Gaza at a ‘critical juncture’ as top UN officials call for a ceasefire now
“Although he does not comment on events of this nature, the Secretary-General is interested that this now leads to an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza,” Farhan Haq told the…
Over 1.8 million in Gaza face extreme hunger
Figures from the global IPC food security initiative show that 133,000 people – or 6 per cent of the enclave’s population – are already experiencing Phase 5 or “catastrophic” food insecurity. It’s feared this number could rise to around 345,000…
Lebanon: Drone brought down by UNIFIL ship as cross-border fire intensifies
Following standard protocol, electronic countermeasures were used to bring down the so far unidentified uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), according to UN spokesperson Farhan Haq at the regular press briefing in New York. UNIFIL has launched an investigation into the incident….
Lebanon: Cholera fears for communities uprooted by war
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a response plan had been activated to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and water sampling. The case was confirmed in Akkar, the country’s northernmost governorate. Speaking in Geneva late Wednesday, Tedros…
Gaza unemployment surges to 80% as economy collapses, UN agency says
ZURICH — Unemployment in Gaza has soared to nearly 80% since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, with the devastated enclave’s economy in almost total collapse, the International Labour Organization said Thursday. Economic output has shrunk by 85% since the conflict with…
EU, Gulf leaders meet for first summit as Mideast turmoil churns
BRUSSELS — The leaders of the European Union and six Gulf nations met for an inaugural summit on Wednesday against a backdrop of turmoil in the Middle East and struggles to find a unified position on the war in Ukraine…
Security Council meets on north Gaza as ‘supplies for survival’ run out
Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, briefed ambassadors on the situation in the north, where fighting has escalated. Hospitals are running out of fuel and critical medical supplies, and food stocks are dwindling. Patients burned alive Ms. Msuya said…
Lebanon war: Essential services in south facing collapse, warns UN
“Today, Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, yet again… As the theatre and intensity of the exchanges of fire continue to expand, civilian suffering is reaching unprecedented heights,” said UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in a…
‘Yet another’ Israeli strike on peacekeepers’ position in southern Lebanon
According to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), early morning on Wednesday (local time), peacekeepers in position near Kafer Kela observed an IDF Merkava tank firing at their watchtower. Two cameras were destroyed, and the tower was damaged. “Yet…
‘Age of electricity’ to follow looming fossil fuel peak, IEA says
LONDON — The world is on the brink of a new age of electricity with fossil fuel demand set to peak by the end of the decade, meaning surplus oil and gas supplies could drive investment into green energy, the…