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☆ UN Calls for Mental Health Support for Children Impacted by Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - A United Nations committee appealed on Thursday for "massive psychosocial support" for children traumatised by violence in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Israel and said it would review Israel's treatment of children later this year. Children and women make up the bulk of the nearly 28,000 people killed during the offensive, according to the authorities in Gaza. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThe Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva said it would issue a statement on the U.N. committee's comments shortly. UNICEF said last week that nearly all children in Gaza were thought to require mental health support. Israel's military has said it operates against suspected militants in the West Bank.

Persons: Ann Skelton, Skelton, Israel, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Gareth Jones Organizations: United Nations, West Bank, UNICEF, Israel, The West Bank Locations: GENEVA, Gaza, Israel, Geneva

☆ UN Appeals for $4.1 Billion to Help War-Torn Sudan, Refugees
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations appealed on Wednesday for $4.1 billion to meet the humanitarian needs of civilians caught up in the war in Sudan, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries. A ten-month war in Sudan between its armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the country's infrastructure, prompted warnings of famine and displaced millions of people inside and outside the country. The U.N. refugee agency asked for $1.4 billion to support nearly 2.7 million people in five countries neighbouring Sudan as part of the appeal. War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images"Ten months of conflict have robbed the people of Sudan of nearly everything: their safety, their homes and their livelihoods," U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths said. This year, we must do better and with a heightened sense of urgency."

Persons: Martin Griffiths, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Sharon Singleton Organizations: United Nations, Rapid Support Forces, Central African, UNHCR, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: GENEVA, Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Israel, Gaza

☆ Researchers think they have the key to why tardigrades can survive almost anything
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Jenna Schnuer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Tardigrades, also known as water bears, commonly survive in some of Earth’s most challenging environments. Under stress in extreme cold or other harsh environmental conditions, tardigrades’ bodies produce unstable free radicals of oxygen and an unpaired electron, aka a reactive oxygen species that can wreak havoc on the body’s proteins and DNA if they overaccumulate. The survival mechanism kicks off when cysteines, one of the amino acids that forms proteins in the body, come into contact with these oxygen free radicals and becomes oxidized, the researchers found. The free radicals become, so to speak, the hammer used to smash the glass on a fire alarm. “We came up with this idea (that) maybe it’s those species that are actually signaling to the tardigrades to enter their tun state,” she said.

Persons: CNN — Tardigrades, Amanda L, cysteines, ” Smythers, Smythers, Amanda Smythers Smythers, William R, Miller, ” Miller, Jenna Schnuer Organizations: CNN, International Space Station, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Getty, University of North, Chapel, Marshall University, Baker University Locations: ”, Boston, Antarctica, University of North Carolina, Huntington , West Virginia, Baldwin City , Kansas, Anchorage , Alaska

☆ More young people are dying of colorectal cancer. Three lifestyle factors could be partly to blame, scientists say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Colorectal cancer deaths among younger people in Europe are forecast to rise by around a third in 2024.to rise by around a third in 2024. Obesity, low levels of physical activity, and alcohol might be partly to blame, scientists say. Cancer researchers from the University of Milan, Italy, predicted that colorectal cancer deaths among people aged 25 to 49 will rise significantly in the EU and the UK this year compared to 2018. AdvertisementAlthough they estimated that deaths from colorectal cancer will fall overall in 2024, this is the first year they have predicted a rise in colorectal cancer deaths among younger people. More people drinking alcohol, which has been linked to early-onset colorectal cancer, and less physical activity could also be factors, the study said.

Persons: —, Christina Annunziata, Chadwick Boseman's, Annunziata, Carlo La Vecchia, La Vecchia, Kimmie Ng Organizations: EU, Service, Cancer, University of Milan, American Cancer Society, Oncology, World Health Organization, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, NBC Locations: Europe, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, France, Boston

☆ UNICEF Says Nearly All Gaza's Children Require Mental Health Support
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - UNICEF said on Friday it estimated that 17,000 children in Gaza were unaccompanied or have been separated from their families during the conflict, and that nearly all children in the enclave were thought to require mental health support. "They present symptoms like extremely high levels of persistent anxiety, loss of appetite. "Before this war, UNICEF was considering already that 500,000 children were already in need of mental health and psychosocial support in Gaza. Today, we estimate that almost all children are in need of that support, and that's more than 1 million children." (Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Rachel More)War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images

Persons: Jonathan Crickx, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Rachel More Organizations: UNICEF Locations: GENEVA, Gaza, Palestinian Territories, Israel

