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Showing posts with label Iran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iran. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

OFW Survival Stories


It is not only a few times we hear and read about overseas Filipino workers (OFW) being maltreated and abused by their employers, some of them even return home mentally disoriented and some even did not make it home alive. Importers trade commodities and products but in the Philippines, we export skilled and household workers alike. The latter has a significant number deployed all over the globe with over two million domestic helpers work in the Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where cases of abuse are registered.
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It is not only a few times we hear and read about overseas Filipino workers (OFW) being maltreated and abused by their employers, some of them even return home mentally disoriented and some even did not make it home alive. Importers trade commodities and products but in the Philippines, we export skilled and household workers alike. The latter has a significant number deployed all over the globe with over two million domestic helpers work in the Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where cases of abuse are registered. Advertisement Sponsored Links The story of Joanna Demafelis, a household worker who was found inside a freezer in her former employer's abandoned residence in Kuwait, made a significant way to address the rampant issue of HSWs abuse and maltreatment. To avoid further similar incidents, President Rodrigo Duterte through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered immediate deployment ban of all OFWs bound to Kuwait. Should his demands to the government of Kuwait for better living condition and protection of the OFWs be met, the ban may be finally lifted. Hundreds of maltreatment happened in several parts of the gulf. It could be referred to as modern-day slavery. Most household workers are not even allowed to take at least a day off in a week. Some of them are also receiving delayed salaries, some none at all. They are treated as commodities instead being a human. Some of them are even sold to other employers. There have been varying degrees of abuses perpetrated on domestic helpers, but these abuses have largely been tied to the Kafala system, a visa-sponsorship system implemented by Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where workers are essentially beholden to the demands of their employers. The employer or the sponsor is required to “assume full economic and legal responsibility” and has complete control over when the worker can leave and where the worker goes. It includes keeping the employee's passport, a usual practice in the Gulf countries. they do it to prevent the holder to escape from their custody. While the Kafala system also applies to other migrant workers such as those working in construction, in hospitals, or in engineering, Dr. Jean Franco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines whose research focuses on the politics of gender and labor-out migration, says that the abuses carried by the Kafala are gravely felt by domestic helpers because they are not within the public sphere. With the deployment ban in Kuwait, the Philippine government has somehow given the chance to show that it can do measures to alleviate and stop the maltreatment and the abuses to the HSWs and it could possibly be extended to other parts of the Middle East where many cases of abuse are happening. Just recently, President Duterte has announced that the Kuwait government has already agreed to his terms favoring the OFWs working in their country. Filipino resilience is always evident in every OFW. They can endure everything just for the sake of giving their beloved family the best future possible. They give a lot to the government by keeping the economy kicking by their remittances. In return, the government should always assure their welfare and safety. READ MORE: Recruiters With Delisted, Banned, Suspended, Revoked And Cancelled POEA Licenses 2018 List of Philippine Embassies And Consulates Around The World Classic Room Mates You Probably Living With Do Not Be Fooled By Your Recruitment Agencies, Know Your Correct Fees Remittance Fees To Be Imposed On Kuwait Expats Expected To Bring $230 Million Income TESDA Provides Training For Returning OFWs Cash Aid To Be Given To Displaced OFWs From Kuwait—OWWA Former OFW In Dubai Now Earning P25K A Week From Her Business Top Search Engines In The Philippines For Finding Jobs Abroad 5 Signs A Person Is Going To Be Poor And 5 Signs You Are Going To Be Rich
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The story of Joanna Demafelis, a household worker who was found inside a freezer in her former employer's abandoned residence in Kuwait, made a significant way to address the rampant issue of HSWs abuse and maltreatment. To avoid further similar incidents, President Rodrigo Duterte through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered immediate deployment ban of all OFWs bound to Kuwait. Should his demands to the government of Kuwait for better living condition and protection of the OFWs be met, the ban may be finally lifted.
It is not only a few times we hear and read about overseas Filipino workers (OFW) being maltreated and abused by their employers, some of them even return home mentally disoriented and some even did not make it home alive. Importers trade commodities and products but in the Philippines, we export skilled and household workers alike. The latter has a significant number deployed all over the globe with over two million domestic helpers work in the Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where cases of abuse are registered. Advertisement Sponsored Links The story of Joanna Demafelis, a household worker who was found inside a freezer in her former employer's abandoned residence in Kuwait, made a significant way to address the rampant issue of HSWs abuse and maltreatment. To avoid further similar incidents, President Rodrigo Duterte through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered immediate deployment ban of all OFWs bound to Kuwait. Should his demands to the government of Kuwait for better living condition and protection of the OFWs be met, the ban may be finally lifted. Hundreds of maltreatment happened in several parts of the gulf. It could be referred to as modern-day slavery. Most household workers are not even allowed to take at least a day off in a week. Some of them are also receiving delayed salaries, some none at all. They are treated as commodities instead being a human. Some of them are even sold to other employers. There have been varying degrees of abuses perpetrated on domestic helpers, but these abuses have largely been tied to the Kafala system, a visa-sponsorship system implemented by Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where workers are essentially beholden to the demands of their employers. The employer or the sponsor is required to “assume full economic and legal responsibility” and has complete control over when the worker can leave and where the worker goes. It includes keeping the employee's passport, a usual practice in the Gulf countries. they do it to prevent the holder to escape from their custody. While the Kafala system also applies to other migrant workers such as those working in construction, in hospitals, or in engineering, Dr. Jean Franco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines whose research focuses on the politics of gender and labor-out migration, says that the abuses carried by the Kafala are gravely felt by domestic helpers because they are not within the public sphere. With the deployment ban in Kuwait, the Philippine government has somehow given the chance to show that it can do measures to alleviate and stop the maltreatment and the abuses to the HSWs and it could possibly be extended to other parts of the Middle East where many cases of abuse are happening. Just recently, President Duterte has announced that the Kuwait government has already agreed to his terms favoring the OFWs working in their country. Filipino resilience is always evident in every OFW. They can endure everything just for the sake of giving their beloved family the best future possible. They give a lot to the government by keeping the economy kicking by their remittances. In return, the government should always assure their welfare and safety. READ MORE: Recruiters With Delisted, Banned, Suspended, Revoked And Cancelled POEA Licenses 2018 List of Philippine Embassies And Consulates Around The World Classic Room Mates You Probably Living With Do Not Be Fooled By Your Recruitment Agencies, Know Your Correct Fees Remittance Fees To Be Imposed On Kuwait Expats Expected To Bring $230 Million Income TESDA Provides Training For Returning OFWs Cash Aid To Be Given To Displaced OFWs From Kuwait—OWWA Former OFW In Dubai Now Earning P25K A Week From Her Business Top Search Engines In The Philippines For Finding Jobs Abroad 5 Signs A Person Is Going To Be Poor And 5 Signs You Are Going To Be Rich
Hundreds of maltreatment happened in several parts of the gulf. It could be referred to as modern-day slavery. Most household workers are not even allowed to take at least a day off in a week. Some of them are also receiving delayed salaries, some none at all. Others are not even adequate food. They are treated as commodities instead being a human as if the employers own them like a piece of tool.
Some of them are even sold to other employers.

