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World Refugee Day: Refugees in Middle East Lack Support

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More assistance is needed for vulnerable refugees in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to a statement by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Marking World Refugee Day, on June 20, the aid group is calling for increased support for migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people who face multiple threats.

Refugees across the world already faced hunger, violence, and exploitation, but the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the fate of millions of refugees. The MENA region’s conflict zones in Yemen, Libya, and Syria have resulted in increasingly widespread displacement as citizens try to escape war and starvation.

Refugees, migrants, and IDPs

Besides refugees, who are defined as having fled their country to escape persecution or war, there are Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) who are refugees in their home country, and migrants who flee extreme economic deprivation in search of a better life.

The division between the three definitions comes with some ambiguity as war, economic crises, and oppression often go hand-in-hand. Countries that are wary of taking in refugees have often portrayed these vulnerable people as fortune-seekers in search of better economic prospects.

Legal rights

Seeing refugees as motivated by economic reasons does not discount the fact that they have legal rights enshrined in our global consensus on human rights and humanitarian law. All human beings have the right to claim asylum in another country as part of Article 33 of the Geneva Convention on Refugees.

Refugees are also repeatedly denied the right to not experience inhuman and degrading treatment as described in Article 3 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. And any human being officially has the right to leave any country, as stated in Article 13.2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

COVID-19

Support for refugees is becoming more important than ever as the coronavirus pandemic presents another grave threat. The IFRC is now warning of the major impacts COVID-19 is having on already distraught refugees.

Francesco Rocca, president of the IFRC, stated that “COVID-19 is exacerbating the suffering of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Many refugees were already living below the poverty line and struggling to make ends meet. Now they have lost the little income they earn, forcing them to cut down on basic resources including food and medicine.”

More help is needed, with catastrophe taking place in Yemen and Libya while many other countries in the region face economic problems that could lead to the continued daily growth of thousands of new refugees that add to a refugee population of 70.8 million people, according to the UNHCR.

Tehran Resists IAEA Pressures for Nuclear Inspection

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency, has come into conflict with Tehran over the latter’s steadfast opposition to international inspection at two suspected former nuclear sites.

On June 19, the 35-member Board of Governors adopted a resolution calling upon Iran to allow the agency to inspect two locations that are suspected to have housed nuclear development projects in the past.

The IAEA’s director-general, Mariano Grossi, argued that Tehran has been obstructing the agency’s mission in the country since as far back as 2019. Moreover, Grossi claims that for several months, Iran has barred inspectors from two sites altogether.

Grossi told the board on June 15 that “Iran has denied us access to two locations and that, for almost a year, it has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify our questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities.”.

In light of these allegations, a coalition of three countries—the United Kingdom, Germany, and France—sponsored the resolution and called upon Iran to “fully cooperate with the Agency and satisfy the Agency’s requests without any further delay, including by providing prompt access to the locations specified by the Agency.”

The resolution passed with an overwhelming majority, the final tally for the vote being 25 to two with seven abstentions. Opposed to the resolution were Iran’s close allies Russia and China, while the neutral South Africa, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, and Niger abstained.

A ticking clock

Although the resolution focused on addressing two suspected nuclear sites in particular, the IAEA also discussed a third site which has already been destroyed. The agency invoked this to argue that Tehran is capable of hiding evidence of nuclear activities if given the time to do so.

At all three of the sites inaccessible to the IAEA, Iranian officials have allegedly launched a campaign of “extensive sanitisation,” designed to conceal evidence of any past activities.

At the now-destroyed site, the IAEA testified that Iran conducted “extensive sanitisation and levelling” as early as 2003 or 2004. As a result, there is no evidence or meaningful data available for collection.

Since then, reports have alleged that Iran continues to attempt to replicate the successful sanitisation in order to erase evidence of nuclear development at the other two sites. This has been disputed by Russia, China, and Iran have disputed the claim, but the IAEA has maintained its position.

At the remaining sites, the IAEA has testified that santisation efforts are already underway. One of the two locations was partially demolished in 2004 and the other was recorded to have activities “consistent with efforts to sanitise” from as early as July 2019.

A “proportional reaction”

Tehran has defended itself, alleging that an ill-intentioned Israel was the source of these “sanitisation” claims. Abbas Mousavi, a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, further argued that Israeli officials learned of these sanitisation operations through espionage, and that evidence is decades-old and worthless.

Mousavi also threatened a “proportional reaction” in response to any provocative actions by the IAEA.