☆ UNRWA Could Shut Down by End of February if Funding Does Not Resume
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA (Reuters) - The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) said on Thursday that it will most likely be forced to shut down its operations in the Middle East, including in Gaza, by the end of the month if funding does not resume. A string of countries including the United States, Germany and Britain have paused their funding to the aid agency in the wake of allegations that some UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel. "The agency remains the largest aid organization in one of the most severe and complex humanitarian crises in the world," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement. "If the funding remains suspended, we will most likely be forced to shut down our operations by end of February not only in Gaza but also across the region." Israeli authorities have long called for the agency to be dismantled, arguing that its mission is obsolete and fosters anti-Israeli sentiment, something UNRWA has vigorously denied.

Persons: Philippe Lazzarini, defunding, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nidal Al, Jana Choukeir, Clauda Tanios, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Kevin Liffey Organizations: DOHA, Reuters, United Nations Palestinian, World Health Organization, WHO, UNRWA, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, General, West Bank Locations: Gaza, United States, Germany, Britain, Israel

Allegations of research fakery at a leading cancer center have turned a spotlight on scientific integrity and the amateur sleuths uncovering image manipulation in published research. The blogger, 32-year-old Sholto David, of Pontypridd, Wales, is a scientist-sleuth who detects cut-and-paste image manipulation in published scientific papers. By Jan. 22, the institution said it was in the process of requesting six retractions of published research and that another 31 papers warranted corrections. The sleuths download scientific papers and use software tools to help find problems. Some journals told the AP they are aware of the concerns raised by David's blog post and were looking into the matter.

Persons: Jan, David, He's, Farber, DANA, FARBER, Sholto David, Dana, Laurie Glimcher, William Hahn, sleuths, Claudine Gay, Barrett Rollins, Elisabeth Bik, ” Bik, Ivan Oransky, Oransky, “, ” Oransky, —, ” They're, Bik Organizations: Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, The Harvard Crimson, WHO, Associated Press, American Society for Microbiology, Technology, New York University, “, AP, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group Locations: British, Pontypridd, Wales, PubPeer, California

☆ U.N. Palestinian Refugee Agency Investigates Staff Suspected of Role in Israel Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations Palestinian agency (UNRWA) said on Friday it had opened a probe into the alleged involvement of several of its employees in the Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel by Hamas, and that it had severed ties with these staff members. "The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7," said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General. "To protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay." (Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

Persons: Philippe Lazzarini, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: United Nations Palestinian, Hamas Locations: GENEVA, Israel

☆ UN Rights Chief Deplores US Nitrogen Gas Execution
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights chief on Friday condemned the execution of a prisoner in the U.S. state of Alabama by nitrogen gas, saying the method could amount to torture. Kenneth Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, was executed on Thursday with nitrogen gas, the first use of a new method of capital punishment since lethal injections began in the U.S. four decades ago. "I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns this novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said. I urge all states to put in place a moratorium on its use, as a step towards universal abolition." In November 2022, Alabama officials aborted his execution by lethal injection after struggling for hours to insert an intravenous line's needle in his body.

Persons: Kenneth Smith, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Volker Turk, Smith, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Barbara Lewis Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights Locations: GENEVA, U.S ., Alabama

☆ Colorectal cancer is killing more younger people than ever. 3 people under 50 diagnosed with it shared their first symptoms.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

People under 50 in the US are dying from colorectal cancer at an increasing rate. AdvertisementMore people under the age of 50 are dying of colorectal cancer than ever before, according to the American Cancer Association. The disease is sometimes called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where it starts. When colorectal cancer is caught early, before it has spread, the chance a person will live for another five years is about 90%. AdvertisementShe now visits her gastroenterologist regularly, eats healthy, exercises, and raises awareness of the signs of colorectal cancer.

Persons: —, Kimmie Ng, you've, JJ Singleton, Singleton, Lynch, Tom McKenna, Paula Chambers Raney, Doctors, gastroenterologist, Kim Schewitz, kschewitz@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, American Cancer Association, Dana, Farber Cancer Institute, NBC Locations: Boston

☆ Harvard cancer institute moves to retract six studies, correct 31 others amid data manipulation claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a prestigious Harvard teaching school, is moving to retract six studies and correct 31 others following allegations of data manipulation. The steps by the Harvard Medical School affiliate come after a molecular biologist published a blog post earlier this month alleging researchers falsified data by manipulating images. More than 50 papers are part of the ongoing review by Dana-Farber into four researchers, all of whom have faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School. Earlier this month, Sholto David published a blog post titled “Dana-Farberications at Harvard University,” alleging researchers at the cancer institute manipulated images and data. According to Rollins, Dana-Farber said it was already reviewing “potential data errors” in multiple cases that the blog listed and stressed that the issues uncovered do not necessarily amount to misconduct.

