Food Trading (imports & export) in the Gulf region
The percentage of Food export in Gulf Countries in 2019 is extremely low and the imports is relatively high comparing to exports. Gulf countries exhibited a notable disparity between food exports and imports, with food exports being exceedingly low and food imports substantially higher. Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, in particular, heavily relied on food imports to meet their consumption needs. This underscores a regional dependence on international food sources and highlights the importance of addressing food security to ensure stable access to essential resources in the Gulf.
Impact of Tax rate on Import and Export
The tax rates in Gulf countries as seen in the map can linked to the imports and exports, reveal an interesting correlation. Lower tax rates, such as those in Qatar and Kuwait, can encourage trade and potentially offset their low food exports and high food imports. Conversely, higher tax rates, as seen in Oman, might contribute to higher food import figures. The relatively lower tax rate in the UAE supports its role as a regional trade hub, which is reflected in its balanced import and export figures. The interplay between tax rates and trade statistics underscores the significance of fiscal policies in shaping the trade landscape of these Gulf nation
Agriculture & Industry
Influence of Water Withdrawals in Agriculture and Industry on food imports and exports
The water withdrawals data indicate the extent of agriculture and industrial activity in Gulf countries. Higher agricultural water withdrawals, as seen in Saudi Arabia and Oman, suggest self-sufficiency in food production. Meanwhile, countries with lower agriculture withdrawals, like Kuwait, may rely more on food imports. These water withdrawals can be linked to food import and export dynamics, influencing food security and trade strategies in the region.
Influence of Employment in Agriculture and Industry on food imports and exports
Higher Agricultural Employment & Food Trade:
Oman and Saudi Arabia, with higher agricultural employment, might have a more significant capacity for domestic food production. This could relate to their lower food imports and potential for food exports despite modest industrial growth.
Lower agricultural employment in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE could imply a heavier reliance on food imports due to limited domestic agricultural output, aligning with their higher food import figures.
Industrial Employment & Food Trade:
Qatar’s high industrial employment might suggest a lesser emphasis on agriculture, potentially leading to higher food imports despite economic diversification.
Other countries, with varying industrial employment rates, might showcase different levels of agricultural emphasis, influencing their food import-export dynamics.
Solutions
Investment in Agricultural Innovation: Encourage technological advancements and innovation in agriculture to boost productivity, creating more jobs and improving food self-sufficiency..
Tax Reform: Implement tax policies that incentivize investment in both agricultural and industrial sectors, promoting growth and job creation in these areas.
Education and Skills Development: Invest in education and training programs to equip the workforce with the necessary skills for employment in agriculture, industry, and other emerging sectors.
Sustainable Resource Management: Implement sustainable water and land management practices to support agricultural growth without compromising environmental resources, thereby ensuring long-term economic stability.
UN Goals
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth:
Employment in Agriculture and Industry: The distribution of employment in agriculture and industry reflects the economic structure of countries. Goal 8 emphasizes the importance of decent work and employment opportunities for sustained economic growth.
Food Import-Export Dynamics: Countries with higher agricultural employment might have stronger domestic agricultural sectors, impacting their trade balance in food. Conversely, higher industrial employment might affect the reliance on food imports due to potentially reduced emphasis on agriculture.
Tax Policies: Tax structures impact economic activities and employment opportunities. Favorable tax policies can stimulate growth in both agricultural and industrial sectors, contributing to Goal 8’s aim of fostering economic growth and decent work.
By focusing on inclusive economic growth, job creation, and enhancing productivity in both agriculture and industry, countries can contribute significantly to achieving Goal 8, ensuring sustainable and equitable economic development.
UN Goal Link – Goal 2: Zero Hunger:
Food Import-Export Dynamics: Countries with high food imports or low food exports often face challenges in achieving food security. Goal 2 aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Agricultural Practices: Stronger agricultural sectors (linked to lower food imports or higher exports) directly contribute to achieving Goal 2. Sustainable agriculture practices, as encouraged by the goal, can enhance food production and reduce dependency on imports.
Lebanon’s Economic Odyssey: Taming Inflation on the Road to SDG 1
Ever heard of the Boiling Frog Syndrome? The ‘Boiling Frog’ syndrome is based on an urban legend describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is simple: if a frog is suddenly put into a pot of boiling water, it will jump out and save itself from impending death… But if you place a frog in a pot of cold water and slowly heat the water, the frog will not perceive the gradual temperature increase. The frog becomes accustomed to the warming water and does not react until it’s too late, eventually resulting in its demise as the water reaches a boiling point. The frog’s inability to sense the incremental change in temperature leads to its unfortunate fate.
Similar to the boiling frog, Lebanon’s population may have adapted to challenges it had been bearing, with some becoming desensitized to the increasing hardships. It is only when the situation reached a critical point, with a sudden and dramatic spike in inflation in 2019, that the gravity of the problem became evident. By this time, many were already deeply affected by poverty, economic instability, and a lack of basic necessities, setting the country on an uncertain path.
