Latest news with #UNOCHA
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Earthquake of magnitude 4.3 jolts Afghanistan
KABUL: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 jolted Afghanistan on Saturday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said. As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 110 km. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a post on X, NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.3, On: 31/05/2025 08:15:33 IST, Lat: 35.69 N, Long: 71.21 E, Depth: 110 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Earlier on Thursday, an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 jolted Afghanistan. As per the NCS, "EQ of M: 4.1, On: 29/05/2025 21:31:02 IST, Lat: 36.54 N, Long: 68.77 E, Depth: 139 Km, Location: Afghanistan." On May 24, an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude jolted the region. As per the NCS, "EQ of M: 4.2, On: 24/05/2025 19:53:10 IST, Lat: 36.68 N, Long: 71.35 E, Depth: 150 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Another earthquake of magnitude 4.5 jolted Afghanistan on May 31. As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at 120km. In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.5, On: 24/05/2025 14:27:53 IST, Lat: 36.60 N, Long: 71.39 E, Depth: 120 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Afghanistan has a history of powerful earthquakes, and the Hindu Kush Mountain range is a geologically active area where quakes occur every year, according to the Red Cross. Afghanistan sits on numerous fault lines between the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates, with a fault line also running directly through Herat. Its location on several active fault lines along the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates makes it a seismically active region. These plates meet and collide, causing frequent seismic activity. As per the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including seasonal flooding, landslides, and earthquakes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These frequent earthquakes in Afghanistan cause damage to vulnerable communities, which are already grappling with decades of conflict and under-development and have left them with little resilience to cope with multiple simultaneous shocks, UNOCHA noted.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Yaron Lischinsky's final retweet of Israeli Ambassador to US's 14,000 'kids dying in Gaza' post goes viral
Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim , two young diplomats from the Israeli Embassy in Washington , D.C., were tragically shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night. In the aftermath, Lischinsky's final post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has gone viral — a retweet of a controversial statement by the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Amir Weissbrod. Just a day before his death, Lischinsky retweeted Weissbrod's post criticizing the United Nations' claim that 14,000 children in Gaza could die within days. The ambassador wrote: "@UNReliefChief your declaration that 14,000 babies are at risk of dying in Gaza in the next two days is a blood libel. @UNOCHA and all @UN organisations have obligations to be neutral and impartial. You are breaching these obligations constantly. Your reports are founded on lies and on Hamas numbers. And of course, you never talk about Hamas or other terrorists and how they use hospitals, schools and shelters in Gaza as human shields. Enough is enough! You should be accountable for the disinformation you and @UNOCHA spread." Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Gorgeous Female Athletes Ranked. But Did We Get It Right? Read More Undo The retweet has since gained traction online, sparking heated debate over the role of international organizations in the Israel-Gaza conflict and the impact of disinformation during wartime. Who Were Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim? Yaron Lischinsky, 28, was a Jerusalem native working in the Israeli embassy's political department as a research assistant, focusing on Middle Eastern and North African affairs. He moved to Washington in September 2022 and was known for his sharp intellect, commitment to diplomacy, and support for interfaith dialogue and the Abraham Accords. Live Events Sarah Milgrim, a Jewish American diplomat, worked in the embassy's public diplomacy department. She had recently moved to Washington in November 2023 from Tel Aviv. Milgrim held master's degrees in international studies from American University and in sustainable development from the UN University for Peace. She previously worked with Tech2Peace, an Israeli organization promoting dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. On her LinkedIn profile, she described herself as passionate about peacebuilding, religious engagement, and environmental advocacy. The Shooting The diplomats were gunned down as they exited an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum. According to authorities, gunfire broke out just as the couple left the venue. Both were fatally shot. Law enforcement responded swiftly, and the suspect — identified as Elias Rodriguez — was taken into custody shortly afterward. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
UN walks back 14,000 Gaza baby death claim after backlash
UN walks back 14,000 Gaza baby death claim after backlash (Picture credit: AP, ANI) The United Nations has backtracked on a widely reported claim made by its humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours if aid didn't reach them, a figure now confirmed to reflect a longer-term estimate. Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Fletcher had said: 'There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them,' citing stalled aid trucks at the border carrying baby food and nutritional supplements. When asked how he arrived at that number, Fletcher responded that 'strong teams on the ground' were assessing the humanitarian situation from medical centres and schools. However, the BBC later confirmed that the figure was based on an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report that estimated around 14,100 cases of severe acute malnutrition among children aged six to 59 months over a year-long period, from April 2025 to March 2026. The report did not suggest that these children would die within 48 hours. According to the Jerusalem Post , the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) later clarified that while the figure was accurate, the time frame was not. UNOCHA was quoted saying by the BBC, 'We need to get the supplies in as soon as possible, ideally within the next 48 hours,' emphasising urgency but not predicting mass deaths in that span. Despite the clarification, Fletcher's original statement sparked international concern and was cited by at least nine UK Members of Parliament, according to the Jewish Chronicle . Critics, especially pro-Israel voices, accused Fletcher of inflating numbers to pressure Israel. Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy labelled the figure 'a hoax' on X. The controversy unfolded as Israel reopened aid access into Gaza on May 18 after halting it post-ceasefire in early March. On Tuesday, around 93 UN-inspected trucks carrying flour, baby food, medical gear and pharmaceuticals were allowed in, Newsweek reported. Fletcher called this 'a drop in the ocean,' warning that significantly more aid was still urgently needed. Fletcher also rejected Israel's new plan to direct aid through a designated 'Hamas-free' zone in southern Gaza, calling it a 'dodgy modality.' He insisted the previous method of distributing aid worked better, adding: 'To go with the other modality would be to support the objectives of the military offensive.' Amid increasing international pressure, UK foreign secretary David Lammy announced a suspension of trade talks with Israel, calling its recent military escalation 'morally unjustifiable.' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the situation as 'utterly intolerable,' adding, 'We cannot allow the people of Gaza to starve.'
