Dhaka University, Bangladesh, became the center of protests. Main news of the day | Friday: Russia, Sudan, Bangladesh, Ukraine UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: UN experts called for the release of human rights activists remaining in prison in the Russian Federation, a mass famine has been declared in Sudan’s Northern Darfur, 32 children have died as a result of violence in Bangladesh, the IAEA warns of a decrease in the water level in the cooling pond at the Zaporizhzhya NPP.
Release of prisoners in the Russian Federation
Independent UN experts welcomed the release of 16 people held in Russia, but expressed concern that up to 1,372 people remain in prison in the country “on politically motivated charges.” The experts said most of those released were arbitrarily detained for peacefully opposing the Russian government and its war against Ukraine through human rights work, journalism, creativity and political activism. The UN human rights activists also called on Russia to repeal laws restricting freedom of expression, including laws on “disseminating false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation” and “extremism.”
Famine in Sudan
The UN’s acting humanitarian chief, Joyce Msuya, said humanitarian access was urgently needed in Sudan to deliver aid to the starving population. Mass starvation has been confirmed in North Darfur, particularly in the Zamzam refugee camp. Sudan’s humanitarian coordinator, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, stressed that donors must urgently increase financial support and use diplomatic efforts to ensure humanitarian access to stop the spread of hunger across the country. Some 25.6 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – are facing acute malnutrition.
Violence in Bangladesh
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has confirmed that at least 32 children were killed during protests in Bangladesh in July, with many more injured and detained. UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera expressed condolences to the families and said children must be protected from violence at all times. He said calls to the UNICEF-supported Child Helpline had increased by 250 percent since the protests began. He also noted that more than 1,000 social workers trained by UNICEF were helping children whose mental health had been affected by the situation in the country.
Situation at ZNPP
The water level in the cooling pond at Ukraine’s Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) continues to drop. Although all reactors remain in cold shutdown, water availability is important for nuclear safety, said International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Over the past few weeks, IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhya NPP have observed a drop in the water level in the cooling pond. They also continue to hear sounds of gunfire and explosions.