It is not only a few times we hear and read about overseas Filipino workers (OFW) being maltreated and abused by their employers, some of them even return home mentally disoriented and some even did not make it home alive. Importers trade commodities and products but in the Philippines, we export skilled and household workers alike. The latter has a significant number deployed all over the globe with over two million domestic helpers work in the Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where cases of abuse are registered. Advertisement Sponsored Links The story of Joanna Demafelis, a household worker who was found inside a freezer in her former employer's abandoned residence in Kuwait, made a significant way to address the rampant issue of HSWs abuse and maltreatment. To avoid further similar incidents, President Rodrigo Duterte through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered immediate deployment ban of all OFWs bound to Kuwait. Should his demands to the government of Kuwait for better living condition and protection of the OFWs be met, the ban may be finally lifted. Hundreds of maltreatment happened in several parts of the gulf. It could be referred to as modern-day slavery. Most household workers are not even allowed to take at least a day off in a week. Some of them are also receiving delayed salaries, some none at all. They are treated as commodities instead being a human. Some of them are even sold to other employers. There have been varying degrees of abuses perpetrated on domestic helpers, but these abuses have largely been tied to the Kafala system, a visa-sponsorship system implemented by Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where workers are essentially beholden to the demands of their employers. The employer or the sponsor is required to “assume full economic and legal responsibility” and has complete control over when the worker can leave and where the worker goes. It includes keeping the employee's passport, a usual practice in the Gulf countries. they do it to prevent the holder to escape from their custody. While the Kafala system also applies to other migrant workers such as those working in construction, in hospitals, or in engineering, Dr. Jean Franco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines whose research focuses on the politics of gender and labor-out migration, says that the abuses carried by the Kafala are gravely felt by domestic helpers because they are not within the public sphere. With the deployment ban in Kuwait, the Philippine government has somehow given the chance to show that it can do measures to alleviate and stop the maltreatment and the abuses to the HSWs and it could possibly be extended to other parts of the Middle East where many cases of abuse are happening. Just recently, President Duterte has announced that the Kuwait government has already agreed to his terms favoring the OFWs working in their country. Filipino resilience is always evident in every OFW. They can endure everything just for the sake of giving their beloved family the best future possible. They give a lot to the government by keeping the economy kicking by their remittances. In return, the government should always assure their welfare and safety. READ MORE: Recruiters With Delisted, Banned, Suspended, Revoked And Cancelled POEA Licenses 2018 List of Philippine Embassies And Consulates Around The World Classic Room Mates You Probably Living With Do Not Be Fooled By Your Recruitment Agencies, Know Your Correct Fees Remittance Fees To Be Imposed On Kuwait Expats Expected To Bring $230 Million Income TESDA Provides Training For Returning OFWs Cash Aid To Be Given To Displaced OFWs From Kuwait—OWWA Former OFW In Dubai Now Earning P25K A Week From Her Business Top Search Engines In The Philippines For Finding Jobs Abroad 5 Signs A Person Is Going To Be Poor And 5 Signs You Are Going To Be Rich

