UAE minister thanks expat workers for 'unfailing efforts'

Agencies
April 28, 2019

Abu Dhabi, Apr 28: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, has praised the enormous participation of all segments of the society, including institutions, individuals, students, families, local and federal entities Sheikh Nahyan made the remarks while addressing a ceremony organised by the Ministry on Friday to celebrate the International Workers' Day, under the slogan "Together in the Emirates of Zayed" .

The ceremony, which was organised in collaboration with a large number of partners in the Workers' City in Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, witnessed various awareness activities that focused on security, community and health topics.

"Such a significant participation reflects the real image of co-existence in the UAE affirming strength and durability of the community's cohesion and highlighting the tolerance, communication and cooperation that we have all learned from the founding father late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, " Sheikh Nahyan added.

He continued by saying the spontaneous response by all segments of society to participate in the Ministry of Tolerance's celebrations of the International Workers' Day, is a true value that makes the UAE a unique example in the world worth to the capital of the global tolerance.

The Minister has recently launched a number of initiatives, among them Mobile Hospitals Initiative', which will continue offering free medical services to workers through the year at the workers villages nationwide. In addition, he launched the second season of the Tolerance Cricket Cup for all workers in the country and the first Tolerance Kabaddi Cup.

The even was attended by government officials, dignitaries, ambassadors of sisterly countries, senior officials, investors, businessmen and around 5,000 workers.

In his speech to the workers, Sheikh Nahyan said, "The UAE deeply appreciates your contributions to its development and progress. Our country has been built upon the skills and hard work that you, your brothers and friends have given to the UAE. On this Labour Day, we thank you for your excellent work and unfailing efforts to make the UAE a country that is peaceful and welcoming to everyone. I am honoured to join you this evening to celebrate this annual event together."

He added, "The UAE shares its history with all of you. Our nation's founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, deeply valued and respected you as an important component of our global society. He made the UAE a country that welcomes talented and industrious people to live and work under the protection of its large Arab tent. We are proud that today's festivities are being held under the theme of Together in the Emirates of Zayed.

"Our celebration this evening is an expression of our country's strong commitment to tolerance. In this Year of Tolerance, I am delighted to announce the launch of the second annual Tolerance Cricket Cup, which was a huge success last year. I am also announcing today the launch of the first Tolerance Kabaddi Cup competition.

Both cups are nation-wide tournaments played among teams of players representing different workers' villages from across the country. In addition, I am pleased to announce the launch of a health care and fitness campaign that will improve the quality of life for all workers nation-wide. I thank all partners and sponsors of these activities that extend the values of human fraternity, harmony, tolerance and peace that we all enjoy in the UAE," he added.

"Thank you all for being part of the UAE community and for the critical part that you have played in building our country. Thank you for your help in making our Emirates of Zayed true to his vision as a country of peace, progress and prosperity.

And thank you for your efforts to support the cooperation and friendship between your countries and the United Arab Emirates. I am very pleased to join with you in celebrating Labour Day in our Year of Tolerance," Sheikh Nahyan concluded.

Meanwhile, Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation congratulated the UAE workers on the International Workers' Day, praising the care and support of the UAE represented by the wise leadership to the workers as one of the most important segment of society. He stressed that the ceremony reflects the community cohesion highlighting values of coexistence in the UAE as a unique example in the world.

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Agencies
May 25,2020

Abu Dhabi, May 25: Dusty weather to persist in the UAE on Monday as well with a chance of rainfall in parts of the country, the national Met department reported.

According to the NCM, the weather today will be fair to partly cloudy, with a chance of some convective clouds formation by afternoon - eastward and northward - extending to some internal areas that may be associated with some rainfall.

The weather will get humid by night and Tuesday morning over some coastal areas.

NCM predicts a wet Eid break.

Sharjah Police issued a weather warning as heavy rain flooded roads in Sharjah's Kalba among other areas.

Moderate to fresh winds will gain strength during the day causing blowing dust and sand.

The sea will be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea.

Earlier on Sunday, a weather alert was issued by authorities as moderate to heavy rain - accompanied with hail - lashed parts of the UAE. A rainbow in Dubai skies cheered up residents, celebrating a unique Eid this year amid the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic - by mostly staying home.

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Agencies
June 22,2020

Riyadh, Jun 22: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MMRA) in Saudi Arabia has announced the continuation of the ban on providing Shisha (hubble-bubble), and the closure of children's play areas in restaurants as a precautionary measure for protecting the health of citizens and residents from the novel coronavirus COVID-19 infection.

The new stage, in which the Kingdom is beginning to coexist with the virus, focuses on the concept of "social distancing" that has emerged since the start of the coronavirus crisis throughout the world,

It stipulates leaving at least 2 meters between one person and the other in public places to prevent the transmission of infection, in addition to covering the mouth and nose by wearing a facemask.

