Guterres hails Gaza ceasefire deal as ‘critical first step’
Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters, António Guterres commended mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States for their dedicated efforts in brokering the agreement. “Their unwavering commitment to finding a diplomatic solution has been critical in achieving this breakthrough,” he…
UN rights chief in historic meeting in Syria’s with caretaker authority in Damascus
Speaking from Damascus after meeting the leader of the caretaker authorities, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Mr. Türk said that he had been “assured…of the importance of respect for human rights for all Syrians and all different components of Syrian society”. Syria’s de…
Syria emergency: Four children a day killed or injured by leftover explosives
icardo Pires, UNICEF Communication Manager for Emergencies, told journalists from Damascus that in the last nine years, at least 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance – or UXO – were reported in 14 governorates across Syria, “with half estimated to have…
Biden defends foreign policy record despite ongoing crises
Washington — Outgoing President Joe Biden sought to burnish his foreign policy record Monday and said U.S. adversaries are weaker than when he took office four years ago despite global crises that remain unresolved. A week before handing over to…
Humanitarians continue to call for Israel to facilitate aid delivery in Gaza
Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts to reach Palestinians with vital aid, the agency said, noting that only seven out of 22 UN planned humanitarian movements on Sunday were facilitated. Of this number, six were denied outright, five were…
First Person: Syrian refugee shipwreck survivor vows to help reconstruct shattered country
After the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Ms. Al Zamel and her family relocated to Egypt. She stayed there with her family for three years but the situation for refugees deteriorated and, in 2014, she and her Syrian…
Al Jazeera ban must be lifted, rights experts urge Palestinian Authority
The development comes one week after a court in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank ordered the closure of several Al Jazeera websites. A Palestinian Authority ministerial committee had earlier justified the enforced closure of the media company’s office in…
Top humanitarian official issues ceasefire appeal during visit to Gaza City
Muhannad Hadi, who is also the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, made the appeal during a visit to Gaza City, where he met with representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The senior official also visited Holy Family…
Critical aid blocked in Gaza, as fuel shortages threaten lifesaving services
On Thursday, only 10 out of 21 planned humanitarian movements were facilitated by the Israeli authorities. Seven were denied outright, three were impeded and one was cancelled due to security and logistical challenges, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, at Friday’s…
Syria has real opportunity to ‘move from the darkness to the light’
That’s according to Najat Rochdi, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, who is in Damascus meeting several members of the transitional authorities to ensure all Syrians are able to participate in the country’s future, which is struggling to cope…