Houthis Rebrand Facilities at Thamar University

Houthi order to change the names of 23 classrooms at Thamar University to the names of so-called Houthi martyrs
Houthi order to change the names of 23 classrooms at Thamar University to the names of so-called Houthi martyrs
TT

Houthis Rebrand Facilities at Thamar University

Houthi order to change the names of 23 classrooms at Thamar University to the names of so-called Houthi martyrs
Houthi order to change the names of 23 classrooms at Thamar University to the names of so-called Houthi martyrs

Houthi militias in Yemen decided to rebrand 23 lecture halls at Thamar University after its leaders who were killed in battle against the Yemeni army forces.

The move is part of the Iran-backed group’s overall scheme to rescind the Arab roots of the Yemeni identity and replace them with a sectarian system largely associated with war and death.

Outside universities, Houthis rebranded entire streets, avenues and mosques in the former capital, Sanaa, Mohammed al-Moqrami, head of the Center for Studies and Humanitarian Information, denounced the action taken by Houthis and said it violates national principles.

Renaming classrooms at Thamar University means that the original branding which takes after historic, national and literary figures has been dropped. This, according to Moqrami, has reshaped modern history and backtracked years of fighting illiteracy and ignorance.

“Selecting the names of militia members for these classrooms, libraries, and other facilities is considered a disgrace to science and the educational process,” Moqrami told Asharq Al-Awsat, pointing out that it took place in universities other than Thamar University.

It is noteworthy that Houthis initially failed in their attempt for exploiting higher education facilities to spread their sectarian ideology, something which pushed the militant group to undertake other measures to advance its agenda.

Yemeni author Mohammed al-Salahi, for his part, said that Houthi attempts to enforce their agenda will most likely fail.

“Houthi militia will not succeed, and their goal will not be achieved, because imposing its control by force of arms reflects the Yemenis' rejection.

This Yemeni refusal will lead to great victory,” Salahi told Asharq Al-Awsat.



World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
TT

World Bank Looking to Free up Emergency Funds for Lebanon, Managing Director Says

 A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)
A plume of smoke billows following an Israeli air strike on the village of Khiam in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on October 7, 2024. (AFP)

The World Bank is looking to free up emergency funds for Lebanon, potentially including up to $100 million through the use of special clauses in existing loan deals, its managing director of operations told Reuters.

The Washington-based development lender currently has $1.65 billion in loans to the country including a $250 million loan approved this week to help connect dispersed renewable energy projects in the country.

Amid fighting across southern Lebanon, the bank was currently discussing ways in which it could help support the economy, including through the use of so-called Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERCs) clauses.

"We can use our existing portfolio and free up some money for really critical, short-term liquidity needs," Anna Bjerde said.

CERCs are present in around 600 of the bank's existing projects, globally, and allow it to redirect funds that have yet to be disbursed, if requested to by a government, for example after a health or natural disaster, or during conflict.

Lebanon has yet to make such a request, Bjerde said.

After a year of exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel mostly limited to the frontier region, the conflict has significantly escalated in Lebanon.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel's third largest city Haifa on Monday, while Israeli forces looked poised to expand ground raids into south Lebanon on the first anniversary of the Gaza war, which has spread conflict across the Middle East.

Lebanon's government could choose to use an existing social protection program that was put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that allows for financial support to be sent to individuals, Bjerde said.

"It has the benefit of being totally digital so you can reach people, plus it can be verified a bit... so we will also probably use that to top up the social safety net for those that are particularly affected."

Up to 1 million people have been internally displaced in the country, she added: "So it's important we focus on that".

Lebanon's finance ministry and economy ministry did not immediately respond when asked for comment.