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Mass graves in Gaza show victims’ hands were tied, says UN rights office

The development follows the recovery of hundreds of bodies “buried deep in the ground and covered with waste” over the weekend at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, central Gaza, and at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in the north. A total of 283 bodies were recovered at Nasser Hospital, of which 42 were identified.

“Among the deceased were allegedly older people, women and wounded, while others were found tied with their hands…tied and stripped of their clothes,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Al-Shifa discovery

Citing the local health authorities in Gaza, Ms. Shamdasani added that more bodies had been found at Al-Shifa Hospital.

The large health complex was the enclave’s main tertiary facility before war erupted on 7 October. It was the focus of an Israeli military incursion to root out Hamas militants allegedly operation inside which ended at the beginning of this month. After two weeks of intense clashes, UN humanitarians confirmed on 5 April that Al-Shifa was “an empty shell”, with most equipment reduced to ashes.

“Reports suggest that there were 30 Palestinian bodies buried in two graves in the courtyard of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City; one in front of the emergency building and the others in front of the dialysis building,” Ms. Shamdasani told journalists in Geneva.

The bodies of 12 Palestinians have now been identified from these locations at Al-Shifa, the OHCHR spokesperson continued, but identification has not yet been possible for the remaining individuals.

“There are reports that the hands of some of these bodies were also tied,” Ms. Shamdasani said, adding that there could be “many more” victims, “despite the claim by the Israeli Defense Forces to have killed 200 Palestinians during the Al-Shifa medical complex operation”.

200 days of horror

Some 200 days since intense Israeli bombardment began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel, UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed his horror at the destruction of Nasser and Al-Shifa hospitals and the reported discovery of mass graves.

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“The intentional killing of civilians, detainees, and others who are hors de combat is a war crime,” Mr. Türk said, in a call for independent investigations into the deaths.

Mounting toll

As of 22 April, more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including 14,685 children and 9,670 women, the High Commissioner’s office said, citing the enclave’s health authorities. Another 77,084 have been injured, and over 7,000 others are assumed to be under the rubble.

“Every 10 minutes a child is killed or wounded. They are protected under the laws of war, and yet they are ones who are disproportionately paying the ultimate price in this war,” said the High Commissioner.

Türk warning

The UN rights chief also reiterated his warning against a full-scale Israeli incursion of Rafah, where an estimated 1.2 million Gazans “have been forcibly cornered”.

“The world’s leaders stand united on the imperative of protecting the civilian population trapped in Rafah,” the High Commissioner said in a statement, which also condemned Israeli strikes against Rafah in recent days that mainly killed women and children.

This included an attack on an apartment building in the Tal Al Sultan area on 19 April which killed nine Palestinians “including six children and two women”, along with a strike on As Shabora Camp in Rafah a day later that reportedly left four dead, including a girl and a pregnant woman.

“The latest images of a premature child taken from the womb of her dying mother, of the adjacent two houses where 15 children and five women were killed – this is beyond warfare,” said Mr. Türk.

The High Commissioner decried the “unspeakable suffering” caused by months of warfare and appealed once again for “the resulting misery and destruction, starvation and disease, and the risk of wider conflict” to end.

A young girl is transferred from the Kamal Adwan hospital, in the far north of Gaza to a hospital in the south of the enclave. (file)

Mr. Türk also reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and those held in arbitrary detention, and the unfettered flow of humanitarian aid.

Massive settler attacks in West Bank

Turning to the West Bank, the UN rights chief said that grave human rights violations had continued there “unabated”.

This was despite international condemnation of “massive settler attacks” between 12 and 14 April “that had been facilitated by the Israeli Security Forces (ISF)”.

Settler violence has been organized “with the support, protection, and participation of the ISF”, Mr. Türk insisted, before describing a 50-hour long operation into Nur Shams refugee camp and Tulkarem city starting on 18 April.

“The ISF deployed ground troops, bulldozers and drones and sealed the camp. Fourteen Palestinians were killed, three of them children,” the UN rights chief said, noting that 10 ISF members had been injured.

In a statement, Mr. Türk also highlighted reports that several Palestinians had been unlawfully killed in the Nur Shams operation “and that the ISF used unarmed Palestinians to shield their forces from attack and killed others in apparent extrajudicial executions”.

Dozens were reportedly detained and ill-treated while the ISF “inflicted unprecedented and apparently wanton destruction on the camp and its infrastructure”, the High Commissioner alleged.

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World News in Brief: Rising West Bank violence, dialogue critical in Kosovo, free detained Afghan activist

Stability in the West Bank is vital to the prospects of peace in Gaza, UN Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland said over the weekend, warning against further escalation. He also said civilian attacks, including settler violence, need to end.

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Meanwhile, the new Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, visited Gaza for the first time on Sunday since taking up the post earlier in April.

“He saw firsthand the catastrophic situation in Gaza and how the ongoing hostilities are affecting people,” Mr. Dujarric said.

Mr. Hadi visited sites in Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah, including a shelter for displaced people and a health centre, and spoke with members of the community.

He also spent the night in Rafah, where 1.4 million people are sheltering in dire living conditions, lacking basic necessities, including water, food, shelter and healthcare.

UN partners were able to provide hot meals, bread and flour to people in Gaza last week, with support from the World Food Programme (WFP).

Further, two emergency medical teams have been positioned in northern Gaza to support Kamal Adwan and Al Awda hospitals.

Good faith dialogue critical to move forward in Kosovo

The UN Special Representative in Kosovo has highlighted the importance of open communication and dialogue in resolving long-standing issues between Belgrade and Pristina and between Kosovo Serb communities and the Pristina authorities.

Caroline Ziadeh, who also heads the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), delivered her biennial briefing to the Security Council in New York on Monday.

“One of the key common observations is dissatisfaction with the level of progress being achieved through political dialogue and the direct effects this has upon the security situation. The level of mistrust unfortunately remains high and must be addressed,” she said.

Ms. Ziadeh reported on recent setbacks that hamper efforts to build trust among Kosovo’s ethnic communities through political dialogue.

She underlined the importance of the full implementation of the European Union-facilitated agreements and for the sides to remain committed to constructive engagement and finding practical compromises.

“Good faith dialogue, communication and mutual understanding mark the path forward. Progress is born from actions undertaken with the willingness to forge compromises,” she said.

Afghanistan: Rights experts call for release of detained activist

Seven independent UN experts are calling for the immediate release of Afghan human rights defender Ahmad Fahim Azimi, who has been detained for more than six months.

Mr. Azimi was imprisoned on 17 October by the de facto authorities along with his colleague Siddiqullah Afghan, who was recently released.

