Latest news with #EmmaFarge
Japan Today
2 days ago
- General
- Japan Today
More than 4 million refugees have fled Sudan civil war, U.N. says
FILE PHOTO: A Sudanese woman, who fled the conflict in Geneina in Sudan's Darfur region, talks to her relative through a fence next to makeshift shelters, in Adre, Chad August 5, 2023. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo By Emma Farge The number of people who have fled Sudan since the beginning of its civil war in 2023 has surpassed four million, U.N. refugee agency officials said on Tuesday, adding that many survivors faced inadequate shelter due to funding shortages. "Now in its third year, the 4 million people is a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis at the moment," U.N. refugee agency spokesperson Eujin Byun told a Geneva press briefing. "If the conflict continues in Sudan, thousands more people, we expect thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake," she said. Sudan, which erupted in violence in April 2023, shares borders with seven countries: Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Libya. More than 800,000 of the refugees have arrived in Chad, where their shelter conditions are dire due to funding shortages, with only 14% of funding appeals met, UNHCR's Dossou Patrice Ahouansou told the same briefing. "This is an unprecedented crisis that we are facing. This is a crisis of humanity. This is a crisis of ... protection based on the violence that refugees are reporting," he said. Many of those fleeing reported surviving terror and violence, he added, describing meeting a seven-year-old girl in Chad who was hurt in an attack on her home in Sudan's Zamzam displacement camp that killed her father and two brothers and had to have her leg amputated during her escape. Her mother had been killed in an earlier attack, he said. Other refugees told stories of armed groups taking their horses and donkeys and forcing adults to draw their own family members by cart as they fled, he said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wilful restriction on Gaza food aid may constitute war crime, says UN rights office
By Olivia Le Poidevin and Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -The United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday that the wilful impediment of access to food and relief for civilians in Gaza may constitute a war crime, describing attacks on civilians trying to access food aid as unconscionable. "For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation'," the spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva. At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, local health authorities said, in the third day of chaos and bloodshed to affect the aid operation. The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of individuals who had left designated access routes near the distribution centre in Rafah. On June 1, some 32 people were killed and on Monday three people were killed, according to the OHCHR. The head of the U.N. agency, Volker Turk, urged a prompt and impartial investigation into attacks on Palestinians trying to receive food aid. "Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime," Turk said in a statement. The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its first distribution sites last week in an effort to alleviate widespread hunger amongst Gaza's war-battered population, most of whom have had to abandon their homes to flee fighting. The foundation's aid plan, which bypasses traditional aid groups, has come under fierce criticism from the United Nations and established charities which say it does not follow humanitarian principles. The private group, which is endorsed by Israel, said it distributed 21 truckloads of food early on Tuesday and that the aid operation was "conducted safely and without incident within the site".
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gaza humanitarian group is a 'distraction' from what is needed, UN says
By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) - The work of a U.S.-backed private humanitarian organization tasked with distributing aid in Gaza is a distraction from what is needed, such as the opening of crossing points, a U.N. spokesperson said on Tuesday. The GHF, which began as an Israeli-initiated plan and has drawn criticism from the United Nations and others, said on Monday it began distributing supplies in Gaza. This follows an Israeli blockade for 11 weeks that was only partially lifted in recent days and that prompted a famine warning from a global hunger monitor and international criticism. "We do not participate in this modality for the reasons given. It is a distraction from what is actually needed (...)," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA) told a Geneva briefing, calling for the reopening of all crossings. He also called for an end to Israeli restrictions on the type of aid being allowed to enter the enclave, which he said was being "cherry picked" and did not always match needs. Israel is in charge of vetting all aid entering Gaza and regularly rejects a wide array of items it considers could be put to military use by militant group Hamas. It says the new system is aimed at separating aid from Hamas, which it accuses of stealing and using food to impose control over the population, a charge rejected by Hamas, which says it protects aid convoys from gangs of armed looters. Juliette Touma, communications director of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency, said that it had large medical shipments waiting that have been denied entry into Gaza. "We have over 3000 trucks, not only of food, but also medicines that are lining up in places like Jordan, like Egypt, that are waiting for the green light to go in, and they're carrying medicines and that is expiring soon," she said.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Palestinians to raise flag at WHO for the first time after vote
By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -The Palestinian delegation won the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organization after a symbolic victory in a vote on Monday that its envoy hopes will lead to greater recognition within the United Nations and beyond. The proposal, brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, at the global agency's annual assembly in Geneva passed with 95 in favour and four against - Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany - and 27 abstentions. It follows a successful Palestinian bid for membership of the U.N. General Assembly last year and comes amid signs that France could recognise a Palestinian state. In apparent reference to the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided "a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels". Israel argued against the WHO resolution and called for a vote. Its main ally, the United States, which plans to exit the WHO, did not participate. Even though almost 150 countries have recognised a Palestinian state, most major Western and other powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. France and Japan voted in favour of the proposal while Britain abstained. "It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs," the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters. "I hope we will soon have full membership of the WHO and all U.N. forums." Palestinians seek statehood in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. They have official observer state status at the WHO, which is currently undergoing a transformation as it looks ahead to life without its biggest donor the United States. Last week, the Palestinians won the right to receive notifications under the WHO's International Health Regulations - a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks.
