An Israeli airstrike on a school run by the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Gaza killed dozens of civilians sheltering there. Top news of the day | Thursday: Gaza, Ukraine, Security Council, Russian UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: dozens of people killed in an airstrike on an UNRWA school in Gaza, the anniversary of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, five non-permanent members of the UN Security Council were elected, International Russian Language Day.
Gaza War
An Israeli airstrike on a UN Refugee Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school in Gaza killed dozens of civilians sheltering there. Since the start of the Gaza war, more than 180 UNRWA-owned buildings have been hit, killing more than 450 displaced people. UNRWA reminded the parties to the conflict that schools and other UN premises should not be used for military purposes. UN humanitarian agencies warned on Thursday that Gaza faces a dangerous sanitation situation as civilians are forced to live on the streets or in destroyed buildings. According to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, the lack of clean drinking water indicates the possibility of the spread of cholera.
Kakhovka Dam  ;
Exactly one year ago, the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam flooded more than 620 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, marking one of the most significant instances of damage to civilian infrastructure since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The dam’s collapse claimed lives and displaced thousands of people in the affected areas, devastating land and destroying livelihoods on both sides of the front line. The UN quickly mobilized a response and continues to support communities in southern Ukraine as they recover from the disaster.
Security Council
On 6 June, the 78th session of the UN General Assembly held elections for five non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia will take office on 1 January 2025 and will serve until 31 December 2026. The UN Security Council is one of the six main organs of the United Nations. It consists of 15 countries, five of which – the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and the United States – are permanent members with the right of veto. The remaining ten are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years.
Russian language
Today, on the birthday of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, we celebrate International Russian Language Day. Russian is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. This year’s celebration coincides with the 225th anniversary of the great poet’s birth, the UN spokesman said during a briefing for journalists on Thursday. An exhibition dedicated to Russian fairy tales and Pushkin’s works is being held at the UN headquarters in New York to mark the Day.