Lebanon Crisis Obstructs Aid to The Underprivileged

The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
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Lebanon Crisis Obstructs Aid to The Underprivileged

The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi
The moon is seen over Al-Amin Mosque on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon May 18, 2018. Image used for illustrative purposes. REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi

The holy month of Ramadan comes this year amid two major crises that cast a hefty shadow over Lebanon. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus imposes social distancing measures, preventing families from reuniting around Iftar banquets, while banking procedures stop the more fortunate to withdraw sufficient funds to support those in need.

Despite all these obstacles, preparations for the holy month continued with the available capabilities.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Sharia Judge and head of Mount Lebanon Zakat Fund, Sheikh Mohammed Hani al-Jouzou said: “The charitable kitchens in Dar Al Iftaa have opened their doors to prepare fresh meals to be delivered to needy families by the municipalities.”

He added that charitable organizations, which are affiliated to the endowments or to civil society groups, launched a complete census of underprivileged families, to provide them with food supplies.

Fida Attar, official at Ashghalouna – an entity within the Social Welfare Institution (Dar al-Aytam) - told Asharq Al-Awsat that the association was committed to helping the registered families, but underlined the presence of financial difficulties due to the scarce donations as a result of banking restrictions on withdrawals.

“There are difficulties in individual assistance. A large number of Lebanese have been donating to needy families during the month of Ramadan. But banking measures have prevented depositors from obtaining the necessary funds,” Attar noted.

The director of the Lebanese Center for Research and Consulting in Sidon, Hassan Qutub, said that the relevant organizations have adapted their operations to the measures imposed by the curfew.

He explained that banquets that used to gather needy families in restaurants would be canceled. Instead, fresh meals would be delivered right to their doorstep. Some associations sought to provide other supplies, including infant milk, he said.

Qutub stressed that the financial situation and the outbreak of the coronavirus would prevent families from reuniting around Iftar dinners during the holy month.



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.