Saudi woman Sondos Jaan set to climb the highest peak in the Arab world

Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)
Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)
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Updated 22 June 2024
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Saudi woman Sondos Jaan set to climb the highest peak in the Arab world

Saudi woman Sondos Jaan set to climb the highest peak in the Arab world
  • Adventurer tackles Mount Toubkal in Morocco

DHAHRAN: Sondos Jaan embarked on the journey to the highest peak in the Arab world on June 20.

It is the latest episode in Jaan’s love for mountain adventures, but to understand the fascination it is important to take a look back at her childhood.

She told Arab News: “I am from Madinah. I was born in a city where I could see a mountain from my bedroom window, and as I walked the streets I would see mountains.”




A picture of Sondos Jaan aged about 5 on the top of a mountain with her father. (Supplied)

Those peaks were an important part of her early childhood. There are pictures of Jaan aged about 5 on the top of mountains. She said: “I call these pictures ‘Sondos between two mountains,’ the real mountain carved in nature, and my father.”

During family camping trips, she would sneak away the moment her family was not paying attention in order to climb a mountain.

HIGHLIGHTS

• For her latest adventure, Sondos Jaan is climbing Morocco’s Mount Toubkal, which is a height of 4,167 meters.

• The climb has two routes: The first takes three days of climbing, and the second takes two days but is more challenging.

She added: “I would hear my father calling me, telling me to stay put and to wait for him. My dear father would come to me and we would then climb together, step by step, him telling me where to place my feet until we reached the summit, and then we would descend together, just the two of us.”




Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)

Her father was the first adventurer she knew. He was always prepared, she says, and “his car was always ready for a trip.”

She said: “He would tell me stories when he returned from hunting trips, whether on land or at sea. I would imagine the stories as if he were the hero in one of the animated films I watched. Sometimes he would take me with him, and I felt like I was part of the story.”




Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)

Her love for adventure was instilled in her by her father from a very early age. And it seems mountain climbing is in her DNA.

Jaan said: “My father is my primary mountain-climbing coach, and I certainly inherited the spirit of adventure and love for travel, experiences, and camping from him.




Sondos Jaan from Madinah hopes that young Saudi girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about. (Supplied)

“He taught me swimming, horse riding, hunting, fishing, and the basics of camping.”

For her latest adventure, Jaan and a friend are climbing Morocco’s Mount Toubkal, which is a height of 4,167 meters. The climb has two routes: the first takes three days of climbing, and the second takes two days but is more challenging.




A file photo of Sondos Jaan when she was about five years old. (Supplied)

They started the climb early, continuing for about nine to 11 hours, followed by an overnight stay at an elevation of 3,200 meters above sea level.

She believes that elements of nature are instilled within each of us and it is our duty — and a privilege — to find and channel those elements.

She said that climbing to Everest Base Camp was the hardest trek she has yet attempted. It was a two-week journey and she added that she was not able to sleep, eat well or breathe properly due to oxygen deficiency in the two days leading up to arrival at the base camp. However, those were not the main factors behind it being her most difficult climb.

She said: “The (main) reason was simply managing expectations. I was emotional after walking all that time and reaching what was supposed to be the summit for that trip, only to realize it wasn’t even the summit.

“It was the main camp where climbers camp for two months every year before attempting to reach the Everest summit, allowing their bodies to acclimatize to the oxygen deficiency, training, and waiting for the right time to climb the summit.”

The experience taught her a valuable lesson, and she added: “I remember descending and as soon as we settled in one of the tea houses, I cried.

“They asked me why. I said I wanted pizza, crying real tears. The owners of the house tried hard to make pizza for me. I ate one slice and gave the rest to their dog. I reflected on my feelings and asked myself, ‘Why did I act that way?’ And the simple answer was, we didn’t reach the summit, we just saw it up close.”

She considers the thrill of the journey, and not only the destination, to be one worth embracing. She now believes that the feeling of almost giving up happens during every climb; she sees it as a healthy sign.

She added: “It is a reminder that I am human. It is also a reminder that I am capable of doing things that might seem impossible, not because I have superhuman strength, but because I am a human capable of overcoming challenges. This gives me the motivation to complete the climb.”

She believes her latest adventure also serves a greater purpose. Seeing Saudi women participate in various fields, especially sports, helps encourage her to keep striving for the highest heights.

She hopes that young girls reading about her adventures will feel encouraged to take up sports and hobbies they are passionate about, and that her experiences will help to push them to their limits to break stereotypes and barriers along the way.

She is to continue her climb, whether it be a mountain to conquer, or toward the goals of her gender.

For those starting out, she advised: “(You must) start with small, achievable goals and gradually increase the difficulty level. Ensure you have the right gear and training: it’s important to be physically and mentally prepared.

“Join a community or group of climbers for support and motivation. Most importantly, believe in yourself and enjoy the journey.”

