Natural disasters
All topics-
Libya's 'medicane'
The tragedy of Libya's Derna
Storm Daniel wreaked havoc in southeastern Europe before becoming a Mediterranean storm. The "medicane" then slammed into Libya, where coastal towns were encircled by the sea on one side and flash floods on the other. By Alexander Freund
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Voices from Morocco
Earthquake rescue enters critical phase
Small mountain towns near the Morocco earthquake's epicentre will be hard to reach, locals confirm. Many people are still trapped under the rubble in towns that were only accessible by foot or donkey even before Friday's quake
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Morocco earthquake
'Finished here' – a village vanishes
It was delicate work for the searchers to remove the woman's body from the rubble of a village that effectively ceased to exist in Morocco's deadliest earthquake in over six decades
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Climate change in MENA
Is the Middle East prepared for extreme heatwaves?
Experts say that as intense heat becomes more frequent, the Middle East will see a rise in heat-related deaths. Despite gaps in public health planning, this region could teach the world a lot about extreme heat. By Cathrin Schaer
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Heatwave in Egypt
"Not only the prices are going up, the temperatures are too"
People in Egypt are currently in the grip of a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. Even Egyptians, who are generally used to the heat, are finding it hard to cope. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Cairo
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“Hot Cities: Lessons from Arab Architecture”
Inspiring cities of the future
“Hot Cities: Lessons from Arab Architecture” at Germany's Vitra Design Museum provides valuable food for thought about the ways architecture can deal with climate change. Numerous examples from Arab countries illustrate how they have been defying the heat for thousands of years. By Joseph Croitoru
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Turkey-Syria earthquake
What future for President Erdogan and the AKP?
The deadly earthquakes of 6 February may reshape Turkey’s political landscape forever. Many Turks hold the government responsible for the scale of the disaster, raising questions about its prospects in the upcoming elections and their outcome. Ayse Karabat reports from Istanbul
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Turkey earthquake
Whatever happened to Turkey's earthquake tax?
As countless Turks shiver in the cold, mourning their dead, many are asking why Erdogan's government has failed to instigate effective earthquake mitigation plans in a region so at risk from tectonic instability
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Climate crisis and over-population
The Arab world has no answers
As challenges such as population growth and the end of the fossil fuel era loom large, not a single Arab regime is in a position to meet them. It is now incumbent upon Europe to encourage a response. Commentary by Rainer Hermann
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Interview with political scientist Tobias Zumbraegel
How are Middle East countries coping with climate change?
Climate change, water scarcity and declining oil revenues: the Middle East and North Africa face huge environmental challenges. Political scientist Tobias Zumbraegel has published a study on how the region is dealing with these pressing issues. Interview by Christopher Resch
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Snow in Moroccoʹs Atlas mountains
Calling the King to account
This yearʹs bitter weather conditions, characterised by unusually heavy snowfalls in the Atlas mountains, merely highlight the Moroccan governmentʹs neglect of its poorest regions and the rural Amazigh community. By Matthew Greene
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Environmental protection in Islam
Patterning nature
What indicators of environmental protection and species conservation can be found in Islamic theology, the Koran and other Islamic lore? Answers from Muna Tatari, professor at the Seminar for Islamic Theology at the University of Paderborn