Arab and international media outlets, including China Media Group, gathered in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, on Thursday for the fourth Arab Media Congress to discuss how journalism can enhance climate change awareness.
CMG, with its CGTN Arabic as an associate member of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), participated in the event as the only Chinese media agency.
With a focus on climate change and global media response to it, the event gathered representatives from Arab states and other countries to discuss the key role of the media in enhancing public awareness and lowering the risk of climatic disasters.
A representative introduced how CMG shouldered its responsibilities as a media group in responding to global climate change and developing ecological civilization, and showed its latest achievements in AI application, which were well received by the participants.
"We are very happy to move ahead with CMG, our important partner. I have been engaging in the work of the Belt and Road Media cooperation mechanism, and the ASBU strongly supports this cooperation mechanism. We hope to establish a clear bilateral cooperation mechanism with China in cultural, radio and television program exchanges, and the application of emerging technologies. China has achieved a high-level development in artificial intelligence, with remarkable results," said Abdulrahim Suleiman, ASBU’s secretary general.
"China is an important economic partner for the Middle East and many regions in the world. Chinese media can play a positive role in promoting peace, reconciliation, development and sharing, especially in the field of technology where it excels," said Awsam Majid Ghanem, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Iraqi Media Network.
CMG stresses media's role in boosting climate change awareness at 4th Arab Media Congress
CMG stresses media's role in boosting climate change awareness at 4th Arab Media Congress
Heavy rainfall has flooded thousands of makeshift tents sheltering displaced Palestinians across Gaza, compounding the suffering of families struggling to protect their belongings and cope with the season's first major storm.
The deluge laid bare the extreme vulnerability of temporary shelters and shattered infrastructure in Gaza following years of conflict. For displaced communities facing the arrival of winter, the downpour has sparked an additional struggle for survival, soaking mattresses, clothing, and scarce food supplies.
In a displacement camp, Samar Farhat spent hours desperately trying to clear water from her tent.
"We are suffering from the heavy rain. My tent has been flooded. Our clothes, mattresses and food are all soaked. Even my husband, who is sick and bedridden, was surrounded by water from every direction," said Farhat.
Nearby, Ammar Musbeh fought through the night to keep his family safe as floodwaters rose around them. Using basic tools, residents across the territory rushed to dig trenches and build makeshift barriers to block incoming water.
"We were flooded overnight. I spent ten hours carrying my children to keep them safe. Water kept pouring into our tent throughout the night, rising to more than a meter. I spent the night trying to drain it out. As you can see, the tent has collapsed and is no longer fit to live in," said Musbeh.
Gaza's Civil Defense reported receiving more than 1,500 emergency calls following the floods. However, severe shortages of fuel, vehicles, and heavy equipment have severely hamstrung rescue and relief operations.
Yahya Al-Sarraj, mayor of Gaza City, noted that current makeshift structures are entirely unsuited for harsh weather.
"The tents are not suitable for winter or summer and we call for replacing them with mobile homes and proper housing units. This is not allowed until this moment by the Israeli occupation. The municipalities of Gaza are lacking the equipment, the tools. We don't have the heavy machines that are necessary for these conditions," said the mayor.
According to the United Nations, Gaza urgently requires 121,000 tents, 561,000 tarpaulins, and 1.7 million mattresses ahead of the winter months. With only about 2,800 tents available inside the territory as of early November, aid agencies face a catastrophic shortage in essential shelter and supplies.
Floods inundate tents in Gaza as major storm hits displaced families
