Tag Archives: life

Field of Dreams: Football Breathes Life into Yemen’s Camps

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The tournament is more than a sporting event. It’s a lifeline. In Ma’rib Governorate, where over 2.3 million internally displaced people have settled, families live in makeshift shelters, often after being forced to flee multiple times. Water is scarce, the heat is unforgiving, and access to education and health care is limited at best. In these conditions, there is little space for childhood, let alone for play.

Yet when the whistle blows, something shifts. On the field, children and young adults are no longer defined by conflict. For a moment, they become teammates, competitors and determined athletes, focused on the game and nothing else.

This year’s tournament, which is organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) brought together youth from more than a dozen displacement sites, including Salwa, Al-Ramsa and Al-Sowayda. In areas where daily life can feel heavy and isolated, the matches created a sense of connection and community.

Among the players is Basheer, a 26-year-old displaced from his home and now living in the heart of Salwa displacement site. Basheer shoulders far more than just his own future. He is the sixth of seven brothers and the only one with a steady income. Every day, he works on a minibus, shuttling people back and forth across town from early morning to late afternoon. On a good day, he brings home 20,000 Yemeni rials – barely enough to cover food.

The rest of the family depends on him. His brothers are out of work. The eldest managed to reach the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and sends money when he can, but the support is irregular. Most days, they survive on whatever Basheer is able to bring home.

Football, for Basheer, is more than a distraction. It’s a refuge. A rare moment of focus and joy in a life shaped by duty and survival. “Football takes me to another world,” says Basheer. “When I’m playing, I forget everything else.”

Player in football tournament for displaced people in Ma’rib, Yemen

‘Some came barefoot and played all day under the burning sun’

Despite its popularity, this year’s tournament faced a serious challenge: a lack of funding. In previous years, IOM had managed to fully equip the teams. Players received football boots, socks, kits and even proper goalposts. This year, IOM’s Camp Coordination and Camp Management team could only provide basic jerseys.

Jamal Alshami, an IOM field assistant and one of the long-time organisers, feared the turnout would suffer and that players might lose interest or feel discouraged. But the opposite happened.

“Even more players joined than last year,” he recounts. “Some came barefoot and played all day under the burning sun. They were happy just to be there.”

Displacement takes a toll on mental health. Life in the camps is stressful and isolating. But sport, and football in particular, gives young people a way to reconnect with themselves and with each other. “When people are displaced, they leave behind everything. That includes the things they used to enjoy,” says Mr. Alshami. “That’s why these activities matter. They help people relax and reconnect with something they once loved.”

That sense of joy was felt far beyond the players themselves. Spectators gathered along the sidelines, cheering with every goal. Commentators brought the matches to life with their lively calls. Even camp managers paused their work to watch. For a few hours each day, the camps felt different. They felt louder, lighter and full of life.

With Ma’rib continuing to receive new waves of displacement, IOM is working to bring mental health and psychosocial support closer to the ground. This includes sports, youth clubs and cultural events. Football, in this context, is more than a game. It is a reminder of identity. A way to heal. A moment of normal life in a place where very little feels normal.

Players in football tournament for displaced people in Ma’rib, Yemen

More than 30-year difference in life expectancy highlights health inequities

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The study by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that they can be responsible for a dramatic reduction in life expectancy in both rich and poor countries alike.

For example, people living in the country with the highest life expectancy will on average live 33 years longer than those born in the country with the lowest life expectancy.

An unequal world

“Our world is an unequal one. Where we are born, grow, live, work and age significantly influences our health and well-being,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Inequities in health are closely linked to degrees of social disadvantage and levels of discrimination.

“Health follows a social gradient whereby the more deprived the area in which people live, the lower their incomes are,” WHO said.

Inequities are especially exacerbated in populations that face discrimination and marginalization, such as Indigenous Peoples, who have lower life expectancies than their non-Indigenous counterparts.  

This is the case in both high and low-income countries.

Key targets at risk

The study is the first to be published since 2008 when the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health released its final report laying out targets for 2040 for reducing gaps between and within countries in life expectancy, childhood and maternal mortality. 

It shows that these targets are likely to be missed, and despite a scarcity of data there is sufficient evidence to show that health inequities are often widening.

For example, children born in poorer countries are 13 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than in wealthier countries. 

Moreover, modelling shows that the lives of nearly two million children annually could be saved by closing the gap and enhancing equity between the poorest and wealthiest sectors of the population within low- and-middle-income countries.

Additionally, although maternal mortality declined by 40 per cent between the years 2000 and 2023, the majority of deaths, 94 per cent, still occur in low and lower-middle-income countries.

