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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Israel kills 27 Palestinians at Gaza aid site; UN calls it 'a war crime'
Israeli soldiers on Tuesday opened fire morning near a group of Palestinians making their way to a new food distribution site in southern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 27 people were killed, with dozens more wounded in the incident, news agency Reuters reported. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that the "deadly attacks" targeting civilians near aid distribution centres in Gaza amount to "a war crime". In a statement, Turk said, "Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unconscionable." He further added, "For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured." The Israeli military claimed that soldiers fired at 'a few' individuals who had left the designated route and failed to heed warning shots. The military described them as 'suspects' who allegedly posed a threat to the troops. This latest episode of violence unfolded roughly 550 yards from the food distribution site and follows another deadly shooting on June 1, when troops opened fire on Palestinians approaching the same location. Palestinian officials said that the attack killed at least 23 people. These incidents add to the growing tensions surrounding the newly implemented Israeli-backed food aid system in Gaza. Contentious new food aid system The new aid distribution programme is run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American-funded private aid group that replaced the United Nations-led system that had operated across 400 sites throughout Gaza. The new system distributes food from a handful of locations in Israeli-controlled southern Gaza, the New York Times reported. Aid agencies have warned that Gaza is facing severe food shortages after an 80-day blockade on food deliveries between March and May. Israel argues that the new system is essential to prevent Hamas from seizing and reselling aid at inflated prices to finance its war efforts. 'Today's events have shown once again that this new system of aid delivery is dehumanising, dangerous and severely ineffective,' said Claire Manera, an emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, as quoted by the New York Times report. 'It has resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians that could have been prevented," Marena added. UN chief calls for independent investigation UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced deep concern, expressing that he was 'appalled' by reports of Palestinians being killed and wounded while seeking aid. He emphasised the urgent need for an independent investigation into the incident, Reuters reported. Late Monday, the Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders targeting several districts in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The army warned residents that it would take decisive action against militants allegedly operating in these areas. Civilians were directed to move west toward the Mawasi humanitarian zone. Palestinian and United Nations officials contend that there are no truly safe areas within the enclave. They note that most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have already been internally displaced during the months of conflict. The Gaza Health Ministry warned on Tuesday that the latest evacuation orders could jeopardise the functioning of Nasser Hospital, the largest still-operational medical centre in southern Gaza. The ministry stressed that these orders risk the lives of those currently receiving critical treatment. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023 assault by Hamas-led gunmen, who killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, according to local health authorities, Reuters reported. (With agency inputs)
Eyewitness News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
US shuts down massive Lesotho development project
A 6-billion Maloti (R6-billion) American-funded development project in Lesotho is on the verge of collapse as the United States moves to shut down the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the agency behind the programme. Launched last year, the Lesotho Health and Horticulture Compact was to benefit approximately 2.5 million people over the next 20 years and generate over 90,000 direct and indirect jobs over five years. The Lesotho Health and Horticulture Compact included three projects: A $75.4-million health project to improve primary health care and modernise data systems, improve maternal and child health, and support HIV/AIDS treatment; A $118.6-million food production project aimed at increasing rural incomes and food security through investments in irrigation; and A $62-million project aimed at small businesses, especially owned by women and young people. According to the 2022 agreement between the MCC and the Government of Lesotho, seen by GroundUp, the US committed $300-million, while Lesotho pledged to contribute no less than $22.3-million over the lifespan of the compact. The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) was set up to implement the project in Lesotho. Both the MCA in Lesotho and the Lesotho government have remained silent on the future of the initiative, following the closure of other US-funded programmes. But GroundUp has seen correspondence suggesting that the project is being shut down. In response to questions