It is not only a few times we hear and read about overseas Filipino workers (OFW) being maltreated and abused by their employers, some of them even return home mentally disoriented and some even did not make it home alive. Importers trade commodities and products but in the Philippines, we export skilled and household workers alike. The latter has a significant number deployed all over the globe with over two million domestic helpers work in the Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where cases of abuse are registered. Advertisement Sponsored Links The story of Joanna Demafelis, a household worker who was found inside a freezer in her former employer's abandoned residence in Kuwait, made a significant way to address the rampant issue of HSWs abuse and maltreatment. To avoid further similar incidents, President Rodrigo Duterte through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered immediate deployment ban of all OFWs bound to Kuwait. Should his demands to the government of Kuwait for better living condition and protection of the OFWs be met, the ban may be finally lifted. Hundreds of maltreatment happened in several parts of the gulf. It could be referred to as modern-day slavery. Most household workers are not even allowed to take at least a day off in a week. Some of them are also receiving delayed salaries, some none at all. They are treated as commodities instead being a human. Some of them are even sold to other employers. There have been varying degrees of abuses perpetrated on domestic helpers, but these abuses have largely been tied to the Kafala system, a visa-sponsorship system implemented by Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where workers are essentially beholden to the demands of their employers. The employer or the sponsor is required to “assume full economic and legal responsibility” and has complete control over when the worker can leave and where the worker goes. It includes keeping the employee's passport, a usual practice in the Gulf countries. they do it to prevent the holder to escape from their custody. While the Kafala system also applies to other migrant workers such as those working in construction, in hospitals, or in engineering, Dr. Jean Franco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines whose research focuses on the politics of gender and labor-out migration, says that the abuses carried by the Kafala are gravely felt by domestic helpers because they are not within the public sphere. With the deployment ban in Kuwait, the Philippine government has somehow given the chance to show that it can do measures to alleviate and stop the maltreatment and the abuses to the HSWs and it could possibly be extended to other parts of the Middle East where many cases of abuse are happening. Just recently, President Duterte has announced that the Kuwait government has already agreed to his terms favoring the OFWs working in their country. Filipino resilience is always evident in every OFW. They can endure everything just for the sake of giving their beloved family the best future possible. They give a lot to the government by keeping the economy kicking by their remittances. In return, the government should always assure their welfare and safety. READ MORE: Recruiters With Delisted, Banned, Suspended, Revoked And Cancelled POEA Licenses 2018 List of Philippine Embassies And Consulates Around The World Classic Room Mates You Probably Living With Do Not Be Fooled By Your Recruitment Agencies, Know Your Correct Fees Remittance Fees To Be Imposed On Kuwait Expats Expected To Bring $230 Million Income TESDA Provides Training For Returning OFWs Cash Aid To Be Given To Displaced OFWs From Kuwait—OWWA Former OFW In Dubai Now Earning P25K A Week From Her Business Top Search Engines In The Philippines For Finding Jobs Abroad 5 Signs A Person Is Going To Be Poor And 5 Signs You Are Going To Be Rich

