‘Fear of war’ causing speech problems in Gaza
In a modest tent in a makeshift camp for displaced people west of the town of Al-Zawaida in Deir al-Balah governorate in Gaza, children whose lives have been turned upside down by a deadly war and widespread destruction are meeting…
Lebanon: WHO appeals for more support for civilians as crises intensify
Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar outlined how the UN agency has been supporting Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, including following the wave of electronic device explosions this week. Hundreds of pagers across the country simultaneously detonated on Tuesday, while walkie-talkies and even some…
Middle East: Regional crisis risks engulfing Syria, UN envoy warns
Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council, Geir Pedersen expressed grave concern over the mounting violence and its cascading impact on Syria, which has been embroiled in civil conflict – later drawing in outside forces – since 2011. He highlighted…
Mpox alert: UNICEF issues $58.8 million appeal to halt outbreak in Africa
“Children in Burundi are bearing the brunt of the mpox outbreak with alarming rates of infection and health impacts,” said Dr Paul Ngwakum, UNICEF Regional Health Advisor for Eastern and Southern Africa. “Of the nearly 600 reported cases, two-thirds are…
Lebanon: UN warns of escalating horror in Middle East as ‘communications tools become weapons’
Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, told ambassadors in the Security Council, that strikes and exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, which have been going on for nearly a year, “have expanded in scope and intensity”….
Whole generation of children ‘lost’ amid ongoing Gaza war, UNICEF warns
Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action, stressed the urgent need for an immediate end to the hostilities and a negotiated political settlement that prioritises the rights and well-being of both Israeli and Palestinian children, now and in…
UN chief strongly condemns Mali terrorist attack
Scores of people were reportedly killed in the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday when Islamic militants attacked several locations, including a military police academy, according to international media reports. The violence forced the authorities to temporarily close the international airport. The…
UNAIDS: Rising debt in sub-Saharan Africa costing lives
The report details how this debt crisis is jeopardising progress aimed at ending AIDS in Sub-Saharan African countries, which account for a significant majority of people living with HIV globally – 25.9 million people of the nearly 40 million total….
Russian attacks on Ukraine energy set to push 500,000 people out of country
The alert from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine follows significant destruction to power plants and the worsening energy crisis that has affected access to electricity, clean water and heating, while also pushing up prices for consumers. The…
Security Council: Middle East envoy warns against escalation, highlights continued Israeli settlement activity
“The series of explosions across Lebanon and rockets fired toward Israel in recent days adds to the volatility,” said Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. He urged all sides “to refrain from steps that will further…