Middle East Experience

Syrian women stepped up and took on medical work to fill the void left by men in the health care sector in northern Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Meet Syria’s female doctors

Easter, along with Chrismas, has been a high point for tourism in Bethlehem, the birthpace of Jesus, but alas, not this year.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Coronavirus robs Bethlehem of Easter festivities

Iraq is uncovering and exhuming the mass graves of Islamic State victims, primarily Yazidis.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraq to exhume bodies from Yazidi mass graves

With Ramadan one month away, people are taking to social media to share their thoughts and concerns about how the coronavirus pandemic will affect Islam’s holiest month.The traditions of Ramadan, estimated to begin on April 23 this year, are centered on group gatherings: communal taraweeh prayers, the evening meal of iftar in which Muslims break their fast together, shared food and shisha in Ramadan tents and other religious and social events with family and friends.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.But as countries around the world have moved to ban social gatherings to try and slow the spread of the new coronavirus, many Muslims have voiced their concerns about how they will practice Ramadan this year.“During Ramadan I go to the masjid [mosque] every single day I try not to miss out,” Twitter user Luis DiNiro said. “This Ramadan unfortunately it seems like we will still be on lockdown and it’s depressing to even think about. May Allah swt allow us to have a normal Ramadan this year and end this pandemic.”When Muslims pray in groups, also known as jamaa’a prayer, they line up, side-by-side, shoulders touching. But many Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE have currently suspended group prayers until further notice in line with coronavirus preventative measures. If these measures last through the next month, taraweeh prayers in groups would also be banned, threatening a key practice of Ramadan.Some are calling for people to comply with the new regulations now to slow the spread of coronavirus so that the quarantine requirements can be lifted before the beginning of the holy month.“What is Ramadan without tarawih [taraweeh]?” Twitter user nhfyzahs asked. “Rethink the consequences if the quarantine is extended for two months, how about Ramadan? Decision is in your hand, use your common sense and maturity.”“No taraweeh this Ramadan and Eid prayer too, this is so sad,” someone with username @jowharx said in a tweet.It is unknown how long countries will impose restrictions and measures. Many countries have been shut down until further notice.Saudi Arabia on Monday implemented a curfew for 21 days. The United Arab Emirates suspended flights to and from the country for at least two weeks as of Tuesday. Jordan has turned to the army to enforce its curfew law.In all of these countries, it is unclear whether measures limiting public gatherings will still be in place by the beginning of Ramadan.The new coronavirus has infected over 330,000 people globally and resulted in over 14,500 deaths as of Tuesday.Read more:Before & after coronavirus: Mecca, Milan, Beirut images show effects of outbreakSaudi Arabia suspends prayers at mosques to stop spread of coronavirusCountries with coronavirus curfews: Saudi Arabia joins growing list
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Muslims hope pandemic will end before the start of Ramadan

UAE-based carrier FlyDubai announced on Tuesday it was suspending all flights from March 26 to April 9, in line with Dubai airport’s measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.The suspension will effect all flights after 11:59 p.m. UAE time on Thursday, March 26 until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 9. The move comes after the UAE announced the suspension of all flights to and from the country effective from Thursday.UAE suspends all passenger flightsThe United Arab Emirates suspended all passenger and transit flights to and from the country for two weeks over coronavirus fears, state news agency WAM reported on Sunday citing the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.The news agency added that the decision will take effect after 48 hours and will last for two weeks, subject to review and evaluation.In the statement, the CAA said cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt, taking into consideration all the precautionary measures adopted as per the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and Prevention.Abu Dhabi's Etihad only receiving UAE citizensAbu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said on Monday that effective immediately only citizens of the UAE or diplomats will be able to board its flights from overseas destinations and only if their final destination is Abu Dhabi, the airline said on Twitter. The decision comes in the wake of the UAE government's order for all Emirati students to return home.Etihad previously said it was expanding its cargo network to markets where passenger operations have decreased due to the coronavirus epidemic.About half of all air cargo carried worldwide normally flies in passenger jets but the grounding of those planes due to the coronavirus outbreak is driving freighter demand.Coronavirus has hit the aviation industry badly across the world, as countries rush to close borders in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.Read more: Coronavirus: Muslims hope pandemic will end before the start of RamadanCoronavirus in Saudi Arabia: 10,000 riyal fine, jail time for curfew violators
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: FlyDubai cancels all flights from March 26, follows Dubai airport