from GroundUp, acting chief executive for Lesotho of the Millennium Challenge Account, Limpho Maema, said only that MCC and the Lesotho government were discussing the issue. She said once a final decision had been made, the government would issue a statement. Foreign Affairs Minister Lejone Mpotjoane referred all inquiries to Finance Minister Retselisitsoe Matlanyane, but she said she was out of the country and too busy to comment. However, staff on the food production project have been told: 'As per an email from Limpho [Maema]… Regrettably, the determination is that the Lesotho Health and Horticulture Compact will be closing'. GroundUp has also seen correspondence from Maema to contractors saying the same thing. In her email, Maema said services would remain in place 'until we have confirmation of a definitive date of closure' Contractors to the project include consultants on engineering, horticulture, gender, and business development, as well as auditors and providers of phone services, IT, and vehicles. Employees of Cowater International—a Canadian consulting firm awarded a $21-million contract in the small business programme —have already been instructed to return company equipment in preparation for shutdown. In an internal email last week, Cowater Project Manager Antoinette Albisetti told staff to bring laptops and equipment back to the office. 'We are now moving all office equipment into storage and looking to tie up loose ends before the end of the month,' she said. According to the agreement with the US and the Lesotho government, the government must return any unspent funds to MCC. In Phamong, Mohale's Hoek — one of the areas earmarked for implementation of the horticulture project — uncertainty now looms large. 'Maamohelang Tomo, a local villager who served on the land verification committee, told GroundUp that communication about the project has abruptly halted. 'Since we were told to suspend services in January, there's been no word on the way forward,' she said. Tomo and her team had been verifying land ownership for fields earmarked for the project. The initial plan included constructing access roads and irrigation dams before moving into crop production. 'We had already concluded discussions with landowners, and many had willingly agreed to release their fields,' she explained. Now, with MCA operations in question, that progress is at risk. 'The closure would be a heavy blow. We had made plans based on the payments that we were expecting,' said Tomo. 'The community trusted us because we were the ones meeting with them, persuading them to release their land. Now they come to us, asking for answers, but we have nowhere to turn for information and nothing to tell them.' A request for comment to the US Embassy in Maseru had not been answered by the time of publication. On previous occasions, the Embassy has referred queries to the US foreign affairs administration in Washington.
RTHK
30-04-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
China slams US defamation of Chile space observatory
China slams US defamation of Chile space observatory Chile's Atacama Desert produces exceptionally clear conditions that have made it a major hub for global astronomy. File photo: AFP China struck a defiant stance in response to American concerns about Beijing's efforts to expand its influence in the South American nation of Chile, escalating tensions over a Chinese astronomical venture in Chile's arid north. At a press conference on Tuesday in Chile's capital of Santiago, China's ambassador Niu Qingbao lambasted the United States for 'interfering in Chile's sovereign right to independently choose its partners' and spreading "disinformation about the project'. The astronomy project stems from a 2023 agreement between China's National Astronomical Observatory and Chile's Catholic University of the North to work on a powerful space observatory in the country's vast northern Atacama Desert. The proposed high-resolution telescope would be able to observe near-Earth objects, which are classified as asteroids or comets. But Washington has expressed concern over China's clout on its doorstep, as Beijing builds infrastructure, boosts investment in agriculture, energy, mining and other sectors across Latin America and displaces the United States as the region's biggest trading partner. During his Senate confirmation hearing this month, Brandon Judd, Trump's nominee for US ambassador to Chile, said he would seek to persuade Chile that 'we are the better trade partner.' He added: "We will continue to strengthen our ties to Chile and limit China's access to all of the resources that Chile might have available.' As US concern grew, the Chilean government announced it was suspending the project for review. Niu dismissed fears on Tuesday, saying, 'China has no interest in geopolitics." He accused the United States of provoking tensions by 'defaming Chinese projects by invoking geopolitical arguments.' He claimed the proposed observatory was 'of the same nature' as the many other telescopes in northern Chile, including an American-funded telescope known as the Rubin Observatory coming into operation this year. 'We are closely monitoring the developments of the incident and hope that the Chilean side can eliminate US interference and approve the implementation of the project as soon as possible,' Niu said. The United States, the European Union, Australia and a range of other countries operate observatories in Chile's Atacama Desert. The region's geography – bone-dry and high-altitude, with steady air and the cloud-blocking Andes Mountains to the east – produces exceptionally clear conditions that have made it a major hub for global astronomy. (AP)
