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Soraida Torrealba's family has spent days desperately searching for her among the rubble of their building.Other relatives scour hospitals and morgues after the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 left more than 1,700 dead and tens of thousands more still missing.Soraida's 44-year-old sister, Rosanna Luna, says not knowing what happened her sister is excruciating."I feel like my hands are tied because I can't find her," she laments.Like Luna, thousands of people are searching for one or more family members with growing desperation six days after the disaster.Social media is flooded with photos of children, the elderly, and couples, along with their names and descriptions, as well as a contact number for their families.The initiative "venezuelatebusca.com," a database launched to help find friends and relatives lost since the earthquakes, reports more than 46,000 missing. The name means "Venezuela is looking for you."The UN estimates that the number could be as high as 50,000 but Venezuela's government has avoided putting a number on how many people are still unaccounted for.On Sunday, Luna thought she recognized her sister among the photos of the dead at the main Caracas morgue.One of the faces looked very similar, but when she looked more closely, the toenail polish didn't match.The next day, she returned and found another face that resembled Soraida's in a new batch of photographs.But the person's features were so swollen that she couldn't be sure it was her.Other relatives have been searching for her among the ruins of the apartment where Soraida lived with her dog Princesa in La Guaira, on Venezuela's Caribbean coast, the region worst hit by the earthquakes.But on Monday, as they were returning to the site, a strong aftershock forced them to abandon their search."It's harder not knowing, because you ask yourself, 'What do I do? Where do I look for her?" Luna cried."I look for her here and she's not there, I went to the hospital and she's not there. Where is she?'"Her anguish is shared outside morgues as well as in hospitals, where photos of missing persons are plastered on walls and utility poles, written on handwritten pieces of paper.Robert Campos, who lost contact with several family members, says that information gathered from websites isn't always accurate.His nephew was marked "deceased" on one site on Friday, but when he arrived at the hospital to which the page directed him, there was no record of his relative.He continues to tour hospitals and morgues, following possible leads sent to him from other family members, who continue to dig through rubble.Nearly a week after the earthquake, the 54-year-old just wants closure."If they are alive, all the better, but what I want is to find them," he said.The pungent smell of death emanates from the Caracas morgue, an odour that thousands of liters of donated chlorine cannot mask.An employee who asked to remain anonymous said that the institution has received "a great many" bodies since the day of the two earthquakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, and is overwhelmed.Many have not been identified, partly due to the advanced state of decomposition of the bodies."Not knowing anything," says Campos, is the hard part."Being told that the person died gives you the peace of mind that you don't have to keep searching. You can help others, but you've already overcome that barrier that has been holding you back," he said.Rosanna Luna, who is looking for her sister, is still hoping for a miracle."I've asked God that she turns up safe and sound," she said. "But if that's not the case, at least let us find her." 

