Food aid in Gaza. Daily Top Stories | Thursday: Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon, Winter Sports UN
The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: Gaza shelters under attack, civilian casualties in Ukraine, humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, winter sports and tourism threatened by an “existential crisis”.
Humanitarian situation in Gaza
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that at least six schools serving as shelters for displaced people have been hit in Gaza in recent days. In addition, an orphanage in western Gaza City, which was also used to house civilians, was hit the day before. OCHA reiterates that international humanitarian law requires parties to make ongoing efforts to protect civilians. OCHA added that humanitarian organizations in Gaza continue to provide assistance to malnourished children, despite limited supplies.
Surveillance of Ukraine
In September, Kharkiv was subjected to more than 50 attacks, which, according to local authorities, killed more than 190 people, including children, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a briefing in New York today. On Wednesday alone, civilians were injured in a strike on a residential building in Kharkiv. The UN humanitarian coordinator in the country, Matthias Schmale, who visited the city yesterday, stressed that everything possible must be done to protect the population and infrastructure, especially given the damage to the energy system ahead of winter. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that dozens of people were injured in the Donetsk and Kherson regions of Ukraine yesterday and today. Humanitarian agencies continue to work on the ground.
Escalation in Lebanon
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said Israeli attacks continue to force thousands of people to flee their homes in Lebanon, and that those affected are in “desperate need” of international support. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 1,600 people have been killed and 6,000 injured in recent days. Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the death toll in Lebanon was rising and hospitals were overwhelmed with the wounded.
Winter Sports Waters
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have launched a campaign to raise awareness that winter sports and winter tourism are at risk of “extinction” due to climate change. The organizations will work together to highlight the impact of rising global temperatures on snow and ice, and develop tools to promote dialogue in the sports and scientific communities.