UN agencies sound alarm over renewed clashes in eastern DR Congo

World News in Brief: DR Congo conflict could spell catastrophe, plastics treaty progress, enforced disappearances rise ahead of Venezuela poll

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) called for greater international support for the Congolese people to avoid a potential catastrophe for the country and the region. Current conflicts have escalated levels of gender-based violence, displacement and hunger in the restive eastern region where multiple armed groups are battling the national army and each other for control….

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Security Council hears of progress in Bosnia despite ‘worrying’ trend of genocide denial

Security Council hears of progress in Bosnia despite ‘worrying’ trend of genocide denial

Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas with the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, provided an update of recent developments since his office’s last Council briefing in July. The country continues to grapple with issues stemming from the brutal war that killed 100,000 people across the…

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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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