Four out of five children in Gaza suffer from emotional distress, Save the Children said Wednesday, 15 years after the Zionist entity slapped a strict blockade on the Palestinian territory. The Zionist entity imposed the measure in June 2007, as fighters of the Islamist Hamas movement took control of the densely populated enclave. The Zionist entity and Egypt continue to severely restrict the flow of people and materials in and out.

In a report called “Trapped”, Britain-based Save the Children said the mental health of Gazan children has continued to deteriorate. Since 2018, the number reporting symptoms of “depression, grief and fear”, had risen from 55 percent to 80 percent, the report said. Save the Children’s director for the occupied Palestinian territories, Jason Lee said: “The children we spoke to for this report described living in a perpetual state of fear, worry, sadness and grief, waiting for the next round of violence to erupt, and feeling unable to sleep or concentrate.”

“The physical evidence of their distress – bedwetting, loss of ability to speak or to complete basic tasks – is shocking and should serve as a wakeup call to the international community,” he added. Children make up nearly half of Gaza’s population of 2.1 million. Around 800,000 young people in the territory who have “never known life without the blockade,” Save the Children said.

Over the past 12 months, the Zionist entity has granted more work permits for Gazans seeking better paid jobs inside the Zionist entity. It has also relaxed some restrictions on the flow of goods in and out of the territory. But the blockade remains broadly unchanged, with Palestinians generally barred from leaving Gaza through the Erez crossing to the Zionist entity. Gazans also face huge obstacles exiting through the Rafah crossing to Egypt.

In a statement marking the anniversary of the blockade, Human Rights Watch said that “(the Zionist entity), with Egypt’s help, has turned Gaza into an open-air prison”. HRW’s director for the Zionist entity and Palestine, Omar Shakir, told AFP: “Young people face the brunt of (the blockade) because they don’t know of a Gaza before the closure. Their horizons are forcibly narrowed to a 40 by 11 kilometer strip of land and that prevents them from the chance to interact and engage with the world,” Shakir said. – AFP

Kuwait has among the highest prices for hajj in the Gulf, with hajj tour operators charging up to KD 7,000 per pilgrim. This led hundreds of citizens who want to perform hajj to travel to Saudi Arabia to register with local hajj campaigns there at prices of only KD 50 to KD 290, with KD 900 being the highest price.

Kuwait Times spoke to hajj tour operators to learn more about the reasons behind the steep increase in prices. Khaled Abdulrahman, a hajj campaign employee, stressed prices in Saudi Arabia have increased more than ever. “Value added tax was hiked recently by the Saudi authorities, while hotels doubled their prices compared to before the pandemic. The Saudi hajj organizing company also increased prices threefold,” he said.

Despite these reasons, pilgrims have expressed their dissatisfaction with the price hikes by hajj campaigns on social media. “Prices depend on the hotel’s rating and the operator’s services. For 5-star hotels, a triple room costs KD 3,750 for each pilgrim, while before it was KD 2,000 to KD 2,400,” Abdulrahman said.

“If pilgrims want to upgrade their hajj trip and enjoy special service, such as reserving a room adjacent to Al-Haram, the prices will be higher. Before the pandemic, VIP rooms were between KD 7,000 and KD 8,000, but today the rate is around KD 5,000 for 5-star hotels,” he said. But he pointed out that Kuwait also provides hajj tours at a lower cost, at around KD 1,650 per pilgrim, with basic services only.

One million pilgrims

Regarding the number of Kuwaiti pilgrims, Abdulrahman said: “In order to reduce crowding, Saudi authorities took a decision to cap the hajj season at only one million pilgrims, compared to 2.5 million in 2019. Saudi Arabia allows every country to send only their own citizens through the hajj campaigns, and sets a fixed number for each country. Kuwait’s share is only 3,600 pilgrims.” Kuwait had earlier submitted a request to Saudi Arabia to increase the number of pilgrims, but no response has been received until now, according to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.

“Due to the reduction in the number of pilgrims this year by Saudi authorities, the cost of hajj increased automatically in order to cover the expenses of the campaigns,” Assad Ahmad, another hajj campaign employee, told Kuwait Times. “Before the pandemic, each hajj campaign comprised of 100 pilgrims, while today the number cannot exceed more than 41 people due to social distancing procedures,” he said.

“Value added tax has increased to 15 percent in Saudi Arabia, which definitely affected the hajj season, while hotels have separate taxes, which also increased by 10 percent recently, which means the total amount will double,” Ahmad said. “After a pause in hajj tours for almost two years due to the pandemic and the increase in prices in Saudi Arabia, the campaigns raised their prices by KD 700 to KD 800 for each pilgrim, in addition to the increase in charges at Arafat and Mina by around KD 400,” Ahmad added.

