October 2023 — Page 2 of 18 — Human Rights & Charity

Situation in Gaza ‘growing more desperate by the hour’, says UN chief Guterres

The UN chief’s visit comes as the crisis in the Gaza Strip enters its third week following the 7 October incursion by Hamas militants into Israel and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war.

Late last week the UN adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian truce, but the past few days have seen heavy bombardment and reports of ground operations inside Gaza by Israel.

“I know that even though the conflict in the Middle East is thousands of miles away, it has hit very close to home for the people of Nepal,” said the UN chief at a press conference on Sunday alongside Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Also expressing best wishes for the safe return of Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese citizen who is missing, the Secretary-General vowed that he would continue to insist on the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages in Gaza.

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“And I repeat my utter condemnation of the appalling attacks perpetrated by Hamas. There is no justification, ever, for the killing, injuring and abduction of civilians,” he stated.

At the same time, Mr. Guterres noted the extremely dire situation in Gaza and expressed regret that instead of a critically needed humanitarian pause supported by the international community, Israel has intensified its military operations.

“The number of civilians who have been killed and injured is totally unacceptable. All parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law … which emerged from the tragedy and awful experiences of war,” he continued.

Emphasizing his consistent calls for strict compliance with international humanitarian law, the Secretary-General stated: “The Laws of War establish clear rules to protect human life and respect humanitarian concerns. Those laws cannot be contorted for the sake of expedience.”

Mr. Guterres said that in Gaza more than two million people with nowhere safe to go, are being denied the essentials for life – food, water, shelter and medical care – while being subjected to relentless bombardment.

“I urge all those with responsibility to step back from the brink,” he said calling the situation a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

The Secretary- General reiterated his appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of a sustained humanitarian relief at a scale that meets the needs of the people of Gaza.

“We must join forces to end this nightmare for the people of Gaza, Israel and all those affected around the world, including here in Nepal,” he said.

Nepal’s commitment to multilateralism, SDGs

The Secretary- General praised the Himalayan country’s long tradition of championing peace and multilateralism and called on the world to “be a better friend to Nepal”, which is caught in raft of crises not of its own making, including the threat posed by climate chaos.

Mr. Guterres thanked Prime Minister Dahal and said that the UN was hugely grateful to Nepal for its support for multilateral solutions – backed up its enormous contribution to peacekeeping missions worldwide.

At the start of his four-day visit to the country, the UN chief also praised Nepal’s “astonishing progress” over the past two decades, as it had become a republic, established peace, and thrown itself behind the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres (right) addresses the media in Kathmandu, flanked by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

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‘Graduation’ on the horizon

“And there’s more to come,” Mr. Guterres continued, explaining that “the next few years will be decisive, as Nepal prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status.”

The Secretary-General was referring to the UN-facilitated process by which the world’s most vulnerable nations, once they meet a set of criteria (on income, human assets and economic and environmental vulnerability), may take phased steps towards ‘graduation’, which represents an important milestone in the development path of LDCs.

The UN chief went on to note that over the Next few years, Nepal would also embark on the final stages of the peace process: transitional justice.

“Transitional justice must help to bring peace to victims, families and communities,” he said, emphasizing that “the United Nations stands ready to support Nepal to develop a process that meets international standards, the Supreme Court’s rulings, and the needs of victims – and to put it into practice.”

‘Blizzard of global crises’

“Nepal is also caught in a blizzard of global crises not of its making: the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and the enormous threat posed by climate chaos,” said the Secretary-General.

As such, he said, much more international action is needed. Developed countries must step up to support sustainable development, and help developing economies including Nepal to tackle the climate crisis.

The UN chief noted that on this trip, he planned to visit the Himalayas to see first-hand the terrible impact of the climate crisis on the glaciers.

“The situation is dire, and it is accelerating. Nepal has lost close to a third of its ice in just over thirty years. And glaciers are melting at record rates,” he said, adding: “The impact on communities is devastating.”

With this in mind, Mr. Guterres said that he also planned to meet with local people in the Himalayas to hear directly from them about how they are affected.

He is also expected to travel to Pokhara and to Lumbini, to reflect on the Lord Buddha’s teachings of peace and non-violence.

“And I want to explore how the United Nations and Nepal can work together to solve problems, boost prospects, and improve international support. Because though Nepal is a friend to the world, the world must be a better friend to Nepal,” he concluded.