In addition to being a human rights defender, Mr. Azimi advocates for girls’ education and is the head of the Better Thinking Centre and director of the Digital Citizen Lab in Afghanistan.

The experts have been communicating with the Afghan authorities regarding this case.

“We urge the de facto authorities to also release Mr. Azimi without delay. There is no justification for his detention,” they said.

The experts also expressed concern over the arrests of multiple human rights defenders and education activists in Afghanistan, seemingly for their advocacy for women and girls’ education.

“Access to education is a fundamental right. It is essential that those who strive to expand this right are supported and protected, not persecuted,” they said.

The experts were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues.

They serve in their individual capacity, are not UN staff, are independent of any government or organization and are not compensated for their work.

UN envoy urges international solidarity with Haiti as gang violence spirals

“Today, it pains me to note that all speeches and callings had not avoided that some of the worst scenarios for Haiti have become realities in recent months and weeks,” said Maria Isabel Salvador, who also heads the UN mission in Haiti, BINUH.

Speaking from the capital, Port-au-Prince, she said it was impossible to overstate the increase in gang activity in the city and beyond, along with the deterioration of the human rights situation and the deepening of the humanitarian crisis.

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Last October, the Security Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission (MSS) to assist Haiti’s embattled police force.

Although more than five million people, roughly half the population, are going hungry and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, a $674 humanitarian appeal for Haiti is less than nine per cent funded.

Attacks and confrontations

Ms. Salvador recalled that in early March, gangs mounted coordinated attacks against key state infrastructure, including several police stations and two of the main prisons in Port-au-Prince, as well as educational and health facilities, and religious sites.

They also launched several attacks against the Presidential Palace, sparking violent clashes with the Haitian National Police (HNP), leading to multiple casualties. Furthermore, gang confrontations around the international airport have forced all commercial airlines to halt services.

She noted that roughly 2,500 persons were killed or injured due to gang violence during the first quarter of the year. This represents a 53 per cent increase over the previous reporting period, making it the most violent quarter since BINUH began recording statistics two years ago.

Deploy Multinational Support Mission

Ms. Salvador said the national police – assisted by Haiti’s “modest” Armed Forces and advised by BINUH and other international partners – have deployed immense efforts to contain the violence while being targeted by the gangs.

“Nevertheless, the severity of the current crisis underscores the gaps in capacity within the national structures and the urgent need for international assistance, namely through the immediate deployment of the MSS,” she said.

On the political front, she noted that Haitian stakeholders have worked to put their differences aside in efforts to find a common path towards restoring democratic institutions, including establishing a Transitional Presidential Council following the resignation announcement by Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March.

Security critical for progress

A number of other bodies are also expected to be established, including a National Security Council and a Provisional Electoral Council “which is urgently required to set plans in motion for the organization of elections.”

Ms. Salvador noted that despite the recent positive developments on the political front, improving the security situation remains a condition sine qua non for further progress.

“I cannot stress enough the need to assist Haiti with its efforts to reestablish security,” she said.

“One and a half years since Haiti requested assistance to enhance security and more than six months since this Council authorized the deployment of the MSS, we must continue to stress the importance of its urgent deployment.”

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Catherine M. Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), briefs the Security Council meeting on the question concerning Haiti.

Children in the crosshairs

Catherine Russell, head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), appealed for greater support for the humanitarian plan for Haiti. Of the roughly 5.5 million Haitians who need assistance, three million are children.

She said boys and girls are being injured or killed in the violence each day. Some are being recruited, or join armed groups out of sheer desperation. Recent UNICEF data indicates that anywhere from 30 to per 50 cent of armed groups have children in their ranks.

“Women and girls continue to be targeted with extreme levels of gender-based and sexual violence,” she added.

“Last year, thousands of cases of sexual violence were reported, many of which were perpetrated against children. The true number of cases is likely much higher.”

Humanitarian activities have also fallen victim to the violence as access to the port in the capital has been cut off because of armed group operations in the area.

Ms. Russell said nearly 300 containers of humanitarian supplies are now stranded, including 17 UNICEF containers loaded with nutrition supplements, as well as neonatal, maternal and medical supplies.

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Ghada Waly (on screen), Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, briefs the Security Council meeting on the question concerning Haiti.

Stand with Haiti

The Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly, said the violence “is made possible by the continued influx of guns into Haiti and is supported by corruption.”

Recent events also suggest concerning signs of collusion between different gangs, she added.

The latest wave of violence saw reported fighting between gangs, but also signs of collaboration between certain groups to carry out attacks.

Furthermore, the attacks targeting key infrastructure were another reminder of the significant increase in firepower that the gangs possess, as weapons continue to flow into Haiti.

“We must stand with Haiti’s institutions and citizens in confronting violence, corruption, and chaos, and in working for a more stable and secure future for the people of Haiti,” she said.

War in Sudan is ‘a crisis of epic proportions’ as atrocities abound

The Sudanese people have endured “unbearable suffering” since the conflict started just over a year ago when an outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) “brutally interrupted the political transition”, Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said.

“This is a crisis of epic proportions; it is also wholly man-made,” she told ambassadors, stressing that both parties have failed to protect civilians.

Over 14,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands wounded, half the country’s population – 25 million people – need lifesaving assistance and more than 8.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including 1.8 million refugees.

Widespread atrocities

“Allegations of atrocities abound,” she said, citing reports of widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, of the recruitment of children by parties to the conflict and of extensive use of torture and prolonged arbitrary detention by both parties.

She said the UN stands ready to redouble efforts with its multilateral partners – including the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority for Development, the League of Arab States and key Member States and partners – to help end hostilities and foster inclusive and effective international mediation.

She said the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, has engaged with national, regional and international stakeholders to promote the coordination of mediation initiatives, and the recent humanitarian conference in Paris emphasised the need for unity of purpose and action to end the fighting in Sudan.

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Rosemary DiCarlo (centre), Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Sudan and South Sudan.

External actors fuelling war

At the same time, all warring parties must uphold their obligations under international law and adhere to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, Ms. DiCarlo said, calling on all actors to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further bloodshed.

However the rival armies have been able to keep fighting in no small part thanks to the material support they receive from outside the Sudan, she said, adding that these external actors continue to flout the Council’s sanctions regime to support a political settlement and to fuel the conflict.

“This is illegal, it is immoral and it must stop,” she said. “At this critical moment, in addition to global support for aid, we need to redouble our efforts to achieve peace in the Sudan.”

A child is screened for malnutrition in Gezira state in Sudan.

