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2nd July 2020
The Palestinian authorities have declared a total lockdown in the West Bank just five weeks after their previous one was lifted. The decision comes amid a dramatic rise in new Covid-19 infections which has more than doubled the number of known cases in the space of a week.
The new lockdown will… Read more
30th June 2020
Iraq's run-down healthcare system is contributing to the spread of coronavirus rather than helping to contain it, according to a report issued last week:
● Medical staff are kept working when they should be in isolation;
● Hospitals are kept open when they should be closed to prevent further… Read more
27th June 2020
Situation report: week ending 27 June 2020
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
The initial wave of Covid-19 infections has passed its peak in most countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Many have now embarked on a step-by-step process of easing lockdowns and other… Read more
24th June 2020
Until recently Israel and Palestine seemed to have brought their coronavirus epidemics under control but both are now seeing large numbers of new infections. Yesterday Israel reported 430 new cases – its biggest rise for two months. Palestine reported 179 – its highest number since the outbreak… Read more
22nd June 2020
The Moroccan army has set up an emergency field hospital to care for hundreds of strawberry packers who have tested positive for coronavirus over the last few days.
The outbreak in Kenitra province, north of the capital, Rabat, is the biggest so far recorded in Morocco which has seen only 10,000… Read more
21st June 2020
Saudi Arabia ended its coronavirus lockdown this morning despite record numbers of new infections during the past week.
Lifting the lockdown brings an end to the night curfews first imposed in March. It also means mosques can reopen and all economic activity can resume, subject to precautions.… Read more
20th June 2020
Situation report: week ending 20 June 2020
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
The initial wave of Covid-19 infections has passed its peak in most countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Many of them have begun easing lockdowns and other restrictions, but in some of them… Read more
19th June 2020
From now until mid-September, Qatari citizens wishing to return home from abroad must first get permission from the government and then spend two weeks in quarantine when they arrive. It's a kind of luxurious imprisonment – at their own expense.
Before boarding their flight they must book a… Read more
18th June 2020
Palestinian authorities have reported a surge of coronavirus infections. Seventy-four new cases have been confirmed since Monday, mostly in the West Bank district of Hebron. This comes after several weeks when new cases were averaging less than four a day.
CLICK HERE to jump to Middle East… Read more
17th June 2020
Amnesty International has accused Bahrain and Kuwait of running "roughshod over people's privacy" in their use of surveillance technology during the coronavirus pandemic.
The human rights organisation carried out a detailed technical analysis of phone apps in seven Arab states plus France, Iceland… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