Washington backed the resolution but also called for stronger language against Iran, once again displaying an increasing belligerence against Iran under the Trump administration.

“The IAEA has confirmed Iran is denying access to two of its past nuclear sites,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Twitter on June 16. “This unprecedented obstruction is deeply concerning and unacceptable.”

Recently, the United States has been pressuring its European allies to support an extension to the UN arms embargo against Iran. Set to expire in October, the arms embargo was one of many conditions addressed in the original nuclear deal between the US and Iran. Citing the increase of violence by Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East, Washington still contends that Iran is a threat, and is likely to use this resolution as further evidence.

Maryam Shojaei Awarded for Efforts Supporting Iran’s Female Soccer Fans

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Iran has banned women from attending live soccer matches since the 1979 Revolution, but six years ago Maryam Shojaei started fighting to change that. She has now been awarded the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award for her efforts. The award is named in honor of former ESPN commentator Stuart Scott, and celebrates people that have taken risks and used an innovative approach to helping the disadvantaged through the power of sports — qualities that Shojaei embodies.  

For the last 40 years the conservative Islamic regime in Iran has banned women, 50% of the population, from attending men’s football games to protect them from “profane language” and “half-naked men.” Their love for the game has never wavered and Shojaei has fought both at home and internationally for change. 

“It became clear after a while that there wouldn’t be any change within Iran. And I took my activism abroad — I went to matches all over the world, held banners, got the attention of the media and the federation. I recognized it had to be a global movement,” she told ESPN on June 18. 

“Slowly, when they realized I am not going anywhere, the focus became about how to change this unwritten rule in Iran.”

Anonymously at first in 2014, then vocally, Maryam Shojaei mounted a campaign after travelling to Canada to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015. What started off on social media turned into a full blown crusade including a #NoBan4Women petition, holding protest banners at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, and putting sustained pressure on FIFA to let women watch internationals in Iran.

Long, Hard Fight for Change 

The road was not easy, and even Shojaei’s friends questioned if her fight was worth it, pointing out that violence and bad behavior are part-and-parcel of football culture in Iran. Others questioned the importance female participation at football matches, when Iranian women face a raft of gender-based discrimination and challenges. 

“They say that even if the stadium is open for women today, they won’t take their wives and mothers there because they know what kind of atmosphere exists there.” 

“My response to that always is, ‘This can happen on the streets, this can happen everywhere,’ and that the atmosphere is that way because it’s a one-gender environment,” said Shojaei who is also the sister of Iran’s national captain, Masoud Shojaei.

Incremental Success

She eventually achieved a victory in October 2019 when Iranian women, for the first time in 41 years were allowed to attend the FIFA World Cup qualifier between Iran and Cambodia in Tehran. It was a huge success, with the initial 3,500 ticket release selling out. Even with another 1,000 tickets sold, despite finally getting a foot in the door, women still only made up around 5% of the crowd at that match.

“These changes — toward the stadium ban it was a big step, but toward equality it is a small step. It wasn’t the biggest problem for Iranian women. We have other problems that need to be solved. But still, it was a big step because that was the first victory. I was proud of myself and so many Iranian women who fought the stadium ban.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the sport’s governing body is still pushing Iran to open up domestic football matches, not just internationals, to female soccer fanatics. “There can be no stopping or turning back now,” the peak body said in October 2019.

“FIFA now looks more than ever towards a future when ALL girls and women wishing to attend football matches in Iran will be free to do so, and in a safe environment.

Shojaei says her activism was sparked by a terrifying incident from her childhood, during the Iran-Iraq war.  

“I was 4 when the war between Iran and Iraq [1980-88] started. On the first day of the war, our home was destroyed. None of us were home. Otherwise, all of us would be dead. That’s probably why I speak out when I see something unfair — like with the violation of basic women’s rights and peace.”

It seems that things are in fact looking up and change is coming from a surprising source within Iran itself — the men.

“About 10 months ago, an Iranian stadium was packed — of course all with men. I was very moved by what they said in [Azeri],” Shojaei said. “One half of the stadium said, ‘We are missing our Iranian women,’ and the other half responded by saying, ‘It’s their right.’ I was so moved.” 

“For Iranian men and for other countries where women are treated as second-class citizens, the men could take advantage of the privileges they have. But in this case, they were complaining about inequality and underscoring women’s rights, which was very precious to me. 

“When the oppressors take a stand for the oppressed, it’s more powerful.”