‘The elephant in the room’

Echoing that point, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, High Representative for the Silencing the Guns initiative of the African Union Commission, said external interference has been “a major factor” stymying efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and to stop the war.

“External support in terms of supply of war materiel and other means has been the main reason why this war has lasted for so long,” he said via videolink from Post Sudan. “It is the elephant in the room.”

For its part, the African Union has been proactive, he said, recalling its swift action five days after the outbreak of fighting to form a mechanism to coordinate efforts as well as its subsequent drafting of a roadmap to peace and appointment of a High-Level Panel on Sudan.

Decades of development wiped out

Yet, the ongoing year-long war has already set Sudan back several decades, he said, adding that “it will take more than a generation to rebuild Sudan to its pre-war state.”

He said the war has also led to egregious violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and the laws governing the conduct of war.

“It must end,” he said, emphasising that the Jeddah process must speedily recommence with the full participation of the African Union to bring about an unconditional ceasefire to end Sudan’s suffering.

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Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Sudan and South Sudan.

Humanitarian conditions worsening

Edem Wosornu, director of operations and advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that one year on, the outlook for the people of Sudan is “bleak”.

Extremely concerning levels of conflict-related sexual violence continue to be reported, and aid workers, health workers and local volunteers are being killed, injured, harassed and arrested with impunity, she said, speaking on behalf of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths.

In addition, the spiralling violence in recent weeks poses an extreme and immediate danger to the 800,000 civilians who reside in El Fasher and risks triggering further clashes in other parts of Darfur, where more than nine million people are in dire need of assistance, she said.

Famine prevention plan

Meanwhile, food insecurity in Sudan has reached record levels, with 18 million people are facing acute hunger, a number that is set to surge as the lean season fast approaches, Ms. Wosornu said, noting that OCHA had launched a famine prevention plan last week.

“If we are to avert famine, the parties must take urgent steps to facilitate humanitarian relief for all civilians in need, as required under international humanitarian law,” she said.

What is needed now is scaled up action to protect humanitarian workers to deliver lifesaving aid, more funds and more international engagement to silence the guns, she said.

A school and centre for displaced people in West Darfur, supported by Save the Children, were destroyed in late April 2023 due to ongoing fighting in Sudan. (file)

‘The people of Sudan cannot wait’

“We need a fundamental change in the way we support Sudan,” Ms. Wosornu said. “The people of Sudan cannot wait another month, week or even day for their suffering to stop. Every day that passes puts more lives at risk.”

Expressing gratitude for pledges made at the recent Paris humanitarian conference on Sudan, she said funds must be disbursed as soon as possible and that “we have a very narrow window to respond”.

“Within the coming six weeks, we need to preposition lifesaving supplies before the rainy season starts in June. We need to get seeds into the hands of farmers before the planting season in June, and cash into the pockets of displaced people before they fall even deeper into hunger.”

While OCHA will “do everything we can”, Ms. Wosornu said “we cannot do this alone.”

“We need your help,” she told Council members. “Now is the time to act, before it is too late. Millions of lives depend on us.”

World News in Brief: Green light for new cholera vaccine, Ukraine attacks condemned, action against racism call, Brazil rights defenders alert

The World Health Organization (WHO) decision means that Euvichol-S vaccine can be added to other cholera-busting drugs which are not being produced in sufficient quantities to help countries battling outbreaks of the preventable disease.

WHO reported 473,000 cholera cases in 2022 – double the number in 2021.

“The new vaccine is the third product of the same family of vaccines we have for cholera in our WHO prequalification list,” said Dr. Rogerio Gaspar, Director of the WHO Department for Regulation and Prequalification.

Production boost

It is hoped it will enable a rapid increase in production and supply “which many communities battling with cholera outbreaks urgently need”, he added.

WHO prequalification list already includes Euvichol and Euvichol-Plus inactivated oral cholera vaccines produced by EuBiologicals Co., Ltd, Republic of South Korea, which also produces the new vaccine.

Vaccines provide the best solution for preventing, limiting and controlling cholera outbreaks, said WHO, but supplies are scarce with many countries facing dire shortcomings in other areas of prevention and management – such as safe water, hygiene and sanitation.

Today, 23 countries have reported cholera outbreaks; the most severe ones are in Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Top humanitarian in Ukraine condemns latest Russian attack on Dnipro

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Denise Brown has “vehemently condemned” Friday’s deadly attacks by Russian forces on Dnipro City and other parts of the Dnipro region.

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Local authorities and aid workers on the ground said the attacks killed and injured civilians – including children – damaging buildings and infrastructure.

“Aid workers in Dnipro are already on the ground helping the affected people”, she said in a statement, noting that the attacks were “yet another example of a grave and reprehensible disregard for human life.”

Both the cities of Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, with a combined population of 1.5 million, were reportedly hit.

Humanitarians on site

Humanitarian workers are on site in Dnipro complementing the efforts of rescue services and first responders.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York that humanitarian organizations are also providing hot meals for impacted people, rescue workers and emergency shelter kits to repair the damage to infrastructure and homes.  

“Meanwhile, ongoing hostilities today and yesterday in the front-line Donetsk Region, in eastern Ukraine, reportedly killed and injured a dozen civilians and damaged homes and civilian infrastructure”, he added, citing reports from local officials.

UN rights chief calls for strong action against racism

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for stronger action against racism and other colonial legacies, addressing Friday’s closing session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in Geneva.

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He said that addressing these legacies was key to his office OHCHR’s push for transformative change for racial justice and equality, which includes the call for States to deliver reparatory justice.

Mr. Türk also supported the proclamation of a second International Decade for People of African Descent, “so we can build on the gains made so far and address the ongoing challenges”.

Lived experience

To those of you who bring your lived experiences, knowledge and expertise to these discussions: your contributions to the anti-racism movement are reverberating around the world”, he said.

“They are exposing the magnitude of the challenges that are inflicted on people of African descent – notably women, young people, LGBTQ+ people and migrants.”

He added that by fostering new initiatives and ideas for ways to eliminate systemic racism “and its pernicious intersections with other forms of discrimination”, the Forum is “opening up new paths for profound change.”

He said OHCHR stood with all delegates in their struggle for justice and their demand for immediate action to tackle “the terrible legacy” of colonialism.

On the issue of reparations, he said the fight had to be led by those of African descent, notably women.

“It must be a comprehensive approach, embracing truth-seeking; acknowledgement and apologies; memorialization; compensation; and institutional and educational reforms.”