There have been varying degrees of abuses perpetrated on domestic helpers, but these abuses have largely been tied to the Kafala system, a visa-sponsorship system implemented by Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where workers are essentially beholden to the demands of their employers. The employer or the sponsor is required to “assume full economic and legal responsibility” and has complete control over when the worker can leave and where the worker goes.
It includes keeping the employee's passport, a usual practice in the Gulf countries. they do it to prevent the holder to escape from their custody.
It is not only a few times we hear and read about overseas Filipino workers (OFW) being maltreated and abused by their employers, some of them even return home mentally disoriented and some even did not make it home alive. Importers trade commodities and products but in the Philippines, we export skilled and household workers alike. The latter has a significant number deployed all over the globe with over two million domestic helpers work in the Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, where cases of abuse are registered. Advertisement Sponsored Links The story of Joanna Demafelis, a household worker who was found inside a freezer in her former employer's abandoned residence in Kuwait, made a significant way to address the rampant issue of HSWs abuse and maltreatment. To avoid further similar incidents, President Rodrigo Duterte through Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered immediate deployment ban of all OFWs bound to Kuwait. Should his demands to the government of Kuwait for better living condition and protection of the OFWs be met, the ban may be finally lifted. Hundreds of maltreatment happened in several parts of the gulf. It could be referred to as modern-day slavery. Most household workers are not even allowed to take at least a day off in a week. Some of them are also receiving delayed salaries, some none at all. They are treated as commodities instead being a human. Some of them are even sold to other employers. There have been varying degrees of abuses perpetrated on domestic helpers, but these abuses have largely been tied to the Kafala system, a visa-sponsorship system implemented by Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where workers are essentially beholden to the demands of their employers. The employer or the sponsor is required to “assume full economic and legal responsibility” and has complete control over when the worker can leave and where the worker goes. It includes keeping the employee's passport, a usual practice in the Gulf countries. they do it to prevent the holder to escape from their custody. While the Kafala system also applies to other migrant workers such as those working in construction, in hospitals, or in engineering, Dr. Jean Franco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines whose research focuses on the politics of gender and labor-out migration, says that the abuses carried by the Kafala are gravely felt by domestic helpers because they are not within the public sphere. With the deployment ban in Kuwait, the Philippine government has somehow given the chance to show that it can do measures to alleviate and stop the maltreatment and the abuses to the HSWs and it could possibly be extended to other parts of the Middle East where many cases of abuse are happening. Just recently, President Duterte has announced that the Kuwait government has already agreed to his terms favoring the OFWs working in their country. Filipino resilience is always evident in every OFW. They can endure everything just for the sake of giving their beloved family the best future possible. They give a lot to the government by keeping the economy kicking by their remittances. In return, the government should always assure their welfare and safety. READ MORE: Recruiters With Delisted, Banned, Suspended, Revoked And Cancelled POEA Licenses 2018 List of Philippine Embassies And Consulates Around The World Classic Room Mates You Probably Living With Do Not Be Fooled By Your Recruitment Agencies, Know Your Correct Fees Remittance Fees To Be Imposed On Kuwait Expats Expected To Bring $230 Million Income TESDA Provides Training For Returning OFWs Cash Aid To Be Given To Displaced OFWs From Kuwait—OWWA Former OFW In Dubai Now Earning P25K A Week From Her Business Top Search Engines In The Philippines For Finding Jobs Abroad 5 Signs A Person Is Going To Be Poor And 5 Signs You Are Going To Be Rich