Thousands in Gaza storm UN warehouses; a sign of desperation after weeks-long ‘siege’

The United Nations agency dealing with Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and the UN World Foord Programme (WFP) were among the humanitarian organizations reporting the incidents, which follow a harrowing 24-hour communication blackout and persistent access challenges.

One of the warehouses that was stormed, in Deir al-Balah, is where UNRWA stores supplies from the humanitarian convoys coming from Egypt.

WFP likewise reported that a warehouse contained 80 tons of mixed food commodities, mainly canned food, wheat flour and sunflower oil, all being stored there ahead of distribution to displaced families.

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‘People are scared and desperate’

“This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza,” said the Director of UNRWA Affairs in the Gaza Strip, Thomas White, who added: “People are scared, frustrated and desperate”.

He went on to say that the tensions and fear were made worse by the cuts in the phones and internet communication lines.

“They feel that they are on their own, cut off from their families inside Gaza and the rest of the world,” said Mr. White, who noted that massive displacement of people from the north of the Gaza Strip southward has placed enormous pressure on those communities, adding further burden on crumbling public services.

Some families received up to 50 relatives taking shelter in one household.

“Supplies on the market are running out while the humanitarian aid coming into the Gaza Strip on trucks from Egypt is insufficient. The needs of the communities are immense, if only for basic survival, while the aid we receive is meager and inconsistent,” added Mr. White.

‘Set up to fail’

The UNRWA official reported that to date, just over 80 trucks of aid crossed into Gaza in one week.

On Saturday, 28 October, there was no convoy due to the blackout in communications. UNRWA, which is the main actor for the reception and storage of aid in the Gaza Strip, was not able to communicate with the different parties to coordinate the passage of the convoy.

“The current system of convoys is geared to fail,” said Mr. White, explaining that very few trucks, slow processes, strict inspections, supplies that do not match the requirements of UNRWA and the other aid organizations, and mostly the ongoing ban on fuel, “are all a recipe for a failed system.”

“We call for a regular and steady flow line of humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip to respond to the needs especially as tensions and frustrations grow,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, UNRWA teams in Gaza have reported that internet services and connections were restored, and they will reassess the situation with the aim of resuming convoys and distribution of assistance.

‘Trickle of supplies’ in not enough

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Samer Abdeljaber, WFP Representative and Country Director in Palestine, made a similar plea: “We need a humanitarian pause to be able to reach the people in need with food, water and basic necessities safely and effectively. Much more access is urgently needed, and the trickle of supplies needs to become a flow.”

The storming of the supply warehouses in Gaza was “a sign of people losing hope and becoming more desperate by the minute. They are hungry, isolated, and have been suffering violence and immense distress for three weeks.”

Adding to the overall concerns, WFP said that fuel shortages and loss of connectivity also threaten to bring humanitarian operations to a halt. Without additional fuel supplies, bakeries working with WFP in Gaza are no longer operational and transporters cannot deliver food where it’s needed.

WFP reported that it plans to provide food lifeline to over one million people who are going hungry now and the agency needs a steady supply of food with at least 40 FP trucks to cross daily into Gaza to be able to meet the escalating needs.

Honouring fallen colleagues

Also on Sunday, in the Jordanian capital, Amman, UNRWA, led by Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, organized a ceremony to honor the memory of its 59 staff members who have lost their lives in Gaza since the crisis erupted on 7 October.

“Every day becomes darker for the United Nations and UNRWA as the number of our colleagues being killed increases. Talk of indescribable suffering flows from Gaza hourly,” the agency said.

UNRWA staff in Amman, Jordan, attend a ceremony to remember colleagues who have lost their lives in Gaza.

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Amid ‘unprecedented escalation’ in Gaza, UN calls for immediate humanitarian ceasefire

Secretary-General António Guterres said: “I reiterate my strong appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, together with the unconditional release of hostages and the delivery of relief at a level corresponding to the dramatic needs of the people in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes.”

The UN chief is on his way to Nepal for an official visit but is closely following the situation in the Middle East.

According to his spokesperson in NY, during a stopover in Doha, Qatar, Mr. Guterres spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and the two discussed the current situation in that region and the coordination of humanitarian efforts for civilians in Gaza.

This is the moment of truth. Everyone must assume their responsibilities. History will judge us all – UN Secretary-General António Guterres

In Doha, Mr. Guterres met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani for consultations on the Middle East crisis.

The UN chief expressed deep gratitude, appreciation and support for the mediation initiatives of Qatar, namely for the release of the hostages kept in Gaza.

