Day: March 19, 2023

As a part of its Ramadan campaign, the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation announced that it is opening new education opportunities for the most marginalized out-of-school children in Somalia through the "Educate your children II" project.

The project is a three-year initiative being implemented across 17 districts within the five Somalia regional states of Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Jubaland, South West, and Puntland.

The project's primary goal is to ensure more than 80,000 out-of-school children affected by instability, displacement, social exclusion, and poverty in Somalia have access to and the opportunity to complete a quality primary education and address obstacles.

The EAA foundation's Ramadan campaign aims to raise awareness to support to educate every boy and girl and ensure no child is left behind. Investing 783 riyals is enough to educate a child in quality primary education for a total of three years in Somalia.

100 percent of all funds will be used for education projects

Source: Qatar News Agency

Sofia, SANA- A number of Syrian students studying in Bulgaria, members of the Syrian community, and representatives of International Campaign to end embargo on Syria gathered in front of Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Ministry, demanding to lift embargo and unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people.

The participants demanded to allow all necessary aid materials to access to the Syrians in order to contribute to the reconstruction of the country, especially after the devastating earthquake struck Syria last February.

The participants also raised the Syrian and Bulgarian national flags, photos of the earthquake-aftermath, and banners, calling for breaking the blockade.

The spokesman on behalf of the Bulgarian movements and parties have underlined the necessity of immediate lifting of the imposed sanctions, stressing that this is a moral and humanitarian duty of all countries, especially the EU countries.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Damascus, SANA- The National Earthquake Center has announced that the number of quakes recorded over the past 24 hours till 08:00 a.m. on Sunday has reached 29 weak quakes.

The Center stated in a statement that the stations of the National Seismological Network recorded 29 tremors with a magnitude less than 4.1 on the Richter scale.

The center said that 12 tremors were recorded in Liwa Iskenderun, and 5 tremors southeast of Lattakia on the mainland, at distances of 14, 19 and 13 km, with a magnitude ranging between 1.8 and 3.7.

According to the center, a magnitude 2.2 tremor was also recorded 58 km north of Idleb at 18:42 while 11 tremors were recorded on the Turkish mainland.

The center added that during the current situation, weak to moderate tremors will remain, as we have not yet reached a state of tectonic stability.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Hajj Hassan, received today at his home in Shaat, popular delegations and agricultural associations from the Baalbek-Hermel region. He raised with the delegations a number of their demands and concerns, emphasizing that "the situation has become very critical at the economic and social levels, which makes it imperative for everyone to take a step to solve the crisis, which begins with the election of a president of the republic and then the formation of a government, to begin the journey of advancement in this country, which is rich in its people, economic components and promising oil wealth." Hajj Hassan also contacted Higher Relief Commission Head, Major General Mohammad Khair, with whom he discussed the issue of compensating farmers affected by the storm that has recently hit Lebanon.

Source: National News Agency-Lebnon

Damascus, SANA- An exhibition for graduates of 1st course exhibition for traditional oriental handicrafts and products opened in the historical Khan Asaad Bacha in Damascus Old City on Saturday.

A number of distinguished and skillful craftsmen participate also in the exhibition, which was organized by the Artisan Association for Oriental Handicrafts, in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry.

The exhibition features traditional heritage and craft products, including oriental handmade thread, handmade carpet, woodwork, copper work, mosaics, textiles, oriental wooden musical instruments, other and traditional crafts.

Industry Minister Zaid Sabbagh said that holding this exhibition for the graduates of the traditional oriental handicrafts and products course expresses the Ministry’s continued support for the heritage crafts, noting that the ministry seeks to preserve and protect the traditional heritage as it represents the national identity and history of Syria.

60 trainees were graduated from the 1st course for traditional oriental handicrafts, while the second course will be kicked off soon.

Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of “Watan Document Foundation” Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban stressed importance of the exhibition as it constitutes the identity, heritage and history of Syria.

“We in the Watan Foundation write the history and document those crafts and others due to our keenness on belonging and identity and because our enemy is trying to counterfeit our identity and record it in his name,” Dr. Shaaban added.

