Latest news with #Shadia
The Star
15-06-2025
- General
- The Star
‘All we want is a loaf of bread'
IT had made sense to Nour Barda and Heba al-Arqan in November 2023 to try for another baby when a temporary truce had just taken hold in the Gaza Strip. Barda's father, who had only sons, kept asking when he might have a granddaughter at last. Back then, the war seemed like it might end. Back then, there was food, even if it was not enough. By the time al-Arqan found out she was pregnant last year, things in Gaza were much worse. When she gave birth to Shadia in April, there was so little to eat that al-Arqan, 25, had almost no milk to give. Now she holds Shadia at her breast just to calm her down, Barda said, knowing that nothing is likely to come. It had been like this with Jihad, their son, who was born in 2023, two weeks after the war began. In an image provided by family, Jihad Barda, born in Gaza in October 2023. —Nour Barda via The New York Times But now she and her husband had two babies to keep alive at a time when Israel had blocked almost all aid from entering Gaza for nearly three months – 80 days of total siege beginning in March. Israel began to ease the blockade in May, but only a thin trickle of supplies has arrived. The traditional United Nations-run system for delivering aid has faltered as looters and fighting have cut off safe routes for aid trucks, and a new, Israeli-backed aid distribution system has descended into controversy, chaos and violence. Although the group behind it says it has delivered nearly nine million meals so far, the UN says the assistance falls far short of what is needed for a population of two million people. Security at the new distribution sites is being provided by private American contractors, but the Israeli military is stationing forces nearby, outside the perimeter. Born just around 2.3kg,Shadia was weaker and smaller than her brother and had gained just 0.2kg a month later, her parents said. She struggled to suck from the bottle, usually drinking only half of the single bottle of formula that aid groups can offer at a time, they said. Al-Arqan has taken to drinking whatever her daughter does not finish, hoping the nutrients will help her produce milk, she said. 'Her birth brought me more anxiety than joy,' al-Arqan said. 'History is repeating itself, but this time with my little girl.' When al-Arqan managed to get some child nutritional supplements from an aid group in mid-May by waiting in line for six hours, aid workers evaluated Shadia by measuring her arm and concluded that the baby had moderate acute malnutrition, she said. But after nearly 20 months of war, Shadia's parents have no income or savings left to spend on milk or formula at the market. They survive on one meal a day: either a little lentil soup or rice and beans they get from charity kitchens in northern Gaza, where they have been living in a tent in the street for about six weeks. Barda, 26, who worked as a baker at a pastry chain before the war and has not been able to find steady work since, cannot find flour in northern Gaza for less than about US$23 (RM93) a kilogram, he said. That puts bread, the base on which practically every meal in Gaza used to be built, out of reach. 'When we had Jihad, we still had some savings,' al-Arqan said. 'Now we have nothing – no savings, no vegetables in the markets and no affordable flour.' Jihad's name, after an uncle, means 'struggle' or 'striving.' Jihad is no longer a baby. Now he asks constantly for food. A few days ago, as he was about to go down for a nap, al-Arqan said she heard him drowsily murmuring: 'Mama – bread.' 'Every day, we lose more ways to survive,' she said. 'My son is only asking for the bare minimum – a loaf of bread. We're not asking for proper housing or clothes or even meat. All we want is a loaf of bread to stop the children's crying. Is that too much to ask?' To the south, in the city of Khan Younis, Hanaa al-Najjar has three children to feed, and little but lentils and dried pasta to feed them with. A Palestinian family displaced from Beit Hanoun share a meal of simple bulgur, with bread and basic food supplies scarce, at a UNRWA school in Gaza City in May. — Saher Alghorra/The New York Times Al-Najjar, now 31, had been left to take care of her children on her own after Israeli soldiers detained her husband as the family was evacuating a shelter on the Israeli military's orders, she said. After she ran out of formula, she was forced to feed her youngest, Muhanned, bread dipped in canned beans and lentil soup. His appetite suffered, and at less than two years old, he weighed half of what he was supposed to. He died in March 2024. Her elder son, Mohammed, now eight, had been hospitalised a few weeks before for fever and dehydration. Although he recovered, he has never been able to put on weight, al-Najjar said. He weighs a little less than 19kg – underweight by World Health Organisation standards. 