Yemen ceasefire amid coronavirus pandemic a ‘wise decision’: UAE’s Gargash
April 9, 2020, 7:09 am

Yemen ceasefire amid coronavirus pandemic a ‘wise decision’: UAE’s Gargash

UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash. (File photo AP)

The Arab Coalition’s decision to initiate a two-week ceasefire in Yemen to combat the coronavirus pandemic is an important one, said the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash on Thursday.

“The decision of the Saudi-led coalition on a ceasefire in Yemen for two weeks is a wise and responsible one,” Gargash tweeted.

The ceasefire started on Thursday noon as part of efforts to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

“Along with the constant calls for a political solution, a new fear arises and that is the spread of coronavirus in the country, which will complicate the humanitarian crisis,” he added.

The coalition said the decision comes after an initial announcement on March 25 to endorse the UN-recognized Yemeni government’s decision to a ceasefire following a call by UN Secretary-General Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths for warring parties to lay down their weapons.

“It is an important decision, and we have to build on from a political and humanitarian perspective,” Gargash concluded.

Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman said that Yemen is particularly vulnerable to a COVID-19 outbreak and that Saudi Arabia will be contributing $500 million to the UN HRP for Yemen in 2020, and an additional $25 million to help combat the pandemic.

“It is up to Houthis to put the health and safety of the Yemeni people above all else,” Prince Khalid said.

source: Leen Alfaisal

There are bigger problems in world than coronavirus: Iran's Khamenei Coronavirus: Isolated Syrian refugee camp with no doctors or aid fears outbreak

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”