Saudi Arabia's streets have emptied as the curfew implemented by authorities due to the coronavirus pandemic comes into force, videos from across the Kingdom showed on Tuesday.The biggest cities in the Kingdom, including Mecca, Medina, Khobar, Riyadh, Tabuk, and Jeddah are shown to be empty of residents, with police patrols supervising the implementation of the curfew.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.All those who violate the curfew implemented from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. for the next 21 days will be fined 10,000 riyals ($2,663) and could face jail time if they repeatedly break the law, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior announced on Monday.Saudi Arabia on Monday reported 51 new cases of the virus, raising the total number of cases in the Kingdom to 562.Thirty-three percent of coronavirus infections in the Kingdom is a result of people coming into direct contact with previously infected individuals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.Read more: Muslims hope pandemic will end before the start of RamadanHow coronavirus-free Sierra Leone has learned from EbolaBehind the name: Why is pandemic called coronavirus, COVID-19?
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Watch: Saudi Arabia’s biggest cities empty after coronavirus curfew

Saudi Arabia confirms its first death as a result of the coronavirus outbreak after a patient died on Monday, the health ministry announced on Tuesday during a press conference, adding that the total number of infections in the Kingdom reached 767 cases so far.The foreign patient’s health deteriorated quickly after reporting to a hospital emergency room in Medina and died on Monday night, health ministry spokesperson Mohammed Abdelali confirmed on Tuesday.Saudi Arabia's health ministry said 205 new coronavirus cases were detected on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 767 so far.The Kingdom's streets have emptied as the curfew implemented by authorities due to the coronavirus pandemic comes into force, videos from across the Kingdom showed on Tuesday.In recent days, streets across Saudi Arabia’s were emptied as the Kingdom’s measures to combat the deadly coronavirus outbreak through limiting social contact came into effect officially on Monday night.Other measures taken by Saudi Arabia to combat the spread of the coronavirus included the halting of all international flights, suspending the Umrah year-round pilgrimage, and the closure of mosques, schools, malls and restaurants.A spokesperson from the interior ministry also urged citizens and residents to abide by the rules of the nighttime curfew, reminding all of the penalties, including a 10,000 riyal fine, for those who commit violations.Read more:Watch: Saudi Arabia’s biggest cities empty after coronavirus curfewBahrain confirms third coronavirus death after elderly man returned from IranIran covered up coronavirus to boost election turnout
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia confirms first coronavirus death, 767 infections so far: Health ministry

Qatar, which is subject to a blockade by its Gulf neighbours, is the latest target for blame over the COVID-19 pandemic..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Online disinformation campaign seeks to blame Qatar for coronavirus crisis

More than 1,600 people have been arrested in Jordan in three days for violating a curfew aimed at stemming the spread of coronavirus, a security official said Tuesday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Jordan arrests over 1,600 for breaking virus curfew

The United Arab Emirates confirmed on Tuesday 50 new coronavirus cases bringing the total number of cases in the country to 248, the ministry of health said.The 50 new cases were for people who came into contact with previously infected individuals the ministry added.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.The new cases belong to the following nationalities: one person each from Sri Lanka, UK, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Tunisia, South Africa, Belgium, South Korea, Bulgaria, France, Czech Republic, Australia, Lebanon, Kenya, Maldives, Sudan, Iran, Ireland, Morocco, Pakistan and Sweden; two people each from Italy, Egypt, UAE, Spain, Netherlands, Jordan, the Philippines; three people each from the US, Bangladesh, and Palestine, and six from India.“All individuals in question are in a stable condition and receiving the necessary medical care,” the ministry said.The ministry also reported four cases who “completely recovered from the infection”, the individuals are three Pakistanis and one Bangladeshi, brining the total number of recovered cases to 45.Precautionary measuresAll malls, shopping centers, commercial centers, and open markets except for fish, vegetable, and meat markets will be closed for two weeks, the Ministry of Health announced early on Monday.Restaurants will also only be limited to delivery for the two-week period.The UAE ordered on March 16 all hotels to close their pubs, bars, and lounges. Gyms, electronic gaming centers, and spring camps will also be closed until the end of the month.Public beaches, swimming pools, cinemas, theme parks, and tourist attractions are also closed until the end of March.Read more:UAE orders all of its students abroad to return within 48 hoursCoronavirus: UAE closing airports on Tuesday, a day earlier than first announcedCoronavirus: Etihad says only UAE citizens, diplomats to board its flights
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE reports 50 new coronavirus cases, total at 248