Canadian aid agencies call for action saying starvation is rampant in Gaza
The Toronto-based president and CEO at Save the Children says its clinics are inundated by 200 to 300 people arriving each day.
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Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Some southern Manitoba households ignored public health measles directives, documents reveal
Public health officials are up against brazen rebellion as they tackle a recent resurgence in measles. Newly released government documents shed light on the challenges related to limiting the spread of the highly infectious disease in Manitoba. Southern Health-Santé Sud has advised that area households are ignoring public health directives, as per a series of May briefings obtained by the Free Press via a freedom of information request. 'Some affected families are allowing their unimmunized, asymptomatic children who are household contacts to cases to attend school,' they each state. Seven public schools — elementary buildings in Gretna, Dugald, Plum Coulee, Grunthal (Green Valley School) and Schanzenfeld (both Prairie Dale and Southwood schools), as well as Lorette Collegiate, a Grades 9-12 school just south of Winnipeg — were exposure sites in the spring. Three others were alerted about measles activity due to overlapping school bus routes. A Winnipeg-based home school was also affected by a positive case. Unvaccinated close contacts are supposed to isolate for up to 21 days. Bioethicist Arthur Schafer said vaccine hesitancy was 'aggravated' by COVID-19 pandemic-related backlash against public health mandates and misinformation lumping all shots together. 'Whatever they think of the COVID vaccine, the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine is proven safe and effective and it really is a moral obligation of parents to protect our children and to protect the community,' said the founding director of the University of Manitoba's Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics. The rate of children who have received the MMR vaccine, which has proven to be about 97 per cent effective, is trending downwards in Manitoba. The latest available uptake data shows 65 per cent of seven-year-olds had MMR coverage in 2023. That figure was 74 per cent in 2020, the same as it was a decade ago. Schafer noted the few individuals who do contract the virus despite being immunized almost always have milder symptoms and are less infectious. As far as he is concerned, the province is overdue for launching a public health campaign that touts the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. A total of 165 confirmed patients with measles — for which there is no cure — have been identified in Manitoba since the start of 2025. There were 10 additional 'probable' cases at the end of July. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said it's troubling whenever residents ignore public health guidance, providing evidence that more work is required on the part of the province. 'We are in an era of misinformation and disinformation and we have to work really hard to make sure that people have accurate, science-based information to make the most informed health decisions for themselves and their families,' Asagwara said. The public service informed the minister's office in a June 2 measles update that it had identified an event in southern Manitoba with 'high potential' to be a super-spreader situation. 'Public Health is monitoring but does not anticipate significant co-operation from the group on contacts of the case,' the internal briefing said. Asagwara, a former nurse, said public health officials are already doing outreach to build trust with families and distributing educational materials on vaccines. Letters outlining the current outbreak and tips to protect families have been written in English, French and Low German. In the wake of reports that close contacts were flouting isolation requirements, Southern Health-Santé Sud drafted a reminder to improve compliance in the region. The followup advised recipients about the severity of measles, particularly for high-risk patients, and urged them to protect their communities. Most patients recover from measles within several weeks, but an infection can lead to an ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or death. The disease is particularly deadly for children. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Manitoba's largest hospital began actively screening visitors for measles, which typically presents as a red, blotchy rash, earlier this summer. Signage has also been posted across the Health Sciences Centre campus. The extra step is taking place via intercom and at reception desks inside the women's and children's hospitals, neonatal intensive care unit and outpatient clinics, among other sites. Asked about those changes, which went into effect on July 7, a spokesperson for Doctors Manitoba said they should be treated as 'a wake-up call for Manitobans.' – With files from Malak Abas Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Cision Canada
7 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Press Conference by Canadian Medical and Humanitarian Organizations and MP Heather McPherson: Stop the Bombs and Allow Food Trucks into Gaza