On the situation in Gaza, the Secretary-General said that he had been encouraged in the last days by what seemed to be a growing consensus in the international community, including the countries supporting Israel, for the need of at least a humanitarian pause in the fighting.

Such a pause would facilitate the release of hostages in Gaza, the evacuation of third country nationals and the necessary massive scale up of the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza.

“Regrettably, instead of the pause, I was surprised by an unprecedented escalation of the bombardments and their devastating impacts, undermining the referred humanitarian objectives,” lamented the UN chief.

Moreover, he said that given the breakdown in communications, he was also extremely concerned about the UN staff who are in Gaza to deliver humanitarian assistance.

“This situation must be reversed,” he said adding: “I want to repeat what I said yesterday. This is the moment of truth. Everyone must assume their responsibilities. History will judge us all.”

‘Communications blackout’

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that a “total communication and electrical blackout” follows a night of continuing hostilities and ground incursions in Gaza.

The UN health agency says that it has lost contact with its staff in the enclave but is still trying to gather information on the overall impact on civilians and health care.

“WHO reminds all parties to the conflict to take all precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. This includes health workers, patients, health facilities and ambulances, and civilians who are sheltering in these facilities,” the agency said in a press release.

Active measures must be taken, the agency continued, to ensure civilians and health workers are not harmed and safe passage provided for the movement of desperately needed medical supplies, fuel, water and food into and across Gaza.

WHO’s warning comes as the crisis in the Gaza Strip enters its third week following the 7 October incursion by Hamas militants into Israel and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war.

The ongoing violence has left thousands dead on both sides and while UN and other humanitarian agencies have been able to move a trickle of aid, goods and health supplied into the ravaged enclave through the Rafah crossing in Egypt, much more is needed to meet the skyrocketing needs.

Al Ahli Arab Hospital in the north of the Gaza Strip has been damaged by bombardments.

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‘More wounded by the hour’

WHO said that reports of bombardment near the Indonesia and Al Shifa hospitals are gravely concerning, and the agency reiterated that it is impossible to evacuate patients without endangering their lives.

“Hospitals across Gaza are already operating at maximum capacity due to the injuries sustained in weeks of unrelenting bombardment and are unable to absorb a dramatic rise in the number of patients, while sheltering thousands of civilians,” according to WHO.

Moreover, health workers who have stayed by their patients’ sides face dwindling supplies, with no place to put new patients, and no means to alleviate their patients’ pain.

“There are more wounded every hour. But ambulances cannot reach them in the communications blackout. Morgues are full. More than half of the dead are women and children,” said WHO.

UN General Assembly action

“WHO appeals to the humanity in all those who have the power to do so to end the fighting now, in line with the UN resolution adopted yesterday, calling for a humanitarian truce, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians held captive,” the agency concluded.

Friday afternoon the UN General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza leading to a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

The 193-member Assembly adopted the measure by a recorded vote of 120-14 with 45 abstentions, taking action during an emergency session after the Security Council, the UN body tasked with maintaining international peace and security, has been unable to reach agreement on three separate resolutions in recent days. [One UN member country, citing technical difficulties, changed its vote after the vote was recorded, so the final tally was 121 in favour to 14 against, with 44 abstentions.]

‘New levels of violence’

In a separate statement on Saturday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said last night’s bombardment and ground operations in Gaza by Israeli forces were reportedly the most intensive yet, “taking this terrible crisis to a new level of violence and pain.”

Compounding the misery and suffering of civilians, Israeli strikes on telecommunications installations and subsequent Internet shutdown have effectively left Gazans with no way of knowing what is happening across Gaza and cut them off from the outside world,” said Volker Türk.

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While reminding all parties of their obligations under humanitarian and human rights law, the High Commissioner said that the bombing of the telecommunications infrastructure places the civilian population in grave danger.

Ambulances and civil defence teams are no longer able to locate the injured, or the thousands of people estimated to be still under the rubble. Civilians are no longer able to receive updated information on where they can access humanitarian relief and where they may be in less danger.

Moreover, many journalists can now no longer report on the situation, he added.

“We lost contact with our colleagues in Gaza last night. Our colleagues had already endured days and nights under the incessant bombardment of Gaza…There is no safe place in Gaza and there is no way out. I am very worried for my colleagues, as I am for all civilians in Gaza,” lamented Mr. Türk.

He went on to say that the humanitarian and human rights consequences will be devastating and long-lasting. Thousands have already died, many of them children.

