Environment Page Media Roundup (March 2023)

Children wade in a pool of dirty water following torrential rains that hit the camps of newly housed earthquake survivors in Syria [Al Haj Suleiman/Al Jazeera] Children wade in a pool of dirty water following torrential rains that hit the camps of newly housed earthquake survivors in Syria [Al Haj Suleiman/Al Jazeera]

Environment Page Media Roundup (March 2023)

By : Environment Page Media Roundup Editors

[This is a monthly roundup of news articles and other materials related to environmental issues in the Middle East. It does not reflect the views of the Environment Page of Jadaliyya.]

Regional News


Egypt Calls for Arab Support in Ethiopia Dam Dispute
 
Middle East Monitor (9 March 2023) 
The Egyptian Foreign Minister is hoping neighboring Arab countries will put pressure on Ethiopia to stop filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Keywords: Water, Infrastructure 

Libya Dismisses Tunisian President’s Remarks about Sharing Oilfield Middle East Monitor (20 March 2023) 
Tunisian President Kais Saied declares hope to gain greater rights to the Bouri oilfield which is currently controlled by Libya.
Keywords: Natural Resources, Energy 

"أكثر المناطق جفافاً في العالم"... ما هو واقع المياه في البلدان العربية؟ Raseef 22 (22 March 2023) 
A look at water security in the countries of the Middle East on World Water Day.  
Keywords: Water

World Water Day: Mapping Water Stress across the Middle East Al Jazeera (22 March 2023) 
Timelapses and infographics depict water stress across the region.
Keywords: Water 

Renaissance Dam: Ethiopia Announces 90% Completion, While Egypt Minister Says It Will Harm Economic Stability Middle East Monitor (25 March 2023) 
The Egyptian Minister of Irrigation criticizes Ethiopia for continuing to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without cooperation or proper impact studies.
Keywords: Water, Infrastructure 

90% of People in Arab World Suffer from Water Scarcity, Warns UN Official Middle East Monitor (29 March 2023)
An event titled “The Joint Commitment of the Arab Region to Accelerate Water Security Achievement” during the UN Water Conference in New York discussed regional water security as one ambassador reported “the Arab region is the most water-scarce among all regions of the world.”
Keywords: Water 

Egypt


Residents of Qalyubiya Agricultural Area Face Eviction To Make Way for State Housing Project
 
Mada Masr (2 March 2023) 
Residents of Ezbet Abu Ragab in Qalyubiya have been told they will need to vacate their residences by the end of February in accordance with a 2014 government initiative for developing more low-income housing.
Keywords: Urban Planning

هل تصبح شجرة "اللوسينيا" وصفة سحرية لمشكلات اقتصادية وبيئية في مصر؟ Raseef 22 (4 March 2023) 
As livestock fodder prices increase in Egypt, farmers look to alternative feed sources such as planting Leucaena leucocephala, a tree native to the Americas.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture 

كفاح العاملات الزراعيّات.. نزيف يومي في القرية المصرية as-Safir al-Arabi (8 March 2023) 
Women account for over half of the rural agricultural workforce in Egypt and almost always work without a contract, yet their labor is often forgotten.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Labor 

A Day in Shakhlouba Island, a Piece of Paradise in Egypt Raseef 22 (8 March 2023) 
The small fishing town of Shakhlouba on Lake Manzala in the western Nile Delta has become a popular tourist destination for Egyptians.
Keywords: Tourism, Food & Agriculture 

Egypt To Withdraw from UN Grain Treaty To Reduce Dollar Dependency Middle East Eye (10 March 2023) 
Egypt has withdrawn from a UN grain treaty in the hopes of dealing more directly with grain producers in local currencies to reduce dependency on the US dollar.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture 

Egypt Constructs ‘Largest Man-Made River in World’ Middle East Monitor (13 March 2023) 
The New Delta Project will construct the largest man-made river in the world to transport water to the western desert for irrigating 9,200 square kilometers of land.
Keywords: Water, Infrastructure, Food & Agriculture 

The Dangers of Noise Pollution in Egypt: The World’s ‘Silent’ Killer Raseef 22 (16 March 2023) 
Noise pollution is pervasive in Cairo and other urban centers in Egypt, but is difficult to monitor and control for. While noise is an often overlooked aspect of environmental pollution, it causes damage to many of the body’s systems.
Keywords: Pollution, Urban Planning, Health 