 


Head of Saudi FDA signs cooperation deal during China visit

Head of Saudi FDA signs cooperation deal during China visit
Updated 31 October 2024
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Head of Saudi FDA signs cooperation deal during China visit

Head of Saudi FDA signs cooperation deal during China visit
  • Dr. Hisham bin Saad Al-Jadhey was accompanied by Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi on a tour of several organizations
  • Delegation also visited the National Institute of Biological Sciences, whose chairman, Dr. Xiaodong Wang, gave a presentation on its research initiatives

RIYADH: The head of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement with China’s National Medical Products Administration during a visit to Beijing.

Dr. Hisham bin Saad Al-Jadhey, who will also attend the 8th Shenzhen Food Safety Forum while in China, was accompanied by Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi on a tour of several organizations, including the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The delegation also met officials from the National Institute for Food and Drug Control to examine their regulatory operations and visited its affiliated bodies, including the Institute for Biological Product Control.

Discussions covered collaborative projects on developing vaccine oversight, biological alternatives, and innovative therapeutic products, such as gene and cellular therapies.

The Saudi delegation also visited the National Institute of Biological Sciences, whose chairman, Dr. Xiaodong Wang, gave a presentation on its research initiatives, drug discovery work and other developments.


Saudi minister promotes education sustainability at G20 meeting in Brazil

Saudi minister promotes education sustainability at G20 meeting in Brazil
Updated 31 October 2024
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Saudi minister promotes education sustainability at G20 meeting in Brazil

Saudi minister promotes education sustainability at G20 meeting in Brazil
  • Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan: School-community engagement in Saudi Arabia constitutes a fundamental element of our national strategy
  • Saudi Ministry of Education has established a department dedicated to community responsibility and volunteer work

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Education Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan has emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting sustainability in education and investment in skills, innovation and entrepreneurship to achieve a sustainable future for citizens and enhance global competitiveness for future generations.

Al-Benyan was speaking during the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Fortaleza in Brazil, where he emphasized the Kingdom’s support of the goals and priorities of the Education Working Group.

He highlighted the importance of cooperation between schools and communities to provide students with experiences and resources that enhance the importance of learning for them.

Al-Benyan said that the engagement of educational institutions with the community enabled educators to meet the diverse needs of students and their families, promote inclusivity, and help students to develop into active citizens.

“School-community engagement in Saudi Arabia constitutes a fundamental element of our national strategy, as the Kingdom’s educational institutions understand the importance of connecting with the community — not just as recipients of volunteer efforts but also as active participants in societal development,” he said.

The Saudi Ministry of Education has established a department dedicated to community responsibility and volunteer work, focusing on integrating sustainable development goals into education and creating initiatives that address local needs.

Al-Benyan said that a new school evaluation index had been developed to assess community engagement effectively, with Vision 2030 setting ambitious targets for the non-profit sector, aiming to reach 10,000 community organizations, contribute more than 5 percent of GDP, and engage one million volunteers.

He added that the Kingdom had seen a more than 150 percent increase in educational non-profit organizations in 2024.

Al-Benyan also discussed two flagship projects aimed at supporting teachers — the National Institute for Professional Education Development and the Teachers Fund. The institute is focused on four key areas: teacher preparation, teacher development, leadership nurturing, and teacher advocacy.

He called for collaborative efforts to develop a new global perspective that ensured a just and sustainable future for all citizens.


First meeting of international alliance for two-state solution continues in Riyadh

First meeting of international alliance for two-state solution continues in Riyadh
Updated 31 October 2024
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First meeting of international alliance for two-state solution continues in Riyadh

First meeting of international alliance for two-state solution continues in Riyadh
  • Saudi deputy minister criticizes Israel’s violations of international, humanitarian law
  • Nations must engage in multilateral diplomatic efforts, Abdulrahman Al-Rassi says

RIYADH: International efforts to implement a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict gained momentum on Thursday, as senior diplomats gathered for a second day in Riyadh for the first meeting of a newly formed international alliance.

In his address, Saudi Deputy Minister for Multilateral International Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi stressed the urgency of the initiative amid ongoing violence in Gaza, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He criticized Israel’s violations of international and humanitarian law and expressed frustration at the international community’s response to the crisis. He noted the UN Security Council’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities and its stance against the Palestinian people’s moral and legal right to self-determination, as well as its failure to initiate a serious process for peace and prevent the expansion of regional conflict.

Al-Rassi stressed the importance of nations engaging in multilateral diplomatic efforts to achieve peace based on the two-state solution and end Israeli occupation. He referenced international law, UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as fundamental frameworks, emphasizing the so-called land for peace principle that would enable Palestinians to live freely in an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on 1967 borders.

The deputy minister renewed Saudi Arabia’s invitation to peace-loving nations to join the alliance and praised the recent decisions of several countries to recognize Palestine. He urged other countries to similarly cite their support for Palestinian rights and the alliance itself in working to accelerate the implementation of the two-state solution and achieve peace.

