Israel-Palestine: UN urges parties to spare civilian lives

Israel-Palestine: UN urges parties to spare civilian lives

The High Commissioner said that he was “deeply shocked and appalled by allegations of summary executions of civilians, and, in some instances, horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups”. “It is horrific and deeply distressing to see images of those captured by Palestinian armed groups being ill-treated, as well as reports of killings…

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Israel-Palestine crisis has region ‘at a tipping point’: UN relief chief

Israel-Palestine crisis has region ‘at a tipping point’: UN relief chief

In a statement, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths described the scale and speed of the unfolding crisis as “bone-chilling”. UN agencies have been working round the clock since Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad launched an attack on Israel four days ago, prompting intensive strikes by Israel and a complete siege of the Gaza Strip….

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Haiti: $21 million appeal to help thousands displaced by gang violence

Haiti: $21 million appeal to help thousands displaced by gang violence

“Displacement severely risks the health, food and economic security of people, exposes them to gender-based violence, and puts pressure on local infrastructure and social cohesion within host communities,” Philippe Branchat, IOM Chief of Mission in Haiti said on Tuesday. Surging gang violence Surging gang violence in Carrefour-Feuilles and Savanes Pistaches neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince, have led…

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UN calls for closing internet connectivity and digital governance gap

UN calls for closing internet connectivity and digital governance gap

With the Internet holding a critical role in navigating these complexities, the 18th annual Internet Governance Forum hosted by the Government of Japan is under the overarching theme, ‘The Internet We Want – Empowering All People.” Mitigating the risks Considering the rapid tech advances, including in Artificial Intelligence (AI), risking exacerbating existing inequalities, the Forum…

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World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response

World News in Brief: Displacement in Gaza and Israel, Afghan earthquake response

Over 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza due to concerns over their protection and the destruction of homes, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking in New York. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is sheltering roughly 137,000 people in 83 of its schools across the Gaza Strip. Six health…

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Middle East crisis: Guterres appeals for end to 'vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization'

Middle East crisis: Guterres appeals for end to ‘vicious cycle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization’

António Guterres was speaking to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York following  meeting with senior UN leaders on what he called the “unprecedented developments” in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  “Let me begin by repeating my utter condemnation of the abhorrent attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns and villages in the…

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