About 50 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Breaking News | environment: Ukraine, Gaza, hepatitis C, digital economy UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: the latest data on victims and injured in Ukraine; destruction of schools in Gaza; the first method of self-testing for hepatitis C; UNCTAD report on the digital economy.
Latest data on casualties in Ukraine
A series of rocket attacks on Ukrainian cities on Monday killed at least 34 civilians , including five children. The UN spokesman stated this at a briefing in New York, citing the Ukrainian authorities. More than 120 people, including 10 children, were injured. About 130 buildings were damaged as a result of the strikes. The UN and its partners are stepping up efforts to help those affected.
School destruction in Gaza
Amid reports of intense shelling across Gaza, the head of the UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, confirmed on Wednesday that the latest escalation of bombing had hit four schools that had served as shelters for residents of the strip in recent months. Since the start of the war, he said, two-thirds of UNRWA schools in Gaza have been hit, some destroyed and many severely damaged.
Hepatitis C Self-Test
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first self-test for the hepatitis C virus. The WHO believes that the use of this test will contribute to efforts to completely eradicate the disease. Hepatitis C affects the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease that can be life-threatening. According to WHO, about 50 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis C virus infection, with about a million new infections occurring every year.
UNCTAD Digital Economy Report
Producing a computer weighing two kilograms requires 800 kilograms of raw materials, and mining Bitcoin last year required 121 terawatts of energy – more than the amount consumed by a small country. This data is contained in the new Digital Economy Report published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report’s authors highlight that while digitalization is fueling global economic growth and providing unique opportunities for developing countries, its environmental impacts are becoming increasingly severe.