'He never gains any extra weight like other kids,' she said. Now they live in a tent next to a graveyard in western Khan Younis. Al-Najjar's husband remains missing in detention. The graveyard near where the al-Najjar family now lives in a tent in Khan Younis. — Bilal Shbair/The New York Times Without wheat flour, she grinds up dried lentils and pasta to make something resembling bread. Mohammed struggles to digest it, she said, and is always constipated. She has not found any medication to treat his bowel issues. For more than three months now, he has also had a bacterial infection on his scalp that doctors have been unable to treat, she said. It recently spread to his 10-year-old and five-year-old sisters. Mohammed is a cheerful child. But the evidence of his rocky health is right there on the back of his head, even if he wears an orange hoodie to hide it. There, his dark hair has fallen out in patches, leaving nothing but an expanse of seething red skin. — ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Boston Globe
07-06-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Parents in Gaza are running out of ways to feed their children: ‘All we want is a loaf of bread'
But now she and her husband had two babies to keep alive at a time when Israel had blocked almost all aid from entering Gaza for nearly three months -- 80 days of total siege beginning in March. Israel began to ease the blockade in May, but only a thin trickle of supplies has arrived. Advertisement The traditional United Nations-run system for delivering aid has faltered as looters and fighting have cut off safe routes for aid trucks, and a new, Israeli-backed aid distribution system has descended into controversy, chaos and violence. Although the group behind it says it has delivered nearly 9 million meals so far, the United Nations says the assistance falls far short of what is needed for a population of 2 million people. Security at the new distribution sites is being provided by private American contractors, but the Israeli military is stationing forces nearby, outside the perimeter. Advertisement Born 5 pounds, 1 ounce, Shadia was weaker and smaller than her brother and had gained just 7 ounces a month later, her parents said. She struggled to suck from the bottle, usually drinking only half of the single bottle of formula that aid groups can offer at a time, they said. Al-Arqan has taken to drinking whatever her daughter does not finish, hoping the nutrients will help her produce milk, she said. 'Her birth brought me more anxiety than joy,' al-Arqan said. 'History is repeating itself, but this time with my little girl.' When al-Arqan managed to get some child nutritional supplements from an aid group in mid-May by waiting in line for six hours, aid workers evaluated Shadia by measuring her arm and concluded that the baby had moderate acute malnutrition, she said. But after nearly 20 months of war, Shadia's parents have no income or savings left to spend on milk or formula at the market. They survive on one meal a day: either a little lentil soup or rice and beans they get from charity kitchens in northern Gaza, where they have been living in a tent in the street for about six weeks. Barda, 26, who worked as a baker at a pastry chain before the war and has not been able to find steady work since, cannot find flour in northern Gaza for less than about $23 a kilogram, he said. That puts bread, the base on which practically every meal in Gaza used to be built, out of reach. Advertisement 'When we had Jihad, we still had some savings,' al-Arqan said. 'Now we have nothing -- no savings, no vegetables in the markets and no affordable flour.' Jihad's name, after an uncle, means 'struggle' or 'striving.' Jihad is no longer a baby. Now he asks constantly for food. A few days ago, as he was about to go down for a nap, al-Arqan said she heard him drowsily murmuring: 'Mama -- dough and bread.' 'Every day, we lose more ways to survive,' she said. 'My son is only asking for the bare minimum -- a loaf of bread. We're not asking for proper housing or clothes or even meat. All we want is a loaf of bread to stop the children's crying. Is that too much to ask?' Shadia is the apple of her grandfather's eye; he had always wanted a girl in the family. Sometimes he takes her to sleep with him and his wife on their mattress in their tent, he said, whispering words of hope and affection in his granddaughter's ears. Barda does not see cause for hope. Although he and his wife want more children, as is traditional in Gaza, they know they cannot feed more, he said. 'Our mood is broken,' he said. 'We go through the same suffering all over again every day.' To the south, in the city of Khan Younis, Hanaa al-Najjar has three children to feed, and little but lentils and dried pasta to feed them with. Advertisement The Times interviewed al-Najjar last year for the same article that described Barda and al-Arqan's struggle to feed their baby. Al-Najjar, now 31, had been left to take care of her children on her own after Israeli soldiers detained her husband as the family was evacuating a shelter on the Israeli military's orders, she said. After she ran out of formula, she was forced to feed her youngest, Muhanned, bread dipped in canned beans and lentil soup. His appetite suffered, and at less than 2 years old, he weighed half of what he was supposed to. He died in March 2024. Her elder son, Mohammed, now 8, had been hospitalized a few weeks before for fever and dehydration. Although he recovered, he has never been able to put on weight, al-Najjar said. He weighs a little less than 42 pounds -- underweight by World Health Organization standards. 