Latest news with #UmMohammed
Days of Palestine
06-07-2025
- General
- Days of Palestine
Surviving Gaza's Tents: Fighting Heat, Hunger, and an Unseen War
DaysofPal- In the suffocating heat of displacement camps, the people of Gaza endure a silent war—one fought not with weapons, but with thirst, hunger, and unbearable heat. In these tents, misery has a temperature, and survival is not promised, only postponed. A Sun That Burns Through the Soul Under the relentless sun, tents meant to shelter have become furnaces of suffering. Thin sheets of fabric flap helplessly in the windless air. They offer no escape from the searing daylight, and no rest at night when the air grows thick and still. 'We didn't flee our homes to survive,' says Um Mohammed, displaced from Shuja'iyya. 'We left to die more slowly. These tents are fire upon fire.' The heat is not just a weather report—it is a force that carves desperation into people's faces. Sleep is gone. Rest is rare. Children moan for water, and the elderly wilt in silence. When Water Becomes a Dream Electricity, cooling devices, or even a working fan—these are now fantasies. Water, the most basic necessity, comes through long, draining lines under the sun. Even then, there's no guarantee it will be there. Bathing is out of reach. Cleaning wounds? Impossible. Some days, people go without drinking enough to keep their children alive. A local volunteer doctor warns, 'We are seeing a sharp rise in dehydration-related illnesses. Children are fainting. The situation is far more dangerous than anyone abroad can imagine.' A Piece of Bread, A Mother's Grief In Gaza's tents, victory is defined by one meal a day. A piece of bread is a gift. Rice is divided not by spoons, but by tears. Mothers quietly ration food, hiding their hunger behind forced smiles. Aid trickles in, but never enough. It is a bandage on a hemorrhage. The world that should be watching seems to have turned the page. The Voices They Want You to Hear 'We live without water, without electricity, without food,' says Abu Waseem, who lost his home, his work, and his hope. 'The world sees us, but pretends not to. We just want to feel human again.' Twelve-year-old Huda crouches under the only shade she can find—an empty water bottle propped on a stick. 'I just want a fan,' she pleads. 'And a cup of cold water. I don't want much. I just don't want my sister to die from the heat.' These are not quotes for headlines—they are cries for life. Not Victims. Witnesses. The people of Gaza are not asking for pity. They are not numbers. They are not a footnote to geopolitical strategy. They are human beings, asking for the most basic rights: shade, water, food, and electricity. Dignity. Their voices rise not to be documented for history books, but to wake the world up now, before more lives are lost, not in airstrikes, but in the slow, agonizing collapse of life under displacement. In this silence, the fire continues. But Gaza's people are still calling—not for rescue, but for recognition. Shortlink for this post:
Khaleej Times
23-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Selling Dubai homes for over 40 years: 65-year-old is among first real estate brokers
At 65, she is among the first and oldest Emirati real estate brokers in the UAE. With over four decades of experience, Um Mohammed had decided to step into the world of brokerage to support her family. "At the time, my children were young, and their father's salary was not enough, so I decided to help him," the Emirati, who has eight children, told the Khaleej Times. "The house requires expenses and responsibility," she said of the challenges of managing a household. In the beginning, said Um Mohammed, there were only a few women in this field, 'just about five or six', and that her sales were limited to dealing with citizens and Gulf nationals in the UAE. She also credited a family member and the Dubai Land Department department for playing a crucial role in her early career. She said the department still supports her and that she has a real estate broker card. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Reflecting on her experiences, Um Mohammed emphasised the importance of patience in the real estate business. "Don't say that the transaction will be completed within a month or two; it takes patience and trust in God." Sharing further insights about the real estate sector, she said prices ranged between Dh300,000 and 400,000 in the 1990s in Dubai, which later rose to Dh600,000, and Dh1 million and more in the 2000s. Um Mohammed said she sold a house in the Rashidiya area for Dh300,000 and her biggest sale was for about Dh1.5 million for a house in Dubai on a main street 20 years ago . "I am still active, but no longer into selling houses; I go to share my experiences and to benefit and learn about the market and its changes.' Other women in real estate Joining Um Mohammed in the real estate industry is Fatima Ibrahim Al Zaabi, 50, from Dubai, who has recently opened her own FIZ Real Estate Company. As the first Emirati broker to sell properties in the newly launched Emirati real estate intermediary program, Fatima brings over two decades of investment experience in real estate. 'I love the field of real estate and wanted to enter it through buying during my twenties,' said Fatima. She reflected on her interest in real estate at an early age, saying, "I was thinking of our parents and grandparents; I saw that those who managed to build wealth did so through real estate." Fatima noted that during her early attempts to encourage friends to join the real estate field, most were resistant. "Unfortunately, when you keep a salary, its value decreases over time, but the market value of real estate increases," she added, emphasising the critical need for financial awareness. As a writer and self-development trainer, Fatima seized the opportunity to join the real estate sector when the government opened doors for citizens in 2024. "What made me hesitate to open my company immediately was experience because it is essential, especially since I would enter a new market, a purely male market," she said. After working for six months in a company, she decided to launch her own enterprise, driven by a desire to gain experience. Another inspiring figure, Shamsa Al-Saeedi, has also made her mark in the industry. "A new piece of information for me was that cash value decreases over time, but if you invest cash in assets like real estate, its value increases," she noted. Shamsa joined the National Intermediary Program organised by the Land Department, seizing every opportunity to enhance her career. As the sales manager at Damac, she recalls the initial struggles she faced as the only Emirati woman in sales. "The beginnings were not easy; I heard many negative comments," she admitted. However, her determination shone through when she postponed a vacation on her annual leave last year to close an Dh18 million deal.