Appeal for action

WHO is calling for collective action to address economic inequality and invest in social infrastructure and universal public services.

The agency also recommends other steps, including overcoming structural discrimination and the determinants and impacts of conflicts, emergencies and forced migration. 

What’s India’s future once Coronavirus is contained? Collection of Expert Views

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Now that India is bracing for relaxation of nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, economists and world renowned Indian brains had a discussion on almost all the aspects of Indian life from e-commerce to gold-buying spree to frugal mindset to sanitation consciousness.

Here are some takeaway points:

General Outlook

  1. India seems to have suppressed the curve for long but not now with 1.6 million cases and more than 36,000 deaths so far. It looks like it might escalate further.
  2. Possibility of W Curve –  There is a good chance of re-occurrence of the virus, which could see a possibility of regular lockdowns. Businesses need to plan accordingly.
  3. Capital inflow will look for countries that are less battered. Western economies are badly battered while countries like India, Indonesia, among others are not so battered.
  4. Emotional and Economic backlash against China is expected. Already, countries and companies are working on strategy to pivot away from China as part of their supply chains. Japan has announced packages for it’s companies bringing back manufacturing home. Businesses need to keep this in mind and work accordingly.

Discretionary Spending

  1. For individuals, health and safety will become No.1 on their agenda from the 3rd of 4th place. There will be more spending on this and reduction in other discretionary spending.
  2. The ticket size of spending will drop for a while. People will spend on cheaper goods than on expensive goods, or delay spending for a while.
  3. Extreme acceleration in digital economy — home education, home entertainment, home fitness, etc
  4. Loyalty shock: People will be less loyal towards brands as other aspects will take over. People will switch brands faster due to various other concerns like safety.
  5. General Trust deficit among stakeholders like vendors, customers, employees, borrowers, banks, etc. visible. Banks will have trust deficit with borrowers, companies will have trust deficit with suppliers, and it goes on.

Liquidity and P&L

  1. Segregate Good Costs and Bad Costs
  2. Good costs (Eg. Digitization, tech costs, digital marketing, best employees, etc) need to be insulated and protected
  3. Bad Costs (Eg. Fancy office, unnecessary spending, bad performers, traditional working methods) need to be ruthlessly eliminated. Companies will not entertain or be emotional about non-core businesses.
  4. Be Frugal – Not necessary to have fancy office, fancy cars, excess employee strength, etc. Companies tend to remove all the flab and be lean.
  5. Maintain Good behaviour – Have frank and open conversation with all stakeholders like suppliers, employees, etc and try to find the middle ground, so that the burden can be shared justly.
  6. Be Future Ready – In this crisis, there will be winners and there will be losers. Those who re-orient their strategy will be winners.

Govt Stimulus

  1. Economy was in poor shape even before Covid. The govt has little leeway to provide large stimulus.
  2. Govt earns about $60-70 billion a week from taxes. Imagine what a hit a 5-week lockdown will have. Size of Indian economy is about $3 Trillion. In some scenarios, it is predicted that Govt could take a hit of nearly $1 Trillion.
  3. Inequality has already sharpened. The gap between rich and poor has further increased. Govt needs to concentrate on mass health and mass welfare. If not, 200 million people could sink into poverty.
  4. Govt must explore printing currency (Quantitative easing), but there are limitations here. It has side effects like inflation. Rich countries have more leeway for such quantitative easing.
  5. Govt will focus on more capital from outside.

Result of backlash against China

  1. Internationally, and domestically there is an emotional and economic backlash against China due to border clashes recently.
  2. Businesses with supply chains passing through China will need to insulate themselves and build alternatives.
  3. India and Indian businesses need to try to become the contract manufacturer of the world, just like China is. India needs to make use of this opportunity.
  4. All big wealth funds and sovereign funds will be awash with liquidity. This liquidity needs to be attracted to India.
  5. In every sector, there are good and bad companies. Management has to invest correctly in manufacturing and modern tech, be honest and fair to all stakeholders, etc., Those companies with good management and displaying good behaviour will come out victorious.

Export Business

  1. Indian exporters need to build trust. They need to live up to promises made. They need to deliver on time and deliver the promised quality. They shouldn’t make incorrect promises just to get more business.
  2. Bangladesh export business has built trust and a good reputation. Despite a chequered past (low quality, human rights issues, etc) they have managed to overcome and are winning.

Wholesale, Retail, etc.

  1. More people will prefer to buy from retail stores where there is perception of safety (Eg. Sanitation, cleanliness, crowds, etc). They will move away from malls and mega markets. Many will move towards online stores. Wholesale suppliers also need to concentrate on such retailers.
  2. Customers also need to be ring-fenced.
  3. A high end restaurant in Delhi is giving 40% of bill value as a gift coupon to be used anytime up to December 2020.
  4. Car companies are giving buy back offers, in case the customer loses his job in the next one year.
  5. Pricing needs to be re-approached. People are looking for cheaper prices or cheaper good.