Persons: Dana, Farber, Laurie Glimcher, ” Barrett Rollins, “ Dana, Rollins, Claudine Gay, Gay, ”, Sholto David, Farberications, David, ” Rollins Organizations: CNN, Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Dana, Ivy League, ” Harvard, Harvard University, Photoshop

He ultimately dismissed the juror, identified only as “Juror 186," who acknowledged making the “Gone Girl” comment, the judge said. Troconis, 49, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes on allegations that she helped her then-boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, cover up the killing of his wife, Jennifer Dulos, in 2019. Fotis Dulos denied having anything to do with her disappearance. Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, and Fotis Dulos was living there with Troconis and her daughter. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

Persons: ”, Kevin Randolph, Michelle Troconis, “, ” Randolph, “ Said, ’, Randolph, reconvening, Gillian Flynn, Ben Affleck, Troconis, Fotis, Jennifer Dulos, Fotis Dulos, Jennifer, ” Jennifer Dulos, Hilliard Farber, Liz Claiborne Locations: Connecticut, New Canaan , Connecticut, Farmington , Connecticut, New York, Greece

☆ Switzerland Says Israeli President Subject of Criminal Complaints at Davos
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - Swiss prosecutors on Friday confirmed that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had been the subject of criminal complaints during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, as Israel finds itself accused of committing war crimes in Gaza. "The criminal complaints will be examined according to the usual procedure," the Office of the Swiss Attorney General said, adding that it would contact the Swiss foreign ministry to examine the question of immunity of the individual concerned. The Office of the Swiss Attorney General would not disclose details on who had lodged the complaints. Spokespeople for Israel's government and foreign ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber in Geneva and Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem; Editing by Christina Fincher)

Persons: Isaac Herzog, General, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Henriette Chacar, Christina Fincher Organizations: Economic, Swiss Locations: GENEVA, Davos, Israel, Gaza, Swiss, Geneva, Jerusalem

The nanny, Lauren Almeida, testified in the trial of Michelle Troconis, who was the girlfriend of Dulos’ estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. She never not answered her phone,” Almeida testified in Superior Court in Stamford, Connecticut. Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, while Fotis Dulos continued living there with Troconis and her daughter. Almeida testified that she and Jennifer Dulos had become afraid of Fotis Dulos, after Jennifer Dulos in 2017 found out about his affair with Troconis. Police said they later recovered some of the bags and found clothing, zip ties and other items with Jennifer Dulos’ DNA on them.

Persons: Jennifer Dulos, Lauren Almeida, Michelle Troconis, Dulos ’, Fotis, Troconis, Almeida, ” Almeida, Dulos, “, Jennifer, ”, Fotis Dulos, Hilliard Farber, Liz Claiborne, Kevin Randolph, Sean McGuinness, Jon Schoenhorn, Randolph, Gloria Farber, Jennifer Dulos ’ Organizations: ” Police, Canaan police, Police, Prosecutors Locations: Connecticut, Manhattan, Superior Court, Stamford , Connecticut, New Canaan , Connecticut, Farmington , Connecticut, New York, Greece, Farmington, Canaan, New Canaan, Hartford

☆ UN Appeals for $4.2 Billion to Support War-Ravaged Ukraine, Refugees
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations and its partners on Monday appealed for a combined $4.2 billion from donors to support war-ravaged communities in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian refugees in 2024. "That fact alone should compel us to do everything we can to bring more humanitarian assistance to Ukraine." As part of the appeal, OCHA is asking for $3.1 billion to help 8.5 million people in dire need of humanitarian aid in 2024. The U.N. refugee agency is seeking $1.1 billion to support 2.3 million Ukrainian refugees and their host communities. "Host countries continue to extend protection and include them in society, but many vulnerable refugees still need help," said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Persons: Martin Griffiths, OCHA, Filippo Grandi, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Refugees Locations: GENEVA, Ukraine, Russia

