‘We don't want to': Ten news anchors overcome with emotion
The head of the World Health Organisation this week described Gaza as suffering 'man-made mass starvation,' with a quarter of the territory's population now facing famine-like conditions and close to 100,000 women and children are experiencing severe acute malnutrition.
10News+ focused on the toll the crisis was taking on Gaza's children, among them Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, an 18-month-old child in Gaza City who weighs the same as a three-month-old baby.
Both hosts appeared choked up as they back-announced the disturbing report.
'Denham, no matter what side you're on in all this – and I think most people aren't on sides – there is no parent, no person, who can look at those images and think that that's OK,' Brace told her co-host.
'We don't want to show you those pictures, we don't want to have to tell you that story. But as journalists and as humans, we owe it to those kids to do something,' she continued, her voice faltering as she struggled to contain her emotion.
Earlier, Brace had introduced the story by acknowledging that it was a topic 'we know you might want to turn away from … but we're asking you to watch, because we all need to know about it.'
The hosts explained that the report would focus on the starving children of Gaza: 'Children who have no choice. Who have not picked a side, but who are dying because there is not enough food to keep them alive.'
This week, 109 global aid and human rights agencies – including Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam International and Amnesty International – united to sign a letter warning that civilians and their colleagues within Gaza are 'wasting away'.
'As the Israeli government's siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families,' the statement read.
'With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes.'
In their statement, the humanitarian organisations said that warehouses with tonnes of supplies were sitting untouched inside and outside Gaza, while people were 'trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires'.
'It is not just physical torment but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage,' they said.
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SBS Australia
26 minutes ago
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At least 38 Palestinians killed while seeking aid in Gaza, local health officials say
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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Dozens killed in Gaza as Israel weighs military action
At least 38 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip while seeking aid from United Nations convoys and sites run by an Israeli-backed American contractor, according to local health officials. The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots when crowds approached its forces. Another 25 people, including several women and children, were killed in Israeli air strikes, according to local hospitals in Gaza. The military said it only targets Hamas militants. The latest deaths came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to announce further military action — and possibly plans for Israel to fully reoccupy Gaza. Experts say Israel's ongoing military offensive and blockade are already pushing the territory of some two million Palestinians into famine. A new UN report said only 1.5 per cent of Gaza's cropland is accessible and undamaged. Another escalation of the nearly 22-month war could put the lives of countless Palestinians and around 20 living Israeli hostages at risk, and would draw fierce opposition both internationally and within Israel. Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies have long called for the war to be expanded, and for Israel to eventually take over Gaza, relocate much of its population and rebuild Jewish settlements there. US President Donald Trump, asked by a reporter on Tuesday whether he supported the reoccupation of Gaza, said he wasn't aware of the "suggestion" but that "it's going to be pretty much up to Israel". Of the 38 Palestinians killed while seeking aid, at least 28 died in the Morag Corridor, an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza where UN convoys have been repeatedly overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds in recent days, and where witnesses say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire. The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots as Palestinians advanced toward them, and that it was not aware of any casualties. Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies, said another four people were killed in the Teina area, on a route leading to a site in southern Gaza run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor. The Al-Awda Hospital said it received the bodies of six people killed near a GHF site in central Gaza. GHF said there were no violent incidents at or near its sites. Two of the Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza City, in the north of the territory, killing 13 people there, including six children and five women, according to the Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the bodies. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its militants are entrenched in heavily populated areas. UN experts say Israeli-backed aid group should be dismantled. Israel facilitated the establishment of four GHF sites in May after blocking the entry of all food, medicine and other goods for 2.5 months. Israeli and US officials said a new system was needed to prevent Hamas from siphoning off humanitarian aid. The United Nations, which has delivered aid to hundreds of distribution points across Gaza throughout the war when conditions allow, has rejected the new system, saying it forces Palestinians to travel long distances and risk their lives for food, and that it allows Israel to control who gets aid, potentially using it to advance plans for further mass displacement. The UN human rights office said last week that some 1400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid since May, mostly near GHF sites but also along UN convoy routes where trucks have been overwhelmed by crowds. It says nearly all were killed by Israeli fire. This week, a group of UN special rapporteurs and independent human rights experts called for the GHF to be disbanded, saying it is "an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law". At least 38 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip while seeking aid from United Nations convoys and sites run by an Israeli-backed American contractor, according to local health officials. The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots when crowds approached its forces. Another 25 people, including several women and children, were killed in Israeli air strikes, according to local hospitals in Gaza. The military said it only targets Hamas militants. The latest deaths came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to announce further military action — and possibly plans for Israel to fully reoccupy Gaza. Experts say Israel's ongoing military offensive and blockade are already pushing the territory of some two million Palestinians into famine. A new UN report said only 1.5 per cent of Gaza's cropland is accessible and undamaged. Another escalation of the nearly 22-month war could put the lives of countless Palestinians and around 20 living Israeli hostages at risk, and would draw fierce opposition both internationally and within Israel. Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies have long called for the war to be expanded, and for Israel to eventually take over Gaza, relocate much of its population and rebuild Jewish settlements there. US President Donald Trump, asked by a reporter on Tuesday whether he supported the reoccupation of Gaza, said he wasn't aware of the "suggestion" but that "it's going to be pretty much up to Israel". Of the 38 Palestinians killed while seeking aid, at least 28 died in the Morag Corridor, an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza where UN convoys have been repeatedly overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds in recent days, and where witnesses say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire. The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots as Palestinians advanced toward them, and that it was not aware of any casualties. Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies, said another four people were killed in the Teina area, on a route leading to a site in southern Gaza run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor. The Al-Awda Hospital said it received the bodies of six people killed near a GHF site in central Gaza. GHF said there were no violent incidents at or near its sites. Two of the Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza City, in the north of the territory, killing 13 people there, including six children and five women, according to the Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the bodies. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its militants are entrenched in heavily populated areas. UN experts say Israeli-backed aid group should be dismantled. Israel facilitated the establishment of four GHF sites in May after blocking the entry of all food, medicine and other goods for 2.5 months. Israeli and US officials said a new system was needed to prevent Hamas from siphoning off humanitarian aid. The United Nations, which has delivered aid to hundreds of distribution points across Gaza throughout the war when conditions allow, has rejected the new system, saying it forces Palestinians to travel long distances and risk their lives for food, and that it allows Israel to control who gets aid, potentially using it to advance plans for further mass displacement. The UN human rights office said last week that some 1400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid since May, mostly near GHF sites but also along UN convoy routes where trucks have been overwhelmed by crowds. It says nearly all were killed by Israeli fire. This week, a group of UN special rapporteurs and independent human rights experts called for the GHF to be disbanded, saying it is "an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law". At least 38 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip while seeking aid from United Nations convoys and sites run by an Israeli-backed American contractor, according to local health officials. The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots when crowds approached its forces. Another 25 people, including several women and children, were killed in Israeli air strikes, according to local hospitals in Gaza. The military said it only targets Hamas militants. The latest deaths came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to announce further military action — and possibly plans for Israel to fully reoccupy Gaza. Experts say Israel's ongoing military offensive and blockade are already pushing the territory of some two million Palestinians into famine. A new UN report said only 1.5 per cent of Gaza's cropland is accessible and undamaged. Another escalation of the nearly 22-month war could put the lives of countless Palestinians and around 20 living Israeli hostages at risk, and would draw fierce opposition both internationally and within Israel. Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies have long called for the war to be expanded, and for Israel to eventually take over Gaza, relocate much of its population and rebuild Jewish settlements there. US President Donald Trump, asked by a reporter on Tuesday whether he supported the reoccupation of Gaza, said he wasn't aware of the "suggestion" but that "it's going to be pretty much up to Israel". Of the 38 Palestinians killed while seeking aid, at least 28 died in the Morag Corridor, an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza where UN convoys have been repeatedly overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds in recent days, and where witnesses say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire. The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots as Palestinians advanced toward them, and that it was not aware of any casualties. Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies, said another four people were killed in the Teina area, on a route leading to a site in southern Gaza run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor. The Al-Awda Hospital said it received the bodies of six people killed near a GHF site in central Gaza. GHF said there were no violent incidents at or near its sites. Two of the Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza City, in the north of the territory, killing 13 people there, including six children and five women, according to the Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the bodies. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its militants are entrenched in heavily populated areas. UN experts say Israeli-backed aid group should be dismantled. Israel facilitated the establishment of four GHF sites in May after blocking the entry of all food, medicine and other goods for 2.5 months. Israeli and US officials said a new system was needed to prevent Hamas from siphoning off humanitarian aid. The United Nations, which has delivered aid to hundreds of distribution points across Gaza throughout the war when conditions allow, has rejected the new system, saying it forces Palestinians to travel long distances and risk their lives for food, and that it allows Israel to control who gets aid, potentially using it to advance plans for further mass displacement. The UN human rights office said last week that some 1400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid since May, mostly near GHF sites but also along UN convoy routes where trucks have been overwhelmed by crowds. It says nearly all were killed by Israeli fire. This week, a group of UN special rapporteurs and independent human rights experts called for the GHF to be disbanded, saying it is "an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law". At least 38 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip while seeking aid from United Nations convoys and sites run by an Israeli-backed American contractor, according to local health officials. The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots when crowds approached its forces. Another 25 people, including several women and children, were killed in Israeli air strikes, according to local hospitals in Gaza. The military said it only targets Hamas militants. The latest deaths came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to announce further military action — and possibly plans for Israel to fully reoccupy Gaza. Experts say Israel's ongoing military offensive and blockade are already pushing the territory of some two million Palestinians into famine. A new UN report said only 1.5 per cent of Gaza's cropland is accessible and undamaged. Another escalation of the nearly 22-month war could put the lives of countless Palestinians and around 20 living Israeli hostages at risk, and would draw fierce opposition both internationally and within Israel. Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies have long called for the war to be expanded, and for Israel to eventually take over Gaza, relocate much of its population and rebuild Jewish settlements there. US President Donald Trump, asked by a reporter on Tuesday whether he supported the reoccupation of Gaza, said he wasn't aware of the "suggestion" but that "it's going to be pretty much up to Israel". Of the 38 Palestinians killed while seeking aid, at least 28 died in the Morag Corridor, an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza where UN convoys have been repeatedly overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds in recent days, and where witnesses say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire. The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots as Palestinians advanced toward them, and that it was not aware of any casualties. Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies, said another four people were killed in the Teina area, on a route leading to a site in southern Gaza run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor. The Al-Awda Hospital said it received the bodies of six people killed near a GHF site in central Gaza. GHF said there were no violent incidents at or near its sites. Two of the Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza City, in the north of the territory, killing 13 people there, including six children and five women, according to the Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the bodies. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its militants are entrenched in heavily populated areas. UN experts say Israeli-backed aid group should be dismantled. Israel facilitated the establishment of four GHF sites in May after blocking the entry of all food, medicine and other goods for 2.5 months. Israeli and US officials said a new system was needed to prevent Hamas from siphoning off humanitarian aid. The United Nations, which has delivered aid to hundreds of distribution points across Gaza throughout the war when conditions allow, has rejected the new system, saying it forces Palestinians to travel long distances and risk their lives for food, and that it allows Israel to control who gets aid, potentially using it to advance plans for further mass displacement. The UN human rights office said last week that some 1400 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid since May, mostly near GHF sites but also along UN convoy routes where trucks have been overwhelmed by crowds. It says nearly all were killed by Israeli fire. This week, a group of UN special rapporteurs and independent human rights experts called for the GHF to be disbanded, saying it is "an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law".