ITV News
29-04-2025
- General
- ITV News
Lethal remnants of Vietnam's war still claiming lives, 50 years on
Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the 'Fall of Saigon', which ended the Vietnam War. ITV News Asia Correspondent Debi Edward reports from Vietnam on the deadly legacy of that conflict In a week that marks fifty years since the end of the war in Vietnam - the so-called 'Fall of Saigon' - we watched a de-mining team searching for the lethal remnants of that conflict, which are still claiming lives all these years later. One de-miner had only gone a few paces before a familiar tone sounded on his metal detector. They were working in Quang Tri province in southern Vietnam, the most bombed place on earth. It is a dangerous job, and we stood well back while he discovered what was in the ground. Only shrapnel was recovered on the morning ITV News was invited to film, but in that one area of forest they have found more than two hundred unexploded bombs in the last six months. We were following teams from Peace Trees, one of several American-funded organisations working to make the land safe again, and repair relations between Vietnam and the United States. That dual mission has been threatened by Donald Trump's decision to shutter USAID (United States Agency for International Development). A temporary 'Stop-Work Order' was issued at the end of January, created fear and uncertainty. Although operations have resumed, the organisation has had to scale back and focus on a smaller area, while they wait to find out about future funding. Peace Trees has been operating for thirty years, since relations were normalised between the governments of Washington and Hanoi. After three decades, they have still only cleared 40% of the country. The director of Peace Trees in Vietnam, Pham Thi Hoang Ha, told me the stop work order caused alarm in the organisation. In the three-week period they had to cease working, they were still receiving calls from people who had found unexploded ordnances. They could only tell them to avoid the area and not touch what they had discovered. Peace Trees and several other de-mining charities in the region act as an additional emergency service, providing a phone number people can call when they find a remnant of the war. In recent years, extreme weather has exposed just how bombed the nation was and laid bare the level of threat that remains in the land. Massive floods in 2020 caused landslides that churned up some massive munitions. Quang Tri's position, on what was the border between former North and South Vietnam, made it a major battleground during the war and one of the worst affected areas. Not far from where the de-mining teams were working, we met Nhung and her daughter Trinh. One summer's day in 2022, she was in the back garden when there was a big explosion at the front of the house, where Nhung's husband was fixing a doorway. He had triggered an old cluster bomb. She found him covered in blood, killed instantly. It has left her and her daughter all alone and facing more hardship in a life that had been difficult, until she met and married her husband. Nhung often looks at her wedding album to bring her some comfort, it contains the only photos she has of them together. The Vietnam War also saw the world's biggest use of chemicals in warfare, including the incendiary substance, napalm. In 1972 our cameras captured the notorious images of a young girl, naked, her clothes burned from her body, after napalm was dropped on her town Trang Bang. The footage and a photograph of Phan Thi Kim Phuc, who became known as 'napalm girl', was shown around the world, causing outrage and fuelling stronger anti-war sentiment in the United States. It added pressure on the Nixon administration in Washington to seek a peaceful resolution. The use of napalm and agent orange, a pernicious herbicide also used to strip the land, have had the gravest of long-term effects. We visited a support centre in the Cam Lo ward of Quang Tri, where we met children born with physical and learning disabilities, blamed on contamination in the food and water supplies. The centre relies on funds from an American NGO, whose budget has been slashed by the State Department and USAID cuts. They've told Nurse Thuong, that from the summer she will no longer receive their help. She told us that means she'll have no money to pay the staff, and no cash to buy simple things like milk for the children. The daycare she gives to the children also allows their parents to work and earn money. Without it, that whole support system would collapse. Programs supported by the US State department have been central to the reconciliation between Vietnam and the United States. Those hard-won diplomatic gains have grown in strategic importance as the US has looked for support in its efforts to counter China. On Wednesday the military will parade through Ho Chi Minh City, as Saigon is now officially know, to mark the day it fell to the North Vietnamese. Rehearsals for 'Reunification Day', as it's called in Vietnam, have drawn huge crowds. And when it comes to reflecting on America's role, many will remember when the US last walked away, and the war in South Vietnam was lost.
