Saudi Arabia among top 3 safest places in world

September 5, 2016

Jeddah, Sep 5: Saudi Arabia has been ranked among the top three safest places in the world, thanks to fewer natural disasters and constant efforts by the government in terms of health, security and infrastructure.

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The Institute for Environment and Human Security at the UN University has, in its recent report, placed the Kingdom as the third most safe and secure country after Malta and Qatar.

The US ranked 116th, while the most dangerous countries in the world included Vanuatu and Tonga, the Philippines, Guatemala and Bangladesh.

According to the American news site, TakePart, natural disasters like fires, tsunamis and earthquakes reduce the proportion of people living in security and safety.

Researchers at the Institute for Environment and Human Security at the University of the UN recently issued a study analyzing such disasters in 171 countries and the risks they pose.

The study’s project manager, Peter Myuk, said the survey took into account all issues concerning the environment and natural and human aspects, as well as the infrastructure in many countries, the ability to provide security for citizens, and ability to deliver aid quickly in the event of certain disasters.

According to the results of the study, Vanuatu, Tonga, the Philippines, Guatemala and Bangladesh ranked as the five most dangerous countries to live in.

Thirteen countries, out of 15, with low safety levels are located on the African continent, and this can be attributed to the low development levels.

Vanuatu and Tonga specifically suffer from frequent earthquakes and volcanoes, decreasing their safety levels.

Richer countries ranked higher on the list, due to good infrastructure, larger food assistance and the development of telecommunication, electricity, sewage, water and other services that people need.

Australia has been ranked 121st on the list because it suffers from flooding throughout the year; equally low ranked is Japan, which suffers from natural disasters but addresses the challenges with modern building techniques.

The study also revealed that countries such as Liberia (56th), Zambia (66th) and Central Africa (71st) suffer mostly from lack of health and medical resources, as well as medical evacuation and ambulance services.

Many countries also suffer from poor roads, making it difficult for emergency teams to deliver aid during natural disasters.

Based on the findings, researchers concluded that although countries “cannot control the size and strength of natural disasters, as well as the wars that are currently taking place in a number of countries, governments can do more to reduce the danger to humans by providing capabilities that would limit the number of victims.”
Saudi Arabia among top 3 safest places in world
Jeddah, Sep 5: Saudi Arabia has been ranked among the top three safest places in the world, thanks to fewer natural disasters and constant efforts by the government in terms of health, security and infrastructure.

The Institute for Environment and Human Security at the UN University has, in its recent report, placed the Kingdom as the third most safe and secure country after Malta and Qatar.

The US ranked 116th, while the most dangerous countries in the world included Vanuatu and Tonga, the Philippines, Guatemala and Bangladesh.

According to the American news site, TakePart, natural disasters like fires, tsunamis and earthquakes reduce the proportion of people living in security and safety.

Researchers at the Institute for Environment and Human Security at the University of the UN recently issued a study analyzing such disasters in 171 countries and the risks they pose.

The study’s project manager, Peter Myuk, said the survey took into account all issues concerning the environment and natural and human aspects, as well as the infrastructure in many countries, the ability to provide security for citizens, and ability to deliver aid quickly in the event of certain disasters.

According to the results of the study, Vanuatu, Tonga, the Philippines, Guatemala and Bangladesh ranked as the five most dangerous countries to live in.

Thirteen countries, out of 15, with low safety levels are located on the African continent, and this can be attributed to the low development levels.

Vanuatu and Tonga specifically suffer from frequent earthquakes and volcanoes, decreasing their safety levels.

Richer countries ranked higher on the list, due to good infrastructure, larger food assistance and the development of telecommunication, electricity, sewage, water and other services that people need.

Australia has been ranked 121st on the list because it suffers from flooding throughout the year; equally low ranked is Japan, which suffers from natural disasters but addresses the challenges with modern building techniques.

The study also revealed that countries such as Liberia (56th), Zambia (66th) and Central Africa (71st) suffer mostly from lack of health and medical resources, as well as medical evacuation and ambulance services.

Many countries also suffer from poor roads, making it difficult for emergency teams to deliver aid during natural disasters.

Based on the findings, researchers concluded that although countries “cannot control the size and strength of natural disasters, as well as the wars that are currently taking place in a number of countries, governments can do more to reduce the danger to humans by providing capabilities that would limit the number of victims.”