It also specifies complying with the preventive protocols in workplaces, stores, shops, mosques and tourist attractions, with human gatherings not to exceed 50 people, as a maximum.

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News Network
May 1,2020

Jeddah, May 1: The government of India and its diplomatic missions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States have begun elaborate preparations for the massive evacuation of their nationals stranded or needing to return once the lockdown travel restrictions are lifted.

The Indian missions in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar have started registration for the return of their nationals. The move coincides with the directive of New Delhi to the Indian Air Force and Navy to get their big engines ready to bring back citizens stuck in the GCC states.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stated that the Indian missions in the GCC states have been liaising with local authorities for repatriation of Indians. More than eight millions Indians work and live in the Gulf countries.

The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said that it has issued directives to their nationals who seek repatriation to India to fill an application form so as to facilitate their travel when the authorities lift the travel restrictions. Similar advisories have also been issued by the embassies in other Gulf States.

The Riyadh Embassy said in a press statement that the purpose is only to collect data and no decision has been taken yet regarding resumption of flights to India.

The Embassy will make an announcement with regard to repatriation of Indian nationals when the government of India takes a decision in this regard, the statement said, adding that separate forms have to be filled for each individual, including Indian worker or his or her family members.

The Embassy is in the process of working out the modalities of evacuation of stranded Indians in line with the directions of the government of India, the statement pointed out.

The Embassy and the Consulate General in Jeddah are closely monitoring the situation and are taking all the required measures to ensure the welfare of Indian citizens.

The missions have taken all the necessary measures for the supply of food, medicines and other emergency assistance to Indians in need and that is in coordination and cooperation with volunteers of major community organizations across the Kingdom.

These initiatives have been accelerated following the interactions of Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed with community volunteers and social workers from all parts of the Kingdom. The Embassy has also been in touch with all major companies in the Kingdom that employed Indian workers to carry out regular monitoring of the workers’ health, especially in labor camps, and take all other precautionary and preventive measures to ensure their health and safety.

According to the plan drawn up by the government of India, the first commercial flights from the Gulf could start after May 3, if the nationwide lockdown restrictions are not extended.

INS Jalashwa, an amphibious assault ship, and two Magar class tank-landing ships are being readied for the evacuation purposes, India’s IANS reported.

These ships, which have a total capacity of 2,000 people, have started making arrangements as per the standard protocols laid out to deal with suspected coronavirus cases like social distancing and sanitization.

The Indian Air Force has been evacuating citizens from coronavirus hit countries such as China, Japan, Iran, Italy and Kuwait since January. The force has stated that it has kept C-17 Globemaster and C-130s on standby which can be used whenever they are required.

Apart from them, Air India flights are also being kept on standby to pick up stranded Indians from the GCC countries.

15 Indian fatalities in western region

Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Indian Consul General Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh said that as of Thursday a total of 15 Indian coronavirus fatalities were reported in the western region.

These included seven cases in Makkah, six in Madinah and two in Jeddah. Around 140 Indians have tested positive in the region where most of the coronavirus cases in the Kingdom have been reported.

He said that permission was not accorded from the Ministry of Haj and Umrah to use the Indian Haj mission facility in Makkah as the center to assist the community members with regard to the coronavirus related cases.

“Our medical in charge is in Makkah and with the support of some other staffers, he has been actively involved in lending a helping hand to those Indian nationals who are in distress,” he said.

“We are in regular contact with the Ministry of Health officials in ensuring quick medical assistance to those who are tested positive.” He said preparations are under way for repatriation of Indians once permission is ready to take them home. “We are maintaining a database of all those who contacted the consulate with a request for their repatriation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the bodies of two Indians from the southern state of Kerala who succumbed to the pandemic were buried in Makkah. Naletil Muhammad from Ancharakkandi of Kannoor district, a restaurant worker in Makkah, gave samples at King Faisal Hospital a few days ago after developing symptoms of the disease.

When the hospital authorities advised him to remain in medical isolation, he reportedly preferred to remain in isolation at his residence where he succumbed to the pandemic after a few days.

Muhammad’s two sons, who are working in Riyadh, alerted his colleagues when they failed to contact him over phone. They found him dead at his residence on Monday. Eventually, Ministry of Health officials sent all his six colleagues to medical isolation.

Kottuwala Ippu Musliyar from Thennala, Vengara in Malappuram district, was a well-known social worker in Makkah. He died of coronavirus at Hira Hospital on Wednesday after undergoing treatment for a couple of days.

Mujeeb Pukkottoor, a prominent Indian social worker and general secretary of Makkah chapter of Kerala Muslim Cultural Center, was authorized by their spouses to carry out their burial procedures.

Accordingly Muhammad was buried on Wednesday and Ippu Musliyar on Thursday at the designated area for the coronavirus deceased persons at Sharaie Cemetery in Makkah.

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