World News in Brief: Food aid reaches Haitians, UN chief condemns attack on Slovakian leader, Russian strikes drive influx of evacuees in Ukraine

Haiti’s health system pushed to breaking point: UNICEF

There are only six out of ten hospitals which still have some operational capacity as the gang-led chaos continues across the capital, Port-au-Prince, leaving vulnerable children deprived of essential care. Mr. Maes said that the increased violence along with “mass displacement, dangerous epidemics and increasing malnutrition” has stretched the country’s health system to the limit and…

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‘Critical gaps’ in understanding climate change fuel tropical disease spread

‘Critical gaps’ in understanding climate change fuel tropical disease spread

The World Health Organization (WHO) study, conducted in partnership with Reaching the Last Mile (RLM), a global health initiative to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), found that rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are altering the spread of vector-borne diseases, posing significant health risks. As the geographical spread of disease vectors like mosquitoes expand, the…

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Colombo Strikers Squad Ready Ahead of LPL 2024

Colombo Strikers Squad Ready Ahead of LPL 2024

Colombo(PNP) Ahead of fifth season for the Lanka Premier League 2024, the Colombo strikers have announced the official squad at today’s auction draft. Following a successful acquisition, the Colombo strikers have secured top international lineup of Angelo Perera, Rahmanullah Gurbaaz, Matheesha Pathirana, Chamika Gunasekara, Taskin Ahmed, Dunith Wellalage, Shevon Daniel, Allah Ghazanfar, Isitha Wijesundara, Muhammad…

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Climate crisis fuels deadly floods, worsening hunger in Afghanistan

Climate crisis fuels deadly floods, worsening hunger in Afghanistan

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that as erratic weather on the back of the worsening climate crisis “becomes the norm”, things will only get worse. This month’s unusually high rainfall followed a dry winter, rendering the ground too hard to absorb water, leading to massive flooding. Unseasonably warm temperatures further complicated the situation…

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WHO reports major increase in sexually transmitted infections

WHO reports major increase in sexually transmitted infections

HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections continue as significant public health challenges globally and cause 2.5 million deaths each year: New syphilis cases among adults aged 15-49 increased by over one million in 2022, reaching eight million, and there were 230,000 syphilis-related deaths. The highest increases occurred in the Americas and Africa.  Health targets…

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Accelerating extinction rate triggers domino effect of biodiversity loss

Accelerating extinction rate triggers domino effect of biodiversity loss

The issue is in the spotlight ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed annually on 22 May, and covered in the most recent edition of UNU’s Interconnected Disaster Risks report. Among the animals at risk is the gopher tortoise, one of the oldest living species on the planet. This tragic story of biodiversity loss is unfolding at…

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Ukraine: humanitarian, health needs soar as Kharkiv hostilities intensify

Ukraine: humanitarian, health needs soar as Kharkiv hostilities intensify

“Relentless aerial attacks continue, prolonging and exacerbating an already dire situation,” said UN refugee agency (UNHCR), spokesperson Shabia Mantoo. “More than two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, regular shelling and attacks continue to claim lives and destroy homes and critical infrastructure across the country.”  Ms. Mantoo noted that in the past week, more than 10,300…

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‘Alarming lack of compliance’ with international law ramps up danger for civilians

‘Alarming lack of compliance’ with international law ramps up danger for civilians

The United Nations alone documented over 33,000 civilian deaths in armed conflicts in 2023 – a horrific 72 per cent increase compared to the previous year – Joyce Msuya, UN Deputy Relief Coordinator, told ambassadors at the Security Council. With the actual figures “likely higher”, the harm and suffering caused to civilians in 2023 “signals…

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Long, dangerous journeys on the rise but migration drives prosperity

Long, dangerous journeys on the rise but migration drives prosperity

Speaking at the opening of a two-day meeting on harnessing the power of migration, IOM Director General Amy Pope expressed hope that participants will help deliver prosperity, benefits and innovations for migrants and for their countries of origin and destination.  Roughly 281 million people worldwide are one the move, representing around 3.6 per cent of…

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