Day: April 1, 2024

Aleppo, Maghrib Azan (call to prayer) has sounded again in the Grand Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo City, announcing the return of life to this religious and historical hub after 12-year hiatus, and that came follwoing its cleansing of terrorism and its rehabilitation. That came during a Ramadan Iftar banquet Sunday that brought together 1,400 residents of the neighborhoods of Aleppo City and the workers and craftsmen who have contributed to the rehabilitation and construction of this archaeological landmark. The banquet came as part of the 'Share in Goodness' campaign launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in cooperation with the Syria Trust for Development and the Union of Charitable Societies in Aleppo, according to what the Director of Social Affairs and Labor in Aleppo, Ahmed Hamza, said. In a statement to a SANA correspondent, Hamza stressed the importance and significance of this banquet and its specialty for the people of old Aleppo, as it gathered them in this great religious edifice and g ave them the joy of hearing the sound of the call to prayer, which they were deprived of for years, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. The banquet included religious chanting, in which the artist Tayseer Idris participated, and religious chants from Mawlawiyah. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Geneva, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, underlined that any effort to distribute aid in Gaza Strip without UNRWA is a failure. "UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian operation in Gaza. Any effort to distribute aid without them is simply doomed to fail," Griffiths wrote on X. "No other agency has the same reach, experience or community trust needed to do the job," he stressed. Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that the Office of the UN Secretary-General did not receive any document from the Israeli entity that included a proposal to dismantle UNRWA. Speaking in a press conference, Dujarric affirmed that the UN's position on UNRWA remains consistent, which is that it is a lifeline of hope and services for millions of Palestinians in the region, including Gaza. Source: Qatar News Agency

Gaza, Nine Palestinians were martyred and several others were injured in Israeli strikes on central Khan Yunis and east of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip on Monday. According to sources, four Palestinians were martyred after they were targeted by the Israeli occupation army near Sheikh Nasser roundabout in central Khan Yunis. Meanwhile, an Israeli air raid targeted a land near tents of displaced people west of Khan Yunis city. Sources reported that five Palestinians were martyred in similar attack east of Rafah. The Israeli occupation forces have committed six massacres against civilians in the past 24 hours, leaving 63 martyrs and 94 injured. According to medical sources, the toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has surged to 32,845 martyrs and 75,392 injured, while thousands remain missing under the rubbles. Source: Qatar News Agency

Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed via a phone call on Monday with his Russian counterpart bilateral relations between Turkiye and Russia. They also discussed regional topics of mutual interest and the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. Source: Qatar News Agency

Kuwait, HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hoped that the National Assembly elections 2024 would establish a stellar council operated by distinguished faces with enlightened thinking, stressing that boycotting the elections would be a relinquish of the constitutional right. "We are looking forward to participation of citizens of our beloved nation in election, and who boycott it will relinquish his constitutional right, does not perform his duty to select, and has no right after that to blame anyone for the poor outcome nor poor performance and achievement," HH the Amir of Kuwait said in an address to the nation on the occasion of the last 10 days of Ramadan. HH the Amir of Kuwait commended and supported all efforts and measures aimed at preserving the national identity, adding that since the national identity represents existence, an issue of rule and a destiny of a nation, so an assault on it is an assault on the structure of the state and its major components, and cannot be ig nored. Kuwait is set to hold the National Assembly elections 2024 on Thursday. The total number of male and female candidates for the elections reached 200. Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) are participating in the celebration of World Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day, which falls on the second of April. It is noteworthy that the State of Qatar has played an important role in raising awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the international level. In 2007, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser supported the campaign calling for World Autism Awareness Day during the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, which was unanimously approved by all United Nations Member States. In addition to designating the second of April as World Autism Awareness Day, the resolution encouraged Member States to take the necessary measures to raise awareness about autism in their communities. Within the framework of the awareness campaign to celebrate World Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day, MoPH and its partners are participating in organizing many awareness events a imed at enhancing understanding, acceptance, and communication among all participants through a set of carefully planned activities, focusing on supporting people with autism significantly, creating a positive and supportive atmosphere for families with children with autism, raising awareness about autism, and lighting MoPHs HQ and several health facilities in blue during the celebration. Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Programs Dept. at MoPH Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani said that strengthening cooperation between the health sector and the concerned authorities in the State of Qatar contributes to improving the quality of services provided to people with autism, and increasing accessibility, inclusion, and support for services dedicated to them. He added that MoPH pays special attention to people with ASD, as the Ministry is keen to cooperate with its partners to work on improving the lives of people with ASD and their families in the State of Qatar. Health Leader of the Nati onal Autism Plan at MoPH Dr. Nouf Al Siddiqi said: "The activities and events organized by the health sector in the State of Qatar on the occasion of the World Autism Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day contribute to promoting awareness building and providing valuable insights and information about autism, to promote greater understanding and deeper empathy for people with autism, stressing that comprehensive awareness and education based on scientific evidence is an essential step to integrate people with autism into society. She added that MoPH, in cooperation with the Qatar Foundation, through the Rafad training program, will organize a virtual workshop on April 27 to educate parents of people with autism and the public. Registration to participate in the workshop will be through Awsaj Academy. Assistant Medical Director for Child and Adolescent Health Services at PHCC Dr. Sadriya Al Kooheji said that the Healthy Child clinics in PHCC's health centers provide ASD screening services for young children at the age of 18 and 30 months, stressing that correct rehabilitation starts with early detection of ASD. She added: The comprehensive and specialized rehabilitation of autism includes diagnosis, speech therapy, occupational and movement therapy, behavioral, special education, and many others, stressing that the integrated support plan for people with autism with from early detection, then diagnosis and rehabilitation, school, and community integration and later occupational. Dr. Ammar Hussain Abu Shaheen, clinical leader of the Therapeutic Autism Program at HMC's (Al Maha Children's Specialty Care Center), said: "Medical, psychological, and educational interventions, from early childhood to lifelong, contribute to improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of people with autism, improving their ability to communicate effectively and socially interact and ensuring that they benefit from health and education services and opportunities and support them throughout their lives, stressing the importance of d esigning interventions for these people and providing them with the participation of their families to ensure that the benefit of these services is maximized. He added: "Al Maha Children's Specialty Care Center at HMC provides specialized health care for children with autism or special needs who need long-term and urgent specialized care, and through the center they provide for their medical needs in one location. It is noteworthy that autism is a lifelong condition that affects how an individual communicates and interacts with others, and how he perceives the world around him, and the term "autism spectrum" is used to describe this condition because people with autism are affected in different ways, varying degrees, and the cause in most cases is unknown. Source: Qatar News Agency