Fresh evacuation orders and airstrikes highlight ongoing insecurity in Gaza
This comes a day after Israel once again ordered the evacuation of large areas within Gaza, citing rocket fire into its territory. The new orders cover about three square kilometres in North Gaza and Deir Al-Balah governorates, according to initial…
UN chief condemns New Orleans truck attack
Media reports indicated that a US male citizen had intentionally driven a pick-up truck into a crowd of people celebrating the new year in the city’s French quarter shortly after 3am local time. The 42-year-old suspect was killed in a…
‘It will take years to help people deal with the invisible consequences of war’: A UN Resident Coordinator blog
“I am continually inspired by the strength and courage of the Ukrainian people. As I have travelled to Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and most recently to Kramatorsk and Lyman, I have seen for myself how the disruption of essential…
Major step forward for child protection in Colombia, as politicians ban underage marriage
In November, following several failed attempts, politicians of all stripes approved a bill to overhaul legislation that has been in effect since 1887, reflecting a deep-rooted practice that violates the rights of children and adolescents: according to the United Nations…
UNHCR urges greater support for people fleeing post-election violence in Mozambique
The violence comes after the top court in Mozambique confirmed on 23 December that the ruling Frelimo party won the disputed presidential election held in October, sparking protests. The southern African country is also still recovering from the devastating effects…
‘Absolutely the wrong path,’ Türk warns against Afghanistan’s ban on women in NGOs
The measure, issued by the de facto Ministry of Economy on 26 December, enforces a two-year-old decree prohibiting women from working with both national and international NGOs. In his statement, Mr. Türk emphasised the devastating impact on the delivery of…
Israel attacks push Gaza healthcare ‘to brink of collapse’
A report published by the Office documents attacks carried out between 12 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, raises serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with international law. Medical personnel and hospitals are specifically protected under international humanitarian law, provided they do not…
UNRWA chief renews call for probe into attacks on humanitarians in Gaza
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made the appeal in a statement posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. He noted that 15 months after the war began in Gaza, “horrors continue unabated under the world’s watch”. 258 UNRWA staff killed Citing…
Aid trucks deliver food to northwest Syria
UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported that the cross-border operation from Türkiye into the northwest is running without impediments. On Tuesday, 21 trucks carrying 500 metric tonnes of food – enough for 175,000 people – from the UN World Food…
Report details bleak human rights situation in Ukraine nearly three years into Russian invasion
Covering the period of September to November 2024, the report describes intensified Russian attacks on populated areas, deliberate strikes on energy infrastructure, and efforts to restrict fundamental rights. “Behind each of the facts and figures in this report are stories…