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The Scourge of Urban War

Drone footage of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol reveals what many other cities across the world know to well, that when modern war comes into urban areas the levels of destruction can be devastating.
From Stalingrad to Warsaw, Seoul to Hue, Mosul to Aleppo; there is a litany of proud achievements to human ingenuity and construction turned into landscapes of rubble and human suffering. When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, 90 per cent of the casualties are civilians. Yet when these weapons are combined with siege tactics, prologued denial of access to humanitarian relief – such as clean water, food and medical supplies – the suffering is further multiplied.
Rapid urbanization means conflicts are often fought in densely populated areas, with an estimated 50 million people currently suffering the effects of urban warfare. The direction of travel is clear; only 30 percent of the world’s population lived in cities in 1950, a figure that rose to 54 percent in 2014 and is projected to rise to 66 percent by 2050. The US military used to have a military doctrine that simply explained that fighting should be avoided in cities wherever possible, yet the strategic and political importance of cities means that choice is rarely a simple one.
The rules of war and the norms of conduct of modern hostilities has fallen behind humanity’s concentration into cities and urgent efforts need to be made, as shown by events in Ukraine, to assert new means of protecting civilians and their critical infrastructure.
Thankfully efforts are ongoing to push back against this tide. Whilst the ebb and flow of carnage in Ukraine was going dominating the front pages of our news, in Geneva the Irish mission was bringing together representatives from countries around the world to agree a new political declaration around the use of explosive weapons in urban areas.
We now know more than ever about the ‘reverberating’ effects that heavy weapons have when used in populated urban areas. It is not just about the numbers of civilians who are killed and injured in the initial strike as terrible as that may be. If water or electricity supplies are damaged, the ability of a civilian population to survive in an area may be drastically reduced. If schools or hospitals are taken out of service, which they frequently are, again the civilian population’s ability to be resilient to urban fighting is further reduced.
The cost of rebuilding urban areas destroyed by fighting is vast. Over fifty days of fighting in Ukraine has cut the country’s GDP by almost 50%. Estimates as to the overall cost to rehabilitate the country have put a top ceiling figure at $540 billion. A ruined economy facing huge bills to recover is a recipe for further displacement and for those who’ve already left the country to be unable or unwilling to return, with further consequences for the host countries their living in.
There remain huge questions as to whether modern weaponry can be used in more precise ways in urban areas that reduce civilian suffering and the long-term damage to the city’s infrastructure. Precision weapons that were introduced to the world in the first Gulf War still could have high payloads that mean if even if a target is hit the effects of the blast will cause significant harm. Drones are increasingly essential in modern combat and often carry small sized warheads that can be used for more direct targeting. The Russian tactics in Ukraine of using heavy artillery from a great distance to seemingly batter Mariupol into submission is the opposite end of this spectrum.
Whilst initiatives to influence weapon use are valuable, there needs to be a rethink about how technology can better assist civilians trapped in cities to survive the fighting. Traditional deconfliction tools have highlighted where civilian infrastructure is – with Ukrainians even taking to writing ‘children’ in large letters outside of buildings. Yet this hasn’t stopped them getting hit. In Syria new tech firms placed sensors in schools in the northwest triggering fire alarms when planes were nearby. Initiatives like these need to be given far more thought and resource in this new era of urban warfare.
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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