Thousands of Palestinians live in tents in southern Gaza. Top stories of the day | Thursday: Middle East, tuberculosis, volunteers UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: civilian casualties in Gaza, the UN Secretary General called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria, a new “revolutionary” test for tuberculosis, International Volunteer Day.
The situation in Gaza
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that an Israeli airstrike on a school run by the UN Refugee Agency (UNRWA) in Deir al-Balah on the eve left 130 people homeless. Another airstrike was carried out in Khan Younis, reportedly injuring around 50 people. The UN and partners are providing humanitarian aid to the victims. A paramedic from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society was also fatally wounded in Khan Younis. The UN stresses that health workers must be protected. Meanwhile, northern Gaza has remained virtually inaccessible to humanitarian aid for the past two months, and civilians there are facing a catastrophic shortage of basic necessities.
UN Secretary-General on Syria
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the situation in Syria with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. During the phone call, the UN chief stressed the “urgent” need to ensure humanitarian access to civilians and “return to the UN-facilitated political process” to end the bloodshed. Guterres said this while speaking to reporters at UN headquarters. The UN chief called what is happening in Syria “serious and dramatic events” that are unfolding before our eyes.
Tuberculosis test
The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed a potentially “revolutionary” new method for diagnosing tuberculosis, one of the most dangerous infectious diseases on the planet. The test uses molecular analysis to detect genetic markers of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis in saliva and can identify genetic mutations that are associated with resistance to key anti-TB drugs. It is the first test of its kind to be given WHO prequalification status and can now be purchased by governments and UN agencies as part of their efforts to combat TB.
Volunteer Day
The world celebrates International Volunteer Day on 5 December in the name of economic and social development. In his message, the Secretary-General noted that volunteers embody the best in humanity and recalled that the United Nations Volunteers work for peace, justice and equality in 169 countries around the world.