Brazil must prioritise land ownership reform, to help end deadly attacks against rights defenders

Brazil needs to prioritise the demarcation and titling of land across the country, which is the root cause of most attacks against human rights defenders in the country, an independent UN human rights expert said on Friday.

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“Human rights defenders are under extreme threat in Brazil. The Federal Government knows this but has so far failed to put the structures in place to provide them with better protection” or tackle root causes said Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in a statement following an official visit there.

She said the Government recognises human rights defenders and their work, and understands the risks they face. But when human rights defenders challenge power structures that reinforce injustice, they are often violently attacked and face extremely high levels of risk, she said.

Death threats, shootings

“Again and again during my visit I heard from defenders who had survived assassination attempts, who had been shot at, had their houses surrounded, had death threats delivered to their door. I heard from defenders whose work had been criminalised,” Ms. Lawlor said.

Defenders most at risk in Brazil are from indigenous and traditional communities. “In many cases, perpetrators of the attacks are known. Yet, there is rampant impunity for these crimes,” the expert said.

She noted that business and markets play a key role as drivers of conflicts, putting rights defenders at risk. “The demarcation and titling of indigenous, quilombola and other traditional peoples’ land, as well as the revision of the legality of all existing concessions given to companies must be prioritised,” she said.

“The conflation of human rights defenders with criminals by local authorities – in particular defenders who are part of social movements and supporting the most vulnerable in society – is a clear problem and must end,” the expert said.

“The Federal Government needs to match the courage of human rights defenders in the country – and it must do so now,” Ms. Lawlor insisted.

Special Rapporteurs and other UN Human Rights Council-appointed rights experts are independent of any government or organization, receive no salary for their work and serve in their individual capacity.

Retaliatory spiral in Middle East must end, says UN chief after strikes on Iran

“The Secretary-General condemns any act of retaliation and appeals to the international community to work together to prevent any further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond,” he said in a statement issued by his Office.

Echoing those concerns, UN atomic energy agency chief Rafael Grossi urged “extreme restraint” from all sides, after more than six and a half months of war in Gaza that have fuelled fears of a wider regional conflict. Echoing those concerns, UN atomic energy agency chief Rafael Grossi called for “extreme restraint” from all sides, after more than six and a half months of war in Gaza that have fuelled fears of a wider regional conflict.

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“IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites…Director-General Grossi “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a tweet, after unconfirmed media reports that possible drone strikes had targeted the Iranian province of Isfahan, which is home to nuclear facilities and military garrisons.

In Geneva, too, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) urged all parties “to take steps to de-escalate the situation” rapidly.

“(We) call on third States, in particular those with influence, to do all in their power to ensure there is no further deterioration in an already extremely precarious situation,” said OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence.

Hunger and fear

In Gaza, aid teams offered new insight into the dangers faced by Palestinian civilians – particularly pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers – as a result of the “wanton destruction” of vital medical equipment and widespread “dehydration, malnutrition and fear” among Palestinians.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Dominic Allen, Representative for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) for the State of Palestine, said that there were indications that the number of complicated births is nearly twice what it was before war erupted.

“There is absolutely an increase in the numbers,” he said, adding that pre-war, around 15 per cent of births required some form of emergency obstetric care. Today, some doctors have reported “a doubling of what they previously had dealt with and this is due to malnutrition, dehydration and fear, which impact the pregnant woman’s ability to give birth safely and carry their baby to full term safely”, the UNFPA official said.

‘Wanton destruction’

Mr. Allen described his latest mission to Gaza to assess the impact of Israeli attacks on healthcare at embattled hospitals in the north, central and southern governorates.

It was clear that the last remaining hospitals in the enclave including its second-largest, Nasser Hospital, are “clinging to life themselves whilst they are a lifeline for the pregnant women of Gaza”, Mr. Allen insisted, via video link from Jerusalem. “What I saw, it breaks my heart…It’s indescribable. What we see there is, medical equipment, purposefully broken; ultrasounds – which you will know is a very important tool for helping ensure safe births – with cables that have been cut, screens of complex medical equipment like ultrasounds and other with the screens smashed. So, purposeful, wanton destruction in the maternity ward.”

Before intense Israeli bombardment began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks across southern Israel on 7 October, Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis had a maternity ward which UNFPA teams have supported and supplied for years.

In order to be fully functional again the hospital will need reconditioned water and sanitation services and repairs to damaged electricity generators, at a bare minimum. “But I stood beside the warehouse (where) we delivered supplies many months ago and it was literally burning; there’s so much work to do in terms of trying to re-establish that lifeline,” Mr. Allen said.

‘Palpable’ fear

The UNFPA mission which began on Monday 8 April and ended this Wednesday was carried out in partnership with the UN World Health Organization (WHO), the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The objective was to visit around 10 hospitals in Gaza, among them Al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza which was “overwhelmed with trauma patients” and not supporting maternity care.

At Emirati Hospital in the south of the enclave, Mr. Allen recounted meeting the medical director of the facility who said that “he no longer sees normal-sized babies”.

Turning to Rafah and continuing fears of an Israeli incursion, the UNFPA officer underscored the “great sense of fear” hanging over the more than 1.2 million people sheltering there.

“There is a palpable fear from the Gazans who I spoke with – the midwives, doctors, pregnant women, my fellow colleagues, who are in Gaza…Right now it’s a haven for 1.2 million Gazans; it’s not a safe haven, but it’s a haven at least.”

World News in Brief: Rights chief Türk urges peace in DR Congo, Haiti aid update, food insecurity in Timor Leste

The huge central African nation has seen years of violence in the restive but resources-rich east, which have uprooted millions of people – some 2.7 million in North Kivu alone and more than seven million nationally.

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“What breaks my heart is to see a population exhausted by violence, exhausted by conflict, exhausted by the horrors of their daily life”, Mr. Türk told journalists on Thursday in the capital Kinshasa.

“They need to have a future. They need to see a future. And we all need to work towards that.”

Mr. Türk noted that although the DRC “is one of the richest countries in the world” because of its immense natural resources, “this wealth is unfortunately not available to the population because there is violence”.

Over 25 million people need humanitarian help in the DRC and UN humanitarians have warned that epidemics are rampant – particularly cholera, with 50,000 suspected cases and 470 deaths in 2023, the worst since 2017.

Measles cases have more than doubled too, to over 320,000, with deaths tripling to over 6,000 last year.

UN continuing to reach thousands in Haiti with critical assistance

The UN and aid partners are continuing to reach hundreds of thousands of people with critical assistance, amid ongoing violence in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported their staff were able to reach more than 18,000 people with cash transfers on Wednesday and 210,000 children across the country received a school meal, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

As part of the agency’s emergency response, food rations were distributed to about 8,000 people.

