insert_link World ‘Flour Massacre’: Lifesaving Aid Becomes a Deadly Struggle in Gaza A boy injured from the aid convoy tragedy that occurred in Gaza City on Feb. 29, which has been described as a “massacre” by Gazans, who accuse Israel of shooting at the frenzied crowd trying to get food. Israel denies the allegations and says the people were trampled to death. The photographer, Mohammed Hajjar, was at the scene seeking food for his extended family of 34 relatives before the catastrophe […] todayMarch 4, 2024 10
insert_link World The Hurdles Keep Climbing for the UN’s New Gaza-Aid Troubleshooter Sigrid Kaag, a former Dutch politician, was named to the new post of senior humanitarian coordinator for Gaza late last year. Since arriving on the job on Jan. 8, the enormous hurdles to delivering food and other essentials into the Palestinian enclave have worsened as famine alarms are being sounded by UN officials. MANUEL ELIAS/UN PHOTO By Damilola Banjo via Passblue Sigrid Kaag, a Dutch diplomat and former politician appointed […] todayFebruary 29, 2024 10
insert_link Environment Nile Basin farmers grow food forests to restore wetlands and bring back a turtle By David Njagi via Mongabay In the 44 years Naomi Rita Sitati has lived in Bukirimo village in western Kenya, she has known only one system of farming, which her community has depended on for generations. Cultivating sugarcane as the only crop in large plots is a common practice in the region, which is part of the larger Nile Basin, and Sitati was happy with it. Apart from creating jobs for […] todayFebruary 29, 2024 24
insert_link Videos Quarter of Gaza one step from famine as aid trucks looted, says UN Aid trucks are being shot at and looted with at least a quarter of Gaza's population one step away from starvation, UN officials said on Tuesday. The situation is especially acute in the north, where humanitarian supplies are scarce and vast swathes of the area lie in ruins after Israel's military offensive. UN humanitarian coordinator Ramesh Ramasingham told the UN Security Council on Tuesday there is "every possibility" the situation […] todayFebruary 28, 2024 18
insert_link World Small Countries Are Crucial for the UN’s Long-Term Survival, and Singapore Leads the Way Burhan Gafoor, ambassador of Singapore to the United Nations, photographed at the country’s mission, Feb. 12, 2024. Gafoor has over decades corralled resources and knowledge for small countries “to use their voice and UN votes effectively,” the author writes. The coalition is now poised to assert itself vigorously in negotiations leading to the Summit of the Future in September. The goal of that gathering, at the UN, is to revitalize […] todayFebruary 28, 2024 12
insert_link World United Nations says Half a million in Gaza face starvation According to the United Nations at least half a million people in Gaza are facing famine with the entire Palestinian enclave suffering from acute food shortages. UN officials say calls for more food aid have either been denied or have been ignored. The UN Security Council will discuss the issue of food security during a meeting. William Denselow reports from New York where the UN is headquartered. todayFebruary 28, 2024 11
insert_link Africa Fighting intensifies in eastern DRC The United Nations says two rockets landed close to a base of UN peacekeepers during clashes between the M23 rebels and government forces in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday. No casualties were reported among the peacekeepers. todayFebruary 27, 2024 30
insert_link World Israeli offensive threatens Gaza relief, says Guterres United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned that an all-out Israeli offensive on Rafah would spell the end of UN-led humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza. todayFebruary 27, 2024 55
insert_link Health / Medical On the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day UNAIDS calls for the protection of human rights as a path to protecting health for all Zero Discrimination Day was established by UNAIDS ten years ago to advance equality and fairness for everyone regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or HIV status. However, progress is in peril. Attacks on the rights of women and girls, of LGBTQ+ people, and of other marginalized communities are on the rise. And when laws, policies, practices or norms enshrine punishment, discrimination or stigma for people because they are women, or are LGBTQ+, or […] todayFebruary 27, 2024 34