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Tag: UN Reports

  • Israel’s War on Gaza: ‘All Rules of War’ Broken as Eight Schools Bombed

    Gaza City, July 18, 2024 – The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens as Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate the region, with at least eight schools sheltering displaced Palestinians bombed in the last ten days. Philippe Lazzarini, chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), stated, “All rules of war have been broken in Gaza.”

    Latest Air Strikes and Casualties A recent Israeli airstrike near Cairo School in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of nine Palestinians, including three children. Additionally, the collapse of the Abdullah Azzam Mosque in Nuseirat, following an Israeli bombing, left at least two people dead and 15 injured.

    UNRWA Chief Under Fire David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson, has sparked outrage with his inflammatory remarks against UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, accusing him of being a “terrorist sympathiser” and “Jew-killing enabler.” The UN condemned these comments as “unacceptable” and “dangerous,” stressing the increased risk to Lazzarini’s safety.

    International Condemnation Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks, describing them as “genocidal crimes” and calling for accountability for those responsible. This condemnation follows a wave of Israeli strikes, including one that killed 23 Palestinians sheltering in a UNRWA school in Nuseirat.

    Protests in the United States Protests outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee highlighted concerns over the US-backed Gaza war, linking it to broader issues like economic inequality and civil rights. Demonstrations are set to continue at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, with activists targeting President Biden’s policies.

    Threats in Jenin The Israeli military has escalated tensions by dropping leaflets in the Jenin refugee camp, threatening to kill wanted individuals if they do not surrender. This area has been a significant center of Palestinian resistance in the West Bank.

    Further Casualties Israeli attacks across Gaza have resulted in the deaths of seven Palestinians, including children. Strikes targeted residential areas, including the al-Ramli family home and an apartment in az-Zawayda, causing extensive damage and injuries.

    Knesset Resolution Israel’s Knesset adopted a resolution opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, further straining the prospects of a two-state solution. This move comes amidst ongoing violence and administrative changes in the occupied West Bank, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized as undermining peace efforts.

    Summary The conflict in Gaza has intensified, with increasing casualties and widespread destruction. The international community continues to call for restraint and humanitarian relief, while local and global protests reflect growing discontent with the handling of the crisis. As the violence escalates, the hope for a peaceful resolution seems increasingly elusive.

  • UN Reports Only 17% of Global Life-Improvement Targets Likely to Be Achieved by 2030

    people sitting on chairs inside buildingThe United Nations has reported that only 17% of its 169 targets aimed at improving global living conditions are likely to be met by the 2030 deadline.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his annual report, expressed concern that the world is “getting a failing grade” in achieving these goals, which range from eradicating global poverty to promoting gender equality. These goals, adopted by world leaders in 2015, include 169 specific targets to be achieved by the decade’s end.

    According to the report, nearly half of the targets show minimal or moderate progress, while over one-third are stalled or regressing. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, pushing an additional 23 million people into extreme poverty and causing over 100 million more to suffer from hunger in 2022 compared to 2019.

    Guterres highlighted that the failure to ensure peace, address climate change, and enhance international finance is undermining development. He also pointed out that for the first time this century, per-capita GDP growth in half of the world’s most vulnerable nations is slower than in advanced economies, further threatening improvements in equality.

    The report noted significant setbacks in education, with only 58% of students worldwide achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of primary school. Gender equality remains a distant goal, with one in five girls marrying before age 18, persistent violence against women, and a projected 176 years to reach parity with men in management positions.

    Despite these challenges, the report offered some positive developments. Mobile broadband accessibility has increased to 95% of the global population, and renewable electricity capacity has been expanding at an unprecedented rate. Improved access to treatment has averted millions of AIDS-related deaths, new malaria vaccines could save many lives, and girls are achieving educational parity with boys in most regions.

    Guterres called for urgent action to end conflicts, combat climate change, and invest in sustainable development. He emphasized the need to deliver resources, reduce debt pressures, and enhance the lending capacity of development banks to close the $4 trillion annual investment gap required to achieve the sustainable development goals.

    “We must not let up on our promises—to end poverty, protect the planet, and leave no one behind,” Guterres urged.

    Source: thestar.com