Read also: Iranian Prison Guards Allegedly Beat, Drugged Australian Academic

 

 

Civilians Suffer as Turkey Launches Incursion Into Iraqi Kurdistan

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Recent days have seen Iraqi Kurdistan marred by airstrikes, artillery fire, and violence as Turkey and Iran marked a new battleground for the conflict between the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) and the two countries.

Beginning June 15, Turkey began an overnight campaign of strategic bombing against Kurdish targets in the Yazidi homeland of Sinjar and the Qandil mountains, the current headquarters for the PKK. Turkish and Iranian forces also targeted the town of Makhmour and smaller settlements in northeast Iraq.

The bombing campaign was unprecedented in scale and scope, destroying more than 500 targets within 36 hours.

Following a night of bombardment from F-16s, drones, and howitzers, the Turkish military launched a subsequent ground operation in northern Iraq, named Operation Claw-Tiger. Turkish special forces have been spearheading the ground operation, paving the way for the establishment of Turkish military bases in Iraqi Kurdistan.

On the face, Ankara and Tehran have posited that the operation is designed to fight what they called Kurdish cross-border “terrorism.” Moreover, Ankara has justified the operation by citing recent attacks on Turkish authorities by Kurdish militants.

However, beyond combating terrorism, the establishment of military bases in Iraqi Kurdistan has also become a principal focus for the Turkish government, according to Turkish officials.

A senior Turkish official, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that Ankara had been in communication with Iraqi authorities regarding the operation and the removal of Kurdish militants along the Iraqi-Turkish border.

“The plan is to establish temporary base areas [to] prevent the cleared regions from being used for the same purpose again,” the official said. “There are already more than 10 temporary bases there. New ones will be established.”

Meanwhile, as the politics between Turkey, Iran, and the PKK take place on the battlefield, those caught in the middle continue to suffer the greatest casualties.

Caught in the Middle

In the decades of conflict between Turkey and Kurdish insurgents, more than 40,000 people have died, the majority being civilians. Operations Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger are no different in this regard, with civilians bearing the greatest weight of the violence from the campaigns thus far.

Although the operation is said to have destroyed more than 500 PKK targets, there have been no reported combatant casualties. However, civilians have already begun to suffer from the operation and continued Turkish and Iranian bombardment in northern Iraq.

In northeast Iraq, near the border with Iran, a shepherd killed during the Turkish and Iranian bombardment became the first victim of the operation.

“At 11 am on Wednesday, Turkish jets struck the Khinera area in Sidakan sub-district, killing a shepherd named Abbas Maghdid, aged 30,” Ihsan Chalabi, mayor of the district of Sidakan reported on Thursday.

Throughout the prolonged conflict, civilian farmers and workers caught between the two sides have suffered some of the heaviest casualties.

“Our areas have now become the battlefield of two foreign powers. The PKK and Turkey have nothing to do with us, but they are fighting on our land,” Derelok Governor Sami Usana said earlier this year, calling for an end to the conflict.

Iran and Turkey have caused extensive damage throughout northeast Iraqi Kurdistan, especially small villages with no ties to either side. These villages are particularly vulnerable, as airstrikes have the potential to destroy the farmlands that sustain villagers’ livelihoods. Fearing the airstrikes, several of these villages have evacuated as Turkish and Iranian forces continue their operation.

Trapped among refugees

Iraq has also accused Turkey of damaging a refugee camp near Makhmour, with Iraq’s Joint Operations Command condemning the Turkish incursion as a “provocative action.”

“We deplore the penetration of Iraqi airspace by the Turkish planes which—at a depth of 193km from the Turkish border inside the Iraqi airspace—targeted a refugee camp near Makhmour and Sinjar,” Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said in a statement.

This is not the first time that a refugee camp has been caught between the PKK and the Turkish military. As recently as April, a Turkish drone strike damaged the same refugee camp near Makhmour.

However, Turkey has defended its targeting of this particular camp, arguing that the Makhmour refugee camp is a hub for Kurdish militant ideology.

Opposition from the East

Since the outbreak of violence between Turkey and the PKK first began in 1984, the main theatre for the conflict has gradually shifted from southeast Turkey to northern Iraq. In 2020, the Turkish military and the PKK have battled out 77% of their engagements in northern Iraq, with Turkey seeking to push the conflict beyond its borders.

This has led to frequent border disputes between Ankara and Baghdad, with the latter arguing that Turkey’s operations inside Iraq amount to a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty.

“We stress that Turkey must stop its bombardment and withdraw its attacking forces from Iraqi territory,” the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement.