Gangs in the capital control from 80 to 90 per cent of the streets which has fuelled a socio-economic crisis stemming from years of political turmoil culminating in the recent resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was forced out of office last month.

More than 360,000 have been displaced across Haiti and around 100,000 are living in temporary sites in deplorable conditions.

Unprecedented rights violations

Human rights chief Volker Türk said earlier this month the scale of violations “is unprecedented in Haiti’s modern history” with gangs attacking police station, prisons, public buildings and carrying out murders and kidnappings.

Sexual violence is pervasive and more than 5.5 million Haitians, mainly children, are dependent on aid. With around 44 per cent of the population food insecure, conditions are too dangerous to scale up assistance at scale.

Despite the ongoing crisis, WFP is managing to distribute hot meals to over 13,000 of those most in need across Port-au-Prince.

Runaway inflation, climate shocks, rising prices rock Timor Leste

A new report on food insecurity across Timor Leste released on Thursday reveals deteriorating levels of food insecurity in 12 of the Southeast Asian nation’s 14 municipalities.

The country is suffering through the highest inflation rate in a decade, successive climate shocks and soaring food prices.

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An estimated 360,000 people, around one in four of the population, are grappling with crisis levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above); of which 18,500 people are facing emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4), said WFP.

The situation is predicted to worsen from May to September during the post-harvest season, when food access normally improves.

“The 2024 Acute IPC Analysis provides the government with vital findings that will enable us to plan targeted support for communities in urgent need of food assistance, and to improve food security overall”, said Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, Marcos da Cruz.

WFP Country Director and Representative for Timor-Leste Alba Cecilia Garzon Olivares said that with intensifying climate shocks and record inflation, the latest IPC Analysis makes it clear “urgent action is required now to avert a further deterioration in Timor-Leste’s food insecurity”.

“WFP remains committed to supporting the government and other partners in reversing this trend and strengthening nutrition-sensitive social protection systems.”

The IPC Analysis uses a set of internationally recognized tools and procedures to estimate the food insecurity situation in any given country. Check out our full explainer here.

Gaza: UN experts decry ‘systemic obliteration’ of education system

Since the brutal 7 October attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants on southern Israel, and the ensuing military assault by Israel, over 5,800 students and teachers have been killed and a further 8,575 have been injured across the enclave.

Many others have been arrested, while attacks on places of learning have left more than 625,000 students without any ability to study.

UN schools sheltering civilians displaced from their homes have also come under fire, including some inside Israeli military-designated “safe zones”.

UN_SPExperts

Hopes and dreams destroyed

“With more than 80 per cent of schools in Gaza damaged or destroyed, it may be reasonable to ask if there is an intentional effort to comprehensively destroy the Palestinian education system, an action known as ‘scholasticide’,” the experts said.

The term “scholasticide” refers to the systemic obliteration of education through the arrest, detention or killing of teachers, students and staff, and the destruction of educational infrastructure.

The experts called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and to protect educational institutions, teachers, and students.

“We remind Israel in particular of its obligations to comply with the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 26 January,” they said.

Devastating long-term impacts

The experts, including UN Special Rapporteurs on the right to education and on the situation in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, also warned of the far-reaching impacts of attacks on education in Gaza.

“The persistent, callous attacks on educational infrastructure in Gaza have a devastating long-term impact on the fundamental rights of people to learn and freely express themselves, depriving yet another generation of Palestinians of their future,” the experts said.

“When schools are destroyed, so too are hopes and dreams.”

A school being used as a shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gaza.

Not isolated incidents

In addition to schools, a further 195 heritage sites, 227 mosques and three churches have also been damaged or destroyed, including the Central Archives of Gaza which catalogued 150 years of history.

Israa University, the last remaining university in Gaza was demolished by the Israeli military on 17 January.

The experts noted that without a safe place to go to school, women and girls face multifaceted risks, including increased gender-based violence.

More than one million Palestinian children in Gaza are now in need of mental health and psychosocial support and will suffer the trauma of this war throughout their lives.

“These attacks are not isolated incidents. They present a systematic pattern of violence aimed at dismantling the very foundation of Palestinian society,” the experts said.

Independent experts

The human rights experts raising the alarm included several UN special rapporteurs and members of human rights working groups.

Appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, they work on a voluntary basis, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

A family in Gaza eats a meal in the midst of the rubble of their home.

UN food convoys enter Gaza from Israeli port

Meanwhile, the UN emergency food relief agency (WFP) reported that two of its convoys crossed into Gaza from Israel’s Ashdod Port, via the Kerem Shalom border crossing point.

The first convoy on Tuesday was made up of eight trucks, followed by a second seven-truck convoy on Wednesday.

In total, the World Food Programme (WFP) convoys delivered 374 metric tonnes of wheat flour, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, told journalists in at the UN Headquarters, in New York.

“Fourteen additional [WFP] trucks are being loaded today and we hope they will depart soon,” he reported.

“WFP says the sustained use of that port – as well as a smoother movement of convoys via Kerem Shalom into Gaza – will notably reduce the waiting time for cargo to enter the Gaza Strip,” Mr. Dujarric added.

As part of the emergency response, the agency has shipped some 2,700 metric tonnes of wheat flour to Ashdod Port in southern Israel.

UN Senior Coordinator visits Gaza

In addition, Mr. Dujarric also informed journalists that Sigrid Kaag, the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, has concluded another visit to the Gaza Strip.

While there, she went to Khan Younis where she witnessed the war’s impact on Palestinian civilians firsthand. She also visited a maternity ward in an International Medical Corps field hospital, as well as the Nasser Medical complex.

She spoke with the director and medical staff at Nasser about the challenges of securing entry and supplies of urgently needed medical items, Mr. Dujarric said.

“Ms. Kaag [also] went to Tel Aviv following her visit to Gaza and just concluded a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other Israeli cabinet officials,” the UN Spokesperson added.

‘Investing in youth is investing in peace’, UN Security Council hears

“The potential and opportunity for renewal that young people represent means…that they must be part of the broader discussions shaping our societies,” UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told ambassadors in the Security Council.

With youth constituting 55 per cent of the population in the southern and eastern Mediterranean, their voices cannot be ignored, she said.

Reflecting on the 2011 demonstrations that swept across some Arab nations in the region, she highlighted that “youth were at the forefront of these movements, protesting disenfranchisement and the lack of economic opportunity and employment.”

Ms. DiCarlo’s was briefing the Security Council debate on the theme, The role of young persons in addressing security challenges in the Mediterranean, convened by Malta in its capacity as the President of the 15-member Council for April.