شبح التلوث يطارد بوذا في حلوان Raseef 22 (18 March 2023) 
Helwan has long been a tourist destination famous for its sulfur hot springs. The promotion of the city and the infiltration of industry after the construction of the High Dam, however, has led to Helwan’s decline.
Keywords: Tourism, Pollution, Urban Planning

"خسائر بالجملة"... كيف يتعامل مزارعو المانغا في مصر مع التغيّرات المناخيّة؟ Raseef 22 (20 March 2023) 
Climate change and increasing pest populations are challenging the productivity of the mango harvest in Egypt.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Climate Change 

Iran 


Magnitude 5.6 Earthquake Rattles Northwestern Iran, 82 People Injured
 
Middle East Monitor (24 March 2023) 
An earthquake centered in Iran’s northwestern province of West Azerbaijan injured 82 people, and was also felt in Khoy and Salmas is western Türkiye.
Keywords: Natural Disaster

Iraq


Iraq Capital Baghdad Hosts 12th International Flower Festival
 
Middle East Monitor (17 March 2023) 
The twelfth annual International Flower Festival has opened in Baghdad, which celebrates “the culture of beauty” and humanitarianism. 

What Does the US Owe Iraq for the Military’s Toxic Burn Pits? Al Jazeera (20 March 2023) 
The US has drafted legislation to compensate American soldiers for toxic exposure from burn pits during the invasion of Iraq. The legislation fails to address the past and continued impacts of these pits on Iraqi citizens.
Keywords: Health, Pollution, Waste 

Jordan, Palestine, And Israel


Greening the Desert: The Architect Regenerating Jordan’s Native Forests
 
The Guardian (9 March 2023) 
Tayyun is an Amman-based organization that promotes urban rewilding in Jordan as a tactic to combat drought.
Keywords: Urban Planning, Water, Climate Change 

‘they Ransack Our Village for Sport’: One Palestinian Farmer’s Story of Israeli Settler Violence The Guardian (5 March 2023) 
Israeli settlers and settlements pose great risk to Palestinian farmers accessing and harvesting their ancestral lands.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture 

Lebanon


Un feu maîtrisé dans la journée reprend en soirée à Denniyé
 
L’Orient Le Jour (4 March 2023) 
A wild fire broke out in the Dinniyeh region, fueled by strong winds. It is early for the wildfire season to start. High temperatures and low humidity contributed to the early blaze.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Climate Change 

“Dahr El-Moghor” Neighborhood: The Misery and Survival of Riverine Tripoli as-Safir al-Arabi (7 March 2023) 
The Dahr El-Moghor neighborhood situated on the Abu Ali River in Tripoli has suffered great decline after the mismanagement of a World Bank tourism project.
Keywords: Urban Planning, Tourism

World Bank Sets Conditions To Fund Lebanon's Electricity Sector L’Orient Le Jour (14 March 2023) 
The World Bank will finance the delivery of electricity from Jordan and natural gas from Egypt to Lebanon if the energy sector enacts reform.
Keywords: Energy

Vertical Farming: A Sustainable Solution for Lebanon's Unstable Food Market Raseef 22 (27 March 2023) 
Vertical farming presents one solution to the problem of rising food costs, declining land cultivation, and calls for greater self-sufficiency.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Land

Morocco


"بات العمل صعباً جدّاً"... نساء المغرب يدفعن الحصة الأكبر من فاتورة التغيّر المناخي
 
Raseef 22 (8 March 2023) 
Working conditions for women in Moroccan villages, who are largely responsible for gathering water and working the livestock and land, are growing more difficult as climate change advances drought conditions.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Labor, Climate Change 

Sudan


Sudan Wheat Import Requirements To Rise to 3.5m Tonnes in 2023 – FAO
 
Middle East Monitor (29 March 2023) 
Wheat production this season has fallen in Sudan while production of sorghum and millet has risen.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture  

Syria


Low Water Levels Force Halt to North Syria Hydropower
 
Middle East Monitor (1 March 2023) 
Flows will be halted at the Tishreen Dam in Aleppo province for a week as waters near deadpool levels.
Keywords: Water, Infrastructure 