In addition to just Iraq, the Arab League has also condemned the operation, with the League’s Secretary General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, saying that the Turkish military campaign “represents an attack on Iraqi sovereignty, without coordination with the government of Baghdad.”

Despite criticism from Iraq and the Arab League, Ankara has indicated no intentions to end the operation any time soon. Rather, the Turkish government maintains the legitimacy of the operation and intends to continue with the campaign until they have fulfilled their agenda.

“There is no such thing as a duration for the operation,” an anonymous senior Turkish government official told Reuters. “The operation will continue for as long as necessary until it reaches its objective.”

Silence from the West

Amidst the silence of Western powers regarding the Turkish operation, widespread protests have erupted across Europe including in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva, criticizing the UN and European powers for failing to condemn Ankara.

Activists also emphasized that European states continue to profit from the Turkish operation through arms sales with Ankara. In particular, protestors argued that Germany and Switzerland were responsible for providing Turkey with the arms it needed to launch military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Although the United States has also remained silent on this particular operation, it shoulders some of the responsibility for Turkey’s willingness to engage Kurdish militants outside of its borders.

With the recent breakdown in relations between the United States and the Kurds—driven by US President Donald Trump—the wariness of the Turkish government has evaporated. Under the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has increased its belligerence towards Kurdish resistance, both within and outside of Turkey’s borders.

Following the United States’ withdrawal from Syria, Erdogan saw the green light for subsequent suppression of Kurdish insurgency. This has led to an escalation in the conflict between Turkey and the PKK, with the disadvantaged Kurds left vulnerable without the support of outside powers.

With the PKK on the back foot against the militaries of Turkey and Iran, the civilians caught in the middle are often subjected to inescapable violence. Now, as Turkey commits itself to a potentially lengthy operation in a foreign country, the chances for a peaceful resolution between the PKK and Turkey look bleak.

UK, US, Spain Sign $26 Million Donor Aid Agreement With Jordan

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The hard-hitting after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poorest and most vulnerable has prompted the international government aid agencies of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain to band together to support stability in Jordan. 

On Thursday, US Aid Agency (USAID), UK Department for International Development (DFID), and Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) announced they, in partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, were coming together to create a new multi-donor account. 

USAID said it will contribute $20 million to the fund, while the UK will give $6.17 million to the account that is to be administered by Jordan’s National Aid Fund (NAF).  

The British Ambassador to Jordan, Edward Oakden, noted, “In a crisis, it is so often the poorest and most vulnerable who are hardest hit.” The funds will help those most affected in the form of emergency cash and allowances to cover necessities like transportation and electricity through Jordan’s NAF. 

Preserving Jordanian resilience 

Jordan’s Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Wissam Rabadi welcomed the renewed support, saying it would help “further strengthen our national system and assist our efforts towards self-reliance.” 

“We are grateful to the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain for their generous and invaluable support towards this multi-donor account, which reflects a true understanding of the mounting challenges facing Jordan in light of regional crises, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Jordanian economy,” the minister said on June 18.

“The overarching purpose of this program is to expand and improve the poverty-targeted social assistance programs operated by the National Aid Fund and strengthen their ability to respond to emergencies, including the COVID-19 crisis, with the ultimate goal of alleviating the effects of poverty in Jordan. Moving forward, we aspire to further strengthen this partnership by encouraging other donors and international partners to join this effort,” Rabadi added.  

“No country can tackle the COVID-19 crisis alone,” the British ambassador said. “With this support, we are standing up together for the weakest in society, while also buttressing Jordan’s economic resilience.” 

The USAID Jordan Mission Director Jim Barnhart added that the new agreement was proof that even in moments of crisis, the international community should remain committed to ensuring partners like Jordan are strengthened with ongoing assistance.

“The joint financing arrangement for the National Aid Fund establishes the third such multi-donor fund that accelerates Jordan’s path toward self-reliance by working through the Jordanian governmental system,” Barnhart tweeted after the announcement. 

“We are devoting our efforts to joining common initiatives like this one, based on solidarity and aligning resources behind Jordan’s leadership in order to achieve a real impact,” he added.  

The Spanish Ambassador to Jordan, Aranzazu Banon Davalos, hailed the collaborative and local-led nature of the new agreement, saying, “We are devoting our efforts to joining common initiatives like this one, based on solidarity and aligning resources behind Jordan’s leadership in order to achieve a real impact.” 