Israel’s continued aggression against Palestinians would only expand regional conflict and threaten global stability, Al-Rassi said, and called on permanent Security Council members to use their authority to force Israel to cease its aggression and allow unrestricted humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

The deputy minister strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban UNRWA operations, describing it as a violation of international law and a dangerous precedent that violated UN member states’ Charter obligations and thus undermined the multilateral international system.

“This is the occupying power’s latest action aimed at undermining Palestinian resilience in their homeland and attempting to forcibly displace Palestinians,” he said.

Al-Rassi reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for the UN relief agency and firmly rejected Israel’s systematic targeting of it and other and humanitarian organizations, along with the ongoing endangerment of its workers.

He concluded by expressing his optimism for the initiative and said that the support shown for it at the Riyadh meeting demonstrated a genuine desire for peace and an end to the “brutal war on Gaza and occupied Palestinian territories.”


Saudi Arabia condemns terror attack on Chadian military base

Saudi Arabia condemns terror attack on Chadian military base
Updated 31 October 2024
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Saudi Arabia condemns terror attack on Chadian military base

Saudi Arabia condemns terror attack on Chadian military base
  • Attack on military base in Chad’s Lake Chad region left at least 40 soldiers dead

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday strongly condemned a recent terrorist attack on a military base in Chad’s Lake Chad region, which left at least 40 Chadian soldiers dead.

The Ministry expressed its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Chad, wishing those injured a swift recovery.

In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed the Kingdom’s opposition to all forms of violence and terrorism, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting international efforts to combat such threats, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The attack took place on Sunday evening on Barkaram Island in the Lake Chad basin area, which has experienced increasing militant activity in recent years.

Although no group has claimed responsibility, Chadian President Mahamat Deby has since launched a counter-mission aimed at tracking down those responsible. 


4,000-year-old town discovered hidden in Arabian oasis

4,000-year-old town discovered hidden in Arabian oasis
Updated 31 October 2024
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4,000-year-old town discovered hidden in Arabian oasis

4,000-year-old town discovered hidden in Arabian oasis
  • Then an ancient 14.5 kilometer-long wall was discovered at the site
  • When Al-Natah was built, cities were flourishing in the Levant region along the Mediterranean Sea from present-day Syria to Jordan

Paris: The discovery of a 4,000-year-old fortified town hidden in an oasis in modern-day Saudi Arabia reveals how life at the time was slowly changing from a nomadic to an urban existence, archaeologists said on Wednesday.
The remains of the town, dubbed Al-Natah, were long concealed by the walled oasis of Khaybar, a green and fertile speck surrounded by desert in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula.
Then an ancient 14.5 kilometer-long wall was discovered at the site, according to research led by French archaeologist Guillaume Charloux published earlier this year.
For a new study published in the journal PLOS One, a French-Saudi team of researchers have provided “proof that these ramparts are organized around a habitat,” Charloux told AFP.
The large town, which was home to up to 500 residents, was built around 2,400 BC during the early Bronze Age, the researchers said.
It was abandoned around a thousand years later. “No one knows why,” Charloux said.
When Al-Natah was built, cities were flourishing in the Levant region along the Mediterranean Sea from present-day Syria to Jordan.
Northwest Arabia at the time was thought to have been barren desert, crossed by pastoral nomads and dotted with burial sites.
That was until 15 years ago, when archaeologists discovered ramparts dating back to the Bronze Age in the oasis of Tayma, to Khaybar’s north.
This “first essential discovery” led scientists to look closer at these oases, Charloux said.
Black volcanic rocks called basalt concealed the walls of Al-Natah so well that it “protected the site from illegal excavations,” Charloux said.
But observing the site from above revealed potential paths and the foundations of houses, suggesting where the archaeologists needed to dig.
They discovered foundations “strong enough to easily support at least one- or two-story” homes, Charloux said, emphasising that there was much more work to be done to understand the site.
But their preliminary findings paint a picture of a 2.6-hectare town with around 50 houses perched on a hill, equipped with a wall of its own.
Tombs inside a necropolis there contained metal weapons like axes and daggers as well as stones such as agate, indicating a relatively advanced society for so long ago.
Pieces of pottery “suggest a relatively egalitarian society,” the study said. They are “very pretty but very simple ceramics,” added Charloux.
The size of the ramparts — which could reach around five meters (16 feet) high — suggests that Al-Natah was the seat of some kind of powerful local authority.
These discoveries reveal a process of “slow urbanism” during the transition between nomadic and more settled village life, the study said.
For example, fortified oases could have been in contact with each other in an area still largely populated by pastoral nomadic groups. Such exchanges could have even laid the foundations for the “incense route” which saw spices, frankincense and myrrh traded from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean.
Al-Natah was still small compared to cities in Mesopotamia or Egypt during the period.
But in these vast expanses of desert, it appears there was “another path toward urbanization” than such city-states, one “more modest, much slower, and quite specific to the northwest of Arabia,” Charloux said.