"The situation is getting worse by the hour," Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative in Gaza, told reporters via video link. "There's intensified bombing going on all around, including here in the southern areas, Khan Younis and even in Rafah." Thomas White, Director of Affairs at the U.N. Palestinian agency in Gaza, said a population of more than 600,000 had been ordered to move to escape bombardment. The WHO's Peeperkorn said the agency had complied with an Israeli order to remove supplies from warehouses in Khan Younis. Reporting by Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tétraut-Farber; Editing by Rachel More and Janet LawrenceOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fadi Shana, Khan Younis, Richard Peeperkorn, There's, Peeperkorn, Thomas White, White, James Elder, I've, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Israel, Emma Farge, Gabrielle Tétraut, Farber, Rachel More, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, WHO, Health Organization, United Nations, UNICEF, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Rafah, Gaza, GENEVA, ., Cairo, Khan

REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa Acquire Licensing RightsKHAN YOUNIS, Gaza, Dec 1 (Reuters) - At Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, a man cradling a boy with a bloodied scalp cried for help. Barely two hours after the lapse of a week-old truce between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry reported that 32 people had already been killed in Israeli air strikes. Reuters footage from Nasser Hospital, the second largest in the Gaza strip, showed a steady stream of wounded children and adults being brought in as other people wept outside beside bodies of loved ones killed in strikes. "Gaza's health system has been crippled by the ongoing hostilities," Dr Richard Peeperkorn, the World Health Organisation's representative in Gaza, said. "It cannot afford to lose any more hospitals or hospital beds," he told reporters by video link.

Persons: Nasser, Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza's, António Guterres, Richard Peeperkorn, Arafat Barbakh, Mohammed Salem, Gabrielle Tetrault, Farber, Maggie Fick, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: REUTERS, Nasser Hospital, Palestinian, Hamas, United Nations, Health Organisation's, Thomson Locations: Israel, Khan, Gaza, Gaza's Hamas, United, Geneva

☆ WHO Says Gaza's Health System Must Be Protected as Disease Spreads
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gabrielle Tétrault-FarberGENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for Gaza's vulnerable health infrastructure to be safeguarded as the war-torn enclave faces an increased risk of epidemics and challenges in detecting infectious diseases. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said only 15 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were still functioning and were completely overwhelmed. "The remaining health system capacity must be protected, supported and expanded." "With severe overcrowding, the risks are increasing for epidemics of respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhoea, hepatitis, scabies, lice and other diseases," Tedros said. "Any resumption of violence could damage the health facilities and make more health facilities dysfunctional," said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Persons: Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Mike Ryan, Richard Peeperkorn, Linda Pasquini, Christina Fincher Organizations: Farber GENEVA, World Health Organization, WHO, WHO's, West Bank Locations: Israel, Geneva, Gaza, Palestinian Territories

☆ UN calls for 'irreversible' move toward two-state solution to Israel crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The comments coincide with the United Nations' International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which it observes annually. Calls for a two-state solution have grown in the wake of attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 in which Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. A two-state agreement would create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarized so as not to threaten its security. "The two-state solution is difficult after the (Israeli) settlement and shrinking (of territory), but still possible if there is a will," he said.

Persons: Mohammed Salem, Tatiana Valovaya, U.N, General Antonio Guterres, Assembly's, Ibrahim Khraishi, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Cécile, William Maclean Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, of Solidarity, Palestinian, West Bank, Israel, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Khan, Gaza, Jerusalem, Geneva, Palestine, East Jerusalem

☆ Switzerland to bid for 2030 or 2034 Winter Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view shows the Olympic Rings in front of the Olympic House, headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during the executive board meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Switzerland on Friday announced it would bid for either the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which would be the third time the Alpine country has hosted the event. Japan's northern city of Sapporo last month dropped its bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and said it would consider hosting the Games in 2034 or in subsequent years. According to studies by the IOC's future host commission for Winter Games, only 10 nations would be able to host the snow sports of the Olympic Winter and Paralympic Games by 2040. Switzerland - which hosted the Winter Olympic Games in St. Moritz in 1928 and 1948 - has struggled in recent years to get its population behind its Olympic bids.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Jurg Stahl, Urs Lehmann, Moritz, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Noele, Toby Davis Organizations: Rings, Olympic House, International Olympic Committee, REUTERS, Rights, Paralympic Games, Swiss Olympic Association, Olympic, IOC, Swiss, Swiss Ski Association, Games, Winter Games, Swiss Olympic, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Thomson Locations: Lausanne, Switzerland, Salt Lake City, United States, Sweden, France, Japan's, Sapporo, St, Milan

☆ WHO voices concern over spread of disease in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We are extremely concerned about the spread of disease when the winter season arrives," said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. WHO has previously warned of "worrying trends" in the spread of disease in Gaza, where bombardments and a ground offensive have disrupted the health system, access to clean water and caused people to crowd into shelters. The start of the rainy season and the possibility of flooding has also increased fears that the densely populated enclave's sewage system will be overwhelmed and disease will spread. The absence of fuel already has forced the shutdown of sewage pumping stations and desalination plants, increasing the risk of water contamination and the outbreak of disease. "Overcrowding is leading to the spread of disease, including acute respiratory illness and diarrhea, raising environmental and health concerns," OCHA warned.

