Latest news with #Crisis
Al Etihad
a day ago
- General
- Al Etihad
Sharjah confirms full containment of Al Hamriyah Port fire
1 June 2025 13:37 SHARJAH (ALETIHAD) The Local Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Team in Sharjah has confirmed full containment of the fire that broke out at 6:10 am on Saturday at Al Hamriyah Port, caused by the ignition of petrochemical materials. The incident was met with a rapid, highly prepared, and coordinated field response marked by institutional integration and precise task execution. Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police and Head of the Local Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Team, stated that specialised teams successfully achieved full containment of the fire by 6:25 am on Sunday — within 24 hours of the initial outbreak. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aletihad English (@aletihaden) He noted that relevant authorities have begun cooling operations at the technical teams from forensic and laboratory departments will determine the cause of the fire and assess the damages in coordination with concerned results will be officially announced once all technical and laboratory procedures are General bin Amer emphasised that the teams responded to the incident with high professionalism from the very first moment, following a structured plan focused on firefighting, securing the perimetre, and isolating risk he added, used the latest equipment and machinery, supported by specialised technical teams from both local and national entities. These included the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, National Guard, National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), civil defense departments across the UAE, Joint Aviation Command, Sharjah and Hamriyah municipalities, Sharjah Civil Aviation Department, Sharjah Airport Authority, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). This comprehensive effort contributed to containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to neighboring head of the local emergency team credited the successful outcome to divine favour first, followed by the swift response, field efficiency, and effective coordination. These factors demonstrated a well-studied readiness within the emergency response system and reflected a strong institutional work ethic that prioritises the safety of lives and protection of property above all. He confirmed that this response represents a practical application of Sharjah's crisis and emergency management strategies, aligning with the national response framework and showcasing the UAE's ability to handle various challenges with competence and resilience.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Welfare reforms will lead to rise in homelessness, charities warn Government
Going ahead with welfare reforms will drive more people into homelessness, a number of major charities have warned the Government. Shelter and Crisis are among the signatories to a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, voicing concerns over the risks from her proposed changes to the benefits system. The Government is already under pressure over the controversial reforms, with more than 40 Labour MPs earlier this month urging the Prime Minister to pause and reassess planned cuts, saying the proposals are 'impossible to support'. The proposed reforms, set out earlier this year, would tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip) – the main disability benefit in England – and see the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) cut. They also proposed delaying access to the health element of UC to those aged 22 and over, with the aim of reinvesting savings to support young people into work or training. The package of measures is aimed at reducing the number of working-age people on sickness benefits, and the Government hopes they can save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade. But an impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – could fall into relative poverty as a result of the changes. Now a letter, co-ordinated by the St Mungo's homelessness charity, has stated the 'deep concern' organisations within the sector feel about the reforms. In the letter, which has also been sent to Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, they said: 'We can only conclude that the proposed changes will increase the number of people at risk of becoming homeless for the first time, increase the number of people we have helped resolve their homelessness fall back into it and increase the length of time it takes to resolve people's homelessness in the future.' They stated that while they share the Government's 'ambition to establish a thriving and inclusive labour market and give people the opportunities and support they need to get back to work', the reforms 'will not help achieve your ambition and therefore we as a sector cannot support them'. The letter stated that the reforms will 'push people further away from the labour market, increase homelessness and put excessive pressure on statutory services'. They said increases in already record levels of homelessness 'will have a catastrophic impact on mental and physical health, education and employment opportunities' and have a 'domino effect of imposing a significant financial cost to the state' in paying for more temporary accommodation and emergency homelessness services. The latest official Government statistics, published in April, showed new record highs in both households and children living in temporary accommodation – a form of homelessness. There were 127,890 households in this situation as of the end of December, while the total number of children in temporary accommodation stood at 165,510. The charities added: 'Homelessness devastates people's chances of employment. These cuts and eligibility restrictions will not give people a pathway to work and we urge the Government to reconsider its position.' It was reported earlier this week that benefit claimants could be given longer 'transitional periods' to seek out other benefits if they lose out as a result of the reforms, in what has been seen by some as an effort by Sir Keir Starmer to soften the blow of the cuts amid the growing threat of a backbench rebellion. Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo's, said: 'Many people rely on these benefits to manage complex health conditions as part of their recovery from homelessness and pay for essential utilities. With already eyewatering rents, these benefits help people cover their additional costs. 'Without them, we fear people will be increasingly unable to afford to secure somewhere safe to live. 'Homelessness has already pushed these people to the edge. We should be supporting them to rebuild their lives, not creating more challenges for them to overcome.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work. 'At the heart of the government's reforms is a £1 billion scheme to help the long-term sick or disabled out of poverty and into good, secure jobs. 'We have also raised the national living wage, increased benefits and given additional help to the poorest households, as part of our Plan for Change.'
