A man walks through a devastated area of Gaza with a child in his arms. UN chief human rights activist: war in Gaza could develop into a global crisis Peace and Security
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that the war in Gaza risks developing into a crisis that will affect the entire Middle East and countries beyond. According to him during a session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, the situation in the region is a “powder keg.”
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Presenting a report on global crises to Council members, Turk urged the international community to do everything possible to avoid further spread of the conflict in Gaza.
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Turk at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council: the “bloodbath” in Gaza must stop
Meanwhile, Egypt continues the second day of negotiations on a ceasefire in the sector. The US, Qatar and Hamas are reportedly participating, but there are no Israeli representatives yet. In light of recent events, United States Vice President Kamala Harris has called for an “immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks” to ensure the release of the Israeli hostages.
Escalation in Lebanon
The High Commissioner noted that risks to regional stability are already being felt in southern Lebanon, where there is now an increase in “extremely worrying” exchanges of fire between Israel and Lebanese fighters along the UN-monitored Blue Line that separates the countries.
According to Turk, since the beginning of the war in Gaza, almost 200 people have been killed in Lebanon, including children, doctors and journalists.
About 90,000 Lebanese were forced to flee their homes as a result of escalating violence and “extensive destruction of health facilities, schools and vital infrastructure,” he continued. In addition, 80 thousand people fled Israeli communities in border areas, Turk noted.
Child mortality
At least 15 children have died from malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza, according to updated data from Gaza health authorities. Kamal Advan Hospital.
That number will rise in the coming days unless humanitarian operations are urgently expanded, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Sunday.
“The child mortality situation we feared has become a reality and is likely to rapidly worsen unless hostilities cease and obstacles to humanitarian assistance are immediately addressed,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adel Hodr.
9 thousand women killed in Gaza
Gaza health authorities say Israeli bombings and ground operation against Hamas militants in the strip killed more than 30,400 people – most of them women and children. killed about 9 thousand women in Gaza. In reality, this figure is probably higher, since many people remain missing under the rubble.