Brick & Mortar in Discretionary Spends

  1. Cinemas could take a big hit in the near future. Entertainment could move to home.
  2. Because of this, cafes and restaurants might see some increase in business. Many chains are implementing measures like social distancing like lesser furniture, etc, to build confidence to consumers.
  3. Smaller retailers need to send a message of safety. Eg: Have sanitisers, put up notice of no Covid positive employee found in the store, maintain social distancing, etc.
  4. Since travel and tourism will take a big hit, connected purchases will also shift. Purchases that happened abroad will happen at home. (Eg. Electronics, Luxury goods and apparel, etc.,). But travel related purchases will drop.

Real Estate

  1. Indian real estate economy is sitting on a huge inventory with a huge cost-of-carry
  2. The industry is highly leveraged with low margins.
  3. Unsold inventory is considered an appreciating asset, but might turn out to be a flawed view.
  4. Market was already overdue for a huge reset, which will be accelerated by the pandemic.
  5. Also, the sharing and co-working space could be hit as more businesses try to have their own smaller spaces and more WFH employees.

Jewellery 

  1. Gold-as-an-asset could see appreciation.
  2. Jewelry, as a discretionary spend, will take a hit.
  3. The Indian wedding industry will take a hit, as social distancing, cost consciousness, travel avoidance, etc., will prevent fat weddings, destination weddings, etc. This will hit all connected industries. (Eg. Silk, partywear, etc)

Financial Markets

  1. There will be value destruction and value creation in different companies in the same sector.
  2. High Debt low margin companies will find it difficult. (indicates risky or unscrupulous management)
  3. High Debt high margin companies could be rewarded, but caution needs to be exercised. (may indicate sharp or dynamic management)
  4. No debt high margin companies are best rewarded now.
  5. Know more about the CEO and management and their actions and activities. (Eg: 3 branches of Starbucks were kept open in India for last few days. The CEO of Starbucks India sat in the Fort (Mumbai) branch throughout the day to give his employees confidence and motivation).
  6. New tech unicorns will be born. Those involved in cyber security, cloud services, online education services, etc.

Forex Markets

  1. No doomsday scenario (i.e. Dollar will become 90 rupees etc). Such scenarios don’t seem realistic
  2. Govt should be buying as much oil as possible, as such prices may never be seen in the future of oil.
  3. As the western economies are more battered and Indian economy too faces same fate, depending on the spread of the disease in India.
  4. Watch out for sharp spikes in the market. Better to avoid the spikes.

Outlook for near future

  1. Large Companies survive.
  2. Huge concern seen for employees. Companies are paying the employees even when closed.
  3. HUL decided not to cut a single rupee for their suppliers, service providers, etc. No haircuts.
  4. Safety of employees and customers is becoming a major point of focus.
  5. This is possible because they have reserves of funds, etc that have been built up over the years.

Medium and Small businesses

  1. They have to work with thin capital reserves. Excess capital is taken out of the business and applied into personal assets.
  2. Small businesses take out the surplus and purchase personal assets instead of re-investing in the business. There are various factors and motivations here.
  3. Because of this, they are unable to meet the cash expenses of even the next month.
  4. A high end restaurant chain in Delhi (with Rs.40 crore annual turnover) is unable to pay the salaries of the current month as it has no liquid reserve. Owner has invested in personal assets like house in London, etc.
  5. Medium and Small business need to have a look at how they can build some business reserves to endure such disruptions.

‘Force Majeure’ in Contracts

  1. Should force majeure clauses be triggerd in various contracts like rent, supply, etc? It will lead to litigation, but there is no point in getting into litigation now.
  2. All parties have been affected by the crisis. The tenants, the landlords, the lenders/financiers, etc.
  3. Parties need to sit across the table and find a common ground and mutually decide upon the costs, rentals, etc. Burden has to be shared.

Work From Home Scenario

  1. It is possible for lot of employees to not visit the office and still be productive.
  2. In one corporate office, it is found that it is enough that only 30% staff stay in the office. Others can be connected from homes. This leads to lesser commute expense, stress of the commute, time wasted, etc.,
  3. Parents can take care of children more effectively while Working From Home. There can be dark hours when no calls will be made.

Optimism

As per a McKinsey survey of entrepreneurs released in May, 53% of Indian entrepreneurs are optimistic, while only 25% of Japanese entrepreneurs are optimistic. Now it’s the equally bad everywhere.