Latest news with #relief
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Forbes
Floods Impact Big Bend And Other Texas Travel Destinations
Flood waters left debris, including vehicles and equipment scattered in Louise Hays Park on July 5 in Kerrville, Texas. (Photo by) Getty Images The country mourns for so many people killed or injured—and properties ruined or damaged—in the Texas floods. Parks and travel destinations also took a hit. The Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation, which presents popular music events throughout the year canceled its Oct. 10-12 Welcome Home Fest 2025. 'Right now, our focus is on providing relief, shelter and hospitality to those affected by this disaster,' the foundation states on its website. 'We're pouring our energy into supporting our neighbors.' The flooding has closed Kerrville's Louise Hays Park for day use and through traffic 'until further notice,' the City of Kerrville's website says. 'This closure encompasses the Kerrville Rivertrail and all access points. Kindly refrain from attempting to enter these facilities through any access points.' Kerrville sits on the banks of the Guadalupe River River, which overflowed and tragically swept away many summer campers and others. The city in the Texas Hill Country is about a two-hour drive west from Austin and a one-hour drive north from San Antonio. Other areas also suffered damage, as far away as Big Bend National Park, a 388-mile, six-hour drive from Kerrville. 'The tourism infrastructure in Texas has taken a major hit,' the trade website Travel and Tour World reports. 'Popular tourist destinations like state parks, historic landmarks and natural reserves have been either temporarily closed or severely damaged.' Search and rescue teams navigate upstream in an inflatable boat on the flooded Guadalupe River on July 4 in Comfort, Texas. (Photo by) Getty Images Local businesses dependent on tourism have faced a sharp decline in visitors. 'Hotels, bed and breakfasts and local restaurants that once thrived during the summer tourism season have seen a significant drop in foot traffic,' Travel and Tour World says. 'With much of the local population displaced or involved in recovery efforts, businesses are struggling to stay afloat.' At Big Bend National Park, which welcomed 561,469 visitors last year, there are numerous road closures. The park has 304 miles of paved and gravel roads. 'The road to Santa Elena (Route 16) is closed due to water and debris,' the Big Bend Daily reported on July 20. 'Most dirt roads are closed, check the visitor center for updates. Your safety is your responsibility, be prepared to self-rescue.' The park's website says that due to heavy rain and flooding over the past few days, the following steps have been taken until further notice: Hot Springs Road is closed. The road between Cottonwood Campground and Santa Elena Canyon is closed. Old Maverick Road is closed. Old Ore Road is closed. Dagger Flat isclosed. Most dirt roads in the park are closed. Most backcountry drive-in campsites are closed. 'After storms, debris and standing water may be present in low-lying areas along Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and the road between Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village,' the park service says. 'Please exercise extreme caution when driving any road in the park. Do not drive into low water crossings if water is flowing across the road.' Many Texas businesses are pitching in to help the recovery effort. Austin's Meanwhile Brewing Co. and the Uptown Sports Club , for example, have announced they will donate all proceeds from their Summer Backyard Barbecue Series to The Community Foundation of the Hill Country to support the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. The barbecue event brings together chefs, brewmasters, musicians and local vendors on four days, starting July 25 and three days in August.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
WHO says Israeli forces attacked its Gaza facilities and detained staff
The World Health Organization said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in the central Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday, endangering humanitarian workers and compromising relief operations in the besieged Palestinian territory. The UN agency said its staff accommodation was struck three times, causing a fire and significant damage. "Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot towards Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint,' WHO said. Two agency personnel and two family members were detained during the raid. According to WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, three were later released while one staff member remained in Israeli custody. 'WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff,' Dr Tedros said. The UN agency said its main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, located within an Israeli-declared evacuation zone, was damaged in a separate strike on Sunday, triggering explosions and a fire inside the facility. The Israeli military was still to respond to these allegations by WHO. Men ride in a tricycle cart in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza while smoke billows from Israeli bombardment on 21 July 2025 (AFP via Getty) The UN agency vowed to continue and expand its operations in the area, a critical centre of humanitarian aid distribution during more than 21 months of war. Deir al-Balah is densely packed with Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombardment and evacuation orders. Israeli tanks entered the city's southern and eastern neighbourhoods on Monday for the first time since the conflict began. Tank shelling in the city hit homes and mosques, killing at least three people and injuring several more, according to medics. Gunfire was reportedly heard throughout the day and thousands of people fled on foot or using donkey carts, eyewitnesses said. More than 25 countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Japan and Australia, issued a joint statement on Monday urging an immediate end to the war. The signatories criticised Israel's restriction of aid, describing it as 'dangerous' and a violation of international humanitarian law. 