Gaza protests: UN rights chief flags ‘disproportionate’ police action on US campuses

Gaza protests: UN rights chief flags ‘disproportionate’ police action on US campuses

In recent days, demonstrations unfolding through tented encampments on school grounds – sparked by students at New York’s prestigious Columbia University who are demanding authorities divest from Israel due to its occupation and military assault on Gaza – have spread nationwide. University authorities from the west to east coast have taken different approaches, ranging from…

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‘Extraordinary, deep anxiety’ in Gaza over feared Rafah attack   

‘Extraordinary, deep anxiety’ in Gaza over feared Rafah attack   

“There is an extraordinary, deep anxiety prevailing right now in Gaza because the question everybody asks is whether, yes or no, there would be a military offensive,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini told journalists in Geneva. Following several reports by the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, of “intensive strikes on Rafah” that caused dozens of fatalities, Mr….

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Ukraine: Civilians killed and injured as attacks on power and rail systems intensify

Ukraine: Civilians killed and injured as attacks on power and rail systems intensify

Since 22 March, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure sustained four waves of attacks that killed six people, injured at least 45, and struck at least 20 facilities.   Just this past Saturday alone,  missile attacks damaged four thermal power plants critical for electricity generation.  Two of the plants are located in western Ukraine, far from the frontline. Previous…

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Children’s shoes left behind illustrate chaos of fleeing Khan Younis: UN humanitarians

Children’s shoes left behind illustrate chaos of fleeing Khan Younis: UN humanitarians

“They used to shelter inside the school yard here, inside the classrooms, using all the external space. Now there’s nothing left. Everybody evacuated very quickly,” said Louise Wateridge, UNRWA Communications Officer.  Writing in a social media post on X that abandoned children’s shoes were “everywhere” at the school, the UNRWA officer also pointed to rubble…

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Thousands of children killed or maimed by explosive weapons in populated areas: UNICEF

Gaza at ‘most dangerous’ stage amid huge unexploded weapons risk, warns demining expert

“This is the most dangerous period; once people start returning to the north, that’s when most accidents will occur, because they won’t be familiar with where your unexploded ordnance is located,” said Mungo Birch, Chief of the UN Mine Action Programme (UNMAS) in the State of Palestine. “It’s important that once the returns start, we’re…

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World News in Brief: Violence blocking Darfur aid, new Iraq law, Chad elections appeal

World News in Brief: Violence blocking Darfur aid, new Iraq law, Chad elections appeal

In the past month, WFP supported more than 300,000 people there with food, including 40,000 in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. “We must be able to reach those who need us most in Sudan,” Executive Director Cindy McCain wrote in a post on social media.  Separately, UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator Martin Griffiths…

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