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Welfare reforms will lead to rise in homelessness, charities warn Government
Shelter and Crisis are among the signatories to a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, voicing concerns over the risks from her proposed changes to the benefits system. The Government is already under pressure over the controversial reforms, with more than 40 Labour MPs earlier this month urging the Prime Minister to pause and reassess planned cuts, saying the proposals are 'impossible to support'. The proposed reforms, set out earlier this year, would tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip) – the main disability benefit in England – and see the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) cut. They also proposed delaying access to the health element of UC to those aged 22 and over, with the aim of reinvesting savings to support young people into work or training. The package of measures is aimed at reducing the number of working-age people on sickness benefits, and the Government hopes they can save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade. But an impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – could fall into relative poverty as a result of the changes. Now a letter, co-ordinated by the St Mungo's homelessness charity, has stated the 'deep concern' organisations within the sector feel about the reforms. In the letter, which has also been sent to Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, they said: 'We can only conclude that the proposed changes will increase the number of people at risk of becoming homeless for the first time, increase the number of people we have helped resolve their homelessness fall back into it and increase the length of time it takes to resolve people's homelessness in the future.' They stated that while they share the Government's 'ambition to establish a thriving and inclusive labour market and give people the opportunities and support they need to get back to work', the reforms 'will not help achieve your ambition and therefore we as a sector cannot support them'. The letter stated that the reforms will 'push people further away from the labour market, increase homelessness and put excessive pressure on statutory services'. They said increases in already record levels of homelessness 'will have a catastrophic impact on mental and physical health, education and employment opportunities' and have a 'domino effect of imposing a significant financial cost to the state' in paying for more temporary accommodation and emergency homelessness services. The latest official Government statistics, published in April, showed new record highs in both households and children living in temporary accommodation – a form of homelessness. There were 127,890 households in this situation as of the end of December, while the total number of children in temporary accommodation stood at 165,510. The charities added: 'Homelessness devastates people's chances of employment. These cuts and eligibility restrictions will not give people a pathway to work and we urge the Government to reconsider its position.' It was reported earlier this week that benefit claimants could be given longer 'transitional periods' to seek out other benefits if they lose out as a result of the reforms, in what has been seen by some as an effort by Sir Keir Starmer to soften the blow of the cuts amid the growing threat of a backbench rebellion. Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo's, said: 'Many people rely on these benefits to manage complex health conditions as part of their recovery from homelessness and pay for essential utilities. With already eyewatering rents, these benefits help people cover their additional costs. 'Without them, we fear people will be increasingly unable to afford to secure somewhere safe to live. 'Homelessness has already pushed these people to the edge. We should be supporting them to rebuild their lives, not creating more challenges for them to overcome.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work. 'At the heart of the government's reforms is a £1 billion scheme to help the long-term sick or disabled out of poverty and into good, secure jobs. 'We have also raised the national living wage, increased benefits and given additional help to the poorest households, as part of our Plan for Change.'