“Spain, as part of the EU, and as a close and committed partner to Jordan firmly believes that working together with other donors and the Government of Jordan is the best way forward in order to be successful in the common endeavor to overcome the crisis leaving no one behind,” the Spanish Ambassador added.  

Jordan borders Syria, Iraq, and Israel and has become a mecca for people fleeing violence and economic upheaval in its region. It now hosts 750,000 refugees, the second-highest number in the world in comparison to its population. 

Although relatively economically resilient compared to many of its neighbors, like all countries worldwide, its economy has taken a dive due to COVID-19. 

The latest injection of American, British, and Spanish funds demonstrates the international community’s keen interest in ensuring Jordan remains a beacon of political and economic stability in a troubled part of the Middle East. 

Read also: Inside a Drastic Lockdown : Living and Working through Confinement in Jordan

 

 

Lebanese Banking Sector ‘Unwilling’ to Reform

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On Thursday, June 18, Lebanese financial adviser Henri Chaoul resigned from his role in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF.) The adviser of the Lebanese Ministry of Finance expressed his exasperation with the Lebanese banking sector.

“I have come to the realization that there is no genuine will to implement either reforms or a restructuring of the banking sector, including the Central Bank,” Chaoul said in a statement.

The adviser accused Lebanese authorities, including politicians, central bank officials, and representatives of the Lebanese banking sector of dismissing the “magnitude” of Lebanese losses and accused all actors of embarking on a “populist agenda,” according to Reuters.

The government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab had introduced a plan based on government projections of losses amounting to $83 billion in the banking sector alone. The plan’s estimations of losses presented the first quantitative diagnosis of Lebanon’s intertwined crises that have led to rapid hyperinflation and rapidly falling living standards for Lebanese people.

Fundamental disagreements

Chaoul and the IMF appear to agree with the magnitude of the losses estimated in the prime minister’s plan, but Chaoul implied that the banking sector, including its central bank and a parliamentarian fact-finding committee, had presented very different numbers, challenging the government’s estimates. The failure of Lebanese officials to agree upon the scale of its losses amounted to a “dismissal” of the true problem, according to the adviser.

The former Lebanese finance minister and current Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri said that the government estimates had been drawn up in a rushed manner that had led to mistakes and wrong assumptions. He told Lebanese broadcaster MTV that Lebanon would be unable to pay its bond obligations until 2043 as politicians aim to reach a compromise on the true number of losses.

The IMF itself has highlighted that the uncertainty over the true scale of Lebanon’s financial woes is a major stumbling block in the ongoing negotiations, calling for a “joint diagnosis” to establish a transparent diagnosis on which to base its talks.

“Lebanon needs to reach a common understanding of the source and size of its financial losses,” IMF spokesman Gerry Rice stated on the IMF website, calling the issues “complex.”

Reforms

The IMF will only provide support if the Lebanese government is willing to implement broad reforms, which could prove unpopular. “There is a need for comprehensive reforms in many areas, which requires acceptance and consensus from the society as a whole,” Rice stated.

But many fear the IMF will require unpopular neoliberal reforms that aim to cut public spending that could face significant resistance from Lebanon’s increasingly destitute population.

Public resistance to IMF demands for reform is highly likely as the IMF is a proponent of the “Washington consensus” that calls for cutting public spending, shifting taxation onto the poor, liberalization of banking, deregulation, and privatization.

Many countries who have followed IMF reforms have only seen their populations further impoverished as public spending is cut to allow for foreign debt repayments while halting growth and inflation.

US ambitions to weaken the influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon and neighboring Syria have resulted in tough sanctions, the Caesar act, which came into effect on June 17. The sanctions are aimed at Syria but will gravely impact Lebanon, which is one of the few remaining nations to trade with Syria.

The role of the US in further worsening Lebanon’s economic prospects in the midst of its interconnected health, economic, and financial crises has led some to urge the country to find funding from China instead.

Chinese alternative

China has been eager to work with Lebanon, as it sees its ports in Tripoli as an important possible link in its Belt and Road Initiative that aims to connect Europe with China through an ambitious infrastructure project that spans the historic silk route.

Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah on June 16 announced that China is ready to invest in Lebanon’s infrastructure.

“Chinese companies are ready to inject money into this country,” Nasrallah stated on Hezbollah’s television network Al-Manar. Nasrallah argued that China would easily match the $10 billion sought from the IMF, with few of the painful reform demands.

While inviting Chinese investment could significantly boost Lebanon’s economic prospects, it would risk the ire of the United States who could apply sanctions to cripple the economy as it is currently doing in Iran and Syria.

