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Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy

Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy
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Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy

Tabaud: An Application Facilitating Saudis' Return to Normalcy

Electronic data and applications can play a major role in the plans to confront the new coronavirus. Indeed, Saudi Arabia has been utilizing them since the beginning of the spread of the virus, releasing several apps with a variety of functions to help in the efforts of health bodies against COVID-19.

The latest app that appeared in Saudi Arabia helps contain the virus and return people to normal life as soon as possible. The app uses a notification to warn people who may catch the virus by mingling with known cases.

This app came as normal life was set to return on 21 June accompanied by a rise in cases. The app was developed by the National Information Center affiliated with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence in cooperation with the Ministry of Health which announced an app called "Tabaud" (Arabic for Distancing) that uses the newest technology to notify users in case they came in contact with someone infected.

The app provides three main services: It notifies users if they encountered a known case, sends the information of users to the Ministry of Health to provide medical support, and allows users with the virus to voluntarily disclose the result of their test to those whom they have mixed with in the last 14 days. The app's developers confirm that the app does not violate the privacy of users as it does not provide any data on geographic location and instead only uses Bluetooth technology to randomly gather identifiers and update them.

The Distancing app is considered a means to notify those who encounter known cases. The app sends encrypted data to smartphones that were in the vicinity at the time. This is done per Google and Apple's privacy policy, safeguarding the privacy of users.

Furthermore, the app enables users to receive direct preemptive notifications if a case is discovered and directly request medical support from the Ministry of Health. Saudi Arabia has launched a variety of apps since the beginning of the pandemic as part of its efforts to confront and contain the virus.

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Desperate for Cash, Gazans Sell Clothes Plucked from Rubble

Desperate for Cash, Gazans Sell Clothes Plucked from Rubble
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Desperate for Cash, Gazans Sell Clothes Plucked from Rubble

Desperate for Cash, Gazans Sell Clothes Plucked from Rubble

Moein Abu Odeh clambered up a pile of rubble in southern Gaza, searching for clothes, shoes, anything he could sell to raise cash more than a year since Israel started its relentless bombardments.

The father-of-four delved under blocks and brushed away piles of concrete dust at the site of one airstrike in the wrecked city of Khan Younis. His plan was to sell what he found to buy flour.

"If food and drink were available, believe me, I would give (these clothes) to charity," he said. "But the struggles we are going through (mean we) have to sell our clothes to eat and drink."

Widespread shortages and months of grinding war have generated a trade in old clothing, much of it salvaged from the homes of people who have died in the conflict.

At one makeshift market, shoes, shirts, sweaters and sneakers were laid out on dusty blankets, Reuters reported.

A girl tried on a single worn-out boot, which could come in handy this winter if she can afford it in Gaza's ruined economy.

A trader got an edge on his competitors by shouting out that his wares were European.

One man laughed as he got a young boy to try on a green jacket.

"We get clothing from a man whose house was destroyed. He was digging in the concrete to get some (clothing) and we buy them like this and sell them at a good price," displaced Palestinian Louay Abdel-Rahman said.

He and his family arrived in the city from another part of Gaza with only the clothes they were wearing. So he also keeps some back for them. "The seasons have changed from summer to winter and we need clothing," he said.

In April, the UN estimated it would take 14 years to dispose of the wreckage in Gaza. The UN official overseeing the problem said the clean-up would cost at least $1.2 billion.

More than 128,000 buildings have been destroyed or severely or moderately damaged in Gaza as a result of the conflict, the UN says. Underneath all of that are seams of mangled clothes.

"All our children only have short-sleeve clothing and nobody is helping them," Saeed Doula, a father-of-seven, said. "The war is all-encompassing."