Disproportionate impacts

Despite their resilience, young people face disproportionate impacts from conflicts and climate crises.

The brutal 7 October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza have taken a devastating toll, where 70 per cent of the enclave’s population is under 30 years old. Furthermore, all schools across the Strip are closed, impacting more than 625,000 students.

The trauma, violence, and food insecurity resulting from such conflicts underscores the urgent need for peacebuilding efforts that prioritize youth involvement, Ms. DiCarlo said.

“We have witnessed this spirit of innovation in our special political missions where we have increasingly deployed new technologies to organize digital consultations with youth,” she added, citing examples from Libya and Lebanon, where such dialogues helped provide better understanding of young people’s views and aspirations, and to reflect them in the UN’s work.

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefs the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security.

Climate change

The climate crisis further compounds the challenges faced by Mediterranean youth, Ms. DiCarlo continued, especially as the region is warming around 20 per cent faster than the global average.

She underscored the importance of youth-led climate action, citing their active participation in international forums such as the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings.

“Young women are often at the forefront of these movements, advocating for a gender lens at all stages of policy and decision-making related to climate risks,” she said.

Harness the potential

To harness the potential of youth as positive agents of change, the senior UN official also called for increased investment and support from regional and multilateral organizations.

“Investing in youth is investing in peace,” she stressed, urging greater interactions between Security Council members and young people.

Concluding her remarks, she called on the Council “to continue to champion the youth, peace and security agenda, which is critical for the Mediterranean region and beyond.”

‘Insidious campaign’ by Israel is denying life-saving aid to Gaza says UNRWA chief

UNRWA is the “backbone” of the aid effort in support of over two million Gazans displaced and battered by war with more than 33,000 killed – mostly women and children – and over 76,000 injured said UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.

UNRWA briefing HIGHLIGHTS

The agency is a ‘stabilizing force’, providing the backbone of the entire aid operation in Gaza
A man-made famine is tightening its grip but UNRWA is being denied permission to delivery enough life-saving aid
UNRWA is facing an Israeli campaign ‘to push it out of the Occupied Palestinian Territory’
178 UNRWA workers have been killed and 160 premises destroyed or damaged – killing more than 400 Gazans
Mr. Lazzarini demanded an independent investigation into the blatant disregard for protection of humanitarian workers during the conflict
UNRWA is ‘firmly committed’ to implementing any recommendations to strengthen neutrality safeguards
Dismantling UNRWA would have “lasting repercussions” and will condemn “an entire generation to despair”
Palestinians and Israelis share a long history of grief and loss. We must recognize “that they are equally deserving of a peaceful and secure future”

For summaries of this and other key UN meetings, visit our colleagues at the UN Meetings Coverage in English and French

5:23 PM

UNRWA must not be broken: Jordan

Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan said Israel wanted to break UNRWA, the backbone of humanitarian efforts in Gaza, urging Member States not to allow this.

UNRWA deserves your support because only UNRWA has the ability to meaningfully help Palestinians in Gaza, who are starving, and provide vital services to Palestinian refugees across the region.

The disinformation campaign the Israeli government has been spreading against UNRWA must not shape the world’s view of the agency, he said.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi of Jordan addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

UNRWA has nothing to hide and it has faced up to its responsibilities, committing to fix any wrongdoings or shortfalls – should any be found.

He said Israel’s “witch hunt” had started long before allegations were made against a dozen staffers.

The purpose of the attack on UNRWA is to destroy the rights of Palestinian refugees but it will not succeed, he told ambassadors.

UNRWA must be protected now, in the same way it has been protected in the past.

4:55 PM

‘The time has come to defund UNRWA’: Israel

Israel’s Ambassador Gilad Erdan said UNRWA was “one of the weapons” crafted by the General Assembly which was only prolonging the Middle East conflict.

“UNRWA, the organization that so many of you [UN members] fund, is the UN’s single biggest obstacle to a solution,” he said, stressing that the agency “is creating a sea of Palestinian refugees, millions of them, indoctrinated to believe that Israel belongs to them”.

“The end goal is to use these so-called refuges and their libelous right of return – a right that doesn’t exist – to flood Israel and destroy the Jewish State,” he added.

Ambassador Erdan said that just because “UNRWA has a thin layer of Europeans in charge of collecting donations and garnering support, it does not change the fact that UNRWA is a Palestinian organization fully committed to the Jewish State’s destruction.”

Ambassador Gilad Erdan of Israel addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

Which other group of refugees, he asked, has a UN body dedicated to them, while there are millions of other refugees in other crisis zones aided only by UNHCR – the UN refugee agency.

“UNRWA is the world’s biggest advocate for a ‘one-State solution’, a Palestinian State from the river to the sea,” he said.

“There are alternatives to UNRWA, among them NGOs and other UN agencies,” said the Israeli Ambassador.

“Israel cannot and will not allow UNRWA to continue in Gaza as it did in the past, I repeat there are alternatives to UNRWA, and it is up to you [UN members] if they can succeed…the time has come to defund UNRWA,” he concluded.

4:48 PM

Palestine: Ground invasion and airstrikes must end

Ziad Abu Amr, Special Representative of the President of Palestine, expressed his appreciation for UNRWA and all other humanitarians providing critical relief.

“We salute your courage and your dedication as you carry out this noble humanitarian mission, risking your own lives to provide relief for our people,” he said, while offering his condolences to those killed performing their duties.

Mr. Ziad said lives cannot be saved or relief provided in Gaza as long as Israel continues its ground invasion and air strikes.

Ziad Abu Amr, Special Representative of the President of the State of Palestine, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

He call for international pressure to increase on Israel to ensure respect for international law, including international humanitarian law.

Stating that “massacres” against innocent people in Gaza have been ongoing for six months, he asked: is it not “high time for this killing, this destruction and displacement to stop?”

He recalled the General Assembly resolution that established UNRWA and gave it its mandate:

“This is when the question of the Palestinian refugees is solved. Based on that, the General Assembly renews UNRWA’s mandate periodically – despite every attempt and campaign to cut if off from the United Nations,” he said.

Mr. Ziad added that the agency is “not a mere humanitarian project”, stressing that it is a “historic witness” of the commitment and obligation by the international community regarding Palestinian refugees forced from their homes after the 1948 Nakba.

Children walk through partially destroyed streets in Jenin in the West Bank.

4:26 PM

UNRWA must reform to ensure neutrality: France

Representative of France Nathalie Broadhurst said her country would pay its annual contribution for 2024, to allow UNRWA’s humanitarian operations to continue.