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Gaza 14,000 Babies Warning From UN Explained
A heated debate was sparked after the United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said that 14,000 babies in Gaza would die within 48 hours unless aid reached them. Fletcher cited the figure during a BBC interview on Tuesday as he described what he said was a growing humanitarian disaster facing Palestinians, in particular children, amid Israel's war on Hamas after months of siege, conflict, and aid restrictions. Later, pro-Israeli X accounts and media outlets shared what they said was a contradictory statement by the BBC, citing the United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), some of which was carried in its live blog clarifying Fletcher's claim and its time frame. Newsweek has contacted UNOCHA and the BBC for comment. The war in Gaza began followed Hamas-led militants attacking southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Hamas still holds 58 captives, around a third of whom are believed to be alive. Israel's launch of another offensive in Gaza in recent days with the aim of returning the hostages comes amid international condemnation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government's 11-week blockade of the area. As humanitarian groups warn of famine, Fletcher's claims on the BBC about thousands of babies' lives being at risk were widely reported by other media outlets, including Newsweek. But Israeli media reported that this figure was aimed at exaggerating the immediacy of the threat. The issue has underlined the heated nature of the debate over Israel's actions in Gaza. On the BBC's Today program, Fletcher spoke about what he described as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgency of Israel ending its blockade on aid into the Palestinian territory. He said that only a trickle of aid was coming into Gaza and five trucks that were permitted to enter were on the other side of the border and had not reached the communities they needed to reach. "Let me describe what is on those trucks, this is baby food, baby nutrition," Fletcher said. "There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them." Israel has blocked aid since March 2, arguing that enough humanitarian assistance had entered the Gaza Strip during a six-week ceasefire and that Hamas was diverting the supplies. Fletcher said that "this is not food that Hamas are going to steal." When asked where he got that "extraordinary figure," Fletcher said that the UN had teams on the ground and at medical centers and schools trying to assess needs. When asked for further details, the UN human rights commission spokesperson Jens Laerke told the BBC in a statement "we are pointing to the imperative of getting supplies in to save an estimated 14,000 babies suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gaza, as the IPC partnership [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] has warned about." "We need to get the supplies in as soon as possible," added the statement, also reported by U.K. publication the Jewish Chronicle, "ideally within the next 48 hours." Social media posts referring to the 14,000 figure took off on platforms like Instagram and X over the past 24 hours amid anger from some observers about the plight of Palestinian babies. However, the IPC analysis to which Laerke was referring was released on May 12, before the latest Israel operation started. It estimated nearly 71,000 children "aged 6 to 59 months" faced "acute malnourishment" between April 2025 and March 2026, "including 14,100 severe cases," therefore describing a period of 11 months, not 48 hours. The difference between the headline and the data has sparked questions among critics about whether the UN had exaggerated the scale and immediacy of the threat to discredit Netanyahu's government. "Tom Fletcher literally made it up. '14,000 babies' was a hoax," former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy wrote on Jerusalem Post reported that the UN had "seemingly retracted" Fletcher's statement. A headline on a Times of Israel report on Wednesday said: "Debunked: UN official's claim 14,000 Gazan babies could die in 48 hours was untrue." UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday: "There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them." IPC partnership [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] in May 12 report: "Nearly 71,000 annual cases of acute malnutrition among children aged 6 to 59 months, including 14,100 severe cases, are expected to occur between April 2025 and March 2026." Israel War Room X account: "Israel has never allowed famine or starvation to actually occur in Gaza, and once again, Israel is letting aid in to ensure it doesn't happen." Israeli authorities have given the United Nations permission for 93 more aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip. The aid has not yet reached Palestinians in desperate need, according to the United Nations, cited by the Associated Press, which could add further pressure on Netanyahu's government. Related Articles Map Shows Countries Condemning Israel Over Gaza OffensiveIsrael Preparing Strike on Iran Amid US Tensions: ReportNATO Leaders Give Israel A Gaza UltimatumWhat Is Project Esther? Plan To Tackle Pro-Palestinian Protests in US 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Gaza 14,000 Babies Warning From UN Explained