Four platinum and twelve gold awards across five institutions, the highest designation the Federation confers.Apex Health, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding and the fastest-growing healthcare company in the MENA region, has been named a Holistic Role Model by the Arab Hospitals Federation, the highest designation the Federation confers, after securing 16 recognitions across the group's network, including Apex Health at the group level, The View Hospital and The Military Medical City Hospital, managed by EWS, in Qatar, Al Imam Al Hassan Al Mujtaba Teaching Hospital and Nasriyah Teaching Hospital in Iraq.The achievement includes four Platinum and twelve Gold awards at the Federation’s seventh Gold Initiative Certificate, placing Apex Health ahead of 45 institutions recognised from 323 applications submitted across ten countries. Notably, every Apex Health institution submitted for consideration received an award.The Holistic Role Model status is reserved for organisations that demonstrate sustained, measurable performance across the full spectrum of healthcare delivery, rather than excellence in any single area. The framework evaluates performance across eight dimensions of healthcare excellence, ensuring a comprehensive view of organisational quality and impact.Commenting on this milestone, Joseph Hazel, Group CEO of Apex Health, said:“This is one of the proudest moments in Apex Health’s history. This recognition from the Arab Hospitals Federation across every institution in multiple countries proves our strategy works: quality at Apex Health is our baseline and we continue to provide trusted quality care with measured clinical outcomes across all the communities we serve.”Apex Health’s 16 recognitions were distributed across five institutions, covering eight dimensions of healthcare excellence including leadership and governance, workforce development, quality and patient safety, operational excellence, digital health, patient-centred care, and sustainability.The group’s model rests on three principles: investing in people, building systems that hold institutions accountable, and treating patient experience as the baseline against which everything else is measured rather than a separate function. The Federation’s evaluation was independently validated by HIMSS, The Beryl Institute, and the World Council for Medical Tourism. Holistic Role Model status is not a destination. For Apex Health, it is a confirmation of where the group stands today and a commitment to where it intends to go. The healthcare landscape is changing faster than at any point in recent history. Patient expectations are higher, regulatory scrutiny is sharper, and the competition for clinical talent is intensifying.Alice Yammine Boueiz, CEO, Arab Hospitals Federation, congratulated Apex Health, saying:“Apex Health was assessed across every level of the Gold Initiative Certificate: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and our highest honour, Holistic Role Model. The results speak for themselves. The message to Arab healthcare is clear. Real excellence cannot be hidden or faked. The assessment tested Apex Health across multiple dimensions and institutions, and the evidence held at every level. The Arab Hospitals Federation is proud of this achievement, both for Apex Health and for what it means for Arab healthcare. This is the standard we set. This is the standard they met.” Apex Health - Group Level:Platinum in Leadership, Governance & Continuous ImprovementGold in Workforce Development & WellbeingThe View Hospital, Qatar: Platinum in Leadership, Governance & Continuous ImprovementPlatinum in Patient Centred Care & ExperienceGold in Quality Management & Patient SafetyGold in Operational Excellence & Resource OptimizationGold in Digital Health & Technology InnovationThe Military Medical City Hospital, managed by EWS, Qatar: Platinum in Quality Management & Patient SafetyGold in Patient Centred Care & ExperienceGold in Digital Health & Technology InnovationAl Imam Al Hassan Al Mujtaba Teaching Hospital, Iraq:Gold in Leadership, Governance & Continuous ImprovementGold in Patient Centred Care & ExperienceGold in Sustainability, Hospital Design & ResilienceNasriyah Teaching Hospital, Iraq: Gold in Quality Management & Patient SafetyGold in Patient Centred Care & ExperienceGold in Sustainability, Hospital Design & Resilience In that environment, the groups that will lead are those able to demonstrate consistency across institutions, countries, and healthcare settings. Apex Health has achieved exactly that, showing that its standards can be sustained across its network. The focus now is to build on this achievement and extend its impact to every institution the group operates and every patient it serves.Apex Health is the fastest-growing healthcare company in the MENA region, with eight hospitals across four countries. Managing over 2,800 beds, its hospitals serve more than 2.8 million patient visits annually. 

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today announced ASPETAR, one of the world's foremost orthopaedic and sports medicine hospitals, as its Official Medical Partner of all major AFC club competitions as well as several national team competitions through to June 2029.Based in Doha, Qatar, ASPETAR is widely regarded as one of the leading sports medicine institutions in the world, providing elite-level care to professional athletes in various sporting disciplines, the AFC said in a statement.Through this partnership, ASPETAR will work alongside the AFC to support the continued growth of football across Asia, it added.This announcement is the natural culmination of a relationship built over many years of meaningful collaboration. ASPETAR served as the medical service provider for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, delivering expert athlete care at one of Asian football's most celebrated tournaments.As an accredited AFC Medical Centre of Excellence, ASPETAR also recently served as the Premier Partner of the 8th AFC Medical Conference held in Kuala Lumpur in July 2025.The AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: "The AFC's partnership with ASPETAR is more than a collaboration; it is a foundational pillar for the health and wellbeing of our athletes across the Continent.""ASPETAR has demonstrated an unwavering loyalty to Asian football, consistently standing by the AFC through every milestone and their journey with us-from becoming an accredited AFC Medical Centre of Excellence to their pivotal role in the success of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023-is a testament to their deep-rooted commitment to our Vision and Mission," he said."By renewing and expanding our relationship, we are establishing the highest global standards for medical care right here in Asia and we are delighted to formally welcome such a trusted and steadfast partner into our global family of supporters," Windsor added.ASPETAR Acting Director General Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi said: "ASPETAR's partnership with the AFC is founded on a long-standing and valued relationship built on mutual trust and shared goals. It reflects our joint commitment to advancing athlete health, promoting medical education, and strengthening research in football medicine.""ASPETAR is proud to continue working alongside the AFC to support the development of football medicine across Asia and beyond," Al Mawlawi added.