“Given the manner in which military operations have been conducted until now, in the context of the 56-year-old occupation, I am raising alarm about the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilians to die,” he stated.

“Continued violence is not the answer. I call on all parties as well as third States, in particular those with influence over the parties to the conflict, to do all in their power to de-escalate this conflict, and to work toward the goal where Israelis and Palestinians can fully enjoy all human rights and live side by side, in peace.”

Pakistan urged to halt Afghan deportations to avoid ‘human rights catastrophe’

OHCHR is urging the authorities to halt deportations, which are set to begin on 1 November, Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva.

Currently, more than two million undocumented Afghans are living in Pakistan, at least 600,000 of whom arrived after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

‘Grave risk’ of violations

“We believe many of those facing deportation will be at grave risk of human rights violations if returned to Afghanistan, including arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, cruel and other inhuman treatment,” she said.

At particular risk are “civil society activists, journalists, human rights defenders, former government officials and security force members, and of course women and girls as a whole,” she added, recalling “abhorrent policies” banning them from secondary and university education, working in many sectors and other aspects of daily and public life.

Ms. Shamdasani noted that the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have already documented a sharp increase in returns to Afghanistan since the deadline was announced on 3 October.

By 15 October, 59,780 Afghans had left Pakistan, according to a recent flash report by the two agencies. The majority, 78 per cent, cited fear of arrest as the reason for leaving.

‘Suspend forcible returns’

“As the 1 November deadline approaches, we urge the Pakistan authorities to suspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals before it is too late to avoid a human rights catastrophe,” said Ms. Shamdasani.

OHCHR also called on the Government to continue providing protection to those in need and ensure that any future returns are safe, dignified, voluntary and in line with international law.

Immense needs back home

Ms. Shamdasani noted that as winter approaches, any mass deportations are bound to deepen the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which continues to grapple with the devastating impact of the series of earthquakes that struck Herat province this month.

At least 1,400 people were killed and 1,800 injured, she added, citing official figures.

She also noted that Afghanistan has a population of 43 million people, most of whom, nearly 30 million, currently need relief assistance, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA. More than three million are internally displaced.

“We remind the de facto authorities of the international human rights obligations that continue to bind Afghanistan as a state and their obligations to protect, promote and fulfil human rights,” she said.

World News in Brief: Ukraine aid convoy, attacks in South Sudan, radioactive discharge update

A UN inter-agency convoy reached the front-line community of Huliaipole, located in the Zaporizhzhia region, bringing medicine, shelter kits, hygiene items and other assistance to support some 2,000 people.

The town has suffered large-scale destruction and remains without power, water and gas, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking from New York.

“Today’s humanitarian convoy was the 13th this year to the Zaporizhzhia Region. The UN and our partners have reached nearly 30,000 people there just in the past 10 months,” he said.

Earlier this week, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) delivered UN shelter materials in western Ukraine, following an attack on Wednesday that damaged hundreds of homes, dozens of schools, and other civilian facilities in the Khmelnytskyi Region. Scores of residents were reportedly injured.

Mr. Dujarric said the supplies will cover damaged roofs and windows to protect residents as the winter approaches. The Ukrainian Red Cross and national NGOs also delivered emergency assistance, with partners providing legal and mental health support to affected families.

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Violence against aid workers hampers relief efforts in South Sudan

Increasing violence and threats against aid workers and humanitarian assets continues to hamper efforts to assist nearly seven million people in South Sudan, with a dozen such incidents recorded last month.

Despite these challenges, the UN and partners reached at least four million people with aid, but needs are growing. As of this week, some 333,000 people fleeing the war in Sudan have arrived in the country.

Meanwhile, the $1.7 million Humanitarian Response Plan for South Sudan this year is only around 50 per cent is funded. As a result, humanitarian partners are being forced to reprioritize and even suspend some programmes.

Japan: Treated radioactive water release progressing as planned

The discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is progressing as planned and without any technical concerns, a UN-backed task force confirmed on Friday.

Members were in the country this week to review the safety of the process two months after the water was released into the Pacific Ocean.

The task force – set up by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – reviewed facilities and equipment installed at the power station, which suffered major damage during an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Water that was pumped in to cool the plant came in contact with radioactive substances, resulting in contamination. It was treated and diluted through a filtration process called Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), then stored in special tanks.

In a report published in July, the IAEA said that Japan’s approach and activities to discharge the treated water were “consistent with relevant international safety standards”.

The Task Force is comprised of experts from the UN agency 11 countries – Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Viet Nam.