The Star
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Star
A deepening crisis as funding vanishes
IN Kenya's largest and poorest county, the despair of a beleaguered hospital director is palpable as he explains that the dismantling of American-funded aid means his facility will run out of USAID drugs next month. 'From then on, I don't know,' Ekiru Kidalio said, worried about the lack of treatment for measles and HIV among other things. Northernmost Turkana county borders Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda and is home to just under a million people, according to a 2019 census, a third of them refugees, many dependent on foreign assistance. US President Donald Trump's administration has announced dramatic cuts to USAID whose annual budget was close to US$43bil, more than 40% of the world's humanitarian aid. The decisions, taken thousands of kilometres away in Washington, are already being felt in Turkana's Lodwar County Referral Hospital, Kidalio, its acting director, said. USAID employed 64 staff, including nurses and clinical officers, out of around 400 employees at the hospital. 'All those workers were laid off,' he said. 'Everything was stopped... and then the commodities (drugs) were not received,' Kidalio added, voicing particular concern over shortages of measles vaccines. Kidalio said he was 'not aware' of any plans by the Kenyan government to tackle the shortfall. The local governor publicly urged the restoration of USAID-funded programmes when US charge d'affaires Marc Dillard visited recently. The destabilising shift has also created a lot of concern in the dusty town, dominated by UN-emblazoned white landcruisers and signs urging an end to gender-based violence or promoting aid groups. Members of the pharmacology department taking inventory of the last boxes of drugs delivered by USAID in a storeroom at Lodwar County Referral Hospital in Lodwar, Kenya. — AFP 'There is a lot of worry because the United States has ended their support,' said resident Lydia Muya, 32. The mother-of-three said residents – in a region where roughly three-quarters of the population live below the poverty line, according to 2021 government statistics – were particularly concerned about their access to medication. 'We see that is now a very big risk to us, because we depend on those medicines, so most of the people will suffer,' said Muya. 'It is difficult.' The picture is increasingly grim in Kakuma refugee camp, which hosts more than 300,000 people mostly from South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda. Protests broke out last month after news that rations, already lowered last year, would be further reduced because of the cuts to US foreign aid spending. 'It was tense,' said one humanitarian worker, based in Kakuma for almost five years, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not permitted to speak to the media. When asked if supplies were arriving, his response was blunt: 'No. With what money? No funding, no stuff.' 'It's operating on hand-to-mouth basis on this point,' he added. He estimated as much as 40% of the workforce had already been laid off as a result of the US cuts. The situation could still worsen. The World Food Programme, which supports just under 200,000 Kakuma refugees, said they had cut rations, delivered as food and cash, to 40% of their previous level. A mother-of-four, who had lived in the camp for almost two decades, said she was worried. 'How many days will I eat? The food can end so fast,' she said, asking to remain anonymous as she was unsure if she was allowed to speak to journalists. She is also worried about the coming rainy season when malaria cases soar. 'If you go to the hospital now, there is no medicine; they just check you. 'Trump has stopped everything, and it's closed now. There is nothing coming in and nothing coming out,' she said. Aid workers privately say that the situation is not just down to the US cuts and point to a lack of planning by NGOs. 'The camp has been managed as an emergency, so they were not preparing people' to become less dependent on aid, a second aid worker in Kakuma said. 'If refugees were treated like people not in an emergency set-up anymore... these fund (shortfalls) could not affect them,' he said, suggesting more should have been done on longer-term programmes. The first aid worker also voiced his frustration, saying budgets were eaten up by operational costs such as staffing overheads, transport and bureaucracy. 'The aid, the majority of it goes to the operational bit of it, not the actual work,' he said. 'It's madness.' Like other aid workers, he worries their programme sometimes creates dependency without offering a future. 'As a person who has worked in multiple areas, sometimes you wonder if you are really helping or if you are enabling,' he said. — AFP