She said all crossing points must be opened up so that the UN can deliver aid at scale, including to the north.

The agency plays “an indispensable” and important role for refugees and host countries while advocating for a just, equitable, realistic, and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Deputy Permanent Representative Nathalie Broadhurst of France addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

However, 75 years after its creation, UNRWA must be reformed and ensure absolute respect for the principle of neutrality, she continued.

The allegations that some UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel are extremely serious.

France took note took note of the interim report of the independent external audit led by a former French foreign minister, whose final conclusions will be made public in a matter of days.

France will be extremely vigilant regarding the full implementation of the report’s recommendations to ensure UNRWA fully respects the “humanitarian principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality” which it must operate under.

Hostages being held must be released without delay and a ceasefire implemented, ahead of a two-State solution. The Palestinian Authority has a key role to play and she urged members to support the French draft resolution currently under discussion.

4:20 PM

Israel must end smear campaign against UNRWA: China

China’s Deputy Ambassador Geng Shuang said UNRWA was indispensable for the humanitarian efforts in Palestine, and cannot be replaced.

He urged Israel to stop interfering with UNRWA’s work. China supports an independent investigation on the allegations against certain members of UNRWA’s staff, but the results should not be predetermined, he said.

Geng Shuang, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of China, addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

China also rejects vicious attacks on the agency in the absence of any solid evidence and called on Israel to end its smear campaign.

He reiterated China’s call for an immediate ceasefire because providing aid while bombardment continues is simply an impossible task.

He called on the US to remain impartial, urging the international community to take measures which would force Israel to respect Security Council resolutions.

Mr. Shuang said the Council was due to vote on Palestine’s full UN membership bid within days and China is hopeful they will prevail.

4:17 PM

UNRWA critical to aid effort in Gaza: UK

UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward recalled the mandate assigned to UNRWA some 75 years ago saying it remains “as important as ever”.

She said UNRWA’s work was “critical” to aid delivery in the Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to allow the agency and other humanitarian entities “unhindered access” in the enclave, particularly in the north.

Ambassador Barbara Woodward of the United Kingdom addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

“UNRWA is the main provider of humanitarian relief within Gaza and other UN and humanitarian actors depend on UNRWA’s distribution network to get aid to those in need,” she said.

Ambassador Woodward further recognized the agency’s role in providing health and education services, providing humanitarian support across the Middle East region, stressing its importance to regional stability, especially during the current crisis.

She said the UK was appalled by allegations that some UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attacks on Israel, noting the ongoing investigations.

“We also emphasize the importance of UNRWA continuing robust management reform, including stronger independent oversight and better detection systems, and we look forward to seeing the findings and recommendations of former French Foreign Minister [Catherine] Colonna’s independent review into UNRWA neutrality processes and systems,” she added.

“As our Prime Minister said this week, we will clarify the UK’s position on funding once we have reviewed these,” she said.

3:59 PM

US: ‘Deeply concerned’ Israel has not done enough to protect lives

US Ambassador Robert Wood, Deputy Permanent Representative, said the conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of the number of aid workers killed.

“These incidents are unacceptable, humanitarian workers must be protected,” he stressed, adding that the US is “deeply concerned Israel has not done enough to protect humanitarian aid workers or civilians.”

He recalled the draft resolution introduced by the US at the Security Council last month and reiterated the call for protection of humanitarians.

Deputy Permanent Representative Robert A. Wood of the United States addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

“As President [Joe] Biden conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu on 4 April, that Israel must ‘implement a series of specific, concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers’,” he said.

“US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by Israel’s immediate and sustained actions on these steps,” he added.

Ambassador Wood further noted that the US paused additional funding to UNRWA over allegations that its personnel were involved in the 7 October attacks, and that the US Congress has since prohibited additional contributions until at least March 2025.

“We urge UNRWA and the wider UN system to take all steps necessary to strengthen the neutrality of the organization and improve UNRWA’s sustainability,” he said, while recognizing UNRWA’s “indispensable role” in distributing aid and maintaining continuity of care in Gaza.

“We urge UNRWA’s continued humanitarian access in Gaza and the lifting of onerous restrictions on its work,” he added.

3:48 PM

UNRWA’s role is indispensable: Russia

Russia’s Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said his country had repeatedly warned that in the absence of a full-fledged, sustainable ceasefire, “all of our humanitarian efforts are doomed.”

Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of the Russian Federation addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

No amount of voluntary deconfliction will help if one of the sides is determined to continue hostilities, especially when signals are received from one Security Council member, the United States, that Council resolutions do not have binding force.

The last resolution 2728 calling for a ceasefire during Ramadan, is clearly not enough, he added.

In these circumstances, the role of UNRWA is irreplaceable. If UNRWA cannot function, we will have “yet another illegal and immoral tool” for the collective punishment of millions of Palestinians “in dire need of aid.”

He condemned attempts to discredit the agency, calling for the restoration of all funding, even before the investigations are concluded. Russia will continue providing comprehensive assistance he added, as UNRWA’s work is not humanitarian, but also has an important stabilizing effect on the entire Middle East region.

3:26 PM

UNRWA: ‘Indispensible lifeline’ says Malta

Speaking in his national capacity Foreign Minister of Malta, Ian Borg said UNRWA was “an indispensable lifeline for Palestine refugees” in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere in the region, as well as a “stabilizing force”

“Preserving the lifesaving role and operations of UNRWA must be our primary objective,” he stressed.

He also voiced deep concern over the continued hostilities and the harrowing humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, and ongoing attacks against humanitarian and medical personnel.

Foreign Minister Ian Borg of Malta addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

“We are witnessing an entire population being brought to the brink of conflict-induced starvation, with credible reports that famine has already taken hold in the north [Gaza].”

Foreign Minister Borg welcomed the UN’s swift response in the establishment two investigations into the “deeply concerning” allegations of involvement of UNRWA staff in the 7 October terror attacks.

He also welcomed the independent review into UNRWA’s neutrality, noting that the interim report indicated “UNRWA has in place a significant number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with humanitarian principal of neutrality.”

“We now look forward to outcome of both inquiries…and call on all parties to fully cooperate with these inquiries,” he said, urging donors to resume “desperately needed funding.”

3:32 PM

UNRWA is a pillar of Palestine: Algeria

Ahmed Attaf, Minister for foreign affairs of Algeria, said UNRWA was the last glimpse of hope for the Palestinian people. It embodies the ideals and the values on which this Organization is built.

