Latest news with #UNOCHA

Washington Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Israel says it won't extend visa of top U.N. humanitarian official
JAFFA, Israel — Israel has declined to renew the visa for a top U.N. official in the occupied Palestinian territories in what humanitarian officials say is part of a pattern of Israel retaliating against those who criticize its conduct in the Gaza war and toward Palestinians. Jonathan Whittall of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is the latest local head of a U.N. agency to be denied a visa to Israel, according to Farhan Haq, a spokesman for Secretary General António Gutteres. OCHA monitors, coordinates aid, and advocates for international humanitarian law in Gaza and the West Bank.


Daily News Egypt
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily News Egypt
Over 26,000 Mpox Cases Reported Across Africa in 2025, DRC Most Affected
More than 26,000 cases of mpox have been recorded across Africa since the start of 2025, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) bearing the heaviest burden, according to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) via UN OCHA's Reliefweb.4 As of July, a total of 26,734 mpox cases and 115 deaths have been reported across 21 African countries. The DRC alone accounts for 13,545 cases and 38 fatalities, followed by Uganda (6,051 cases) and Sierra Leone (4,610 cases). While WHO data indicates a recent decline in new infections—particularly in DRC and Sierra Leone—health authorities caution that the trend may be misleading due to testing delays, inconsistent surveillance, and waning response resources in many affected areas. Resurgence and global alert status The mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, is endemic to Central and West Africa, but drew global attention after international outbreaks in 2022–2023. Though the WHO lifted its global health emergency designation in May 2023, the status was reinstated in August 2024 amid a fresh resurgence. The current outbreak has raised concerns about health system fatigue and resource constraints, particularly in conflict-affected countries like the DRC where routine disease surveillance remains fragile. Public health priorities Health officials are calling for sustained international support, improved access to testing and vaccines, and cross-border coordination to contain the spread of mpox across the continent. The WHO continues to monitor the outbreak and is expected to issue updated technical guidance for national health ministries this month. The mpox virus is primarily spread through close physical contact, including skin-to-skin contact with infected individuals, contaminated objects, or bodily fluids. It causes fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, and can be fatal in vulnerable populations if not treated promptly.


Roya News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Under cover of Gaza war, 'Israel' accelerates ethnic cleansing in West Bank
As global attention remains fixed on the devastating war in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, is witnessing an intensified campaign of forced displacement, destruction, and lockdowns. Since late 2023, 'Israeli' authorities have taken advantage of the world's focus on Gaza to escalate violations across the West Bank in an unprecedented manner, according to UN and human rights reports. Widespread raids and infrastructure destruction Military raids have surged in Palestinian towns, villages, and refugee camps, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nablus. These operations go beyond arrests and now include large-scale destruction. Killings and arrests: Hundreds of Palestinians, including children, have been killed and thousands injured. Thousands more have been detained in near-daily raids. Systematic destruction: Bulldozers have demolished roads and critical infrastructure, including water, electricity, and sewage networks, especially in refugee camps. Human rights groups have labeled the actions as collective punishment. Settler violence: 'Israel's' unofficial weapon Violent attacks by settlers have increased dramatically, particularly in Area C, under full 'Israeli' control. Human rights groups such as B'Tselem report that these attacks are often carried out with the protection or complicity of the 'Israeli' military. Common attacks include arson of homes and farmland, physical assaults, and use of live ammunition. Impact: Dozens of Palestinian families, especially in Bedouin and herding communities, have been forcibly displaced in what observers call a 'silent ethnic cleansing.' Home demolitions: institutionalized displacement Demolitions of Palestinian homes and structures have surged, especially in Area C and East Jerusalem, under the pretext of lacking building permits -- permits that are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. According to UN OCHA, hundreds of buildings have been demolished since late 2023, leaving hundreds of Palestinians homeless, including many children. Closures and blockades: economic and humanitarian suffocation A web of military checkpoints and closures has fragmented the West Bank into isolated enclaves. These restrictions have: Crippled the economy, cutting off workers from jobs inside the Green Line and hindering trade. Restricted essential services, preventing access to hospitals, schools, and universities. Using the Gaza war as cover Observers say 'Israel' is using the war on Gaza to accelerate long-standing plans to reshape the West Bank, undermining the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. What is unfolding is not a series of isolated incidents but a calculated strategy of displacement, destruction, and economic strangulation, while the international community remains largely silent.
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
02-07-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Earthquake of magnitude 3.9 strikes Afghanistan; third since June 28
According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 15 km, making it susceptible to aftershocks ANI Asia An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 struck Afghanistan on Wednesday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said. According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 15 km, making it susceptible to aftershocks. In a post on X, the NCS stated, "EQ of M: 3.9, On: 02/07/2025 00:44:52 IST, Lat: 36.63 N, Long: 71.38 E, Depth: 15 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Earlier on June 30, another earthquake of magnitude 4.9 jolted Afghanistan. In a post on X, NCS wrote, "EQ of M: 4.9, On: 30/06/2025 08:02:35 IST, Lat: 36.77 N, Long: 71.13 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Earlier, on June 28, another earthquake of magnitude 4.3 struck the region at a depth of 120 km. In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.3, On: 28/06/2025 20:01:13 IST, Lat: 36.37 N, Long: 71.06 E, Depth: 120 Km, Location: Afghanistan." Shallow earthquakes like this one are more dangerous than deeper ones due to their greater energy release closer to the Earth's surface. This causes stronger ground shaking and increased damage to structures and casualties, compared to deeper earthquakes, which lose energy as they travel to the surface. 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. These frequent earthquakes in Afghanistan cause damage to vulnerable communities, which are already grappling with decades of conflict and underdevelopment and have left them with little resilience to cope with multiple simultaneous shocks, UNOCHA noted.


Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
4.9 magnitude earthquake jolts Afghanistan
An earthquake of 4.9 magnitude jolted Afghanistan on Sunday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said. Afghanistan sits on numerous fault lines between the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates, with a fault line also running directly through Herat. (REUTERS/Representational) As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks. In a post on X, the NCS said, 'EQ of M: 4.9, On: 30/06/2025 08:02:35 IST, Lat: 36.77 N, Long: 71.13 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan.' Earlier on June 28, another earthquake of magnitude 4.3 struck the region at a depth of 120km. In a post on X, the NCS said, 'EQ of M: 4.3, On: 28/06/2025 20:01:13 IST, Lat: 36.37 N, Long: 71.06 E, Depth: 120 Km, Location: Afghanistan.' Shallow earthquakes like this one are more dangerous than deeper ones due to their greater energy release closer to the Earth's surface. This causes stronger ground shaking and increased damage to structures and casualties, compared to deeper earthquakes, which lose energy as they travel to the surface. 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. 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.