'The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,' they said. 'Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law.' Israel's foreign ministry rejected the statement, saying it was "disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas'. US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also rejected the statement from many of Washington's closest allies, denouncing it as "disgusting" in a post on X and saying they should instead pressure the "savages of Hamas'. The broader Israeli assault across Gaza left at least 130 Palestinians dead and over 1,000 wounded over the past 24 hours, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. The cumulative death toll from Israel's war on the besieged territory exceeded 59,000, with widespread destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people. Israel launched a ground and air assault on Gaza after nearly 1,200 civilians and soldiers were killed and 251 taken hostage during a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike in Gaza on 21 July 2025 (Reuters) The UN's top humanitarian officials have raised the alarm over a collapsing healthcare system and rising malnutrition in Gaza due to the Israeli war and siege, particularly among children. WHO said Gaza's health sector was 'on its knees' amid critical shortages of fuel, medicines, and medical equipment. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed two UN guesthouses were also hit in the latest Israeli strikes, despite all parties being informed of their protected status. 'These locations – as with all civilian sites – must be protected, regardless of evacuation orders,' he said. UN secretary general António Guterres expressed deep concern over what he called an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions. 'The last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing,' he said, according to the spokesman. The head of the UN humanitarian office in Gaza, Jonathan Whittall, who Israel said would not have his visa renewed, described the situation as 'conditions of death', calling the suffering preventable and 'intentional'. 'Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations,' he said.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
WHO says Israeli forces attacked its Gaza facilities and detained staff
The World Health Organization said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in the central Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday, endangering humanitarian workers and compromising relief operations in the besieged Palestinian territory. The UN agency said its staff accommodation was struck three times, causing a fire and significant damage. "Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot towards Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint,' WHO said. Two agency personnel and two family members were detained during the raid. According to WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, three were later released while one staff member remained in Israeli custody. 'WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff,' Dr Tedros said. The UN agency said its main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, located within an Israeli-declared evacuation zone, was damaged in a separate strike on Sunday, triggering explosions and a fire inside the facility. The Israeli military is yet to respond to these allegations by WHO. The UN agency vowed to continue and expand its operations in the area, a critical centre of humanitarian aid distribution during more than 21 months of war. Deir al-Balah is densely packed with Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombardment and evacuation orders. Israeli tanks entered the city's southern and eastern neighbourhoods on Monday for the first time since the conflict began. Tank shelling in the city hit homes and mosques, killing at least three people and injuring several more, according to medics. Gunfire was reportedly heard throughout the day and thousands of people fled on foot or using donkey carts, eyewitnesses said. More than 25 countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Japan and Australia, issued a joint statement on Monday urging an immediate end to the war. The signatories criticised Israel's restriction of aid, describing it as 'dangerous' and a violation of international humanitarian law. 'The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,' they said. 'Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law.' Israel's foreign ministry rejected the statement, saying it was "disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas'. US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also rejected the statement from many of Washington's closest allies, denouncing it as "disgusting" in a post on X and saying they should instead pressure the "savages of Hamas'. The broader Israeli assault across Gaza left at least 130 Palestinians dead and over 1,000 wounded over the past 24 hours, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. The cumulative death toll from Israel's war on the besieged territory exceeded 59,000, with widespread destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people. Israel launched a ground and air assault on Gaza after nearly 1,200 civilians and soldiers were killed and 251 taken hostage during a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. The UN's top humanitarian officials have raised the alarm over a collapsing healthcare system and rising malnutrition in Gaza due to the Israeli war and siege, particularly among children. WHO said Gaza's health sector was 'on its knees' amid critical shortages of fuel, medicines, and medical equipment. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed two UN guesthouses were also hit in the latest Israeli strikes, despite all parties being informed of their protected status. 'These locations – as with all civilian sites – must be protected, regardless of evacuation orders,' he said. UN secretary general António Guterres expressed deep concern over what he called an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions. 'The last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing,' he said, according to the spokesman. The head of the UN humanitarian office in Gaza, Jonathan Whittall, who Israel said would not have his visa renewed, described the situation as 'conditions of death', calling the suffering preventable and 'intentional'. 'Israel has the obligation to allow and facilitate by all the means at its disposal the humanitarian relief provided by the United Nations and by other humanitarian organizations,' he said.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
iA Financial Group, iA American Warranty Group, American Amicable, and Vericity Donate $75,000 to Support Texas Flood Relief Efforts
iA Financial Group, together with its U.S. subsidiaries iA American Warranty Group, American Amicable and Vericity, is donating $75,000 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to support relief efforts in response to flash flooding in Texas. 'Our hearts go out to the individuals, families and entire communities of Kerr County and surrounding areas who have been devastated by the recent flash flooding. We are profoundly saddened by the loss of life and the hardship so many are facing. At this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with all those affected, and we are committed to offering meaningful support to help them begin to rebuild and recover,' said Denis Ricard, President and Chief Executive Officer of iA Financial Group. Donations to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country will be used to assist those impacted by the flood with immediate and ongoing relief, including financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them, and recovery and resilience efforts in response to the flooding. About iA Financial Group iA Financial Group is a North American insurance and wealth management group, with operations across Canada and the United States. As of March 31, 2025, iA Financial Group had total assets under management of $264 billion. Founded in 1892, it is an important Canadian public company and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IAG (common shares). About iA American Warranty Group With a history dating back to 1984, iA American Warranty Group is both a full-service administrator and an 'A' rated insurer for the finance and insurance industry. Thanks to complete vertical integration, every aspect of the business is controlled in-house, including insurance, products, wealth-building opportunities, retail technology, training, income development and performance marketing. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company maintains regional support offices throughout the USA. The parent company is iA Financial Group. About American Amicable Group American Amicable Group, based in Texas, is a national life insurance company that has been faithfully protecting American generations since 1910. AAG is a financially stable and agent-driven life insurance organization offering affordable and accessible policies to individuals seeking simplified or final expense coverage. American Amicable Group has been a subsidiary of iA Financial Group since 2010. About Vericity Vericity, based in Chicago, provides life insurance protection targeted to the middle American market. The company's operating subsidiaries consist of Fidelity Life and Efinancial. They focus on leveraging technology and data analytics to offer life insurance products directly to consumers. The company allows consumers to buy life insurance protection fully online, with the help of an agent, or a hybrid of both. Vericity is part of iA Financial Group. iA Financial Group is a business name and trademark of
Emirates 24/7
2 days ago
- General
- Emirates 24/7
UAE aid ship 'Khalifa' departs with 7,166 tonnes for Gaza
The eighth UAE aid ship, Khalifa, part of "Operation Chivalrous Knight 3", departed today from Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, heading to El Arish Port in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Loaded with urgent relief supplies, the ship forms part of the UAE's ongoing humanitarian support for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Khalifa is the largest aid vessel dispatched by the UAE to date, carrying 7,166 tonnes of essential food, medical and relief supplies. The cargo comprises 4,372 tonnes of food items, 1,433 tonnes of shelter materials, 860 tonnes of medical supplies and 501 tonnes of health supplies. This latest shipment brings the total volume of aid sent by the UAE to the Gaza Strip to 77,266 tonnes. The initiative is part of a series of humanitarian efforts launched under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, underscoring the UAE's steadfast commitment to providing support to those affected and in need, in cooperation with its charitable and humanitarian institutions. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