While the Kafala system also applies to other migrant workers such as those working in construction, in hospitals, or in engineering, Dr. Jean Franco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines whose research focuses on the politics of gender and labor-out migration, says that the abuses carried by the Kafala are gravely felt by domestic helpers because they are not within the public sphere.
With the deployment ban in Kuwait, the Philippine government has somehow given the chance to show that it can do measures to alleviate and stop the maltreatment and the abuses to the HSWs and it could possibly be extended to other parts of the Middle East where many cases of abuse are happening. 
Just recently, President Duterte has announced that the Kuwait government has already agreed to his terms favoring the OFWs working in their country.

Filipino resilience is always evident in every OFW. They can endure everything just for the sake of giving their beloved family the best future possible. They give a lot to the government by keeping the economy kicking by their remittances. In return, the government should always assure their welfare and safety.
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Monday, November 13, 2017

Middle East Iran-Iraq Border Earthquake in Photos and Videos


A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
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A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The  hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja.
About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster.
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
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A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost.
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in the Middle East particulkarly in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and part of Saudi Arabia.The hardest hit province was Kermanshah. More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, its epicenter is at around 32km outside the Iraqi city of Halabja. About almost 400 people were killed by the disaster. Sponsored Links The damage extends to Kermansha, Iran where properties were badly damaged and lives were lost. People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage. Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter. Read More: ©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
People of Iran work hand-in hand to find possible survivors of the devastating earthquake.
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Electricity and water was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather.

Rescue workers and special teams using sniffer dogs and heat sensors searched wreckage. The rescue operations had difficulties in reaching remote villages due to blockage.

Iranian authorities admit that the relief effort was slow and patchy to reach more than 70,000 people that needed emergency shelter especially that they are out, cold and in need of a shelter.


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©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Monday, June 05, 2017

UPDATE: Empty Shelves Reported in Qatar, Government Denies News as Fake

Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran. Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan. Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops. Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations. Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.” The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC. Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha. As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects. Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management. Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs. A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 per cent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of the total national water use. Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported. Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%). Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices. The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published. Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.

UPDATE: Turkey and Iran Exporting Food Items to Qatar. Money agencies report lowering dollar reserves.



Listen to this interview with an OFW in Qatar



Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran.
Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran. Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan. Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops. Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations. Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.” The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC. Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha. As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects. Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management. Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs. A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 per cent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of the total national water use. Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported. Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%). Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices. The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published. Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.

 Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan.
Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops.

Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran. Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan. Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops. Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations. Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.” The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC. Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha. As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects. Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management. Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs. A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 per cent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of the total national water use. Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported. Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%). Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices. The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published. Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.

 Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations.

 Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.”
Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran. Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan. Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops. Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations. Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.” The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC. Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha. As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects. Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management. Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs. A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 per cent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of the total national water use. Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported. Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%). Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices. The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published. Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.
Trucks bound for Qatar are idle on the roadside. The Saudi-Qatar land border remains closed.

 The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC.



 Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha.
Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran. Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan. Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops. Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations. Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.” The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC. Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha. As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects. Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management. Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs. A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 per cent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of the total national water use. Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported. Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%). Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices. The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published. Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.

