World News in Brief: Middle East crisis, Afghan quake, Karabakh refugee appeal

World News in Brief: Middle East crisis, Afghan quake, Karabakh refugee appeal

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concerns for the civilian population, urging maximum restraint and that “all diplomatic efforts” are made “to avoid a wider conflagration”. Dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries continued to be reported during the day, including from rocket fire by Palestinian militants in Israeli cities and Israel’s airstrike response in the…

Read More
Earthquake kills at least 100 in Herat, Afghanistan

Earthquake kills at least 100 in Herat, Afghanistan

Initial assessments indicate that the 6.3 magnitude quake caused deaths across eight villages, with a further 500 people injured, according to the latest update from UN humanitarian office (OCHA), which reported that it destroyed 465 houses and damaged another 135. Mahal Wadakah was the worst affected village. Rescuers search collapsed buildings Partners and local authorities…

Read More
UN agencies call on Pakistan to protect Afghan refugees

UN agencies call on Pakistan to protect Afghan refugees

Amid a “severe humanitarian crisis”, Afghanistan currently faces several human rights challenges, particularly for women and girls, according to the UN. Pakistan’s new plans would have “serious implications” for all who have been forced to leave the country and may face serious protection risks upon their return, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International…

Read More
Armenia: UN launches urgent appeal to help refugees fleeing Karabakh

Armenia: UN launches urgent appeal to help refugees fleeing Karabakh

“We call upon the international community to urgently support refugees and their hosts,” said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “International support is crucial to sustain this welcome and to enable us to respond to immediate needs and to also build upon the resilience of this population.” Following the escalation of hostilities at the…

Read More
UN officials strongly condemn deadly attacks in Israel

UN officials strongly condemn deadly attacks in Israel

“I vehemently condemn this morning’s multi-front assault against Israeli towns and cities near the Gaza Strip and barrage of rockets reaching across central Israel by Hamas militants,” said Tor Wennesland, the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. Reports of hostages “These events have resulted in horrific scenes of violence and many Israeli…

Read More
Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against Israeli terrorism, Palestinian president

Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against Israeli terrorism, Palestinian president

Mahmoud Abbas’ order to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Palestinian people Occupied Jerusalem: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against terrorism. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s response to Hamas’s attack on Israel came out. An emergency meeting of the Palestinian Authority was held…

Read More