'He never gains any extra weight like other kids,' she said. Now they live in a tent next to a graveyard in western Khan Younis. Al-Najjar's husband remains missing in detention. Without wheat flour, she grinds up dried lentils and pasta to make something resembling bread. Mohammed struggles to digest it, she said, and is always constipated. She has not found any medication to treat his bowel issues. For more than three months now, he has also had a bacterial infection on his scalp that doctors have been unable to treat, she said. It recently spread to his 10-year-old and 5-year-old sisters. Mohammed is a cheerful child. But the evidence of his rocky health is right there on the back of his head, even if he wears an orange hoodie to hide it. There, his dark hair has fallen out in patches, leaving nothing but an expanse of seething red skin. Advertisement This article originally appeared in
Observer
17-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Construction waste — from a burden to an economic resource
Muscat: Using recycled construction waste could become a norm that also provides opportunities for SMEs. This was stated during the two-day conference organised by the Environment Authority (EA) in coordination with be'ah where various aspects of recycling construction waste were discussed. The two-day workshop titled "Environmental Sustainability of Construction and Demolition Waste Management: Challenges and Opportunities in the Sultanate of Oman" had experts and decision-makers from government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions and research centres participating in strategic discussions, reviewing the current state of demolition and construction waste. This waste is one of the most prominent environmental challenges facing the Sultanate of Oman due to the rapid urban growth witnessed. The workshop focused on exploring potential opportunities to transform this waste from an environmental burden into a promising economic resource that can be leveraged within the circular economy system. This aligns with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which aims to achieve the sustainable use of natural resources and promote a circular economy, ultimately creating new job opportunities. Speaking to the Observer, Shadia bint Saleh al Hashmiyah, Senior Manager for Special Waste Stream Operations at be'ah, stated that they are currently operating a good number of sites, nine in total, from which they are obtaining valuable products being utilised in the market. They produce different products such as sand and aggregates. "We do face challenges. There are entities that are aware that instead of depleting natural resources, we can use recycled materials to enhance our sustainability," Shadia said. The main challenge is the lack of awareness among people, including some government entities, local contractors and other parties, regarding the utilisation of this waste. Shadia emphasised the need for clear regulations on the utilisation of this waste. "I think this is one of the biggest challenges. This is why bringing everyone together here is important; and we hope to align on the challenges and utilise this waste to preserve natural resources," she noted. Out of 32 construction/demolition sites, nine are processing the waste and producing valuable products. These nine sites are distributed around the country including Al Batinah South, Al Batinah North, Dhofar, Al Duqm, etc. The recycled products are seen as a great opportunity for SMEs. "We are currently working with SMEs and incubators; and they are doing very well. The challenge is that SMEs need to have the technical know-how of processing the waste. However, SMEs are very much a part of the journey," she emphasised. Another challenge is the illegal dumping often seen on mountain tops and other sites. "be'ah manages the waste when it comes to us. It is challenging because the waste is not reaching us, but it is a problem for the country itself," she said. The workshop addressed several vital topics, including the current legislative and regulatory framework; and its associated challenges, the environmental and economic impacts of indiscriminate dumping of construction and demolition waste, a review of regional and international experiences in treatment and recycling, innovation in modern technologies, promising investment opportunities in the sector; and ways to enhance public-private partnerships. The outcome of the workshop hoped to contribute to supporting the transition to a more efficient and sustainable economy, consolidating the Sultanate of Oman's position as a pioneer in adopting advanced environmental solutions that achieve sustainable development goals and support strategies for adapting to future challenges.