 As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects.
Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management.

 Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs.
Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran. Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan. Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops. Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations. Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.” The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC. Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha. As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects. Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management. Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs. A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 per cent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of the total national water use. Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported. Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%). Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices. The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published. Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.
A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 percent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 percent of the total national water use.

 Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported.

 Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%).
Many residents have rushed to supermarkets in Qatar today to stock up on food items after waking up to news of Saudi Arabia closing the country’s only land border. Other neighboring countries Bahrain and UAE have closed their doors as well, closing all sea and airports access to Doha. Egypt, Yemen and Libya have followed suit, virtually leaving only one entry-exit point for Qatar, Iran. Customers could be seen piling their carts high with supplies of milk, water, rice, flour and eggs at several grocery stores today, which were even busier than is usual for Ramadan. Photographs of empty chiller shelves have already been circulating on social media sites, as residents reportedly cleared out stores of chicken and other fresh and frozen meat in some shops. Some stores continue to have plentiful stocks, but that may soon change as news of trucks carrying food for Qatar are now lining up across the border in Saudi Arabia, unable to enter the country amid a diplomatic row between it and Arab nations. Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry insisted that the border closing would not impact normal life in the country for citizens and residents. It added that the Qatari government will “take all the necessary measures to make certain of that and to thwart attempts to negatively affect Qatari society and economy.” The grocery rush follows an escalating rift between Qatar and its neighboring Gulf states. Some analysts differ though, "It will immediately cause inflation and that will directly affect normal Qatari people," Ghanem Nuseibeh, a director at advisory firm Cornerstone Global, told the BBC. Earlier this morning, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain announced that they would close all land, air and sea borders with Qatar within 24 hours. Egypt followed suit. One of the ruling governments in Libya later announced they are cutting ties with Qatar as well. Libya is currently under three separate government fighting a civil war. Maldives is the latest country to follow the same action against Doha. As a peninsula that neighbors Saudi Arabia, Qatar relies heavily on its only land border to access food, as well as raw materials for its numerous mega infrastructure projects. Qatar’s agricultural production is constrained by scarce water resources, infertile soil, harsh climatic conditions and poor water management. Qatar is located in one of the driest and water-stressed regions in the world. Low rainfall, high evaporation rates and a lack of arable land limit its ability to produce food, driving it to depend on imports to meet 90 per cent of its consumption needs. A survey by Qatari officials suggests that six per cent of land is arable but others estimate this figure could be as low as 1.21 per cent. The over-exploitation of limited groundwater also puts significant pressure on existing domestic agriculture. Irrigation accounts for 60 per cent of the total national water use. Less than ten percent of the food consumed in Qatar is produced within the country; the rest is imported. Qatar experiences the lowest self-sufficiency in cereals, importing 99.5 per cent of the cereal consumed in 2012. Other highly imported foods include dairy products with 74.6 per cent imported in 2012, vegetables (83.4%), fruits (86%), meats (93.6%), legumes (95%), and edible oil (100%). Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices. The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published. Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.

 Abundant gas revenues have supported Qatar’s ability to import food and bridge the shortfall in domestic production. This however does not assure food security in the small gulf nation. This was made evident following the global food price crisis of 2008 where major food producing countries placed bans on food exports; as a result Qatar faced skyrocketing grain prices.

The decision to cut off ties to Qatar comes weeks after Qatar News Agency was apparently hacked. At the time, insulting remarks attributed to the Emir about the country’s Gulf neighbors were published.
Officials debunked these as false, but many GCC countries doubt this to be true.

 Update: Two days after the severing of ties, Qatar's government vows that supplies are plenty in the country. Al Jazeera, a news network owned by the Qatari government, aired news videos showing store shelves full with stocks.

 People are not doubting this, however, the question remains about the future of supplies as stocks continue to dwindle due to higher than normal demand created by the current situation.

source: Doha News, Meed, Bloomberg

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