زلزال تركيا... من مخاطر تصدّع السدود إلى استمرار "تجفيف" سوريا Raseef 22 (1 March 2023) 
Last month’s earthquakes structurally damaged multiple Syrian dams. Additionally, some preliminary research indicates there may be a link between dam and reservoir construction with seismic activity.
Keywords: Water, Infrastructure, Natural Disaster 

طائر المينا أو "الأميرة ياسمينة"... وافد جديد يغزو سماء دمشق Raseef 22 (6 March 2023) 
Mynas, a species of bird native to South and Southeast Asia, pose an ecological, social, and cultural threat to Damascus.
Keywords: Wildlife 

سيارات قديمة ووقود سيّئ... كوارث بيئية وصحية في الجزيرة السورية Raseef 22 (13 March 2023) 
Old cars and poor quality fuels contribute to air pollution, causing health complications such as increased rates of respiratory diseases, cancers, and fetal abnormalities.
Keywords: Pollution, Waste, Energy, Health 

Floods Destroy Homes of Quake Survivors in Northwestern Syria Al Jazeera (15 March 2023) 
Heavy rains have flooded Adwan Camp in northwestern Syria. Many of the camp’s residents were recently displaced from the February earthquake centered in Türkiye.
Keywords: Climate & Weather, Natural Disaster 

Tunisia


The "Commons," an Age-Old Tradition in Tunisia
 
Inkyfada (15 March 2023) 
Amazigh communities in Tunisia collectively manage natural resources and lands, as they have for thousands of years. The sustainability of joint management is threatened, however, as water sources are declining due to climate change.
Keywords: Land, Natural Resources 

In Makthar, Kid'Chen Project Is Aiming To Ensure the Food Self-Sufficiency of Schoolchildren Inkyfada (22 March 2023)
A residential school known as “the green school” in Makthar is working to establish food self-sufficiency by cultivating nearby land. By working with members of the community, the farm incorporates sustainable management practices to address concerns of climate change, sustainability, democratic participation, and access to nutritious foods.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Land, Climate & Weather, Health 

Türkiye


Turkiye Faces Challenge ‘Beyond Comprehension’ To Clear Earthquake Rubble
 
Middle East Monitor (2 March 2023) 
In the wake of the February earthquakes, material from at least 156,000 buildings–weighing upwards of 200 million tonnes–needs to be removed. Concerns have been raised over rubble piles containing toxins and environmental contaminants without proper containment.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Waste, Pollution 

How Town at the Epicentre of Turkey’s 1999 Earthquake Was Rebuilt Al Jazeera (6 March 2023) 
Golcuk, a town devastated by an earthquake in April 1999, has become one model of how to rebuild in the wake of disaster.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Urban Planning 

Floods Kill Five in Turkiye Earthquake-Affected Provinces Middle East Monitor (15 March 2023) 
Flash flooding in southeastern Türkiye has further displaced earthquake survivors.
Keywords: Water, Natural Disaster 

United Arab Emirates


SpaceX Launches US, Russia, UAE Astronauts to Space Station
 
Al Jazeera (2 March 2023) 
Sultan al-Neyadi became the second Emirati astronaut ever to go to space and the first Arab to go on an extended mission with the launching of a SpaceX mission to the International Space Station.
Keywords: Space 

SpaceX Crew Docks at International Space Station Al Jazeera (3 March 2023) 
A SpaceX capsule with Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi has successfully landed at the International Space Station.
Keywords: Space 

Yemen


UN Buys Vessel To Remove Oil from Stricken Yemen Tanker
 
Middle East Monitor (14 March 2023) 
The UN hopes to remove over a million barrels of oil from a decaying tanker off the coast of Yemen within the next three to four months following their purchase of the vessel to prevent a possible environmental disaster.
Keywords: Pollution, Water, Energy 

13,000 People Affected by Heavy Rains in Central Yemeni Province Middle East Monitor (19 March 2023) 
Refugees in Marib living in temporary shelters are vulnerable to seasonal heavy rains and flooding.
Keywords: Climate & Weather  

Environment Page Media Roundup (February 2023)

[This is a monthly roundup of news articles and other materials related to environmental issues in the Middle East. It does not reflect the views of the Environment Page of Jadaliyya.]

