by Ehsan Bayat | Jul 31, 2019 | Construction, Energy, Infrastructure, Middle East, Technology, Transportation, Travel
The ongoing development of Iran’s Chabahar Port is opening promising new trade and transport options for Afghan businesses. In early June, in the latest news about the port, Afghan officials announced that refrigerated containers had been installed there to allow...
by Ehsan Bayat | Jul 8, 2019 | Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm, Infrastructure, Middle East, Technology, Water
As researchers look for more ways to reuse resources and reduce agricultural waste, the Middle East’s date palm tree is standing out from the rest. With a climate ideal for the date palm, the Middle East and North Africa region is home to about two-thirds of the...
by Ehsan Bayat | May 16, 2019 | Afghanistan, Conservation, Construction, Energy, History, Infrastructure, Middle East, Technology, Travel
In early April, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released a report. It detailed how infrastructure development in Afghanistan could facilitate long-term growth, especially for the economy, the agricultural sectors, and government spending on development. The Asian...
by Ehsan Bayat | May 2, 2019 | Afghanistan, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm, Infrastructure, Water, Weather
The National Horticulture and Livestock Project (NHLP) aims to help families in need across Afghanistan to gain economic footing. A widow in Kama province, for example, recently told the World Bank how proud she was of her chickens, which the NHLP had recently given...
by Ehsan Bayat | Apr 18, 2019 | Construction, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Middle East, Technology
Establishing a quality healthcare system in Afghanistan has been an ongoing challenge, as the country has been dealing with issues such as drought, a constantly changing political system, and a struggling economy. For years, many healthcare services, particularly...
by Ehsan Bayat | Apr 4, 2019 | Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm, Infrastructure, Technology, Water
While the dry climate in the Middle East can be good for some crops, it’s also an environment where harmful pests thrive. Regional pests such as the desert locust and Mediterranean fruit fly can destroy a harvest, and for years farmers have turned to pesticides to...
by Ehsan Bayat | Mar 21, 2019 | Construction, Energy, Infrastructure, Middle East, Technology, Tourism, Transportation, Travel, UAE
In 2016 Dubai’s government leaders announced an ambition plan: by 2030, one-fourth of all trips in Dubai would be driverless. At the time, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, told a media outlet that he wanted Dubai to become “the world’s...
by Ehsan Bayat | Mar 7, 2019 | Conservation, Energy, Farm, Infrastructure, Middle East, Water
In early 2019, UNICEF appealed to humanitarian leaders around the world for almost $4 billion to help 41 million children in 59 countries who are affected by conflict or disaster. Without aid, UNICEF leaders have said, these children’s safety and their futures could...
by Ehsan Bayat | Feb 13, 2019 | Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, History, Middle East, Technology, Water, Weather
The Middle East has long struggled with lack of water. However, another natural substance is threatening to taint the region’s limited supply: salt. An entire industry has been built around reducing salinity to provide fresh water for the region. As a result,...
by Ehsan Bayat | Jan 23, 2019 | Afghanistan, Agriculture, Conservation, Crops, Farm, Infrastructure, Technology
As 2019 begins, Afghanistan faces major challenges due, in part, to factors far outside of its control. Inrin, an independent humanitarian news site, recently reviewed the humanitarian crises and related news it expects to shape 2019. Here’s how Afghanistan factored...
