The head of Human Rights condemns the murder of more than 500 Palestinians in the West Bank
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has condemned the killing of more than 500 Palestinians by Israeli security forces and settlers since October 7.
“The population of the occupied West Bank is also being subjected day after day to unprecedented bloodshed. “It is inconceivable that so many lives have been taken so gratuitously,” said the High Commissioner, who called for “a thorough and independent investigation” and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The impunity for these crimes, he emphasized, has created an environment conducive to “Israeli security forces committing more and more homicides.”
Türk claims that Israeli security forces have often used lethal force as a first resort against Palestinian protesters who threw stones, incendiary bottles and firecrackers at armored vehicles.
“The prevalence of Palestinians who died after being shot in the upper body, coupled with a pattern of denial of medical assistance to the wounded, suggests an intent to kill,” he added.
His Office has verified more than 80 cases in which Israeli soldiers make “unnecessary and disproportionate use of lethal force” and concludes that there has been “an increase in apparently planned targeted killings.”
Treatment of more than 3,000 Gaza children suffering from malnutrition may be stopped
In Gaza, treatment for more than 3,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition risks being interrupted if more help does not arrive, UNICEF warns.
“If nutrition supplies, especially ready-to-use therapeutic foods, used to treat child malnutrition, cannot be distributed, the treatment of more than 3,000 acutely malnourished children will be interrupted,” said UNICEF Communications Chief in Palestine. Jonathan Crickx, stressing that the “current situation in Rafah is a disaster for children.”
The border with Egypt is controlled by Israeli troops, the Rafah border crossing is closed and fighting has strangled humanitarian aid shipments through Kerem Shalom. Much of the food still coming into Gaza is being sent north through the new border crossings, meaning the crisis there has eased, but people in the south are running out of supplies.
According to a report from the Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office, in Deir al Balah, Al Aqsa Hospital announced on May 30 that a six-month-old child died due to malnutrition and lack of medical treatment, and another six-month-old child died. 13 years old also died of malnutrition on June 1.
The WHO has warned this Tuesday that the siege and hostilities in the area make it increasingly difficult to access the United Arab Emirates field hospital in the city of Rafah, currently the only center in the area that provides health services. .
Ocean warming has doubled since 2003
The rate of warming of the oceans has doubled in 20 years and the rate of rise in sea level has doubled in the last 30 years, reaching nine centimeters, warns a UNESCO report with contributions from more than 100 scientists from around 30 countries.
The State of the Oceans 2024 reveals alarming new data on the threats facing the ocean.
“Temperature, acidification, sea level: all the alarms are ringing,” said director Audrey Azoulay. In addition to implementing the Paris Climate Agreement, UNESCO is calling on Member States to invest in the restoration of marine forests and better regulate marine protected areas, which are important reserves of biodiversity.
UNHCR calls for rescue services on land routes taken by migrants in Africa
The land routes to North Africa that thousands of migrants travel through lack rescue and protection services. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, points out that these services are needed not only at sea.
The horrors refugees and migrants face along these routes are unimaginable. Many of them die while crossing the desert and the majority suffer sexual violence, kidnappings, torture, physical abuse, arbitrary detentions and are victims of human trafficking and collective expulsions.
However, protection services are very scarce in hard-to-reach areas, including the Sahara Desert. Many migrants do not pass through the cities where humanitarian organizations are located, and embark on routes through small communities and remote areas where only local authorities are present.
UNHCR is committed to creating partnerships with these authorities to serve migrants.
“We continue talking about rescue at sea. The concept of desert rescue is not very developed, research and rescue in the desert, and it is something that we want to develop with local authorities. Technologically, it is possible,” said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR special envoy for the Central Mediterranean.