Accepting IMF reforms would likely spark further popular unrest, while accepting Chinese investments could trigger a diplomatic conflict with the US. Even if Lebanon had a functional and effective government, the country is left with few good choices to resolve the suffering of its people.

50,000 COVID-19 Cases in Egypt Amid Plans to Restart Tourism

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On Friday, June 19, Egypt passed the unfortunate milestone of recording more than 50,000 cases nationwide. The government reported 1,218 new cases on Thursday, June 18, after the country saw its largest daily increase yet when 1,677 cases and 62 deaths hit headlines on June 13. According to data reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) Egypt now has 50,437 cases and 1,938 deaths, with no sign of a flattening curve in infection rates.

Growing Epidemic

As the most populous country in the Middle East and North Africa, Egypt would logically record more cases than its smaller neighbors, but the continuous increase in cases is worrying experts. The Egyptian Medical Syndicate on Tuesday, June 16 reported that 68 Egyptian doctors have died of the coronavirus and 430 have contracted the virus, making up roughly 5-7% of all doctors.

According to Anadolu Agency, unofficial sources have claimed that a further 1,000 healthcare workers have caught the virus, leading to 180 deaths by Tuesday, June 16. At the end of May, the Guardian revealed that one of its reporters in Egypt, Ruth Michaelson, was forced to leave the country after reporting on a study that disputed Egypt’s official tally.

While Egypt initially designated a number of COVID-19 isolation hospitals for every citizen that showed even mild symptoms. The continual increase in new cases appears to have pushed the health ministry to now offer prescriptions that are delivered to patients’ homes as Egypt’s healthcare system struggles to cope with an influx in new cases.

Reopening tourism

On the same day that Egyptian health officials released news of the unfortunate new milestone, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled al-Anany struck an altogether more positive tone. In an interview with Chinese outlet Xinhua, al-Anany stated that Egypt is “gearing up” to welcome foreign tourists.

Anany stated that Egypt “will reopen its airports and resorts in the provinces of Red Sea, South Sinai, and Matrouh to international tourists in an attempt to ease the anticipated recession on the tourism sector due to COVID-19 spread.” The three provinces where tourism will be allowed are all coastal provinces, where Egyptian officials have reported relatively low numbers of coronavirus infections.

“I have received official requests to resume tourist flows from Italy and Ukraine,” Anany told Xinhua, but tempered expectations by saying “we are not expecting a high number of tourists for the time being, not only in Egypt, but the whole world.”

Egypt’s reliance on income from its important tourism sector could force it to risk a premature reopening. Tourism in Egypt brought in $13 billion in 2019, which was an all-time record for the country.

Preventative measures

Several tourism-dependent countries around the world have offered a range of coronavirus-related measures to assuage potential tourists’ worries. The Cypriot Ministry of Tourism announced that any tourist that tests positive for COVID-19 infection on arrival in Cyprus will be provided with free treatment and no hotel expenses on the island. Campsites and hotels around Europe are also reopening as many countries slowly lift lockdowns.

The global pandemic has created an unprecedented situation for tourism around the Mediterranean as millions of Europeans will have had their original travel plans canceled and could soon be shopping for bargains. Meanwhile, traditional tourist destinations compete to offer visitors a safe way to enjoy the hot summer months.

For Egypt, this means improving hygiene standards and introducing a variety of preventative measures. “We are not in a hurry because we give priority to the safety of tourists as well as preserving our image as a tourist destination,” Tourism Minister Anany told Xinhua: Safety has become the new focus in international tourism.

“Hotels have ramped up hygiene, archaeological sites have been sanitized and beaches cleaned up,” Anany stated as Egypt’s seeks to reassure visitors. Whether Egypt’s ambitions toward restarting its vital tourism sector amid a growing epidemic will be successful remains to be seen.

For the many Egyptians who work in the industry, it is clear they would rather listen to their tourism minister’s optimism than despair over the increased numbers of infections reported by health officials.

Lebanese Blogger Calls out French Fashion Industry Racism

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Samar Seraqui de Buttafoco is elegant, chic, stylish, and a sustainable fashion entrepreneur who lives in the 7thArrondissement of Paris.  

On paper, the blogger originally from Lebanon, sounds like the quintessential Parisienne, but according to a conversation with her manager posted to Instagram, she was not “Parisian enough” to grace the pages of the as yet unnamed French fashion magazine.  

Outraged by the latest rejection, the influencer shared the message with her over 100 000 Instagram followers, sparking strong reactions and support from other Arab and women of colour in the fashion industry.  