OAKVILLE, ON, Aug. 5, 2025 /CNW/ - Who: MP Heather McPherson, Doctors for Humanity – Global Health Coalition, United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine Israel of the United Church of Canada, Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC), Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need (CSRDN), Justice For All, United for Peace – Canadian Interfaith Coalition, CMPAC, Canadian Medical Healthcare Network. When: August 6, 2025 at 10 am EDT virtual Zoom Link: The confirmed death toll since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza is more than 60,000. This is a vast underestimate that does not include those buried under the rubble. The true death toll has been estimated to be closer to 300,000, more than half of which is accounted for by children. Babies, children and defenseless civilians are starving to death. Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem describes the development of a "genocidal regime in Israel, working to destroy Palestinian society in Gaza." Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHRI) has published a legal-medical analysis documenting the deliberate and systematic destruction of Gaza's healthcare system. Both Israeli organizations call on Israelis and the international community to take immediate action to stop the genocide, using all legal tools available under international law. Since May 27, 2025, approximately 1,400 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to the UN. The GHF is shooting and killing civilians seeking aid and has been described as a death trap by UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese. The GHF must be immediately dismantled, with the reinstallation of UNRWA and a complete end to the Israeli blockade on Gaza. Lt Col. Anthony Aguilar, a retired US Green Beret and former Gaza Humanitarian Foundation contractor, describes what he saw on the ground in Gaza while trying to distribute aid to starving Palestinians. He recounts meeting a young 10-year-old emaciated boy, Amir, who had walked 10km without shoes, food or water to try to get food. After getting a few items of food, he thanked Mr Aguilar and his colleague for the aid he was able to retrieve. Moments later, Amir was "gunned down" and killed as the IDF soldiers began to shoot to get the crowds to disperse after distribution of food. "We have no excuse as a a world to look at this and say we didn't know," said Anthony Aguilar. We have questions for the Honourable Anita Anand about Canadian complicity in this genocide, about continued Canadian military exports to the state of Israel, and about Canadian military imports from Israel. Why did the government invent a 'non-lethal' category to continue to allow the export of military goods and technologies? This category is not reflected in the government's annual reports on exports of military goods and technology, with the exception of the case of Israel, and only since Jan 8, 2024. Can the Minister account for the $18M dollars of exports to Israel in 2024? What was exported? What are the items in these categories from 2024? How can one argue that items meeting these descriptions are non-lethal? $2.3M for bombs; torpedoes, rockets; missiles and other related components, under section 2-4 $2.9M for aircraft and airborne vehicles and their parts, under section 2-10 $12.5M for controlled electronic equipment and related components, under section 2-11 We reject the idea that any items covered by the export rules for military goods and technology have only 'non-lethal' potential and call for an end to the hypocrisy and sophistry that this category represents. We ask for accountability now for 2024 military exports, and for exports to date in 2025. We call for a true suspension of every one of an unknown number of active permits. We note the $8M imports to Canada from Israel in 2024 and deplore the idea of benefiting from the military industry of a state engaged in war crimes. The dehumanization of Palestinians and the brutality of Israel's war of extermination in Gaza must stop immediately. The GHF must be dismantled and the borders of Gaza must be opened for unencumbered humanitarian aid. The UNRWA Commissioner General, Phillipe Lazzarini, has reported that UNRWA has 6,000 trucks loaded with aid stuck outside Gaza waiting permission to enter. "Airdrops are at least 100 times more costly than trucks. Trucks carry twice as much aid as planes," UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on social media. "If there is political will to allow airdrops – which are highly costly, insufficient and inefficient, there should be similar political will to open the road crossings," he stressed. Demands: Condemn Israel's war of extermination Sanction Israel and expel the Israeli ambassador Impose a total and transparent 2-way arms embargo now and account for arms exports over the 19 months since Jan 8 2024 Break the siege by pressuring Israel to dismantle the GHF and to let food and humanitarian aid in through land borders; by sending our navy; and by urgently deploying an international peacekeeping force. Allow UNRWA and the World Food Program to do their work Suspend all trade agreements with Israel until the end of genocide, occupation, and apartheid Investigate and prosecute all individuals and organizations committing crimes in occupied territories Evacuate the sick and injured children urgently Recognize Palestine statehood unconditionally Speakers Dr Aliya Khan Dr Ben Thomson Dr Fozia Alvi Dr. Catherine Clase Rabbi David Mivisair Rev. Dianne Blanchard Khaled AlQazzaz Hon MP Heather McPherson
Globe and Mail
9 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Parts of northern Ontario under air quality statement as smoke from wildfires persists
A stretch of northern Ontario remains under a special air quality statement today amid smoke from wildfires burning in parts of the country. The special statement for southern parts of the province, including the Toronto area, lifted this morning as conditions there improved. Environment Canada says smoke from forest fires can cause reduced air quality and visibility that can fluctuate throughout the day. It says northern parts of the province, including Pikangikum and Sandy Lake First Nations, are under air quality statements or warnings due to the smoke. The weather agency says reduced air quality can cause mild eye, nose and throat irritation. More serious but less common symptoms include chest pains and a severe cough. Environment Canada is advising people to limit their time outdoors and consider postponing sports or other outdoor activities.