“Conducting regular Task Force review missions is one way in which the IAEA will continue its multiyear safety review,” the agency said.

Gaza crisis: General Assembly adopts resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’, civilian protection

The resolution breaks the deadlock at the UN over a response to the Israel-Palestine crisis which erupted on 7 October, where Member States on the Security Council have failed to reach agreement on four draft resolutions.

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Voting result

The breakdown of the recorded vote, conducted shortly before 4 PM (New York time), included 120 members in favour and 14 against, with 45 abstentions.

As decided by the General Assembly in earlier in the day, the resolution required a two-thirds majority of members present and voting to be adopted.

Click here to see the list of members voting.

Protect civilians and humanitarians

In the resolution “protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations”, the Assembly, also demanded that all parties “immediately and fully comply” with obligations under international humanitarian and human rights laws, “particularly in regard to the protection of civilians and civilian objects.”

It also urged the protection of humanitarian personnel, persons hors de combat, and humanitarian facilities and assets, and to enable and facilitate humanitarian access for essential supplies and services to reach all civilians in need in the Gaza Strip.”

Furthermore, the resolution called for rescinding of the order by Israel, “the occupying Power”, for Palestinian civilians, UN staff and humanitarian workers to evacuate all areas in the Gaza Strip north of Wadi Gaza and relocate to the south.

Release all civilians

The General Assembly also called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all civilians being illegally held captive, demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law.

It also reaffirmed that a “just and lasting solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means, based on the relevant UN resolutions and in accordance with international law, and on the basis of the two-State solution.

The Assembly also decides to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the President of the General Assembly at its most recent session to resume its meeting upon request from Member States.

Failed Amendment

Prior to taking action on the resolution, an amendment led by Canada did not pass, as it failed to reach the required two-thirds majority.

That amendment would have “unequivocally reject[ed] and condemn[ed] the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting on 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages”.

‘History is judging us all,’ Guterres says in fresh appeal for Gaza aid access

His call came just hours before UN agencies reported that phone lines, internet and mobile service in Gaza went down.

“Gaza has lost contact with the outside world amid reports of intensified bombardment,” Lynn Hastings, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Palestine, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has “lost touch with our staff in Gaza, with health facilities, health workers and the rest of our humanitarian partners on the ground,” Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also wrote on the social media platorm.

“This siege makes me gravely concerned for their safety and the immediate health risks of vulnerable patients,” he said. “We urge immediate protection of all civilians and full humanitarian access.”

Catherine Russell, head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), voiced concern over the safety of colleagues and the one million children in Gaza, saying that “All humanitarians and the children and families they serve MUST be protected.”

Fuel supply critical

In his statement, the Secretary-General said that life-saving humanitarian aid – food, water, medicine, fuel – must be allowed to reach all civilians in Gaza “swiftly, safely and at scale.”

He noted that about 500 trucks per day were crossing into Gaza before the hostilities began, compared to the recent average of 12 trucks per day “despite needs being far greater than at any time before.”

However, the supplies that have trickled in do not include fuel for UN operations – essential to power hospitals, water desalination plants, food production and aid distribution.

“Given the desperate and dramatic situation, the United Nations will not be able to continue to deliver inside Gaza without an immediate and fundamental shift in how aid is going in,” he warned.

Mr. Guterres called for the verification system for the movement of goods through the Rafah crossing from Egypt to be adjusted to allow many more trucks in without delay.

“We must meet the expectations and core needs of civilians in Gaza,” he said.

‘A moment of truth’

The Secretary-General has welcomed the growing global consensus for a humanitarian pause in the conflict.

“I repeat my call for a humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of lifesaving supplies at the scale needed,” he said.

He warned that without a fundamental change, the people of Gaza will face an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering

“Everyone must assume their responsibilities. This is a moment of truth. History is judging us all.”

Meeting with Iran

In related developments, the UN chief met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on Friday afternoon.

“The Secretary-General expressed to the Foreign Minister the importance of the Iranian contribution towards the unconditional and immediate release of hostages held in Gaza, and for the efforts being made to avoid a regional spill-over of the conflict and, in particular, in relation to Lebanon,” according to a readout from his Office.

The World Food Programme distributes bread in a school in Gaza, which is now being used as a shelter.

No fuel, no bread: WFP

The World Food Programme (WFP) also highlighted how severe fuel shortages threaten humanitarian operations in Gaza.