Regional News


Death Toll Soars from an Earthquake that Has Struck Turkey and Syria
 
NPR (6 February 2023) 
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Gaziantep, Türkiye has been felt across the region in Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Iraq, and Egypt. Significant damage has been reported in Türkiye and Lebanon.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Infrastructure

Severe Weather Hampers Earthquake Rescuers in Turkey and Syria Al Jazeera (6 February 2023) 
Rescue efforts following the earthquake in Türkiye have been hampered by severe weather conditions, including freezing temperatures, rain, and snow.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Climate & Weather 

In Turkey and Syria, Outdated Building Methods All but Assured Disaster from a Quake NPR (7 February 2023) 
Many buildings in the areas impacted by the 7.8 magnitude Syria-Türkiye earthquake were built either prior to more stringent earthquake codes or constructed recently without enforcement of these codes, contributing to the scale of damage.
Keywords: Infrastructure, Urban Planning, Natural Disaster

Cyprus: Washed up Whales Linked to Syria-Turkiye Earthquake Middle East Monitor (11 February 2023) 
Seven whales have washed up across the Cypriot coast after the Syria-Türkiye earthquake.
Keywords: Wildlife, Natural Disaster

Iraq To Provide Fuel Support to Quake-Hit Turkiye, Syria Middle East Monitor (15 February 2023)
Iraq is providing 90,000 tons of high-sulfur fuel to Türkiye and Syria.
Keywords: Energy, Natural Disaster

Flooding along the Orontes River NASA Earth Observatory (25 February 2023) 
The Orontes River Basin has flooded following the major earthquake in Türkiye. The flooding is most significant in Idlib, Syria.
Keywords: Water, Natural Disaster, Food & Agriculture 

Lack of Safety, Fear, Distress: Mental Health of 7m Children at Risk after Quakes Middle East Monitor (27 February 2023) 
The children impacted by the Türkiye-Syria earthquake are in need of mental health support. The stress of the natural disaster can cause lifelong health implications without this intervention.
Keywords: Health, Natural Disaster

Algeria


Climate Change Tests Algeria’s Olive Farmers' Resilience
 
Raseef 22 (1 February 2023) 
Climate change and wildfires have significantly decreased the olive oil yield in Algeria in recent years.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Climate & Weather 

The Sad Stories of Algerians during the Snow Season Raseef 22 (16 February 2023) 
Algerians living in mountainous regions often experience complete isolation during snowy winters. Mountain roads are not equipped for these conditions and often become impassable, closing local establishments and preventing travel in either direction.
Keywords: Climate & Weather, Infrastructure 

"غيّروا مهنتهم وتخلّوا عن بساتينهم"... معاناة منتجي الحمضيات مع تغيّر المناخ في الجزائر Raseef 22 (21 February 2023)
Changing weather patterns, pests, and increased soil salinity have damaged Algeria’s citrus yields.  
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Climate & Weather, Water 

Egypt


Egypt Sweeps Its Climate Policy Loopholes under the Rug of Propaganda
as-Safir al-Arabi (5 February 2023) 
Current environmental policy in Egypt is largely driven by donor interests of climate-related grants.
Keywords: Climate & Weather 

في مصر... "مشاتل نباتات الزينة" الطريق الأقصر إلى التصحّر Raseef 22 (7 February 2023) 
Some farmers in Egypt are converting their agricultural land into ornamental plant nurseries due to the increased potential for profit. Changing patterns of land management may lead to greater desertification.  
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Land, Climate & Weather 

المعمارية إنجي الحسيني: زراعة الأسطح حل سهل نحو العمارة الخضراء في القاهرة Raseef 22 (14 FEbruary 2023) 
Green architecture may be the future of a more sustainable Cairo as it can reduce energy demands and resource consumption.
Keywords: Urban Planning, Infrastructure, Climate & Weather 

Iran


Last of Iran’s Endangered Asiatic Cheetah Cubs in Captivity Dies
 
The Guardian (28 February 2023) 
The last Asiatic cheetah cub in captivity in Iran has died from kidney failure. The total population of cheetahs in Iran is now only one dozen.
Keywords: Wildlife, Conservation 

Iraq 


Winter Rains Revive Iraq’s Famed Marshlands
 
Al Jazeera (2 February 2023) 
Winter rains bring some relief to parched marshlands in Iraq following a critically dry summer.
Keywords: Climate & Weather, Water, Food & Agriculture 

Prominent Iraq Environmental Activist Kidnapped near Baghdad Middle East Monitor (5 February 2023) 
Jassim Al-Asadi, prominent conservationist and co-founder of the NGO Nature Iraq, was kidnapped outside of Baghdad.
Keywords: Conservation