Taking advantage

He pointed out that most airlines are taking advantage of the hajj season. “The prices of tickets during the hajj season increase every year. While airfare during regular days to Jeddah is around KD 60 roundtrip, tickets during hajj rise to around KD 350, a more than 500 percent hike,” Ahmad said, adding prices at hajj operators in Kuwait can be considered as one of the cheapest compared to other countries in terms of services provided.

Ahmad told Kuwait Times that irrespective of the type of services provided for pilgrims by hajj campaigns, the 30 percent profit margin set by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Kuwait remains in place and will not be reduced even if the services are fewer than those offered by other campaigns.

Kuwait Times contacted the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs on the sharp increase in prices of hajj campaigns but received no response, while the Hajj and Umrah Campaign Union refused to give a statement. However, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday denying price violations by Kuwaiti hajj campaigns and stressed it is continuously monitoring prices./KT

A delegation from the National Diwan for Human rights represented by the head of the Permanent Committee for Anti-Torture, Racial Discrimination and Combat Human Trafficking, Zakaria Al-Ansari, the Head of the Complaints Committee, Ali Al-Baghli and a member of the Permanent Committee for Anti-Torture, Taher Al-Baghli, visited Abdullah Fahad Tami in the hospital after news of being mistreated by the men of the General Department of Weapons Investigation.

Tami said that he was arrested in connection with case of being accused of possessing a weapon by the General Department of Weapons Investigation. He stated that he was deprived of his right to call or contact a lawyer during the investigation period and was mistreated, he also stated that he submitted an official complaint to the prosecution against those who mistreated him.

The National Diwan for Human Rights believes that the torture claim made by Abdullah Tami carries much evidence that supports his claims, and urges the investigation authorities and the General Directorate of implementation to deal with the case transparently with allowing the National Diwan to follow up with the procedures.

The national Diwan for Human Rights also supports what the Ministry of Interior has done by forming an investigation committee to deal with the claims and hopes that appropriate measure will be taken to prevent repeated cases of torture, and requests to participate with the Ministry of Interior to review all procedures that provide safeguards to protect the accused person from being tortured or mistreated.

The Diwan also expresses its concern about the procedures of protecting the accused and suspects in general, which requires developing the procedures of the Public Prosecution and to train the members of the Ministry of Interior more on the rights of the accused, with a fair investigation without violating their rights to treat them humanely.

The Diwan also stresses the need to develop the legislative system for protection against torture, especially separating the forensic medicine and criminal evidence from the Ministry of Interior, instead of being two departments affiliated to the General Department of Investigation, reducing the period of detention and pretrial detention, and many important legislative amendments that require a special law on protection from torture./KT

Kuwait has set a “limitless” precedent in the multilateral humanitarian arena, the chief of the International Committee for the Red Cross’ (ICRC) delegation for Gulf Arab states Dr Omar Ouda said on Wednesday. Heaping praise on Kuwait’s “humanitarian devotion,” the ICRC official said ties with Kuwait are characterized by amity and solidity, adding that the ICRC and Kuwait have formed an effective tandem to meet the needs of humanity.

Amid talks with the outgoing ICRC official, Kuwait Red Crescent Society chief Dr Maha Al-Barjas highlighted the two sides’ shared viewpoints on an array of matters dealing with humanitarian work. She went on to thank ICRC for its commitment and diligence in serving humanity across some of the world’s most impoverished areas. – KUNA

Boursa Kuwait, Kuwait Clearing Company organize blood donation drive

Boursa Kuwait and the Kuwait Clearing Company (KCC) organized a blood donation drive on Monday, June 13, 2022, in collaboration with the Central Blood Bank – Kuwait (KCBB). The initiative was held at the Boursa Kuwait premises to help commemorate World Blood Donor Day and raise awareness to the importance of voluntary donations, as well as highlight the important role each and every one of us can play in saving lives. The blood drive was part of the exchange’s Corporate Sustainability initiatives to create a lasting meaningful impact on the community where it operates and is in line with Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being – and Goal 17 – Partnership for the Goals – of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A World Health Organization initiative, World Blood Donor Day takes place on June 14 each year, and was created to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion; highlight the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems; as well as support national blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations and other nongovernmental organizations in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programs by reinforcing national and local campaigns. The day also provides an opportunity to call to action governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, unpaid blood donors and to manage access to blood and the transfusion of those who require it.

