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Many of the stores of the Old City of Jerusalem are closed. The streets are almost empty. Stores that remain open are struggling. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Many of the stores of the Old City of Jerusalem are closed. The streets are almost empty. Stores that remain open are struggling. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Waad Masalmah, earns his livelihood selling vegetables in the market in Bethlehem. But there are no customers. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Waad Masalmah, earns his livelihood selling vegetables in the market in Bethlehem. But there are no customers. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Bethlehem fruit and vegetable market is almost empty. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Bethlehem fruit and vegetable market is almost empty. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Tawfiq Al-Ama, owner of a coffee-grinding shop in Bethlehem, says: “There is no tourism at all, and citizens have reduced their purchase of coffee because it is not an essential commodity for them and because the current economic situation is very bad. Every day I open the shop, I bear operational costs at my expense and I don’t make any profit.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Tawfiq Al-Ama, owner of a coffee-grinding shop in Bethlehem, says: “There is no tourism at all, and citizens have reduced their purchase of coffee because it is not an essential commodity for them and because the current economic situation is very bad. Every day I open the shop, I bear operational costs at my expense and I don’t make any profit.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • The markets of Hebron, already suffering due to the tensions in the city, are now almost completely devoid of visitors. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    The markets of Hebron, already suffering due to the tensions in the city, are now almost completely devoid of visitors. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Sami Khamis’s coffee shop is a Bethlehem institution. It is mostly closed these days. Sami says: “War is much better than the coronavirus pandemic, because in war you know who your enemy is. I hope that things will return to their usual state.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Sami Khamis’s coffee shop is a Bethlehem institution. It is mostly closed these days. Sami says: “War is much better than the coronavirus pandemic, because in war you know who your enemy is. I hope that things will return to their usual state.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • An old man runs this kiosk selling miscellaneous items near the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. He sells nothing, but keeps it open out of hope. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    An old man runs this kiosk selling miscellaneous items near the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. He sells nothing, but keeps it open out of hope. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Abdul Sami’ Abdul Rahim Eseileh, from the Old City of Hebron, is 68 years old, and he works in upholstery. Abdul Sami’ says: “The stage we are going through now is one of the most difficult ones, and we have been affected a lot by this disease. This year is considered one of the most difficult we’ve experienced so far.” courtesy: Firas Al-Hashlamon/ICRC
    Abdul Sami’ Abdul Rahim Eseileh, from the Old City of Hebron, is 68 years old, and he works in upholstery. Abdul Sami’ says: “The stage we are going through now is one of the most difficult ones, and we have been affected a lot by this disease. This year is considered one of the most difficult we’ve experienced so far.” courtesy: Firas Al-Hashlamon/ICRC
  • Ziad Shweiki works in a bakery near the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Ziad says: “The economic situation is very difficult, the city is almost empty, and movement in the market in general has stopped. I hope that the pandemic cloud will pass, and life will return to normal soon.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Ziad Shweiki works in a bakery near the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Ziad says: “The economic situation is very difficult, the city is almost empty, and movement in the market in general has stopped. I hope that the pandemic cloud will pass, and life will return to normal soon.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Tawfiq Mustafa Al-Tamimi, aged 73, sells antiques and gifts in the Old City of Hebron. “In the year 2020, we did not make any profits!” he says. “Even during the season of Ramadan, we only worked 20 days, and we did not receive any aid.” courtesy: Firas Al-Hashlamon/ICRC
    Tawfiq Mustafa Al-Tamimi, aged 73, sells antiques and gifts in the Old City of Hebron. “In the year 2020, we did not make any profits!” he says. “Even during the season of Ramadan, we only worked 20 days, and we did not receive any aid.” courtesy: Firas Al-Hashlamon/ICRC
  • Haj Abdul Rahim Abu Ghazaleh, is the owner of a small grocery store in the Old City of Nablus, which once teemed with visitors from other Palestinian cities. Haj Abdul Rahim says “the middle class has been crushed” by the coronavirus pandemic. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Haj Abdul Rahim Abu Ghazaleh, is the owner of a small grocery store in the Old City of Nablus, which once teemed with visitors from other Palestinian cities. Haj Abdul Rahim says “the middle class has been crushed” by the coronavirus pandemic. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Young Jerusalemite Walid Ghneim, owner of a souvenir shop in the Old City of Jerusalem, only opens his shop to ventilate it. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Young Jerusalemite Walid Ghneim, owner of a souvenir shop in the Old City of Jerusalem, only opens his shop to ventilate it. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Bethlehem was the first West Bank city to be hit by the virus, which has destroyed its main pillar of economic activity, tourism. Nasri Obaidullah, a taxi driver in Bethlehem, is pessimistic: “Life here has stopped with the suspension of tourism. We have been suffering from a lack of demand for taxi service for months, and we can barely meet our needs and those of our families, not to mention the costs of licensing and insuring the car.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Bethlehem was the first West Bank city to be hit by the virus, which has destroyed its main pillar of economic activity, tourism. Nasri Obaidullah, a taxi driver in Bethlehem, is pessimistic: “Life here has stopped with the suspension of tourism. We have been suffering from a lack of demand for taxi service for months, and we can barely meet our needs and those of our families, not to mention the costs of licensing and insuring the car.” courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
  • Sami Abu Subaih owns a sweetshop in the Old City of Jerusalem. “My customers have decreased by 75%, the streets are empty, and people are afraid,” he says. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC
    Sami Abu Subaih owns a sweetshop in the Old City of Jerusalem. “My customers have decreased by 75%, the streets are empty, and people are afraid,” he says. courtesy: Atta Jabr/ICRC

