Call for Humanitarian Action in Northwestern Syria
November 24, 2024, 11:35 am

Call for Humanitarian Action in Northwestern Syria

المساعدات إلى سوريا

Urgent Call for Humanitarian Response: Syria Response Coordinators Warn of Deteriorating Conditions for Displaced Persons

The "Syria Response Coordinators" team has urged all humanitarian organizations and agencies operating in Northwestern Syria to take immediate action to address the dire conditions faced by the displaced. This warning comes as a new weather system approaches, threatening thousands of families residing in camps and informal settlements with further disasters.

Recent heavy rains have caused widespread damage, with the lack of adequate infrastructure leading to flooded tents and the spread of diseases, exacerbating the suffering of the most vulnerable groups, including children, women, and the elderly.

The team indicated that the damage during last winter exceeded 48% of camp residents, while the humanitarian response to compensate for these damages has not exceeded 22%, highlighting the significant gap between urgent needs and available responses.

In seeking solutions to save displaced persons from winter crises, the team proposed seven key demands:

1. **Immediate Action**: Provide winter essentials such as blankets, heaters, fuel, and warm clothing, in addition to basic food supplies to ensure minimum needs for the displaced population.

2. **Repair Previous Damages**: This includes improving damaged sewage and drainage networks.

3. **Provide Insulation**: To protect tents from rainwater leakage.

4. **Establish Drainage Systems**: To safeguard the camps from flooding risks.

5. **Focus on the Most Vulnerable Groups**: Prioritize children, women, and the elderly to mitigate the increasing risks posed by harsh weather conditions and resource shortages.

6. **Proactive Response**: Emphasize the necessity of taking measures before disasters occur to ensure the protection of lives and minimize losses.

7. **Appeal to Donors**: Urgently increase humanitarian support, focusing on meeting the basic needs of the displaced on a permanent, rather than temporary, basis. The displacement crisis in the region has extended for years, necessitating sustainable solutions.

In conclusion, the "Syria Response Coordinators" emphasized that the current situation demands an urgent and coordinated humanitarian response to save the lives of thousands of displaced individuals suffering from recurrent dire conditions amid a lack of lasting solutions.

Do not fight a bully; surrendering to him is better Terrorist Attack on Security Forces Near Israeli Embassy in Amman

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.