With the country already having been in debt before 2019, Lebanon was just falling into its worst state, for inflation rates were at an all time high, reaching record numbers, causing a widespread in poverty, where everyone got affected. Lebanon found itself among the top 10 countries with the highest inflation rates, a stark reminder of the severity of the issue. As if that weren’t enough, the nation’s Net Primary Income plummeted to record lows, exceeding $1.2 billion in negative Net Primary Income in 2019, causing hardships for its people and economy. In reference to Turkey, Turkey has also passed through inflation throughout its years, on a growing bases, however by 2021, Lebanon hit a 154% inflation rate with Turkey (even though it recorded its worst high ever) scored a 19.6% inflation rate.
Faced with this grim reality, Lebanon’s leaders and policymakers embarked on a journey to tackle inflation and work towards SDG 1, ‘No Poverty’, they implemented a multi-faceted approach. This included the introduction of transparent and effective monetary policies to stabilize the currency and control inflation. Additionally, they emphasized fiscal discipline, taking steps to reduce budget deficits, promote responsible spending, and enhance financial stability. Seeking international cooperation and drawing inspiration from successful global cases, Lebanon aimed to create an environment conducive to economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, ultimately striving to ensure that basic necessities became more affordable for its citizens.
Unlocking the Code of Health: Illuminating the Path to a Thriving Medical System
In the intricate tapestry of a nation’s prosperity, nothing weaves a more profound impact than the state of its healthcare system. The vitality of its citizens, the resilience of its communities, and the promise of a prosperous future all hinge on the health and wellness of the population. A healthy population is a productive one, as it reduces absenteeism, increases workforce efficiency, and stimulates economic growth.
Yet, as we embark on this journey through the labyrinth of healthcare, one question looms above all: How can we chart the course to assess and improve a country’s medical system, ensuring a brighter, healthier tomorrow for all? Evaluating the medical system of a nation is a complex endeavor that requires a comprehensive approach to several factors we will delve deeper into later.
One indicator that may be used to assess the effectiveness of the medical industry is the mortality rate. From the data provided by World Development Index, countries with high death rates, such as the Central African Republic, Niger, South Sudan, and many others, have poor healthcare systems, as seen in the visual below:
Furthermore, there exists a strong correlation between CVDs, cancer, diabetes and other illnesses that significantly impacted the mortality rate indication for both males and females. This implies that countries experience high mortality rates due to the increasing rates of the above-mentioned illnesses and diseases. Also, an implication of the absence of some healthcare services such as a lack of efficient medical professionals may be valid as well in such a case.
As a matter of fact, the presence of medical professionals that can assist society and offer health care is one of the most important measures of how well the medical sector is doing. Therefore, one potential solution is enhancing the availability of medical professionals that are prone to doing their job effectively.
There exists a weak correlation between the availability of nurses and midwives and the increasing rates of mortality. This is because an effective team of well-experienced nurses and midwives can strongly lead to a decrease in the number of deaths per hospital. The top 5 nations with the highest mortality rates also have the lowest number of nurses and midwives.
Another potential solution involves increasing expenditures in the healthcare field to gain access to more promising and efficient results. In order to improve the health of their medical industry, the nations with greater rates of mortality have to gain insight from the experience of those with developed healthcare systems, where a significant percentage of the more developed countries’ expenses goes to health expenditures (ex: United States, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway etc.) Higher expenditure on healthcare implies higher expenditure on more enhanced medical professionals whose primary role is to save the day by decreasing mortality rates. Moreover, we can see that while less developed nations such as South Sudan and many others have far greater mortality rates (as discussed earlier), they almost all have a lower number of health expenditures too.
Countries with high mortality rates should prioritize expanding their nurse and midwife workforce. This can be achieved through targeted recruitment, better training opportunities, and incentives to retain experienced healthcare professionals. In nations with a scarcity of healthcare workers, it is crucial to consider redistributing them from regions with surplus staff to areas with greater need. This can help ensure more equitable access to healthcare services and reduce mortality disparities.
Also, the observation that less developed nations with higher mortality rates also have lower health expenditures highlights the need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, training, and resources. Adequate funding can have a significant impact on healthcare accessibility and quality.
In conclusion, the state of a nation’s healthcare system is a complex web created by several kinds of variables. According to the results of our investigation, nurses and midwives are vital in determining healthcare outcomes, and there seems to be a link between their availability and death rates. Key suggestions to improve patient care and results included strengthening the healthcare workforce through recruiting, skill development, and equitable distribution.
Furthermore, the evidence indicated a clear link between less health expenditures and higher mortality rates in several less developed nations. This emphasizes the urgent need for increased funding and resources to bridge healthcare disparities and improve the well-being of vulnerable populations.
As we journey towards a brighter future, let us remember that the path to a thriving medical system lies in unity, innovation, and data-informed decision-making.