UNRWA is the best and most authentic witness to the modern “Nakba” – referencing the mass expulsion of Palestinians by Israel in 1948 – and it has been targeted in a shameful way and on a fallacious pretext to ensure its destruction.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf of Algeria addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

It reflects the plight of Palestinian refugees and their right to go back to their homeland. UNRWA is a pillar of Palestine, he said.

The international community must protect it, facilitate its vital activities, and stop any Israeli attempt to transfer its work to other humanitarian agencies.

He called on all countries to resume funding for UNRWA

Algeria calls all countries to resume their financial contributions to UNRWA and said his country would make an exceptional contribution of $15 million, on top of other national contributions.

The Palestinian cause is indivisible, and we are convinced that Israel cannot be allowed to act in defiance of the entire international community, he said. The two-state solution cannot be held hostage by what he called Israeli manipulation.

A UN staff member surveys the widespread destruction in Khan Younis.

3:15 PM

‘Insidious campaign’ to end UNRWA aid operation in Gaza: Lazzarini

UNRWA is the backbone of the aid effort to stop Gaza slipping into famine, Mr. Lazzarini told ambassadors, and beyond that it has championed Palestinian development for decades.

“Today an insidious campaign to end UNRWA’s operations is underway, with serious implications for international peace and security”, he said.

Now it faces an existential threat as relentless bombing and “a merciless siege have transformed Gaza beyond recognition.”

Children have begun to die of malnutrition and dehydration, he said, while food and clean water are just across the border.

Stopped from saving lives

“But UNRWA is denied permission to deliver this aid and save lives. This outrage is occurring despite consecutive orders by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to increase the flow of aid into Gaza – which can be done if there is the political will”, he added.

Security Council members “have the power to make a difference”, he declared, with an overwhelming majority of Member States backing UNRWA.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini addresses the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

The Israeli Government “seeks to end” the agency and requests to deliver aid to the stricken north are being repeatedly denied.

Mr. Lazzarini noted the challenges UNRWA has been facing since the war started, including attacks on its premises and staff, killing 178 personnel and damaging or destroying over 160 premises.

Demand for independent investigation

He said their premises have been used for military purposes, by Israeli forces, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, and its headquarters occupied militarily.

UNRWA personnel detained by Israeli security forces have shared “harrowing accounts” of mistreatment and torture in detention.

“We demand an independent investigation and accountability for the blatant disregard for the protected status of humanitarian workers, operations, and facilities under international law,” he stressed.

“To do otherwise would set a dangerous precedent and compromise humanitarian work around the world.”

The UNRWA chief addressed the allegations against individual agency personnel of involvement in the 7 October attacks: “Horrified by the allegations, I immediately terminated the appointments of those concerned,” he said, noting the investigation ordered by the Secretary-General as well as the independent review on how UNRWA upholds its neutrality.

He added that despite the prompt and decisive actions, a significant amount of donor funding remains suspended, with serious operational implications.

Committed to review findings

“Be assured that we remain firmly committed to implementing the recommendations of the review and to strengthening existing safeguards against neutrality breaches,” Mr. Lazzarini said.

He also warned that dismantling UNRWA will have “lasting repercussions”.

“It will make nearly impossible the formidable task of bringing half a million deeply distressed girls and boys back to learning,” he said, stressing that “failing to deliver on education will condemn an entire generation to despair – fueling anger, resentment, and endless cycles of violence.

“A political solution cannot succeed in such a scenario.”

“I urge you to commit to a genuine political process culminating in a solution that can bring peace to Palestinians and Israelis,” he told ambassadors, calling for an acknowledgement that a political process alone will not guarantee a sustainable peace.

“We must recognize – and reflect in our words and actions – that Palestinians and Israelis share a long and profound experience of grief and loss. That they are equally deserving of a peaceful and secure future.”

3:10 PM

The meeting is just getting underway with the Foreign Minister of Malta Ian Borg presiding, since his country holds the presidency for the month.

Members stood for a minute of silence in memory of all those humanitarian workers killed in the line of duty.

Members of the UN Security Council stand to observe a minute of silence in memory humanitarian workers killed in the line of duty in Gaza.

1:40 PM – Philippe Lazzarini has said the agency is facing a “deliberate and concerted campaign” to undermine its operations at a time when it’s crucial services – delivered by over 12,000 mostly local staff in Gaza – are most needed.

So far, some 178 UNRWA officials working in Gaza have been killed since Israel’s bombardment and military campaign began last October.

In January, the Israeli Government presented the UN with information accusing 12 UNRWA employees of taking part in the 7 October terror attacks but has yet to provide that evidence to the organisation. UNRWA nevertheless terminated their employment and began an internal investigation.

The UN chief also set up an independent review overseen by a former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, which is due to report at the end of this week.

Funding crisis

Some 16 countries led by the United States announced a funding freeze for UNRWA – or suspension of future funding – in response to the allegations of collusion but some of those countries have since reversed course and resumed funding.

Mr. Lazzarini wrote to the General Assembly, which provides UNRWA its mandate, and later briefed Member States in March, saying the agency was at “breaking point” across the region and under serious threat of grinding to a halt.

Israel’s announcement in late March that they would no longer approve any UNRWA food convoys into northern Gaza meant that the clock is ticking “faster towards famine”, he said on X, formerly Twitter.

Diplomacy continues in New York

Ambassadors last met on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on 5 April when they heard top UN aid officials make an appeal for the Security Council to help end the carnage there six months on from the start of the conflict.

The Maltese mission which holds the presidency for the month of April said in a post on X, that there will be a vote on a draft resolution put forward by Algeria this coming Friday.

The draft is focused on the diplomatic push by some countries to admit Palestine as a full Member State of the UN, in the wake of the crisis in the Middle East.

Although a special committee on UN membership did not come up with a conclusive recommendation this week, the Algeria draft recommends to the General Assembly that the State of Palestine “be admitted to membership in the United Nations.”

Here’s a reminder of the HIGHLIGHTS from the Council meeting on 25 March which passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan:

The UN Security Council adopts a resolution tabled by its 10 non-permanent members (E-10) demanding a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with one abstention (United States)
Resolution 2728 also calls for the immediate release of hostages and for ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza
The Council rejected a Russia-proposed amendment that would have called for a permanent ceasefire
The US ambassador said her delegation “fully supports” the critical objectives of the draft
Algeria’s ambassador says the ceasefire will end “the bloodbath”
“This must be a turning point,” says the ambassador for the observer State of Palestine
The draft’s lack of condemnation of Hamas is “a disgrace”, says Israel’s ambassador

For summaries of UN meetings, visit our colleagues at the UN Meetings Coverage in English and French