Canadian peacekeepers in the buffer zone in Cyprus, 1974. Top News of the Day | Friday: UNRWA, DRC, Haiti, Cyprus UN
Top News in the UN and the World: The UN Relief and Works Agency for the Palestinians (UNRWA) continues its work in Gaza and the West Bank, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes in the city of Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, violent clashes between security forces and armed groups on the outskirts of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, have led to a new wave of displacement, and the Security Council has unanimously extended the mandate of the UN mission in Cyprus.
UNRWA continues its work
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) continues its activities in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This was stated by an UNRWA representative, noting that for the people of Gaza, this is a matter of life and death. Let us recall that the Israeli parliament’s ban on the agency’s activities came into force the day before. According to estimates, more than 462 thousand people have moved from the southern areas of Gaza to the northern ones since Monday. The UN and its humanitarian partners are providing assistance to people along the entire route. Having returned to the northern areas of the enclave, according to UNRWA employees, Gazans are clearing away rubble and building temporary housing for themselves. They are in dire need of support during this difficult period.
The situation in the DRC is worsening
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is deeply concerned that hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes in the city of Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), over the past few days as a result of intense fighting. IOM has called on the international community to recognize the staggering scale of the crisis and to support those displaced. With millions of people already displaced by years of conflict in eastern DRC and humanitarian needs already enormous, the IOM says an already dire situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Clashes in Port-au-Prince
Heavy clashes between security forces and armed groups on the outskirts of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, have led to a new wave of displacement this week, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. In just a few days, more than 1,600 men, women and children have fled their homes. Two-thirds have sought refuge with relatives or friends, while more than 500 have settled in three newly established displacement centres.
Cyprus
The UN Security Council today unanimously extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a further year, until 31 January 2026. As of 11 December 2024, the mission comprises 800 military personnel (683 men and 117 women) and 69 police officers (38 men and 31 women). Last year, UN peacekeepers recorded hundreds of violations on the island. The Security Council members confirmed their intention to continue to closely monitor the situation in Cyprus.