“Without additional fuel supplies, bakeries working with WFP will no longer be able to produce bread. Only two of our contracted bakeries have fuel to produce bread at the moment and tomorrow there might be none,” WFP Representative in Palestine Samer Abdeljaber said on Friday.

“This would be a terrible blow to the thousands of families living in shelters who have been relying on the daily bread deliveries.”

WFP echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire, underlining the need for continuous aid delivery to Gaza.

$80 million health appeal

Meanwhile, WHO is seeking $80 million to respond to needs in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), particularly Gaza, and for contingency planning for Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

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The funding will be used to scale-up trauma and emergency care services, maintain access to essential health services and treatment of chronic conditions, establish disease surveillance and outbreak control measures, and ensure coordination of response.

WHO issued a statement noting that the conflict in Israel and the oPt has caused a large number of civilian deaths and injuries.

Fear of outbreaks, spillover

Hospitals in Gaza have been operating far beyond capacity due to a rise in the number of patients as well as displaced persons seeking shelter. The situation is unfolding amid airstrikes and a lack of medical supplies, food, water and fuel.

Overall, 1.4 million people have been uprooted and “massive displacement to shelters with inadequate resources will result in disease outbreaks,” WHO said.

Furthermore, there have been 171 attacks on healthcare in the oPt since the start of hostilities on 7 October, leading to 493 deaths and 387 injuries, with 56 attacks impacting health facilities and 130 impacting health personnel.

“The escalation of hostilities has already spread to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Lebanon Israel border and Syrian Arab Republic, with a risk of spilling over to other countries in the region, including Jordan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Iraq,” the agency warned.

Explosions in Lebanon

Separately, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported hearing explosions on Friday in several parts of the south, and peacekeepers observed two mortar rounds landing at sea.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the Mission also observed multiple flares and shells being fired in UNIFIL’s area of operations on Thursday.

“As we have been reporting, over the past few days, our firefighters are continuing to support the Lebanese authorities in extinguishing fires burning near Alma ash-Shaab and Naqoura,” he told journalists in New York.

The fires have threatened UN positions and civilian properties and were a result of exchanges of fire along the Blue Line, the unofficial frontier between Israel and south Lebanon. UNIFIL continues to monitor the situation.

Gaza: Testimonies highlight grim plight of civilians expecting to die

Volker Türk’s appeal came as UN humanitarians continued to issue dire warnings about the full scale of the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

‘Crumbs’ of aid

The head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), said that the “few (aid) trucks” which have come in from Egypt since 21 October are “nothing more than crumbs that will not make a difference for two million people”.

“What is needed is meaningful and uninterrupted aid flow. To succeed we need a humanitarian ceasefire to ensure this aid reaches those in need,” he insisted.

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UN human rights office (OHCHR) Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva about the “harrowing testimonies” of parents writing children’s names on their arms to be able to identify their remains.

Staff on the ground tell her that each night they make calculations on whether to sleep in the open or indoors, weighing the risks of being killed by a falling ceiling or shrapnel.

A living ‘nightmare’

UN World Food Programme (WFP) Representative in Palestine Samer Abdeljaber said that people in Gaza described the situation as a “nightmare – and we have no way to wake up from it”. He highlighted the dire conditions in UNRWA-designated shelters which are almost three times over capacity.

“In the room the size of a classroom 70 people sleep, eat, drink and take care of their families”, he said, and there are eight toilets for 25,000 people.

‘Terrible choices’

Speaking from Jerusalem, the UN’s top humanitarian official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings, stressed that “all humanitarian assistance and humanitarian issues have to be unconditional”.

The 224 hostages held in Gaza need to be released “immediately and unconditionally”, she said, reiterating calls from the UN chief António Guterres.

Humanitarian aid also has to be able to reach people in Gaza “unconditionally”, she said.

Ms. Hastings highlighted the “terrible choices” which the aid community is confronted with, given the very small trickle of aid that has been coming in, the fuel shortage and the security situation.

She deplored the need for humanitarians to decide “which communities do you send the items to, which bakeries, which desalination plant should be turned on or off, which hospital do you send medication to”.

Services collapse due to fuel crisis

Ms. Hastings said that in normal times more than 780 trucks with fuel would have crossed into Gaza since 7 October. In the absence of deliveries UNRWA has been relying on a sole fuel pump situated close to the Rafah border but access has been “sporadic” and supplies were dwindling very fast.

Forced to ration fuel, bakeries in the Strip will only be able to bake bread for a million people for another 11 days, Ms. Hastings warned, while UNRWA warned that some are already going hungry.

