Destruction in Gaza. Top news of the day | Tuesday: Kyrgyzstan, Atlantic hurricane, Gaza, Belarus UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: a peak in the Tien Shan Mountains was given the name of the UN, the strongest June hurricane in Atlantic history, new evacuation orders in Gaza, UN experts called on the Belarusian authorities to release elderly prisoners .
UN Head in Kyrgyzstan
A 5,567-meter peak in the Tien Shan Mountains is now named after the United Nations. This was announced on Tuesday during the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Kyrgyzstan. The corresponding decree was signed by the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. The decision became known during the meeting of the UN head with Sadyr Japarov, which took place in the city of Cholpon-Ata on the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul. Guterres arrived in Kyrgyzstan on a two-day visit as part of his tour of Central Asian countries. The Secretary-General and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic discussed cooperation between the UN and Kyrgyzstan, issues of regional peace and security, problems related to mountains, as well as progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hurricane Beryl
Hurricane Beryl, declared a highly dangerous Category 5 hurricane, is heading towards Jamaica. It previously hit Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. According to a UN spokesman, this is the strongest June hurricane in Atlantic history. According to preliminary data, houses, infrastructure, power supply and communication systems suffered serious damage. The UN is supporting local authorities in relief efforts and planning. Additional UN emergency specialists will be sent to the affected region in the coming days, a UN spokesman said.
Situation in Gaza
Senior UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in the enclave, Sigrid Kaag, briefed the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 2720. More than a million people have been forced to flee since the Israeli offensive on Rafah began on May 6, Kaag said. She also expressed deep concern over reports of new evacuation orders in the Khan Younis area and their impact on civilians. The new orders affect an estimated 250,000 people, with places where they can be accommodated already overcrowded. Since the start of the Israeli military operation in Rafah and the subsequent closure of the Rafah border crossing in early May, the amount of aid flowing into Gaza and distributed throughout the strip has decreased significantly, Kaag emphasized.
Prisoners in Belarus
UN experts called on the Belarusian authorities to pardon or commute the sentences of all elderly people in prison on political charges. Independent experts received a list of 63 people over the age of 60, including 15 women, who are imprisoned in Belarus for real or perceived membership in the political opposition. Most are serving prison sentences of up to 25 years, while others are held in pre-trial detention centers or subjected to forced psychiatric treatment. Some prisoners suffer from chronic illnesses or disabilities. Three prisoners over the age of 60 are reportedly being held incommunicado.