Chairman of the Federation of Damascus Crafts Associations, Naji Al Hadua, said that holding this exhibition for the graduates of the heritage crafts came in implementation of the Federation’s policy and tasks to train and develop the potentials of the craftsmen and to qualify the trained cadres in order to maintain the material heritage and the traditional crafts from extinction.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stressed to his Syrian counterpart the need for Damascus to return "to its Arab surroundings", during President Bashar al-Assad's second visit to a Gulf country since last month's earthquake, which came amidst efforts to reform his country's relations with the countries of the region. In this connection, Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote on Twitter: "We held positive and constructive discussions to support and develop brotherly relations." In a statement published by the UAE government news agency, the Emirati President said, "Syria's absence from its brethrens has been prolonged, and it is time for Syria to return to them and to its Arab surroundings." He also stressed "the need to exert all available efforts to facilitate the dignified return of Syrian refugees to their country," expressing "the UAE's support for the dialogue between Syria and Turkey to achieve progress in the file of the return of refugees." For its part, the Syrian presidency said in a statement that talks tackled "the positive developments taking place in the region and the importance of building on these developments to achieve stability for its countries," adding that they also touched on economic cooperation between both states. Meanwhile, President of the General Women's Union, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of the late Emirati President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, received Asma al-Assad to discuss the repercussions of the earthquake. Analysts say the diplomatic momentum generated in the aftermath of the earthquake could strengthen Damascus' relations with countries in the region that have hitherto resisted repairing relations after more than a decade of war. In this context, Emirati diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash wrote on Twitter, "The UAE's position is clear regarding the need for Syria to return to its surroundings by activating the Arab role, and this was confirmed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed during his meeting today with President Bashar al-Assad." "Enough of more than a decade of war, violence and destruction, and it is time to strengthen the cooperation and solidarity of our Arab countries to ensure the stability and prosperity of the region," he continued to underline. "The UAE's direction and efforts towards brotherly Syria are part of a deeper vision and a broader approach aimed at strengthening Arab and regional stability and overcoming difficult years of confrontation," Gargash added, asserting that "the events associated with the decade of chaos and its repercussions have proven that our Arab world is more deserving of addressing its issues and crises, away from regional and international interventions."

Source: National News Agency-Lebnon

Ankara, SANA- The death tally of devastating earthquake that has jolted Turkey has risen till now to more than 49 thousand people.

‘The number of quake victims has reached up to 49,589 people, of which 6,807 are foreigners’, Fuat Oktay, Vice Turkish President was quoted by Anadolu News Agency as saying in a press conference.

On February, two disastrous earthquakes hit Turkey, followed by thousands aftershocks, causing the death of thousands, in addition to mass damage to property.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Druze Sheikh Al-Aql, Sami Abil-Muna, called today for 'preserving Lebanon as a model of pluralism and citizenship that embraces diversity," adding that "this is the message of the Druze unitarians who do not have any factional projects, but rather their project is the unifying homeland and the one human being.' He also stressed on 'common values that unite religions and their preservation.' Abil-Muna's words came during his reception at the Druze Dar El-Taefa in Beirut, the delegation of the "Arab Dialogue Platform" affiliated with the "Kaysid" Center - King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Dialogue of Religions and Cultures. The visit was an occasion to welcome the delegation to the 'Dar Al-Muwahhidun Al-Druze," which endorses dialogue and convergence between all, and is the mediation place for caring and connecting between members of all sects. He said: "This is our history since our Arab Muslim ancestors came to this country, to protect the Arab-Islamic frontiers since the eighth century AD and afterwards, on a defensive mission, and they made many sacrifices, and our message was and still is communication, openness, and steadfastness in the land." Addressing the delegation, Abil-Miuna continued, "Welcome to this country, which is a model of pluralism and diversity in unity, and we have called it citizenship that embraces diversity, and this is our message: respect for citizenship and upbringing on its values, and we have participated in carrying this message to the forums, especially since the monotheists do not have any factional projects at the national or religious level, but rather their goal is the homeland and the people.'

Source: National News Agency-Lebnon