Observer
14-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
From a burden to ecnomic resource
Using recycled construction waste could be a norm that could also provide opportunities for SMEs. At the two day conference being held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Center organised by the Environment Authority in coordination with Beah, Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, various aspects of recycling construction waste is being discussed. The two-day workshop titled "Environmental Sustainability of Construction and Demolition Waste Management: Challenges and Opportunities in the Sultanate of Oman" has experts and decision-makers from government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and research centers participating in strategic discussions that will review the current state of demolition and construction waste, which is one of the most prominent environmental challenges facing the Sultanate of Oman in light of the rapid urban growth witnessed. The workshop is focusing on exploring potential opportunities to transform this waste from an environmental burden into a promising economic resource that can be leveraged within the circular economy system. This is in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which aims to achieve the sustainable use of natural resources and promote a circular economy, which in turn will contribute to creating new job opportunities. Speaking to Observer, Shadia bint Saleh al Hashmi, Senior Manager for Special Waste Stream Oprations at Be'ah said that they are currently operating good amount of sites, nine sites from where they are getting valuable products that are being utilized in the market. They produce different products such as sand and aggregates. "We do have challenges. There are entities that are aware that instead of depleting natural resources, we can use recycled materials which enhances our sustainability," Shadia said. The challenge is the demand factor. "People are still not aware it, including some government entities, local contractors and other parties who are not aware of the utilization of this waste," she pointed out. She added that there is a need for clear cut regulation on the utilization of this waste. "I think this is one of the biggest challenges. This is why bringing everyone together here is important and we are hoping we will be able to align on the challenges and we will be able to utilise this waste and preserve the natural resources," she noted. Out of 32 construction/demolition sites, nine out of them are processing the waste and has outputs of the valuable products. The nine sites are distributed around the country: Southern Batinah, Northern Batinah, Dhofar, Duqm etc. The recycled products are being regarded as great opportunity for SMEs. "We are at present working with SMEs with incubators and they are doing very well. The challenge is that the SMEs should have the technical know-how of processing the waste. But SMEs are very much part of the journey," she emphasized. Another challenge has been the illegal dumbing that are often spotted on mountain tops and other sites. "Be'ah manages the waste when the matter comes to us. It is a challenge because the waste is not reaching us, but it is a problem for the country itself. The legislators are here today along with the different government entities so hopefully we will come up with the best possible solutions that will reduce illegal dumbing of construction and demolition waste." The workshop will address several vital topics, most notably: the current legislative and regulatory framework and its associated challenges, the environmental and economic impacts of the indiscriminate dumping of construction and demolition waste, a review of regional and international experiences in the fields of treatment and recycling, innovation in modern technologies, promising investment opportunities in the sector, and ways to enhance public-private partnerships. The workshop aims to produce practical recommendations that will contribute to developing national policies related to demolition and construction waste management, enhance environmental governance and institutional integration, and open new horizons for green investment, enabling the construction of an advanced national model that balances economic growth and environmental protection. The outcome of the workshop is hoped will contribute to supporting the transition to a more efficient and sustainable economy and consolidating the Sultanate of Oman's position as a pioneer in adopting advanced environmental solutions that achieve sustainable development goals and support strategies for adapting to future challenges.
Reuters
13-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Spirit sign Ugandan D Shadia Nankya to 2-year deal
February 13 - The Washington Spirit announced a two-year deal with Ugandan defender Shadia Nankya on Thursday. The contract, following an undisclosed transfer fee to Egypt's FC Masar, includes team options in 2027 and 2028. "Shadia has shown great potential throughout her young professional career in Egypt," Spirit general manager Mark Krikorian said. "We expect her to be an important contributor to the Spirit throughout her tenure at the club." Nankya, 24, scored three goals and contributed to 19 clean sheets in 27 starts at FC Masar. She made her debut with the Ugandan national team in 2021.
