Migrants in France are waiting to cross the English Channel to England. Top news of the day | Monday: Gaza, Ukraine, UK, Sudan UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: military action in Gaza, destruction in Ukraine, the expulsion of asylum seekers in the UK to Rwanda, starving people in Sudan.
Gaza War
A full-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering, would have “dire humanitarian consequences,” UN Senior Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag said on Monday. In addition, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the Israeli operation at the Nasser hospital complex in Khan Younis is ongoing. The UN and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society evacuated 14 patients on Sunday. Negotiations are underway to evacuate the remaining people there.
Attacks on Ukraine
Last weekend, another wave of hostilities in the front-line regions of Ukraine led to civilian casualties, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure. In the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, local authorities report numerous casualties and damage to residential buildings and civilian facilities, including educational and medical institutions. Humanitarian organizations are providing materials for emergency repairs. At the same time, the UN, in cooperation with partners, is developing measures to respond to the consequences of the oil spill in Kharkov after the attack on the oil storage facility on February 9.
Refugee rights in the UK
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has criticized new legislation in the UK that aims to facilitate the speedy transfer of asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda. The move risks causing a “serious blow” to human rights, Turk warned. We are talking about a bill that requires Rwanda to be recognized as a “safe country” in terms of protecting refugees from further deportation. The High Commissioner called on the UK Government to reconsider the Bill and fully comply with its obligations under international law.
Famine in Sudan
At least 25 million people face worsening hunger in Sudan, the World Food Program (WFP) warns. Due to ongoing violence in the country, thousands of Sudanese families are forced to leave their homes every week and cross into Chad and South Sudan. The situation is dire as food needs skyrocket both in Sudan and neighboring countries. Despite the need for humanitarian assistance, WFP faces a funding shortfall – nearly $300 million short of operations over the next six months.