Myanmar begins defence in landmark genocide case at UN World Court

  Addressing judges in The Hague, Ko Ko Hlaing, speaking as Myanmar’s agent, said his country fully recognizes the importance of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide but firmly denies breaching its obligations under international law. “A finding of genocide would place an indelible stain on my country […]

Sudan War: Cholera Vaccination Campaign Begins in Darfur

Sudan War: Cholera Vaccination Campaign Begins in Darfur

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Deputy Representative to the country Hala Khudari reported on Tuesday that the outbreak, which started in July 2024 in Kassala, has spread to all 18 states of the country. More than 113,600 cases have been registered so far and over 3,000 deaths – a “concerning case fatality rate” of 2.7 […]

‘Famine silently begins to unfold’ in Gaza, UNRWA chief says

‘Famine silently begins to unfold’ in Gaza, UNRWA chief says

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), said that is what one of its workers told him on Thursday morning.   This sobering comment comes amidst increasingly severe malnutrition for children and adults throughout the Gaza Strip.   “When child malnutrition surges, coping mechanisms fail, access to food […]

Home is where the heart is — and where development begins

Home is where the heart is — and where development begins

Mathare, one of the country’s largest slums, houses upwards of 500,000 people in five square kilometres, cramming them together and storing the human waste they produce in uncovered rivulets. But when he recounted the visit later to UN News, this was not the image that stuck with him the most.   Without formal sewage systems, […]

Haiti: WFP concerned over humanitarian situation as hurricane season begins

Haiti: WFP concerned over humanitarian situation as hurricane season begins

With roughly half the population, 5.7 million people, facing some sort of emergency level of hunger, Haiti is one of five countries in the world with catastrophic levels of hunger.   “Despite all the violence, displacement and collapse”, WFP remains in Haiti, Lola Castro, Regional Director in Latin America and the Caribbean, said during a briefing […]

Gaza: UN agencies calls for aid ‘surge’ as Israeli distribution plan begins

Gaza: UN agencies calls for aid ‘surge’ as Israeli distribution plan begins

After nearly three months of complete blockade by Israel, a “vastly insufficient” amount of aid was finally allowed into the war-ravaged enclave in the last week, insisted Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. “We have not stopped operating,” he said, referring to staff still inside Gaza, who are tasked with liaising […]