Mercury
a day ago
- Mercury
Chikungunya virus: Alarming surge in Chinese cases sparks global concern
There are fears a potentially deadly virus that has surged in China and spread to Hong Kong could explode globally. More than 7000 chikungunya virus infections have been reported in the city Foshan, leading to mass hospital quarantines and other measures similar to those taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. Nearly 3000 new cases have been reported in at least 12 other cities in Guangdong just over the past week, bringing the total to more than 10,000 in the country. Hong Kong confirmed its first case of the virus on Monday, a 12-year-old boy who developed symptoms after visiting Foshan in July. Here's what you need to know about the disease: HOW IS THE VIRUS TRANSMITTED? Chikungunya is caused by a virus carried by infected mosquitoes – including the Dengue mosquito and the Asian Tiger mosquito. The mosquito contracts the virus when it bites someone with chikungunya, it can then pass it on to other people it bites a few days later, according to healthdirect. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS? Symptoms usually manifest within three to seven days after a bite from an infected mosquito, but it can take up to 12 days, according to healthdirect. Common symptoms include joint pain, joint swelling and stiffness, and fever. Other symptoms can include muscle pain, headache, a rash, nausea, and tiredness. HOW LONG DOES THE VIRUS LAST? Most people fully recover within one to two weeks, although some may have symptoms such as joint pain and tiredness for several months or even years, according to healthdirect. Deaths are rare, but some severe complications involving the heart and nervous system do occasionally occur – especially in older people affected by other health conditions. IS THE VIRUS CURABLE? There is no specific cure for chikungunya, but anti-inflammatory medicines, paracetamol, or acetaminophen, are used to address symptoms by providing pain relief and reducing fever, according to the World Health Organisation. SHOULD AUSTRALIA BE CONCERNED? Chikungunya is recognised as a nationally notifiable mosquito-borne disease in Australia, but there are no local reports of transmission, according to a Department of Health, Disability and Ageing spokesperson. They also stated: *Human cases of mosquito-borne illness are monitored using the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). *The infection is regularly reported in travellers returning from overseas. *Chikungunya is primarily transmitted by vectors Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti established in some parts of the Torres Strait and Australia. Ongoing public health and vector control measures by state and territory jurisdictions include follow-up of notifications in humans, surveillance and control of Ae. Albopictus and Ae. Aegypti in parts of the Torres Strait and mainland Australia. *The interim Australian CDC continues to monitor mosquito-borne diseases in countries geographically close to Australia and those frequently visited by Australian residents. *It also actively tracks current international outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya in China. While assuring that the chance of an outbreak in Australia was 'low', ANU infectious diseases specialist Dr Sanjaya Senanayake said there were concerns around the Aedes mosquito in northern Australia. 'It is possible for someone carrying the Chikungunya virus in their blood to arrive in central or northern Queensland from overseas, get bitten by an Aedes mosquito here, which in turn causes a case of Chikungunya in a local, who hasn't left Australia,' Dr Senanayake told 'This happens sometimes with dengue outbreaks (another virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, where the virus itself isn't endemic to Australia).' HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE THE VIRUS? If you feel unwell and have a fever after travelling to a tropical area, it is best to see your doctor if you have symptoms of chikungunya or if you are concerned, according to healthdirect. Your doctor can then examine you and perform a blood test to confirm if you have the disease. Symptoms can be similar to many other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus – so the blood test is key to diagnosis. WHAT IS THE TRAVEL ADVICE FOR CHINA? The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 2 travel notice for those going to China. The notice advices travellers to 'practice enhanced precautions' and urged them to get vaccinated before going. While a vaccine called Ixchiq has been approved in the United States, it is not yet available in Australia. The main preventive measure for Australians is to avoid mosquito bites when travelling to regions where chikungunya is prevalent. HOW IS CHINA ADDRESSING THE OUTBREAK? Chinese soldiers are treating public spaces with insecticides and 'elephant mosquitoes' who's larvae can eat the infected mosquitoes larvae have been released. Mosquito-eating fish have also been released into Foshan's public ponds to address the mosquito population. Originally published as Chikungunya virus: Alarming surge in Chinese cases sparks global concern
