Manhole on Ajman street poses a danger

I would like to bring to the notice of Ajman Municipality that a manhole in Abu Baker Al Seddiq Street has been left open for many days now.

It was temporarily covered with a broken drum, but this has not helped. Heavy vehicles and cars pass through this service road and even the general public uses this area regularly. I have also seen children play near this hazardous spot.

In order to avoid any major accident or fatality, I request the Ajman Municipality to properly cover up the exposed manhole immediately.

— The reader is based in Ajman

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Launch date of Liwa Date Festival brought forward

Abu Dhabi: The ten-day Liwa Date Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), will begin on July 12 instead of July 16.

The decision came during a meeting held by the event's higher organising committee.

The decision to bring the launch date forward is due to technical and operational procedures, as well as the fact that Ramadan is expected to begin on August 1.

The decision also allows the Ajman Culture and Media Department to host the festival for three days starting from July 27.

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Humanitarian aid guide translated into Arabic

Abu Dhabi: While the UAE is among the leading countries in the GCC that provide aid and additional resources to help victims in crises, there is still much that can be done by the region's humanitarian and non-governmental organisations, a leading expert in humanitarian affairs told Gulf News.

"The UAE government has been a great source of help, not only in the translation of The Sphere Handbook, but also in providing translations for additional humanitarian documents and it is also a leading source for aid not only for victims in the region, but around the world as well," said Khalid Khalifa, Head of Office for the Coordination of the Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Integrated Regional Information Network (IRN) for Middle East and Asia Bureau.

Rwanda genocide

The handbook, which is among the most recognised guide on humanitarian services and crisis management, was first released in 1994 as a result of the difficulties faced by aid workers in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. It cannot be applied legally, however, and humanitarian experts have called for applying it ethically.

"Because of the UAE's constant commitment to helping victims by providing aid and resources, one of the methods we use to ensure that our representatives are always up-to-date on the latest information and techniques, we are constantly organising training workshops so that Emiratis in the humanitarian sector can continue building their skills," Sultan Al Shamsi, Executive Director, UAE office for the Coordination of Foreign Aid (OCFA), said.

"The Arabic edition will also be distributed by western aid organisations and additional launches of it are being planned in July.One of the challenges we faced in translating it was ensuring that the Arabic phrases used were as clear as possible, as there are many different dialects in the region," Khalifa said.

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Grieving man looks back at the killings that changed his life

Khor Fakkan: A man who came to the UAE more than 40 years ago says the grizzly murder of his two sons-in-law in 1992 changed his life forever.

Imam Bakash, from Pakistan, says he cannot go back home because he has to look after 12 orphaned grandchildren.

He works at a small garments shop in Khor Fakkan's old souq area, and as he recalled the tragic incident that changed his life he could not hold back the tears.

Around 19 years ago, Bakash owned three shops including one exchange house, where the salaries of government employees were transferred. The exchange house was near the current garments shop. He managed the shops with the help of his relatives including his brother-in-law and his two sons-in-law.

"In October this year, 19 years will have been passed since the tragic incident that changed my life. The brutal murders of my relatives has left a life-long scar and I [have] not recovered from it yet," he said wiping away his tears.

Brutal murder

According to records, on October 20, 1992, the brutal murder of three men shook the quiet city of Khor Fakkan. The three men were Bakash's relatives. His two sons-in-law and another relative were killed, while his brother-in-law escaped with serious injuries.

Click on the links below to read the archive articles

Three murdered, three arrested
'I was shot in the neck, chest and kicked down a valley'
Death term for three in Dhaid shooting upheld

"The four of them used to help me with the exchange shop and we used to take the money to our home at the end of the day to keep it in the safe. They had left before me as I was praying. When I arrived home and did not find them, I felt there was something wrong and informed the police," Bakash said.

Bakash said his relatives had been carrying Dh500,000. Court papers recorded the victims were carrying around Dh350,000 of various currencies.

According to the details of the incident, two policemen and a third person carried out a cold-blooded attack on the four men near Al Dhaid desert, killing three of them and severely injuring the fourth man for the money they were carrying.

