Saudi diplomat helps Palestinian man reunite with sons after 17 years

Reunited at Hajj.

Two Palestinian brothers who live in Norway reunited with their father after 17 years of separation at this year's Hajj pilgrimage, Sabq reported. 

Ayman and Ziad Abu Younes left Gaza for Norway years ago and were never able or allowed - due to it being a restricted area - to make it back to see their father or any of their relatives. 

During a phone conversation ahead of this year's pilgrimage, the duo's father told them he had received a permit to attend Hajj.  

"This is when I thought to myself: Maybe we could meet him there," Ziad explained. 

A complicated application process

Ziad and his brother wasted no time. They immediately headed to Saudi Arabia's embassy in Norway, hoping that they'd still be able to apply for Hajj permits. 

"When we arrived there, an employee told us the deadline for permit applications had already passed. We then asked if we could speak with the ambassador and he immediately agreed to see us," Ziad added. 

After meeting with Issam Abed, Saudi's ambassador in Norway, he promised both brothers that he would try to get them exceptional permits. 

"A few days later, we got a call with someone telling us we'd gotten the permits and I just couldn't contain my happiness. We were finally going to see our father," Ziad explained. 

After flying to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, the family finally reunited. 

Speaking to Sabq, they all expressed their gratitude to Saudi officials who allowed for the emotional reunion to happen. 

This Muslim country is drowning ... but everyone's talking about Texas

A third of Bangladesh is flooded.

A third of the Muslim-majority country of Bangladesh is drowning in flood waters, but you probably didn't know because everyone's talking about Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

As Bangladeshi families welcome Eid Al-Adha, some 8.5 million are directly affected by the tragedy, according to CNN

When combining the devastation wreaked by monsoon rains on Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) estimates at least 1,200 people have died this summer.

In contrast, less than 50 have died thus far in Texas due to Hurricane Harvey.

So ... why aren't people talking about Bangladesh?

Many are questioning the discrepancy in coverage

The situation in Texas is bad, but things are much worse in South-East Asia right now

Villagers in Bangladesh are describing the flooding and rains as the "worst in living memory."

"People were fearful they would soon begin to starve," Corinne Ambler, who was with an IFRC response team, told CNN. 

"They are used to seasonal flooding but nothing to this degree, this is a different level – for miles around all you can see is water, the flooding has transformed the countryside," she said.

Certainly, the ongoing problems in Texas are worth media discussion and attention. At the same time, the lack of coverage of a more devastating crisis happening on the other side of the world reveals a striking double standard.