Patients in a tent outside a hospital in Khartoum, Sudan. Top news of the day | Thursday: Gaza, Sudan, cybercrime, Caribbean UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: the situation in Gaza, the escalation of violence in Sudan, the Secretary General is heading to Hanoi to participate in the opening ceremony for the signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, tropical storm Melissa.
Security Council on Gaza
After two years of devastating war in Gaza, there is an opportunity to chart a path to a more just and peaceful future. This was stated by the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov, speaking at a meeting of the Security Council. According to the UN, the amount of aid reaching Gaza in the first week after the ceasefire increased by 46 percent, but Alakbarov said, “this is still not enough.” He called for the opening of more crossings into the enclave, as well as ensuring safe humanitarian corridors and a constant supply of fuel.
Crisis in Sudan
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that civilians in many parts of Sudan continue to suffer as violence continues to escalate, with drone attacks and clashes spreading beyond the Darfur region. The situation in El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur state, remains dire. Currently, more than 30 million people across the country are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. In particular, 9.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and almost 15 million children have been forced into a daily struggle for survival. Hanoi, Vietnam, where he will attend a high-level event marking the opening for signature of the UN Convention against Cybercrime. This is the first comprehensive global treaty aimed at combating illegal activity on the Internet. The convention was adopted by the General Assembly in December last year. During his visit to Vietnam, the Secretary-General will hold bilateral meetings with government officials.
Tropical Storm
The World Food Program (WFP) is helping Caribbean communities prepare for tropical storm Melissa. More than 3.5 million warning messages were sent to Haitians. WFP is also preparing to provide cash payments with support from the Central Emergency Response Fund. Food supplies have been prepared in Cuba, and humanitarian supplies have been prepared at the WFP logistics hub in Barbados for prompt delivery. In Jamaica, WFP plans to provide 10,000 food parcels to affected families.