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Agencies
June 20,2020

Riyadh, Jun 20: Saudi Arabia will end a nationwide curfew and lift restrictions on businesses from Sunday morning after three months of lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, state news agency SPA quoted a source in the interior ministry as saying on Saturday.

The curfew will be lifted as of 6 AM local time on Sunday. Restrictions will remain, however, for religious pilgrimages, international travel and social gatherings of more than 50 people.

The kingdom introduced stringent measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in March, including 24-hour curfews on most towns and cities.

In May, it announced a three-phase plan to ease restrictions on movement and travel, culminating in the curfew completely ending on June 21.

The number of coronavirus infections has risen in recent weeks following a relaxation of movement and travel restrictions on May 28.

The kingdom has recorded 154,223 cases of COVID-19 and a total of 1,230 deaths, the highest in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

Saudi Arabia plans to limit numbers at the annual haj pilgrimage to prevent a further outbreak of coronavirus cases, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters earlier this month.

Some 2.5 million pilgrims visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long haj, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. Saudi Arabia asked Muslims in March to put haj plans on hold and suspended the umrah pilgrimage until further notice.

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News Network
March 6,2020

Riyadh, Mar 6: Saudi Arabia on Thursday emptied Islam's holiest site for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus, an unprecedented shutdown state media said will last while the year-round Umrah pilgrimage is suspended.

The kingdom halted the pilgrimage for its own citizens and residents on Wednesday, on top of restrictions announced last week on foreign pilgrims to stop the disease from spreading.

State television relayed images of an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba -- a large black cube structure inside Mecca's Grand Mosque -- which is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims.

As a "precautionary measure", the area will remain closed as long as the umrah suspension lasts but prayers will be allowed inside the mosque, state-run Saudi Press Agency cited a mosque official as saying.

Additionally, the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in the city of Medina will be closed an hour after the evening "Isha" prayer and will reopen an hour before the dawn "Fajr" prayer to allow cleaning and sterilisation, the official added.

A group of cleaners was seen scrubbing and mopping the tiles around the Kaaba, a structure draped in gold-embroidered gold cloth towards which Muslims around the world pray.

A Saudi official told news agency the decision to close the area was "unprecedented".

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia suspended the umrah for its own citizens and residents over fears of the coronavirus spreading to Islam's holiest cities.

The move came after authorities last week suspended visas for the umrah and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday declared three new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of reported infections to five.

The umrah, which refers to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year, attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe annually.

The decision to suspend the umrah mirrors a precautionary approach across the Gulf to cancel mass gatherings from concerts to sporting events.

It comes ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan starting in late April, which is a favoured period for pilgrimage.

It is unclear how the coronavirus will affect the hajj, due to start in late July.

Some 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world in 2019 to take part in the hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam as Muslim obligations are known.

The event is a massive logistical challenge for Saudi authorities, with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites, making attendees vulnerable to contagion.

Already reeling from slumping oil prices, the kingdom risks losing billions of dollars annually from religious tourism as it tightens access to the sites.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Mar 28: Just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Abu Dhabi crown prince on the Coronavirus Pandemic, India “thanked the UAE authorities for accommodating the 19 Indian nationals who were stuck at Dubai airport for past several days”.

The Indian mission in Dubai tweeted, “They got stranded due to various restrictions to deal with Covid-19 pandemic. Hotel rooms have been given to them inside the airport. Our Consulate had been in constant touch with the Indian nationals and UAE and Indian authorities. We had also provided some financial help to enable our stranded passengers to buy food. The situation was tough due to the pandemic situation.”

During their conversation last evening, Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan had “assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the welfare of the over two million Indians living in UAE and contributing to its economy”. PM Modi “thanked the Crown Prince for his personal attention to the health and safety of Indian expatriates in the present situation”.    

A statement issued late on Thursday night by the MEA said, “The two leaders exchanged information and views on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the situation in their respective countries, as well as the steps being taken by their Governments. They agreed that the next few weeks would be crucial to control the spread of the virus, and required concerted and coordinated efforts by all countries. In this context, they appreciated the organisation of a Virtual Summit among G20 Leaders earlier in the day, to discuss the pandemic.

Both leaders emphasised the importance they attach to the strength and richness of the bilateral relationship. They agreed to maintain regular consultations between their officials in the present situation, particularly to ensure continuity of logistical supply lines.”

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