Iraq Oil Flow to Turkiye Resumes Middle East Monitor (9 February 2023) 
The flow of crude oil to Ceyhan has resumed after an Iraqi pipeline was suspended in the wake of the Turkish earthquakes.
Keywords: Energy, Natural Disaster

Water Levels in Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Hit New Lows Middle East Monitor (27 February 2023) 
Water levels in the TIgris and Euphrates rivers reach unprecedented lows. The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources has attributed the decline to dam construction in Türkiye and Iran as well as irrigation.
Keywords: Water, Climate & Weather, Infrastructure, Food & Agriculture 

Jordan, Palestine, And Israel


Strong Winds, Cold Temperatures Hit Gaza
 
Middle East Monitor (7 February 2023) 
A low pressure weather system brings cold temperatures and strong winds to Gazans who face difficulty heating their homes due to Israeli electricity cuts.  
Keywords: Climate & Weather, Energy

The Effects of Waste on Palestinians’ Health and Environment Raseef 22 (14 February 2023) 
Unsanitary waste management is one of the greatest environmental challenges in Palestine currently. Land management and Israeli settlements significant barriers to solving the crisis.
Keywords: Waste, Health, Pollution, Land 

Palestinian Death Toll in Turkiye-Syria Earthquakes Rises to 104 Middle East Monitor (16 February 2023) 
104 Palestinians in Türkiye and Syria have died from the 6 February earthquake.  
Keywords: Natural Disaster

Palestine: Israel Settlers Cut Dozens of Olive Saplings South of Nablus Middle East Monitor (22 February 2023) 
Israeli settlers have cut down eighty olive saplings in Al-Lubban Al-Sharqiya, south of Nablus.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture

Are Palestinians Prepared for a Major Earthquake of Their Own? 972 Magazine (24 February 2023) 
The earthquake in Türkiye and Syria has raised preparedness concerns across the region for future seismic events. Israeli planning restrictions and an under-resourced public health system in Palestine are central concerns for Palestine’s ability to cope with a major earthquake.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Urban Planning

Using AI To Listen to Jordan’s Date Palms Al Jazeera (26 February 2023) 
The startup Palmear uses acoustic AI to detect red palm weevil activity in palm trees. This early detection can help prevent large scale destruction of trees and subsequent economic loss, and provides an alternative to large-scale pesticide application.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture

Lebanon


Une escorte de l'armée pour fermer une décharge à Baalbeck
 
L’Orient Le Jour (1 February 2023) 
The Kayyal landfill in Bekaa was closed in late January due to its harmful effects on the health of nearby residents.
Keywords: Waste, Pollution, Health

Snow Spell Adds to Pain of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Middle East Monitor (5 February 2023) 
About 120,000 refugees living in the area around Arsal without access to heating face deteriorating living conditions as cold winter weather brings snow.
Keywords: Climate & Weather

Plenty More Fish in the Sea? The Catastrophic Repercussions of Illegal Fishing in Lebanon Raseef 22 (20 February 2023) 
The use of explosives for fishing in Lebanon threatens fish populations and marine ecosystem stability. Although the practice is banned, it has gained popularity in recent years.
Keywords: Wildlife, Food & Agriculture

How Ancient Seeds in Lebanon Could Help Us Adapt to Climate Change NPR (24 February 2023) 
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, a Lebanese seed bank, may contain the genes needed to help some countries improve food security in the face of climate change and drought.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Climate & Weather 

Saudi Arabia


Saudi Arabia To Establish 3,000 Temporary Houses for Quake Victims in Turkiye, Syria
 
Middle East Monitor (15 February 2023) 
Saudi Arabia plans to erect thousands of temporary shelters to house victims in earthquake stricken areas of Türkiye and Syria.
Keywords: Infrastructure, Natural Disaster

Syria


Shattered Roads Slow Aid to Quake-Hit Syria
 
Middle East Monitor (8 February 2023) 
Road damage at the Bab Al-Hawa crossing between Türkiye and Syria has hindered the delivery of aid to Syria.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Infrastructure

Amid Cholera Outbreak, Health Fears Grow in Quake-Hit Syria Al Jazeera (12 February 2023) 
Experts fear that a preexisting outbreak of cholera, which emerged in Syria late last year, may worsen in the aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
Keywords: Health, Natural Disaster, Infrastructure, Water

