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Syria’s Lifeline Under Threat

Syria’s northern borders may remain open to lifesaving aid, but the recent events at the UN that allowed this to happen demonstrate how the window for future assistance is narrowing and how a humanitarian imperative has become politicised with risk to millions.
The decision to allow the UN to deliver aid across a country’s border without that country’s permission was always a controversial one. Yet the face that the Government in Damascus had lost control of so many of its borders and that a vast number of Syrians did not live under its sovereignty anymore made the decision critically important.
Since 2014 the mandate given by the UN Security Council has allowed aid to a population of some 2.4 million Syrians, equivalent to more than the entire population of Slovenia. Russia’s use of the veto, now such a regular tactic when it comes to Syria that it no longer surprises people, has meant that a year long renewal is likely to become a six-month one in coming days. This introduces more uncertainty and difficulties for a highly vulnerable population. America’s ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, accusing Russia of putting its “own political interests above the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people….Tragically people will die because of this vote,” she told the chamber.
In Northwest Syria, 93 per cent of the population are dependent on humanitarian assistance. Decisions made now will be seen in the reductions in food supplies and the corresponding spikes in malnutrition and hunger. Slowly restricting aid has an insidious effect on a population comprising of vast numbers who are already displaced from their homes. Its worst effects are often seen in winter when the rains and snow make living for those in tents almost intolerable.
Many children, the UN point out, have lived in tents all their lives. Temporary accommodation designed for brief interregnums are not supposed to be families’ homes for lives. They are by the very nature in-between spaces but the geopolitics of the world and the region have meant that for tens of thousands of people they can’t leave the country nor can they countenance a return to parts of the country under government control.
Let’s not forget why. At the end of June the U.N. human rights office said that 306,887 civilians had been killed in Syria during the conflict since March 2011, or about 1.5 % of its pre-war population, in what it said was the highest estimate yet. This is an incredible death toll, an average of 18 children a day, and one that we should constantly remind ourselves explains the huge flight of people from their homes in Syria in the early years of the war.
It is also worth reminding those whose attention has been refocused onto Ukraine, or Afghanistan or the looming hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, that the conflict in Syria is frozen rather than resolved. The fault lines within a civil war that has regional and global dimensions, have not disappeared nor has there been a successful peace process or mechanism to bring this devastating chapter of Syria’s history to an end.
The Government in Damascus still wants to restore its sovereignty over the entire country and a lot of armed groups ranging in size, organisation and capacity wish for something entirely different. The ability for food, medicine and shelter supplies to get to those who need it in opposition-controlled areas undermines the Regime’s attempts to take back control. We know this as the history of the conflict has been replete with instances of siege warfare or the denial of life saving aid or neutral actors by Damascus as a matter of choice.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has meant that tensions at the UN over Syria have just gotten worse. However, UN watchers will note with interest that China abstained over the Resolution led by Norway and Ireland that Russia vetoed leading some to hope that Russia could be isolated on this issue. Presuming that a green light will be given to some extension of the cross-border mandate in the coming days, which would essential kicking the can down the road for future fights yet to come, it is crucial that a host of actors move quickly to ensure that winterisation materials and enough aid can get into the country to hedge against the uncertainty that is guaranteed to come.
BY: James Denselow
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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