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A heated debate was sparked after the United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said that 14,000 babies in Gaza would die within 48 hours unless aid reached them. Fletcher cited the figure during a BBC interview on Tuesday as he described what he said was a growing humanitarian disaster facing Palestinians, in particular children, amid Israel's war on Hamas after months of siege, conflict, and aid restrictions. Later, pro-Israeli X accounts and media outlets shared what they said was a contradictory statement by the BBC, citing the United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), some of which was carried in its live blog clarifying Fletcher's claim and its time frame. Newsweek has contacted UNOCHA and the BBC for comment. This image from May 21, 2025 shows people at a food distribution point in the Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City. This image from May 21, 2025 shows people at a food distribution point in the Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City. OMAR AL-QATTAA/Getty Images Why It Matters The war in Gaza began followed Hamas-led militants attacking southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Hamas still holds 58 captives, around a third of whom are believed to be alive. Israel's launch of another offensive in Gaza in recent days with the aim of returning the hostages comes amid international condemnation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government's 11-week blockade of the area. As humanitarian groups warn of famine, Fletcher's claims on the BBC about thousands of babies' lives being at risk were widely reported by other media outlets, including Newsweek. But Israeli media reported that this figure was aimed at exaggerating the immediacy of the threat. The issue has underlined the heated nature of the debate over Israel's actions in Gaza. What To Know On the BBC's Today program, Fletcher spoke about what he described as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgency of Israel ending its blockade on aid into the Palestinian territory. He said that only a trickle of aid was coming into Gaza and five trucks that were permitted to enter were on the other side of the border and had not reached the communities they needed to reach. "Let me describe what is on those trucks, this is baby food, baby nutrition," Fletcher said. "There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them." Israel has blocked aid since March 2, arguing that enough humanitarian assistance had entered the Gaza Strip during a six-week ceasefire and that Hamas was diverting the supplies. Fletcher said that "this is not food that Hamas are going to steal." Tom Fletcher literally made it up. '14,000 babies' was a hoax. — Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) May 21, 2025 "14,000 babies will die in 48 hours" is a bold-faced lie from @UNReliefChief. Even the notoriously anti-Israel @BBCNews issued a clarification. An IPC projection estimated that 14,100 severe cases of malnutrition among children 0-6 years old could occur over the next year.… — Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) May 20, 2025 When asked where he got that "extraordinary figure," Fletcher said that the UN had teams on the ground and at medical centers and schools trying to assess needs. When asked for further details, the UN human rights commission spokesperson Jens Laerke told the BBC in a statement "we are pointing to the imperative of getting supplies in to save an estimated 14,000 babies suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gaza, as the IPC partnership [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] has warned about." "We need to get the supplies in as soon as possible," added the statement, also reported by U.K. publication the Jewish Chronicle, "ideally within the next 48 hours." Social media posts referring to the 14,000 figure took off on platforms like Instagram and X over the past 24 hours amid anger from some observers about the plight of Palestinian babies. However, the IPC analysis to which Laerke was referring was released on May 12, before the latest Israel operation started. It estimated nearly 71,000 children "aged 6 to 59 months" faced "acute malnourishment" between April 2025 and March 2026, "including 14,100 severe cases," therefore describing a period of 11 months, not 48 hours. The difference between the headline and the data has sparked questions among critics about whether the UN had exaggerated the scale and immediacy of the threat to discredit Netanyahu's government. "Tom Fletcher literally made it up. '14,000 babies' was a hoax," former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy wrote on X. The Jerusalem Post reported that the UN had "seemingly retracted" Fletcher's statement. A headline on a Times of Israel report on Wednesday said: "Debunked: UN official's claim 14,000 Gazan babies could die in 48 hours was untrue." What People Are Saying UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday: "There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them." IPC partnership [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] in May 12 report: "Nearly 71,000 annual cases of acute malnutrition among children aged 6 to 59 months, including 14,100 severe cases, are expected to occur between April 2025 and March 2026." Israel War Room X account: "Israel has never allowed famine or starvation to actually occur in Gaza, and once again, Israel is letting aid in to ensure it doesn't happen." What Happens Next Israeli authorities have given the United Nations permission for 93 more aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip. The aid has not yet reached Palestinians in desperate need, according to the United Nations, cited by the Associated Press, which could add further pressure on Netanyahu's government.
