-
The Cost of Human Life

The recent weeks have awakened us to a new and unprecedented reality. Life is at stake, we are told, and life is precious, priceless in fact. The world needs our actions to save life. There is no price for human life. Unless, of course, it’s someone else’s life or someone else’s war. For that, we will not halt our world. We will not close a single shop. We might just change the channel.
The COVID outbreak presented us with a real-life question of how far we are willing to protect and preserve life. For most of us, citizens of the ‘lucky world’, it is the first time such a question is posed not in a metaphysical sense but as one with real-life consequences.
The disruption and the near-complete world halt is due to the drastic measures taken globally to curtail the spread of the virus. Global response is indeed impressive. Border shut down, city lock-down and national emergencies.
As it stands today, the unprecedented global death toll of the new virus has crossed the 200,000 line, still mostly among the elderly. Our measures appear effective in slowing the virus’ progression and “flatten the curve”. But what more are we to do if that death toll were to climb? How about 300,000? What if it was nearing half a million lost human lives?
When it comes to global crises, those numbers are not fictional, nor they are made up. They are very real numbers of real lost lives in the last decade alone. 700,000 is the number of Syrians who lost their lives since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 with a peak of 20,000 a month. Syrian healthcare systems, schools, infrastructures, water, and sanitation system are entirely destroyed. Once busy marketplaces and bazaars in historic city centres have been reduced to rubbles and ashes. Parents buried their children who died by bombs of by drowning in the Mediterranean. The corona virus might spare the lives of children, but war doesn’t. Children like Alan Kurdi, the 3-year-old Syrian boy who washed up on a Turkish beach, have a better chance surviving the epidemic than that of surviving human conflict.
Nearly 12 million Syrians were displaced in and outside Syria. At the same time, over 3 million displaced Iraqis fled their homes from the violence of the Islamic State. In Afghanistan, the last decade was the deadliest and the most devastating with tens of thousands of deaths annually. Millions of displaced Afghanis fled to Pakistan, Turkey, and then joined Syrians and Iraqis in their flight to Europe. Our last decade produced more dead and more displaced families than at any other time since WWII .
Yet, and unlike with the corona outbreak, the world completely failed to act. Middle Eastern countries failed to maintain the stability in their region, stop the virus of violence and act to absorb the refugees from neighbouring countries. Unable or unwilling to intervene, Europe stood utterly helpless facing a wave of millions of newcomers who overwhelmed national institutions, governmental services, school and health systems. The decisive actions that we see today were very much absent when it came to Syria, Congo, Yemen or Darfur.
Today, the UN and humanitarian organizations must care for nearly 70 million displaced refugees globally. The COVID-19 outbreak is particularly threatening to those who can’t wash their hands as often as we do and lack a home to go to, or a government to depend on. With a reduction of global labour, movement, and humanitarian efforts, those displaced families are at risk of being victimized once again by bad luck and tragic misfortune.
Viruses are dangerous. Infectious diseases remain responsible for about one quarter of deaths worldwide, causing at least 10 million deaths per year – although mainly in Africa. Violence – state led for the most part – kills hundreds of thousands per year and Corona will hopefully be defeated before it reaches these numbers. Are we failing in recognizing our priorities if our reactions to bigger calamities aren’t as vigilant as our reactions to our current pandemic?
These words are not written to criticize ‘social isolation’ nor they meant to compare catastrophes. After all, life is priceless and we are commended to protect them, especially when the threat is at our doorstep. But perhaps our time away at our homes might help bring another lesson from this crisis. A lesson of perspective and responsibility. We know how to save lives when we decide to do so. But we have killed many more lives by our inaction than saving lives now by action. Now, as we begin to leave the confines of our homes and deal with our broader world, shouldn’t this teach us that we should act some more?
Dr. Nir Boms is the author of “The Syrian War between Justice and Political Reality (CUP) and fellow at the Dayan Center for Middle East Studies. Hussein Aboubakr is an Egyptian-American writer and commentator.
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
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.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!