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Wikipedia Founder Says More Arabic Content is Needed

Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
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Wikipedia Founder Says More Arabic Content is Needed

Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia
Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia

Jimmy Wales, the founder and president of Wikipedia, one of the top 5 websites in the world, advised reporters not to use references from the site, adding that governments’ interference in editing the content would turn the pages into tools for public relations.
 
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Wales said the Arabic content of Wikipedia was unfortunately less than what it is wanted.
 
Wikipedia’s Arabic community is small, and what is published or what is being edited is few, he said, stressing that the Arabic language had a lot of linguistic power and richness, hoping that further efforts would be deployed to improve the Arabic content in Wikipedia as it is in other languages.
 
Wales noted that according to some volunteers in Wikipedia, the limited Arabic content was due to the Arab youth’s interest in sports more than academic or research topics. But he added that this was not the real cause.
 
He explained that investment in education was very important to reach the required goals in editing and translation, stressing that an educated youth was the basis for a country’s development.
 
Asked about the accuracy of the site’s information, Wales emphasized that its editors seek to achieve as much accuracy, perfection and quality as possible. He noted, however, that the encyclopedia could not be regarded as an academic or research reference.
 
He recounted that in 2001, when the site was first launched, the goal of the founders was not to make it an academic reference, but to contribute to raising questions rather than finding the answers.
 
Researchers may use the encyclopedia to read or view certain information, but not to use it or quote the website in their papers, he explained.
 
Wales refuses to talk about his financial situation, and does not accept to be included in the list of billionaires.
 
Stressing that he was not a billionaire, he noted that Wikipedia was not afraid of bankruptcy and would not sell personal pages, impose fees, or enable governments or administrators to own and edit their own pages.
 
A charity fund with a capital of $100 million makes Wales confident that bankruptcy is not a matter of concern.
 
He noted that the site’s demand for financial contribution was a kind of participation to spread knowledge, not to make profits, adding that the charity fund was managed very carefully and conservatively.
 
Asked about his new project, Wikitribune, Wales said that the idea was as much as possible to benefit from all the inhabitants of the globe to participate in the dissemination of the news and the provision of materials and pictures and others.
 
He denied allegations that the new platform would put an end to the press profession and the journalist’s job, stressing that no one could publish directly on the Wikitribune, as there is an editor and journalists, adding each material would be subject to the approval of the editorial team.
 
Wales concluded by emphasizing that a journalist must nowadays have knowledge in everything, adding a journalist should use Wikipedia to question, raise questions and search for resources more widely.

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Interviews

UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.