Camp for displaced persons from Srebrenica, 1995. Top news of the day | Thursday: genocide in Srebrenica, RF-Ukraine, Qatar, Gaza UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: The International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica was established by the UN General Assembly, the deputy head of the UN on Qatar’s mediation in the return of Ukrainian children, the spread of infections in Gaza, attacks on Kharkov and the Kharkov region.
Attacks on Kharkov
UN Humanitarian Coordinator in In Ukraine, Denise Brown condemned the attacks on Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of civilians. Denise Brown recalled that “horrific attacks” in the Kharkov region have been continuing without a break for almost two weeks. UN partners and humanitarian organizations are supporting evacuees and those affected by the strikes with urgent assistance. According to the Humanitarian Coordinator, the war in Ukraine continues to destroy people’s lives and aggravate the humanitarian situation in the country.
Srebrenica Genocide Remembrance Day
The UN General Assembly established the International a day of reflection and remembrance on the 1995 genocide in Srebrenica. According to the resolution proposed by Germany with a number of co-sponsors, July 11 will be observed annually as the International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. The document “unconditionally condemns” any denial of the genocide in Srebrenica. The resolution was supported by 84 states, 19 voted against and 68 delegations abstained. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and UN Deputy Secretary-General, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu welcomed the adoption of this decision by the General Assembly.
Qatar Mediation
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths concluded his visit to Abu Dhabi, where he held meetings with United Arab Emirates officials to further strengthen cooperation between the UAE and the United Nations.
Meanwhile, in a social media post today, Griffiths thanked Qatar for its efforts to reunite with their families of six children from Ukraine who were previously displaced to Russia. He highly appreciated Qatar’s participation in this issue.
The situation in Gaza
Dire conditions are developing in displacement areas in Gaza, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. World Food Program Palestine director Matthew Hollingworth said thousands of families fleeing Rafah were facing shortages of food and clean water. According to OCHA, residents of the enclave are forced to take shelter in makeshift shelters, have to burn garbage to cook food, have no access to clean water, and the toilets available are unsanitary. According to the World Health Organization, cases of infectious diseases, including diarrhea and suspected hepatitis A, are rising in Gaza.