ADEN // An Emirati dam project inaugurated this weekwill benefit thousands of families in one of the most arid areas of Yemen’s Abyan province and encourage the return of many who left because of the lack of water.
The 50 small dams were built over the past month under the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the president emeritus of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), to assist people affected by the war in Yemen.
“This is the first step of the work in the water and environment field,” said Ghaida Al Rashidi, who oversees the implementation of Sheikha Fatima projects in Yemen.
She said the dams had all been built in Abyan’s Rasd district after surveys of residents’s water needs showed the area to be in dire need of additional water supplies. Other surveys are now being conducted to find out which other parts of Abyan would benefit most from dams.
The dams will help collect and store rainwater that can then be used for drinking and cooking, as well as in agriculture. Most of Abyan’s residents make their living from farming.
“The residents of the district built the dams themselves and in this way the residents got the chance to work. The work last a month,” said Ms Al Rashidi, adding that the residents were paid by the ERC for building the dams.
The dams, each 10 metres long and between three and five metres high, are built from stone and cement and were designed by Abyan architect Mohamed Al Khayali, who also supervised their construction.
"I designed the small dams in an oval shape so they can bear the pressure of the water that will gather inside. If the dams are square or rectangular, they will not bear the pressure and cracks will soon appear," he told The National.
Rasd is one of the districts in Abyan province suffering most from a lack of water, said Sadeq Al Faqeeh, a journalist based in Zinjibar, Abyan’s provincial capital. Most of its residents are poor and were unable to solve the water problem on their own.
“Some residents left Rasd because of the lack of water,” he said, though the exact number who left is not known.
Rasd only receives in the summer months – the rest of the year is dry.
“The residents of Rasd have been asking the government to build dams for several years,” Mr Al Faqeeh said, adding that Abyan residents are very grateful to the ERC for its work in the province, which has also included the distribution of food baskets after the province was liberated from the Houthis in August.
Mr Al Faqeeh said not only would the new dams provide enough water for the thousands of families currently living in Rasd, but that they might persuade those who had left the province to come back to their villages.
Until now, the residents of Rasd have relied on wells – which dry up in the winter – or rainwater stored in open containers. The latter provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which spread malaria during the summer.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
More on Quran memorisation:
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The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5