The Syrian Refugee Crisis
The Syrian refugee crisis is one of the world’s biggest challenges. The war in Syria destroyed the country, killed and injured thousands of people, and displaced millions into other countries. Asylum countries are suffering from this crisis and facing many challenges. The continuation of the war will not spare the west and especially Europe because the smuggling of migrants via death boats will not stop but will increase if no serious actions were taken.
The main result of the Syrian war was the large displacement of Syrians to foreign countries. It is creating a big refugee crisis that needs direct measures to be taken to end the war. Millions of people were affected and spilled into surrounding countries. The continuation of the war has displaced more than half of Syria’s population from their homes, and an estimated 15.3 million Syrian nationals will need emergency aid in 2023. An average of 4.6 million refugees per year were outside Syria between years 2011 and 2021.
Since the beginning of the war in 15 march 2011, the number of Syrian refugees started increasing. The numbers increased quickly and significantly each year by year especially between 2011 and 2017. After year 2017, the numbers increased slightly and the numbers were approximately the same. In the first six years, the war was very violent and tough, this obliged many Syrians to flee from the country and search for safer places in foreign countries.
The root cause should be tackled and a peaceful settlement should be forced by great nations to end the war. Under the supervision of the UN, voluntary repatriation for Syrian refugees should be offered and those who don’t wish to return to their home country should be offered a chance to move to a third country because asylum countries like Lebanon for example can’t bear the refugee crisis anymore. Big nations should take responsibility and unburden the effects of the Syrian migration on Asylum countries by financially supporting them and by finding alternatives.
Parties who are part of the Syrian war should be brought into serious and continues discussions and meetings to reach an amicable solution that makes no party in a stronger position. Guarantees must be provided for people who wish to return to Syria and safe areas must be secured for them. Direct actions to increase the financial aid given to hosting neighboring countries of Syria like Lebanon and Jordan for example should be a priority. Syrian refugees as well must be offered a chance to move to third countries like USA, Canada, and the EU.
An immediate fair assessment of the refugees should be done to determine those who are in danger if they return to Syria and those who aren’t. Refugees that are still in danger, should be offered a chance to move to third countries that can provide them with a decent life like stated before. At the same time, the reconstruction process should start to encourage refugees to return to their homeland. The Financial support to hosting countries like Lebanon must be in terms of contributing to the development of the infrastructure especially in the sectors of electricity, water, sanitation, public Healthcare, and Education.
We must ensure that all kinds of support must be given for the sake of the Syrian people. All great nations that have their influence in Syria must put an end to this war because extremism and terrorist groups won’t spare any foreign country from their attacks. Neighboring countries and Lebanon one of them are on the edge of social collapse due to the financial and political instability. Thus, direct support must be granted to such countries and the EU along with the USA and Canada should open their doors for resettlement for refugees. If not, illegal immigration via death boats and smuggling of migrants will not stop but instead will rise significantly especially to European countries.
The war in Syria brought destruction, death, poverty, and immigration. The whole world because of globalization is a small village and any war in any place will have effects on other countries. The Russian-Ukrainian war is a good example since the whole world economy is affected. Peaceful means of solving disputes should always be the option because violent extremism is a long-term effect of war and it will generate terrorism that won’t spare humans or countries. The Recommendations and solutions proposed above for the Syrian refugee crisis should be taken into consideration in order to stop the suffering.
The Lebanese Civil War
April 13, 1975, an unforgettable date for many, the Lebanese civil war commenced, enduring for a period of 15 years, and causing widespread dispersion and fragmentation in our cherished homeland of Lebanon. This war had led to increased mortality rates, displacement of populations, migration and weakened public health infrastructure, resulting in adverse health outcomes.
The Lebanese civil war in 1975 Clearly showed a huge increase in population (400,000 yearly), mortality rate (800 per 1000 person), death rate (4 times more), immigration (700,000) and refugees (900,000). The evident impact of the war itself, combined with the strain on the healthcare system due to shortages in supplies, security concerns, and a loss of skilled personnel due to immigration, is thus apparent.
However, Lebanese people always tend to solve the problems and adapt to any situation in a positive way. The Lebanese accord of 1990 sought to create a structure for political transformation, effectively concluding the war by means of the Taif agreement. Following the cessation of hostilities, the mortality and death rates returned to their previous stable levels.
In the light of our recent past, Lebanon has been confronted with a significant economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the notorious Beirut Blast and an influx of Syrian refugees in the recent years. As a result, these factors have had an impact on diverse aspects of the Lebanese population’s epidemiological indicators and crucial public health outcomes. The aforementioned factors have caused a disturbance to healthcare systems, infrastructure, and the availability of healthcare services, resulting in a significant strain on the Lebanese healthcare system.
The Syrian war in 2012 clearly showed a huge increase in population (1,200,000 in 3 years), immigration (733,000 in one year) and refugees (1,200,000 in three years) without any considerable effect on mortality rate and death rate (this may be explained by the nature of the Syrian community, being a young society).
Nowadays, Lebanese people must believe in their potential to pass the crisis and get up again to build what was destroyed.