Effective aid delivery means demand-driven projects, local procurement and accountability to people, with Qatar’s partnerships benefiting from UNOPS’ model in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, according to the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).In an exclusive interview with Gulf Times, UN under-secretary-general and UNOPS executive director Jorge Moreira da Silva explained the office’s demand-driven identity, saying UNOPS does not bring programmes but responds to partner demand, operating on a fee-for-service basis.Da Silva said UNOPS is a non-programmatic agency, relying on “concrete demand from the context we are serving.” He explained, “If, in Syria, the government and Qatar decide under a partnership that they need to build schools and hospitals, UNOPS is not bringing an education or a health programme, or a health policy.“We simply construct the school, we build the hospitals, and we can also procure the goods and the services that are needed for these facilities. We are demand-driven, which makes UNOPS a very practical organisation,” da Silva pointed out.He continued, “We are self-financed. We don't get assessed contributions or voluntary contributions. We operate in the so-called fee-for-service modality, where once we have a demand from a partner to implement the project, we implement the project, recovering all the costs and reflecting that on our funding modality. UNOPS is a solutions-based, project-based organisation.”Da Silva emphasised that UNOPS is accountable to beneficiaries, partners, and the UN system, ensuring projects are based on robust metrics and results-based monitoring.He said, “We are accountable to the people we serve. That's why all projects that we put in place must be based on robust metrics and on results-based approaches, with the proper monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Everyone knows what UNOPS is doing and the results of our projects.Da Silva continued, “But a key element of accountability is ensuring that the projects are really serving the people. And we ensure that in all our projects, we engage the citizens at the very early stage of the project until its implementation. And it includes one key element, which is procuring locally.“The most significant part of our procurement is local, which means we help the development of the local communities, creating jobs locally, and strengthening local businesses. This is a key element. And even on the design of the projects, we engage with the citizens, even in the most difficult context.”Da Silva also highlighted underinvestment in energy grids, stressing that partners like Qatar can help link renewable supply with people.“We need energy grids in place; there is an underinvestment in energy grids globally. We may have all the renewable energy in the world, but if we don't link these with the people, it won't succeed,” he stated.Da Silva added that by combining demand-driven delivery, accountability, and local procurement, UNOPS offers Qatar a model for aid that is both practical and community-anchored, strengthening Doha’s role in fragile contexts. 

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population announced that two people were killed, and 41 others injured in a multi-vehicle collision on Saturday evening on the Cairo-Suez highway. The ministry said in a statement that 28 ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The injured were then transported to several nearby hospitals.Initial investigations revealed that the accident was caused by a heavy truck traveling at high speed, resulting in a collision with several cars, damaging the vehicles and resulting in casualties. The truck driver was arrested and referred for investigation.

The Military Medical City Hospital (MMCH) obtained the Gold Initiative Certificate for excellence in patient experience under the Safety and Quality of Care category, by the Arab Hospitals Federation (AHF), in recognition of its commitment to providing patient-centered healthcare and a high-quality, humane experience.The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that this achievement comes within the framework of the ongoing efforts of the Qatar Armed Forces Medical Services to develop the healthcare system and raise its efficiency in accordance with the highest international standards, in implementation of the established strategy and objectives to provide the best healthcare services to members of the Armed Forces and their families.The certification was based on the hospital's integrated healthcare experience, which prioritizes patient safety, along with medical excellence, psychological comfort, effective human communication, and support services.In collaboration with The Beryl Foundation, the judging panel praised the level of innovation, development, and positive impact of the hospital's initiatives on the patient experience.MMCH was selected for this classification from among 267 healthcare institutions participating in the initiative, following its success in embodying patient experience standards on the ground.In this context, Commander of the Medical Services of Qatar Armed Forces Brigadier-General (Eng./Air) Abdulrahman Ali Al Abdulmalik, said that the hospital's recognition from AHF reflects its pivotal role in Qatar's healthcare system, underscoring its commitment to improving the quality of care provided to members of the Armed Forces, their families, and the wider community.He expressed his gratitude to all hospital staff for their dedicated efforts in developing and enhancing the patient experience, pointing out the continued support of HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al-Thani, and the close observation of HE Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed Al Mannai, which contributed to enhancing the hospital's activities and achieving this milestone.For his part, CEO of Military Medical City Hospital Dr. Ahmad Zaatari, said that obtaining this certificate reflects an institutional work culture that all employees experience daily, from reception to operation rooms, where each individual bears the responsibility of creating a healthcare experience in which patients feel reassured and cared for in an environment based on humanity and respect.This achievement would not have been possible without the continued support of the country's wise leadership and partners, Dr. Zaatari said, adding that the hospital embodies an ambitious vision aimed at building an integrated healthcare system that combines treatment, education, research, and community health promotion, ensuring an improved patient experience and enhanced quality of care.This achievement marks a new milestone in the hospital's journey toward consolidating its position as a leading destination for quality medical care in Qatar, by adopting the latest technologies and providing a healthcare experience tailored to the needs of the Armed Forces members and their families, in addition to serving vital civilian sectors. QNA 1008 GMT 2025/08/27