CAIRO: Several Egyptian ministries have initiated the “100 Million Trees” campaign across the country in response to its climate challenges and rising population, as part of a nationwide strategy to increase per-capita green space.
The project involves “reviewing and monitoring new tree plantings, tracking existing plantings, and creating a detailed plan for the types of trees planted in each governorate based on their unique characteristics,” according to a statement. Tree species with high economic value that promote investment in green projects are being targeted by the program.
The Environment Ministry is stepping up preparations for the initiative’s second phase this week. Omar Rayan, an official at the ministry, told Arab News that the second phase would be implemented in cooperation with ministries including Local Development, Housing, Water Resources and Irrigation, Agriculture, and Higher Education.
Rayan highlighted the government’s commitment to criminalizing encroachment on agricultural land and to implementing several afforestation initiatives nationwide.
According to the Egyptian prime minister’s website, the initiative will cost 3 billion Egyptian pounds ($62.5 million). It targets around 9,900 locations, and covers areas totaling 6,600 acres to be developed as forested areas or gardens utilizing treated wastewater.
The Ministry of Local Development is responsible for planting 80 million trees over the seven-year period from 2022 to 2029, while the Ministries of Environment and Housing are responsible for the remaining 20 million.
Ahmed Al-Fakharany, an official at the Ministry of Local Development, told Arab News that the second phase will see 15 million trees planted by the ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Housing.
He said governorates were preparing reports on the number and types of trees required for this phase.
“The role of the Ministry of Local Development is to arrange for the supply of trees, study locations for new gardens in cities and districts, and ensure local units and directorates plant trees that enhance aesthetic appeal and environmental conservation, carefully selecting species that meet the specifications,” Al-Fakharany said.
He added that Cairo leads the governorates in the initiative so far, having planted 1.5 million trees.
“Giza, south of Cairo, is in second place with 585,000 trees, followed by Sohag in Upper Egypt with 404,000 trees, and Sharqia in northern Cairo with 393,900 trees,” he said.
Egypt launches new phase of ‘100 Million Trees’ initiative
https://arab.news/zw9v4
Egypt launches new phase of ‘100 Million Trees’ initiative
- Government allocates $62.5 million and targets around 9,900 locations for campaign
- The Environment Ministry is stepping up preparations for the initiative’s second phase this week
First European commercial plane lands in Damascus airport in over a decade
- Dan Air’s plane was carrying 138 passengers, including Syrians and foreign nationals
- It announced flights from Damascus to Bucharest, the German cities of Frankfurt and Berlin, and the Swedish capital, Stockholm
LONDON: Damascus International Airport in the Syrian Arab Republic welcomed its first European commercial flight this week since the civil war began in 2011.
A European airline, Dan Air, landed in Damascus on Sunday after flying from Bucharest, the capital of Romania, the SANA news agency reported.
Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar, the minister of economy and industry in Syria’s interim government, was on the plane that was received in Damascus by Radu Gimpostan, who led the Romanian Embassy’s delegation.
Dan Air’s plane carried 138 passengers, including Syrians and foreign nationals, and the return flight from Damascus to Bucharest would carry 125 passengers. The airline has announced flights from Damascus to Bucharest, the German cities of Frankfurt and Berlin, and the Swedish capital, Stockholm.
Syrian officials said that the flights would facilitate the mobility of travelers between Syria and Europe following more than a decade of interrupted aviation services.
Israeli forces evict Jenin families, convert homes into military outposts
- Houses belonging to the Yaseen family were seized after about 50 people evicted
- Soldiers ‘roaming the streets, firing live ammunition and tear gas, shutting down businesses and harassing residents,’ says Rummana council head
LONDON: Israeli forces in Jenin have evicted many Palestinian families and converted their homes into military outposts across several villages.
The Israeli activity took place across the occupied West Bank city over the past week.
Mohammad Issa, head of the Aneen village council in the west of Jenin, told Wafa news agency on Monday that Israeli troops stormed two homes belonging to the Yaseen family last Friday and forcibly evicted five families of about 50 people.
The homes were later utilized as military outposts while Israeli forces continued to raid Aneen village daily, deploying armored vehicles, erecting roadblocks and stopping-and-searching residents, Wafa added.
“The presence of soldiers inside residential homes has created a climate of fear and insecurity,” said Issa. “Commercial activity has slowed dramatically as a result.”
Hassan Sbeihat, head of the Rummana village council, told Wafa that Israeli forces had converted 11 homes in the elevated western part of the village into military positions over the last four days.
“Israeli infantry patrols are roaming the streets, firing live ammunition and tear gas, shutting down businesses and harassing residents,” Sbeihat said.
He added that families were forcibly displaced and sought shelter with relatives, with no clear sign of when they might return to their homes.
Aziz Zaid, head of the Nazlat al-Sheikh village council, said that Israeli forces evicted residents Wajdi Fadl Saeed Zaid and Omar Hassan Al-Bari from their homes, which were converted into outposts.
He added that the Israeli military continues to conduct house-to-house searches and physically assault residents, Wafa reported.
Zaid said that Israeli forces closed the village’s western entrance, blocked the main road and closed a pharmacy as well as grocery store.
Sultan of Oman, Iranian president discuss Israeli strikes, diplomatic solutions
- President Masoud Pezeshkian says while Iran faces Israeli aggression, it supports diplomatic solutions
- Sultan Haitham bin Tarik condemns damage caused by Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure and facilities
LONDON: Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman held a phone call on Monday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to offer condolences for the Iranian victims of Israeli airstrikes and discuss the latest developments.
Sultan Haitham condemned the damage caused by Israeli strikes to infrastructure and facilities, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured Iranian citizens. He stressed the need for de-escalation from both sides and called for negotiations and dialogue to prevent the ongoing conflict from deteriorating, the Oman News Agency reported.
He reaffirmed the Omani government’s commitment to activate diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, prevent its escalation, and establish fair and just settlements that restore normalcy.
Pezeshkian said that while his country is facing Israeli aggression, it supports diplomatic solutions through dialogue and negotiation, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law and respecting Iran’s sovereignty, the ONA added.
38 Palestinians killed in new shootings near food distribution centers, medics say
KHAN YOUNIS: Gaza’s Health Ministry says 38 Palestinians have been killed in new shootings in areas of food distribution centers in the south of the territory.
The toll Monday was the deadliest yet in the near-daily shootings that have taken place as thousands of Palestinians move through Israeli military-controlled areas to reach the food centers. Witnesses say Israeli troops open fire in an attempt to control the crowds.
There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military on Monday’s deaths. It has said in previous instances that troops fired warning shots at what it calls suspects approaching their positions.
Erdogan tells Putin that Israel threatens regional security
ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of threatening security in the Middle East, which he said cannot tolerate another war, in a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, his office said.
Erdogan was quoted saying: “The spiral of violence that began with Israel’s attacks on Iran has put the security of the entire region at risk, (and) that the lawless attitude of the (Israeli premier Benjamin) Netanyahu government poses a clear threat to the international system, and that the region cannot tolerate a new war.”
