‘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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WHO and partners deliver aid to two Gaza hospitals in high-risk missions

‘High-risk mission’ delivers fuel to Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza

The “high-risk mission”, carried out the previous day, was marked by delays at the checkpoint and severely damaged roads. Thousands of hungry civilians also surrounded the UN vehicles and fuel truck in a desperate search for food and water, further delaying the journey. The team reported that functionality at the hospital has improved since the…

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Climate advocates slam COP28 draft text that drops language on fossil fuel ‘phasedown’

Climate advocates slam COP28 draft text that drops language on fossil fuel ‘phasedown’

The 21-page text, prepared by the COP28 presidency, United Arab Emirates, makes no mention of fossil fuel ‘phasedown’ or ‘phaseout’, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres said earlier on Monday was one of the keys to the conference’s success and which many nations have demanded.  Rather, the draft text called for countries to reduce “consumption and…

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First-ever World Seagrass Day focuses on conservation

COP28: UN says staggering $7 trillion spent every year on investments that fuel climate change

The report from the UN’s environmental wing, UNEP, also revealed that despite decades of calls for ending finance flows towards sectors that harm some of humanity’s most valuable assets, those investments currently account for a whopping 7 percent of global GDP. Saturday’s report launch comes as negotiations on the conference’s outcome text are shifting into…

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COP28 gets underway in Dubai with call for ‘terminal decline’ of the fossil fuel era

COP28 gets underway in Dubai with call for ‘terminal decline’ of the fossil fuel era

“We are taking baby steps and stepping far too slowly to work out the best responses to the complex climate impacts we are faced with,” Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change Simon Stiell told delegates gathered for COP28.  The 28th annual meeting known as ‘COP’ after the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention…

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Restricted fuel deliveries curtail aid efforts in Gaza amid fresh attacks on schools

Restricted fuel deliveries curtail aid efforts in Gaza amid fresh attacks on schools

Fuel restrictions are curtailing aid efforts, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said amid reports of fresh attacks on schools and other civilian infrastructure and rising needs among more than 1.5 million displaced Gazans. Fuel deliveries for aid operations have been largely prohibited since Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October left at least…

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Gaza: Lack of fuel threatening to shut down entire humanitarian operation

Gaza: Lack of fuel threatening to shut down entire humanitarian operation

In a wide-ranging briefing to journalists in Geneva, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reiterated calls for a ceasefire and addressed misinformation targeting the agency, including claims that aid is being diverted. He said he has also received reports of UN schools being used “for military purposes”. Commitment in crisis During the briefing, Mr. Lazzarini said he had received reports that Gaza was under…

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