The Rejection  

“Well, that won’t work for (the anonymous magazine), not Parisian enough, you’re a certain type. Next time for sure…” Seraqui de Buttafoco’s manager said.

The Lebanese-born woman replied, “I forgot that Parisians are white,” to which her manager responded, “I know, shameful.” 

“The beautiful words of fashion,” a clearly upset Seraqui de Buttafoco responded.  

In the caption accompanying the exchange, Seraqui de Buttafoco said she has been subjected to a “systematic racism” by the French fashion industry that constantly “casts her aside” but has remained resilient, and unshaken by such rejections. 

“If one day, I have a daughter I’ll call her Simone, like Simone Veil, and many other Simones who have given me the desire to be Parisienne, above and beyond your stereotypes which are so far from the reality in French society,” the influencer said in a message clearly bound for the unnamed magazine in question. 

“I do have that “je ne sais quoi,” the elegance not to name you,” she added in a final parting shot.

The former political journalist rose to prominence through her wildly popular style blog “Une Libanaise a Paris,” (A Lebanese in Paris) and is now creative director of her own ethically produced t-shirt brand “Das Mots” (The Word). Seraqui de Buttafoco and “Das Mots” have been featured in publications like Vogue Arabia, Vanity Fair France, and Elle, and while she has abandoned her blog, maintains a strong following on Instagram and Facebook. 

The Reaction 

One of the people to come out in support of Seraqui de Buttafoco was her friend and French style icon, model, designer, and aristocrat Ines de la Fressange. 

“Parisians are rarely born in Paris, and this brand is stupid and does not deserve you!” she replied to the post.  

“I am half Argentinian, with Czech, Polish and Colombian blood,” De la Fressange, considered by many to be the quintessential “Parisienne,” added. 

The French-Moroccan blogger and founder of ‘Beatnik Creation’ Hassana Rabeh, said she was shocked by the fact such racism still exists in the French fashion industry. 

“I’m actually in the metro and it’s surprising, the majority of Parisians don’t look like the clichés that brands and magazines try to sell us,” she sarcastically pointed out in an Instagram story on the topic.  

“How many French bloggers of Arabic origins do you see…who are invited to big fashion shows, who do collaboration with major brands?” she asked in another story.  

“One day maybe it will change,” exclaimed hopeful Paris based actress and model Hajar Abourachid. 

Fashion Instagram page, “J’adore la France” (I love France) commented its support for Seraqui de Buttafoco and said that page had been created to provide a more accurate image of what a “Parisienne” woman really is, and to prove that “French girls are not only blonde white and skinny.” 

“Thanks to Samar [Seraqui de Buttafoco] for speaking about the racism that many women who work in fashion and want to participate in campaigns where the aesthetic is said to be “Parisienne,” are victims of. This type of talk and response is shameful and should be denounced,” it said.

The growing prevalence of pages like “J’adore la France” show that French society is starting to recognise and value its inherent diversity. Recent rallies against the death of George Floyd, and French man Adama Troare’s death in custody have shone a light on the dark, often hidden but insidious nature of racism in French society — a country built on liberty, equality and brotherhood where people, in theory “don’t see race.” 

Protests in cities across France, alongside individual incidents like the one highlighted by Seraqui de Buttafoco have forced wider society to take notice. It remains to be seen if they can actually open up the conversation about systemic racism in French society and bring about genuine change.

Read also: Tunisian Parliament Votes Down Bill Calling for Apology from French Colonists

Russian Sources Signal Possible End to Oil Production Cuts

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With oil prices nearing their highest since early March, Kirill Dmitriev, one of Russia’s top oil negotiators  signaled his will to draw down production cuts on Friday June 19. Dmitriev is one of the key players leading negotiations with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Agreements between OPEC and the Russian-led alliance of non-OPEC countries, called OPEC+, have been one of the primary factors in the efforts to stabilize the oil market.

With demand for oil increasing as economies reopen, Russia appears to see no point in further extending production cuts. The existing agreement calls for a global production cut of 7.7 million barrels per day, from August to December. From January 2021, production cuts would drop to 5.8 million barrels per day, lasting until April 2022 when the agreement expires.

Price uptick

In April, oil prices hit their lowest price since the turn of the millennium as high global supply met an unprecedented dip in demand when flights were grounded, citizens faced lockdowns, and non-essential economic activity dissipated. In April prices hit $16 per barrel, with WTI briefly dipping into historic negative territory amid a scramble to offload futures before their expiry.