Syria Earthquake: Flooding Wipes out Vital Farmland after Dam Bursts Its Banks Middle East Eye (13 February 2023)
A dam has collapsed near the Syrian-Turkish border from the recent earthquake. Thousands of acres of wheat and bean fields have been destroyed, raising concerns about worsening food security.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Food & Agriculture 

Engineers Count Cost of Rebuilding in Quake-Hit, War-Weary Syria Al Jazeera (22 February 2023) 
The Syrian Engineers Association has begun evaluating the safety and stability of buildings across more than 100 Syrian cities and towns impacted by the major earthquake and its aftershocks.
Keywords: Natural Disaster, Urban Planning, Infrastructure 

Cholera Outbreak in Quake-Hit Northwestern Syria Kills Two People Al Jazeera (28 February 2023) 
Cholera spreads in northwest Syria as the recent earthquake has further damaged sewage and water systems.
Keywords: Health, Infrastructure, Water, Waste, Natural Disaster

Türkiye


Disease the New Threat as Turkiye Faces Post-Quake Water Shortage
 
Middle East Monitor (15 February 2023) 
Damage from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake has damaged water infrastructure, leaving residents in affected areas without access to clean water and raising concerns about the possible spread of disease.
Keywords: Health, Infrastructure, Water, Natural Disaster

Why Did a Turkish City Withstand the Earthquake When Others Crumbled? New York Times (17 February 2023) 
The city of Erzin is still standing after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, while many surrounding towns are not. This is due in part to the city being built atop more sturdy soil and bedrock, as opposed to soft sediments which lie beneath much of the region.
Keywords: Land, Urban Planning, Natural Disaster

Erdoğan Faces Backlash over Building Standards in City Wrecked by Quake The Guardian (19 February 2023) 
The scale of destruction caused by this month’s major earthquake raises concern in Türkiye over corruption in the building industry and failure to enforce structural regulations.
Keywords: Urban Planning, Infrastructure, Natural Disaster

Turkey and Syria Quakes Prompt Fresh Worries about Istanbul's Building Safety NPR (20 February 2023) 
This month’s earthquakes raise questions over whether Istanbul is ready in the event of future earthquakes.
Keywords: Urban Planning, Infrastructure, Natural Disaster

A New Earthquake Hits Turkey, as Teams Still Respond to Earlier Catastrophic Quake NPR (20 February 2023) 
A 6.4 and a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit Gaziantep, Turkey as aftershocks from the 6 February earthquake continue.
Keywords: Natural Disaster 

Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake Jolts Turkey’s Central Nigde Province Al Jazeera (25 February 2023) 
A 5.3 magnitude earthquake shakes Nigde, no casualties have been reported.
Keywords: Natural Disaster 

New Earthquake Strikes Turkey, Rattling an Already Devastated Region New York Times (27 February 2023) 
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck Malatya in southern Turkey. Seventy casualties have been reported and twenty-nine buildings have
collapsed.
Keywords: Natural Disaster 

United Arab Emirates


UAE Oil Company Employees Given Roles in Office Hosting COP28
The Guardian (3 February 2023) 
A dozen employees of the UAE’s state-owned oil company have been appointed to organize COP28. Critics are concerned about the influence of the fossil fuel industry in a climate summit.
Keywords: Climate & Weather 

Yemen


Wars Taught Yemenis To seek Food Self Sufficiency
 
Raseef 22 (9 February 2023) 
The war in Yemen has encouraged the restoration of many abandoned farms in order to secure access to food.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture 

"عصارة" النفايات... خطر خفي يتسرب إلى حياة اليمنيين Raseef 22 (9 February 2023)
Failure to sort waste in a ninety meter mountain of waste outside Sana’a results in the mixing of toxins which leach out beyond the dump, creating a health and environmental disaster.
Keywords: Health, Waste, Pollution 

Yemen: Sanaa Gov’t Launches Solar-Powered Project for Coffee Irrigation Middle East Monitor (20 February 2023) 
Many Yemeni coffee farmers struggle to afford electricity to power irrigation pumps. A new solar irrigation project opening in the Sana’a governorate is expected to promote coffee cultivation.
Keywords: Food & Agriculture, Energy, Water