For 2022, the World Blood Donor Day slogan is “Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives” and aims to draw attention to the roles that voluntary blood donations play in saving lives and enhancing solidarity within communities. The objectives of this year’s campaign include thanking blood donors in the world and create wider public awareness of the need for regular, unpaid blood donation; highlighting the need for committed, year-round blood donation, to maintain adequate supplies and achieve universal and timely access to safe blood transfusion; recognizing and promoting the values of voluntary unpaid blood donation in enhancing community solidarity and social cohesion; as well as raising awareness of the need for increased investment from governments to build a sustainable and resilient national blood system and increase collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors.

Boursa Kuwait’s Corporate Sustainability strategy stipulates ensuring initiatives apply and fall in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), industry best practice standards and investor expectations, creating strong and sustainable partnerships that ultimately achieve success and allow Boursa Kuwait to leverage the capabilities and strengths of other companies or organizations that have experience in different fields, and integrating sustainability efforts with the company culture, in order to achieve longevity and an ongoing impact that is carried on and instilled in the day-to-day operations of the stock exchange.

As part of the strategy, Boursa Kuwait has launched many initiatives in partnership with local and international organizations, focusing on support for nongovernmental organizations and charity programs, financial literacy and capital market awareness, the empowerment of women, environmental protection as well as safety and preventive measures against COVID-19./ Kuwait times

Turkish doctor Mustafa Can Kosay, who performed surgery on Emsada Cago in the final years of the Bosnian War, were recently reunited after 27 years.

It was 1995 and Cago was a 2-year-old girl with deformities in her feet, while Kosay was a young ensign with a Turkish unit deployed in the Balkan country.

He served one year with a Turkish peacekeeping unit deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a medical officer, treating both Turkish troops and locals.

Kosay got an opportunity to meet Cago on his recent visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina. They met on June 9 in Zenica, some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Sarajevo, where Cago now lives.

"She had deformities in her feet, and was not treated very well. I took her to a local hospital and performed surgery," he told Anadolu Agency.

Years later, Cago reached out to the doctor through social media and they started corresponding, deciding to meet again.

"Now, she is a mother of two children. As a doctor, I am always happy to see my recovered patients, but meeting a patient after 27 years was a difference experience altogether," he said.

During the meeting, Cago also gave him an album of pictures taken before and after the surgery.

Cago said that during the war, Turkish doctors were their only hope.

"Because of war, we had limited health care and little means for my treatment. Someone recommended us to see doctors at the Turkish garrison. There, we met Dr. Kosay and Ayse (now a retired colonel), who supported us in every way. He and other soldiers became our friends, our new family, at a time when we had few friends,” she said.

Cago said she had undergone several surgeries, but to no avail. But when Kosay operated on her, she regained her ability to walk again. "What I felt after recovery cannot be described ... very emotional moments," she said.

Kosay later returned to Türkiye after completing his military service, and they lost contact.

Cago's older sister is married to a Turkish national. When he heard this story, he wanted to help find Dr. Kosay. They first contacted the colonel who gave them Kosay’s phone number and finally, they managed to arrange a meeting in Zenica.

"This is something you cannot buy,” she said. “I always tell my children to be good towards others because no matter how many years pass, time does not erase the good deeds you did."

The Bosnian War began on March 1, 1992 and lasted until Dec. 14, 1995. More than 100,000 people lost their lives, while around 2 million were uprooted from their homes./aa

US prosecutors filed federal hate crimes charges Wednesday against the white gunman accused of targeting Black Americans in a Buffalo, New York grocery store, killing 10 victims and injuring three others.

Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed to "be relentless" in the Justice Department's efforts to combat hate crimes after meeting with the victims' families, and "hold accountable those who perpetrate them."

"No one in this country should have to live in fear that they will go to work or shop at a grocery store and will be attacked by someone who hates them because of the color of their skin," he said during a news conference in Buffalo alongside senior Justice Department officials, including US Attorney for the Western District of New York Trini Ross.

Payton Gendron, 18, now faces 10 federal charges of committing a hate crime resulting in death for each of the victims who were killed May 14 at the Tops Friendly Market. He also faces three counts of committing a hate crime with the intent to kill, as well as 13 firearm violations.

All 10 people who were killed were Black. Two of the injured were white and one was Black.

Federal hate crimes charges carry the possibility of the death penalty. Asked if prosecutors would pursue capital punishment, Garland demurred, saying the department's internal procedures would be followed and the victims' families would be consulted.

He declined to say whether the families he spoke with Wednesday wanted Gendron to face the death penalty.

Gendron already faces murder and hate crimes charges in a state case and it is unclear which prosecution would move forward first./agencies