WFP’s Samer Abdeljaber said that only two WFP-contracted bakeries are working, compared to 23 at the start of the operation.

Fuel is also critical for to power water desalination plants so that they can produce drinking water, and pumping stations.

Ms. Hastings flagged that with sanitation backed up, raw sewage is being pumped into the sea in Gaza but once fuel runs out, “whether it’s tomorrow or Monday”, sewage pumping will become impossible and wastewater will be “overflowing in the streets”.

Babies in incubators at risk

Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, UN health agency (WHO) representative in the occupied Palestinian territory told journalists that a minimum of 94,000 litres of fuel per day are needed to “keep critical functions running” at 12 major hospitals in Gaza.

Two in three hospitals in the enclave are “partially functional” Dr. Peeperkorn said. He underscored that power and medical supplies shortages were putting at risk 1,000 kidney patients in need of dialysis, 130 premature babies in incubators, 2,000 cancer patients and scores of others on ventilators in intensive care units.

Aid ‘a drop in the ocean’

Humanitarians stressed that the lack of fuel is also compromising the ability of aid trucks entering through the Rafah crossing to distribute the supplies across Gaza.

Ms. Hastings underscored the difficulty in getting aid to the north, which is under evacuation orders, but has seen displaced people move back from the south due to airstrikes and “untenable” living conditions there.

She also reiterated that the 74 aid trucks which have been allowed in through Rafah since 21 October, with another eight or so expected today, were very little compared to the 450 trucks entering Gaza daily prior to the crisis – “a drop in the ocean”, according to WHO’s Dr. Peeperkorn.

WFP’s Samer Abdeljaber said that his agency has only been able to bring in under two per cent of the food required. WFP has delivered fresh bread and canned tuna to half a million people in shelters in Gaza but “for every person receiving assistance, six more are in need”.

Some 39 WFP trucks are at or near the Egyptian border with Gaza awaiting entry, Mr. Abdeljaber said, and other agencies have also pre-positioned supplies there.

If sustained access and fuel are granted, the agency plans to bring life-saving food to more than one million people within the next two months, he said.

New UN Advisory Body aims to harness AI for the common good

The members of the AI Advisory Body – launched on Thursday by Secretary-General António Guterres – will examine the risks, opportunities and international governance of these technologies.

Mr. Guterres pointed to the extraordinary advance in the capabilities and use of AI over the past year, including through chatbots, voice cloning, image generators and video apps.

‘Supercharge’ global goals

“The transformative potential of AI for good is difficult even to grasp” he said, highlighting the urgent need to address the issue, as countries confront the impacts of climate change and efforts towards sustainable development stall.

“AI could help to turn that around,” he said. “It could supercharge climate action and efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.”

The Secretary-General believes AI could scale up and amplify the work of governments, civil society and the UN – from predicting and addressing crises, to rolling out public health and education services.

Potential and pitfalls

For developing countries it presents “the possibility of leapfrogging outdated technologies and bringing services directly to people where needs are bigger and for the people that need them most.” 

But this will depend on AI being harnessed responsibly and made accessible to all, he added.

Today, expertise is concentrated in a handful of companies and countries which he warned could “deepen global inequalities and turn digital divides into chasms.”

The potential harms that could be unleashed include the accelerated spread of misinformation and disinformation, the entrenching of bias and discrimination, surveillance and invasion of privacy, fraud and other violations of human rights.

UN chief’s ‘surreal experience’

Furthermore, malicious use could undermine trust in institutions, weaken social cohesion, and threaten democracy.

At the start of the launch, Mr. Guterres recounted his own “surreal experience” with a video app, where he watched himself deliver a speech in flawless Chinese – his lips moving in synch with every word – even though he does not speak the language.

“This is just one example of the incredible possibilities – and the potential dangers – of AI,” he said.

About the Advisory Body

The Advisory Body is comprised of 39 experts from across the world. Membership is gender-balanced, geographically diverse, and multigenerational.

The Body is expected to make recommendations by the end of the year on the areas of international governance of AI, shared understanding of risks and challenges, and key opportunities and enablers to leverage AI to accelerate the SDGs.

The recommendations will feed into preparations for the Summit of the Future next September, aimed at reaffirming commitment to sustainable development, and specifically into negotiations around the proposed Global Digital Compact aimed at ensuring that everyone benefits in the new technological era.