The extreme fluctuations in the already volatile oil market prompted most of the world’s oil producing countries to come together to establish painful, but necessary, production cuts in order to ease over supply that led to oil storage running out, with tankers and oil bunkers used as temporary storage to accommodate for a lack of buyers.

OPEC+

Ever since, any news around negotiations over production cuts between OPEC and the OPEC+ groups has led to swings in global oil prices. Now that demand is increasing and most OPEC members report compliance with the agreed upon cuts, meetings have revolved more around suring up lagging countries like Iraq and Kazachstan.

The current oil price hovers around $40, sufficient for Russia to balance its budgets. For many higher-cost oil producers however, the current price means losses, involuntary production cuts and even bankruptcies. The US shale gas industry, Canadian tar-sand extraction and Brazilian off-shore oil all struggle to survive at current prices, while countries like Saudi Arabia would be able to live with “lower for longer.”

OPEC

But while many OPEC members in the Gulf could make a profit on current prices, their national budgets have been based on much higher prices, leaving major gaps. A country like Iraq, that has some of the cheapest oil to extract, still needs oil prices to be at $56 per barrel in order to fund the $135 billion in estimated state revenue. The country has struggled to comply with OPEC’s agreed cuts as most of its oil production is done by foreign supermajors, leading to difficult negotiations.

Many countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) similarly presented ambitious budgets for 2020, expecting much higher revenues than those that materialized due to the COVID-19 crisis. For these countries production cuts remain one of the few tools to drive prices up further, but it appears that major players like Russia and Saudi Arabia would prefer oil prices to not increase too rapidly, in order to prevent a resurgence in its higher-cost competitors like shale gas.

Diverging forecasts

Saudi Arabia and Russia are expected to have a much larger market-share in the near future. After a decade of losing market-share to US producers, Saudi Arabia is expected to have the largest market-share since the 1980s. With production down significantly and demand slowly returning, prices are likely to go up in the long run.

Investment bank JP Morgan Chase in early March predicted oil to hit $190 per barrel due to a “supercycle” where a downward swing in prices is followed by equally dramatic upswing. The bank’s predictions were squashed by the COVID-19 related drop in demand, but its experts remain confident that a “bullish supercycle is on the horizon,” according to CNN.

“The reality is the chances of oil going toward $100 at this point are higher than three months ago,” JP morgan’s Christyan Malek. However, uncertainty remains as economic results are highly dependent on public health successes in containing the spread of the coronavirus. BP has slashed its forecast, expecting COVID-19 to have an “enduring impact on the global economy.”

Dubai Fitness Fanatics Organize Burpee World Record Event for Charity

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After working out at home every day during the COVID-19 lockdown, and being touched by the plight of Ghanaians who become homeless while waiting for repatriation flights, Tarek Jabi decided to call in some fellow fitness fanatics to help him raise funds for those in need and attempt a world record while they are at it.  

Jabi enlisted the help of fellow Dubai-based fitness buddies Jade Palmer and Emil Pittman who run the online platform #Workoutwentviral and came up with the idea of doing a “burpee-a-thon” on Friday, June 19. Together, the trio alongside Anu Thomas, Johanna Suttie, and Yomi Egbeleye will lead the 12-hour #DoOneGiveOne challenge, run in conjunction with Emirates Red Crescent. 

The organization will use the funds to support people stranded in the United Arab Emirates by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel shutdowns. 

“There are a lot of people struggling to get by at the moment, or to get home,” Pittman said. “Many of those are people who have come in from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh on visit visas, for a better life for their families and got stuck here temporarily.” 

The six charity-minded sportspeople will aim to complete a combined total of 9,000 to 10,000 burpees between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday. Together with help from the public, their goal is to raise AED 50,000 ($13,600) and create a new Guinness World Record for the most burpees done by a team in 12 hours.  

As the name #DoOneGiveOne suggests, anyone can join in the burpee-a-thon. You can support the world record and charity event by signing on to a Zoom session and completing as many burpees as possible during a 45 minute time slot on Friday. Participants are encouraged to donate AED 1 ($0.27) for every burpee they complete, while a Guiness World Record team counts them towards the record attempt. 

“The more you do, the more you give,” Jabi said. “I want everyone to know that giving starts with a dirham. A lot of people want to give back to the community, but don’t know how… and any amount can make a difference.” 

Less energetic but equally charity-minded people can choose to simply donate without raising a sweat through the YallaGive platform. 

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