The murderers were arrested, tried and later on executed for their crime.

Bakash was left without the support of his relatives and with 12 orphan grandchildren.

Dilemma

"My family used to live with me here, but after the incident, it became difficult for me to support my family financially and I had to send them back home to Pakistan.

"After the court case finished, I received Dh350,000 out of the Dh500,000 as a compensation. I am still waiting for Dh150,000 although I know I will not get it, especially that the [criminals] have been executed and got their punishment," he said.

He said all he wants now is to go back to his family.

"I want to go back, but I do not have enough money to support 20 hungry mouths, including 12 orphans. I do not want to go back to them empty handed, but at this age, I cannot do much to make money. I pray that my suffering will end soon and I will be able to reunite with my family in Pakistan," he said.

Murder for money

In October, 1992, two policemen travelling in a patrol car, stopped the victims near their house in Khor Fakkan and ordered them to follow their car, claiming they were wanted by Sharjah Police.

Another man travelled with the victims in their car which followed the police toward Al Dhaid. The victims' car broke down near Al Siji Roundabout near Masafi village.

The victims were transferred to the police car and their hands were tied with ropes. When one of the victims tried to resist, the killers stopped the car, shot all of the men and kicked their bodies down a valley. One of the victims managed to survive.

According to records, the murderers had planned the crime three months before carrying it out and had monitored the victims and the exchange house from a nearby restaurant.

In September, 1993, all three were executed.

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Man caught selling pills is charged

Dubai: An Arab man was arrested selling a banned pain killer in Ghusais on June 10, Dubai Police have said.

Upon receiving a tip-off from a source, a team from the Anti-Narcotics Department set up a trap for the man in a car park.

Police arrested the 28-year-old, identified as A.A.A., and searched his car and home in Sharjah, where over 4,000 Tramadol pills were found.

The drug is a strong pain killer sometimes used recreationally and prohibited in the UAE.

The suspect confessed that the pills were his, adding that he takes and sells them.

He was charged with owning, using and promoting narcotics and referred to the public prosecution.

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Doctor campaigns for more help for smokers

Dubai: The chemicals that cling to a smoker's hair and clothes can still harm a child even if the smoker does not indulge in the habit at home, a doctor has warned.

Dr Sreekumar Sreedharan, a specialist physician at Aster Medical Centre said ‘third-hand smoke' was harmful to children as they hug their smoking parent.

"We get a number of children suffering from various respiratory problems, and a smoker in the family is the big factor," he said.

The toxins in the smoker's clothes is called ‘environmental smoke' and the chemicals are linked to various problems in a child such as poor cognitive performance in school, behavioural problems and other conditions.

No substitute

"Nicotine is unique, there is no substitute for it," said the doctor, explaining how it stimulates the brain and at the same time relaxes the smoker. "That is why we give nicotine patches or gum to reduce the addiction, we do not have anything else which gives this at the same time," he said.

Nicotine enters the blood stream within seconds and within two hours its effects vanish. "That is why you need to smoke again and again," said the doctor.

The doctor said quitting smoking was the hardest thing to do. "You need counselling, you need support from friends and you need to have very strong will power." He suggested people find a smoker who has quit to help them in the fight against tobacco.

Ignorance is amazing

Dr Sreedharan believes media plays a great part in conveying the message that smoking is harmful. He said it was amazing people were still not aware that smoking had such terrible effects.

He called on authorities to spread the message through television adverts. He also called for a counselling group to help smokers quit.

Smokers are fooling themselves by believing smoking fights obesity, and that it helps concentration. "The only thing smoking is good for is that it prevents old age,'" said the doctor. "You die before your time."

Kicking the habit

The Gulf News campaign to help its readers quit smoking started on May 31. It is being supported by DM HealthCare.

Ten readers have been initially chosen to get help to quit smoking. Doctors will counsel and aid them over the next six months and up to a year.

The ‘quitters' have one thing in common — they wish to give up but cannot do it alone.

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