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Welfare reforms will lead to rise in homelessness, charities warn Government
Shelter and Crisis are among the signatories to a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, voicing concerns over the risks from her proposed changes to the benefits system. The Government is already under pressure over the controversial reforms, with more than 40 Labour MPs earlier this month urging the Prime Minister to pause and reassess planned cuts, saying the proposals are 'impossible to support'. The proposed reforms, set out earlier this year, would tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip) – the main disability benefit in England – and see the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) cut. They also proposed delaying access to the health element of UC to those aged 22 and over, with the aim of reinvesting savings to support young people into work or training. The package of measures is aimed at reducing the number of working-age people on sickness benefits, and the Government hopes they can save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade. But an impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – could fall into relative poverty as a result of the changes. Now a letter, co-ordinated by the St Mungo's homelessness charity, has stated the 'deep concern' organisations within the sector feel about the reforms. In the letter, which has also been sent to Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, they said: 'We can only conclude that the proposed changes will increase the number of people at risk of becoming homeless for the first time, increase the number of people we have helped resolve their homelessness fall back into it and increase the length of time it takes to resolve people's homelessness in the future.' They stated that while they share the Government's 'ambition to establish a thriving and inclusive labour market and give people the opportunities and support they need to get back to work', the reforms 'will not help achieve your ambition and therefore we as a sector cannot support them'. The letter stated that the reforms will 'push people further away from the labour market, increase homelessness and put excessive pressure on statutory services'. They said increases in already record levels of homelessness 'will have a catastrophic impact on mental and physical health, education and employment opportunities' and have a 'domino effect of imposing a significant financial cost to the state' in paying for more temporary accommodation and emergency homelessness services. The latest official Government statistics, published in April, showed new record highs in both households and children living in temporary accommodation – a form of homelessness. There were 127,890 households in this situation as of the end of December, while the total number of children in temporary accommodation stood at 165,510. The charities added: 'Homelessness devastates people's chances of employment. These cuts and eligibility restrictions will not give people a pathway to work and we urge the Government to reconsider its position.' It was reported earlier this week that benefit claimants could be given longer 'transitional periods' to seek out other benefits if they lose out as a result of the reforms, in what has been seen by some as an effort by Sir Keir Starmer to soften the blow of the cuts amid the growing threat of a backbench rebellion. Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo's, said: 'Many people rely on these benefits to manage complex health conditions as part of their recovery from homelessness and pay for essential utilities. With already eyewatering rents, these benefits help people cover their additional costs. 'Without them, we fear people will be increasingly unable to afford to secure somewhere safe to live. 'Homelessness has already pushed these people to the edge. We should be supporting them to rebuild their lives, not creating more challenges for them to overcome.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work. 'At the heart of the government's reforms is a £1 billion scheme to help the long-term sick or disabled out of poverty and into good, secure jobs. 'We have also raised the national living wage, increased benefits and given additional help to the poorest households, as part of our Plan for Change.'
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Welfare reforms will lead to rise in homelessness, charities warn Government
Shelter and Crisis are among the signatories to a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, voicing concerns over the risks from her proposed changes to the benefits system. The Government is already under pressure over the controversial reforms, with more than 40 Labour MPs earlier this month urging the Prime Minister to pause and reassess planned cuts, saying the proposals are 'impossible to support'. The proposed reforms, set out earlier this year, would tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip) – the main disability benefit in England – and see the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) cut. They also proposed delaying access to the health element of UC to those aged 22 and over, with the aim of reinvesting savings to support young people into work or training. The package of measures is aimed at reducing the number of working-age people on sickness benefits, and the Government hopes they can save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade. But an impact assessment published alongside the reforms warned some 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – could fall into relative poverty as a result of the changes. Now a letter, co-ordinated by the St Mungo's homelessness charity, has stated the 'deep concern' organisations within the sector feel about the reforms. In the letter, which has also been sent to Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, they said: 'We can only conclude that the proposed changes will increase the number of people at risk of becoming homeless for the first time, increase the number of people we have helped resolve their homelessness fall back into it and increase the length of time it takes to resolve people's homelessness in the future.' They stated that while they share the Government's 'ambition to establish a thriving and inclusive labour market and give people the opportunities and support they need to get back to work', the reforms 'will not help achieve your ambition and therefore we as a sector cannot support them'. The letter stated that the reforms will 'push people further away from the labour market, increase homelessness and put excessive pressure on statutory services'. They said increases in already record levels of homelessness 'will have a catastrophic impact on mental and physical health, education and employment opportunities' and have a 'domino effect of imposing a significant financial cost to the state' in paying for more temporary accommodation and emergency homelessness services. The latest official Government statistics, published in April, showed new record highs in both households and children living in temporary accommodation – a form of homelessness. There were 127,890 households in this situation as of the end of December, while the total number of children in temporary accommodation stood at 165,510. The charities added: 'Homelessness devastates people's chances of employment. These cuts and eligibility restrictions will not give people a pathway to work and we urge the Government to reconsider its position.' It was reported earlier this week that benefit claimants could be given longer 'transitional periods' to seek out other benefits if they lose out as a result of the reforms, in what has been seen by some as an effort by Sir Keir Starmer to soften the blow of the cuts amid the growing threat of a backbench rebellion. Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo's, said: 'Many people rely on these benefits to manage complex health conditions as part of their recovery from homelessness and pay for essential utilities. With already eyewatering rents, these benefits help people cover their additional costs. 'Without them, we fear people will be increasingly unable to afford to secure somewhere safe to live. 'Homelessness has already pushed these people to the edge. We should be supporting them to rebuild their lives, not creating more challenges for them to overcome.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work. 'At the heart of the government's reforms is a £1 billion scheme to help the long-term sick or disabled out of poverty and into good, secure jobs. 'We have also raised the national living wage, increased benefits and given additional help to the poorest households, as part of our Plan for Change.'
