.Thousands of children in Gaza are left without parents or guardians. Top news of the day | Monday: Ukraine, Kenya, Gaza, Iraq, Population Commission UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: intensifying attacks on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, floods in Kenya, thousands of children in Gaza were left without parents and guardians, criminal penalties for same-sex relationships were introduced in Iraq, the average life expectancy on the planet has increased.
Attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure
Experts from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) today expressed concern about the growing number of civilian casualties as a result of intensified attacks by Russian armed forces on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, as well as a series of attacks on the country’s railway system. As the head of the mission, Danielle Bell, emphasized, rail transport is of utmost importance for the population in conditions where access to seaports and air traffic is limited.
Breakthrough dams in Kenya
The UN chief said he was saddened by the loss of life and destruction in Kenya. According to the latest data, about 50 people died due to a dam failure in Nairobi and the subsequent flooding. The Secretary-General expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, as well as the people and government of Kenya. UN agencies are working closely with Kenyan authorities and providing humanitarian assistance to the population.
The situation of children in Gaza
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that more than 13 thousand children have died in the Gaza Strip, and at least 17 thousand have been separated from their families or lost their parents and guardians. At the same time, at least 70 percent of houses across Gaza have been destroyed or damaged. UNICEF continues to provide assistance to children and families in Gaza. The fund’s employees, in particular, distributed more than 200 thousand items of clothing for children under the age of 17.
Law against homosexuality in Iraq
The UN Human Rights Office expressed concern over the adoption of a new law in Iraq that criminalizes same-sex relationships. From now on, people who enter into such relationships by mutual consent face up to 15 years in prison. As the Office emphasized, the new law contradicts several human rights treaties and conventions ratified by Iraq, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Population Commission
The average life expectancy on the planet has increased to 73 years. In 1994, this figure was 65 years. At the same time, the health of the population has improved. The head of the UN Population Fund, Natalia Kanem, stated this today at the opening of the 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development. She also reported that maternal mortality fell by a third between 2000 and 2020. The UN notes that these positive trends are associated with the development of medicine and health care, improved nutrition and sanitation, as well as increased access to education and information.