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
29 children and elderly have starved to death in Gaza in recent days and thousands more are at risk, health minister warns
LIVE | The Palestinian health minister said on Thursday that 29 children had died from starvation-related deaths in Gaza in recent days and that many thousands more were at risk. Palestinian minister reports 29 starvation-related deaths among Gazan children and elderly The Palestinian health minister said on Thursday that 29 children and elderly people had died from starvation-related deaths in Gaza in recent days and that many thousands more were at risk. "In the last couple of days we lost 29," Palestinian health minister, Majed Abu Ramadan told reporters, describing them as "starvation-related deaths". Asked to react to earlier comments by the UN aid chief to the BBC that 14,000 babies could die without aid, he said: "The number 14,000 is very realistic may be even underestimating (the scale)." Emma Farge, Reuters Today 07:36 AM Israel intercepts two missiles launched from Yemen, military says Israel's military said it intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen and that sirens had sounded twice across the country including in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank on Thursday, as the Iran-aligned Houthis stepped up attacks. Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group launched a ballistic missile towards Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and two drones towards the Tel Aviv area. Undeterred by Israeli strikes on Yemen, the Houthis said they would continue to fire at Israel even though they have agreed to a ceasefire with the United States to halt attacks on US ships in the Red Sea. Israel has carried out retaliatory strikes including one on May 6 that damaged Yemen's main airport in Sanaa, and another last week targeting the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Salif. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, most of which have been intercepted or have fallen short. The group says it is acting in support of Gaza's Palestinians. Today 07:35 AM Some bread and baby food reach Gazans as blockade eases, Palestinians call for more aid Flour and other food aid will start reaching some of Gaza's most vulnerable people on Thursday after Israel let some trucks through, but nowhere near enough to make up for shortages caused by an 11-week blockade, Palestinian officials said. Israel said it allowed 100 trucks also carrying baby food and medical equipment into the enclave on Wednesday, two days after announcing its first relaxation of the restrictions under mounting international pressure. Israel imposed the blockade on all supplies in March, saying Hamas was seizing deliveries for its fighters - a charge the group denies. The UN said a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people were at risk of famine. "Some bakeries will begin receiving flour to produce bread, and we expect the distribution of bread to begin later today," Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza, told Reuters. He said just 90 trucks had got through. "During the ceasefire, 600 trucks used to enter every day, which means that the current quantity is a drop in the ocean, nothing," he said. Bakeries backed the UN's World Food Programme would produce the bread and the agency's staff would hand it out - a more controlled system than previously when bakers sold it directly to the public at a low cost, he added. "The idea is to try and reach the most needy families, those who are desperate, as it is just the start," Shawa said. ATTACKS REPORTED As the first aid arrived since the blockade, Israeli military strikes on Gaza killed at least 35 Palestinians across the enclave on Thursday, local health authorities said. Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters Today 07:31 AM Government criticise IDF shooting at Irish and European diplomats in the West Bank Irish officials have delivered an official rebuke to the Israeli government as it strongly condemned an incident in which two Irish diplomats were fired at as part of a delegation in the West Bank. 'The two diplomats have been confirmed as safe,' Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris confirmed. Mr Harris has been in touch directly with Feilim McLaughlin, the Representative of Ireland to the Palestinian National Authority, who was involved in the incident earlier today in Jenin town, to convey his full support and best wishes to him and his team who are based in Ramallah. A senior official in his department has been in touch with Israel's non-resident ambassador to Ireland Erlich to deliver his strongest condemnation and concerns over the incident via what is known as a démarche, or official communication. The ambassador was informed that Ireland regards this incident to be a clear breach of obligations under international law with regards to the protection of diplomats. The ambassador was informed that what had happened should not be characterised as an "inconvenience" as it had been referred to by the IDF earlier today when it expressed regret for what had happened. The ambassador was asked to register with Israeli authorities Ireland's fullest possible condemnation of the incident and that a full explanation of what had happened be provided. Mr Harris described the incident as 'utterly reprehensible' and said the Irish Government wants an investigation and full accountability for whoever in the IDF is responsible. He said it constituted "a clear breach" of law and Israel's obligations. Today 07:26 AM Israel accuses Europe of 'anti-Semitic incitement' after Washington shooting Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused unnamed European officials on Thursday of "toxic anti-Semitic incitement" he blamed for a hostile climate in which the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington took place. Israel has faced a blizzard of criticism from Europe of late as it has intensified its military campaign in Gaza, where humanitarian groups have warned that an 11-week Israeli blockade on aid supplies has left the Palestinian enclave on the brink of famine. Saar did not name any countries or officials but said the climate of hostility towards Israel was behind the shooting of the embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside a Jewish museum in Washington on Wednesday. "There is a direct line connecting antisemitic and anti-Israel incitement to this murder," he told a news conference in Jerusalem. "This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and organisations, especially from Europe," he said. Saar declined to identify which leader or officials he had in mind. But his remarks came after increasingly tough words from Western allies of Israel including France and Britain, which joined Canada this week in warning of possible "concrete action" against Israel over its war in Gaza. US officials said a suspect who chanted pro-Palestinian slogans was in custody. President Donald Trump and a wide range of European and other foreign leaders condemned the attack. Saar said the "global atmosphere" against Israel had worsened sharply since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken as hostage back into the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israel's air and ground campaign has killed over 53,000 Palestinians and laid waste to the densely populated territory, drawing mass protests across the world ranging from US university campuses to the streets of European cities. Last year, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take action to prevent alleged acts of genocide in Gaza after a case brought by South Africa that stirred deep anger in Israel. Saar said: "These libels about genocide, crimes against humanity and murdering babies pave the way exactly for such murders." James Mackenzie, Reuters Live Blog Software
