Family in Gaza. Top news of the day | Wednesday: Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Gaza UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine last spring led to significant casualties, the UN Secretary General arrived in Kazakhstan, residents of Belarus were deprived of the right to freedom of association, evacuation in Gaza.
Report on Ukraine
An increase in attacks by Russian military forces in March, April and May resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to civilian property and infrastructure in the country, according to a new report prepared by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. During the reporting period, Russian military forces launched their largest campaign of attacks on critical energy infrastructure since the winter of 2022–2023, killing and injuring many civilians and affecting millions of people across the country.
UN Head in Kazakhstan
As part of his tour of Central Asia, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Wednesday. The Secretary General began his visit with a meeting with the UN country team. In the afternoon, the UN chief went to Astana, where he met with the country’s President Kassym-Zhormart Tokayev. Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the UN-Kazakhstan partnership on various global and regional issues, including sustainable development, peace and security. On July 4, the head of the UN will take part in the SCO summit, which is taking place in Astana.
Human rights in Belarus
For In the four years since the “disputed” 2020 presidential election, Belarusian authorities have “eradicated freedom of association in the country,” Anaïs Marin, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, told the UN Human Rights Council today. Its report, which examines key human rights developments in Belarus from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024, also reflects other troubling trends, including continued ill-treatment in prisons, restrictive measures against Belarusian citizens, moving abroad, persecution of minorities and members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
The situation in Gaza
According to the UN, an expanding An Israeli ground offensive and new evacuation orders are deepening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. WHO said all 320 patients and medical staff were evacuated from the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. UN agencies also transport medical equipment. Most of the patients were sent to the Nasser Medical Complex, which is now overcrowded. This hospital lacks medicine and surgical supplies.