Towards effective AI governance

Amandeep Singh Gill, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, was asked how the experts can get on top of misinformation and disinformation, given that global governance efforts do not keep pace with AI advancement.

He said members bring together the latest expertise on how technology is impacting societies, economies and politics, “so in that manner we will be able to reduce this gap between the technology advancement, the frontier of technology, and the frontier of the governance response.”

They will also look at response to these emerging challenges, and existing gaps, so that AI governance can be more effective.

“This is the first step in that direction, and we hope to have more of this next year,” said Mr. Gill.

“There’s an opportunity with the Global Digital Compact to embed this into more of a sustainable long-term perspective so that we are not caught napping by rapid-pace technology developments.”

International support critical to forge lasting peace in Central African Republic

Ms. Rugwabiza, who also heads the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA, presented its latest report covering developments in the wake of the 31 July constitutional referendum.

She said MINUSCA continues to support Government efforts to “decentralize” the peace process with armed groups, including recent initiatives to extend state presence in areas that have been stabilized through the Mission’s assistance.

“The strength and commitment of international financial partners and development actors in this regard remains central in order to build on the security gains that were so dearly obtained, be that through investments or stabilization programmes aimed at providing basic services, or through socio-economic lasting subsistence measures for the population,” she said, speaking through an interpreter.

Government commitment

Ms. Rugwabiza also welcomed President Faustin Toudera’s renewed commitment to speeding up implementation of the peace agreement, as expressed in his remarks to the UN General Assembly last month.

National ownership was again on display at a meeting to review the peace process, convened last Monday with the guarantors and facilitators of the accord and its joint roadmap.

The meeting highlighted the disbanding of nine signatory armed groups and their various wings, progress on DDR (disarmament demobilization and reintegration), security sector reform, border management, among other issues, and she said it was essential to build on this momentum.

Plans for local elections starting in October 2024 have also resumed, providing an opportunity to both step up resource mobilization and revise the electoral code in line with the new Constitution.

Volatile security situation

Meanwhile, the security situation remains volatile in certain areas outside the capital, Bangui, particularly in border regions.

MINUSCA has been strengthening operations in the prefectures of Upper Kotto and Vakanga to better protect civilians and deter threats by armed groups.

In Upper Mbomo, UN peacekeepers also facilitated their first joint deployment with the national defence forces to an area where they were previously absent, following an intensification in clashes between the UPC armed group and a new militia called Azande Ani Kpi Gbe.

UN peacekeepers patrol Bouar, in western Central African Republic.

War and peace

Ms. Rugwabiza said the militia this month informed MINUSCA of its decision to declare a ceasefire, join the DDR process and promote social cohesion.

“These results once again illustrate the effectiveness of concerted efforts, even if much remains to be done, including with regard to strengthening the capacities of national security and defense institutions,” she said.

Recent months have also seen the facilitation of the voluntary repatriation of former combatants from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) after more than 15 years in Upper Mbomo, where they presented a real and ongoing threat to civilians.

Similarly, she also welcomed an agreement signed in September between the CAR and South Sudan which should help boost coordinated response to cross-border threats.

The reporting period also saw an influx of refugees from Chad and war-torn Sudan, creating significant challenges and increasing humanitarian needs.

Critical shortfalls at MINUSCA

Turning to MINUSCA itself, Ms. Rugwabiza reported that the mission has been reconfiguring its security arrangements to optimize effectiveness. This includes reducing the number of operational temporary bases and improving living and working conditions, particularly for staff deployed in remote areas.

“In order to preserve the values of the United Nations and maintain the trust of the population everywhere that we operate, MINUSCA will continue to strengthen prevention and risk management of risks of sexual exploitation and abuse by working with the country team at the United Nations in order to assist victims that have been identified,” she said.

Increased surveillance has resulted in a reduction of new cases reported this year, and efforts will be increased in line with the UN’s zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, she added.

MINUSCA also faces critical gaps in air and land transport capacity, and in supply chain, inhibiting mobility. The situation is affecting the well-being, safety and security of peacekeepers, and also operational response.

For example, convoys can take up to several weeks just to travel from the capital to the northeast. Furthermore, most roads are impassable during the rainy season, which lasts seven months.

Ms. Rugabizwa said MINUSCA is planning to implement recommendations made in a recent global assessment of logistical capacity “if we are given the budget”, appealing to the Council for support.

She also paid tribute to the sacrifice of UN peacekeepers serving at the Mission, noting that three ‘blue helmets’ have been killed in “land transport accidents” this month alone.