Coronavirus: businesses suffer as second wave set to hit West Bank, ICRC says

The economic situation in the occupied West Bank is worsening day by day following the outbreak of virus

Mina Aldroubi
Mina Aldroubi
Abu Dhabi

September 24, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Countless Palestinian business owners are facing ruin as a second wave of the coronavirus ravages the West Bank, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday

Officials imposed a partial lockdown to battle a surge in new cases, forcing many businesses to close and increasing unemployment among communities already struggling to cope.

“A return to some kind of normalcy will depend on Palestinian authorities getting the virus under control,” the ICRC said.

Markets in the occupied West Bank have fallen silent, specifically in Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem and the Old City of Jerusalem.

“Worried shopkeepers keep their empty stores open, clinched in a merciless double-bind: only by staying open do they stand a chance of rebuilding business, yet every day they open their doors they haemorrhage money,” the ICRC said.

Yasser Subha, a dairy seller in the Old City of Nablus, said he has never seen an economic crisis like this before.

“The situation of my city is like a siege. Movement is very limited, and fear that coronavirus infection will spread is everywhere,” Mr Subha, who has been working in the profession for years, said.

The coronavirus crisis could cause an already constrained Palestinian economy to shrink even further.

In Jerusalem’s Old City, Walid Ghneim, a souvenir shop owner, said he cannot recall what the market was like before the city was hit with the pandemic.

“I open the shop only to ventilate it, because the movement is very little in general, and the tourist movement is non-existent,” Mr Ghneim said.

The shop owner desperately hopes the situation will not extend beyond the end of the year.

To add to their worries, an ICRC survey found that compliance with prevention measures in the West Bank is significantly lower than in Gaza and East Jerusalem.

“In June, 28 per cent reported that they still weren’t wearing masks, 22 per cent said they weren’t avoiding crowded places and 21 per cent weren’t staying home when feeling sick.”

Palestinian authorities have reported 272 deaths and over 37,000 Covid-19 cases since the outbreak first began.

RACE RESULTS

1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012 
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps

ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')

Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
DC%20League%20of%20Super-Pets
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jared%20Stern%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Dwayne%20Johnson%2C%20Kevin%20Hart%2C%20John%20Krasinski%2C%20Keanu%20Reeves%2C%20Olivia%20Wilde%2C%20Kate%20McKinnon%2C%20Jameela%20Jamil%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EVIL%20DEAD%20RISE
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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')

While you're here
Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
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 two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

Related
Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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A Dog's Journey 

Directed by: Gail Mancuso

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott

3 out of 5 stars

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MATCH INFO

Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
 
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned

The%20Beekeeper
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