Persons: Abu Mustafa, Richard Peeperkorn, OCHA, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Madeline Chambers, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, UNRWA, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian

☆ Hit by floods and drought, quarter of Somali people at risk of 'crisis-level' hunger - WFP
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

GENEVA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - A quarter of Somalia's population is forecast to face "crisis-level hunger or worse" this year due to drought and floods caused by climate change, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday. "Livelihoods and lives are at risk, 4.3 million people – a quarter of the population – are forecast to face crisis-level hunger or worse by the end of this year," said Petroc Wilton, WFP spokesperson for Somalia. "This bombardment of climate shocks, from drought to floods, will prolong the hunger crisis in Somalia. In Somalia's Dolow district, homes are abandoned and roads have turned into rivers. Farxhan Ali Abdulle, a shop owner in the town of Dolow on the border with Ethiopia, said no supplies were coming in.

Persons: Petroc Wilton, Farxhan Ali Abdulle, Feisal Omar, Timaade Hussein Abdi, Wilton, Muhidin Abdullahi, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Bhargav, Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson Organizations: Food Programme, United Nations, REUTERS, Humanitarian Affairs, Reuters, Thomson Locations: GENEVA, Somalia, East Africa, Dolow, Ethiopia, Juba, Gedo, Jubaland State, Luuq

The start of the rainy season and the possibility of flooding increased fears that the densely populated enclave's sewage system will be overwhelmed and disease will spread. At a U.N. shelter in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the rain brought dismay for displaced people who woke to find the clothes they put out to dry the night had been drenched by rain. It voiced concern on Tuesday about the prospect of rain causing flooding and overwhelming already meagre and damaged sewage facilities. Ahmed Bayram, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the start of the rainy season could mark "the most difficult week in Gaza since the (military) escalation began." Touma said just a small amount of rain could cause the streets of Gaza to flood, given the sewage system's inability to absorb water.

Persons: Khan Younis, Fayeza Srour, Karim Mreish, We've, Margaret Harris, Ahmed Bayram, Israel, Juliette Touma, We're, Touma, Cross, William Schomburg, Emma Farge, Mai Shams El, Timothy Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, Norwegian Refugee Council, Communications, International Committee, ICRC, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, GENEVA, Israel, Geneva, Palestinian, Gazans

☆ U.N. observes minute's silence for 101 staff killed in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The United Nations flag flies at half-mast at the European headquarters, honouring the more than 100 employees killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began last month in Geneva, Switzerland, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Nov 13 (Reuters) - United Nations workers observed a minute's silence on Monday to honour the more than 100 employees killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began last month as U.N. flags flew at half mast. "This is the highest number of aid workers killed in the history of our organisation in such a short time," said Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations in Geneva. "We are gathered here today, united in this very symbolic location, to pay respect to our brave colleagues who sacrificed their lives while serving under the United Nations flag." "But the United Nations is more relevant than ever."

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Tatiana Valovaya, Israel, Valovaya, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Cécile, Emma Farge, Nick Macfie Organizations: United Nations, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, U.N, UNRWA, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Geneva, Switzerland, U.N, Palestinian, Nigeria, Abuja, United

AMMAN/GENEVA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief on Friday urged an investigation into what he called Israel's use of "high-impact explosive weapons" in Gaza, which he said was causing indiscriminate destruction in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Israel's air, sea and land bombardment of Gaza, accompanied now by a ground assault deep inside the territory, aims to destroy the militant group Hamas which controls Gaza. Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 10,000 Palestinians according to health authorities in the Palestinian enclave. "The extensive Israeli bombardment of Gaza, including the use of high-impact explosive weapons in densely populated areas ... is clearly having a devastating humanitarian and human rights impact," Turk told a news conference during a visit to Jordan's capital Amman. "But such conduct by Palestinian armed groups does not absolve Israel of its obligation to ensure that civilians are spared."

Persons: Volker Turk, Turk, Israel, Suleiman Al, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Emma Farge, Maytaal, John Davison, Linda Pasquini, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Human Rights, West Bank, Thomson Locations: AMMAN, GENEVA, Gaza, Israel, Amman, Khalidi, Geneva, Jerusalem, Beirut

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