World News Summary: Famine in Sudan, 400,000 people from Lebanon now in Syria, women in the army, olive farmers in Palestine
The UN emphasized that never in modern history have so many people faced hunger as in Sudan today. Human Rights Council– said the appointment expert.
Zamzam camp in North Darfur, home to half a million IDPs, faces some of the worst conditions. Other IDP camps in El Fasher are also at risk of famine.
“For the famine in Sudan to end, the RSF and SAF must immediately stop hindering the delivery of aid in Sudan through administrative-bureaucratic barriers, attacks against payers,” experts said. local protests and request foreign governments to stop providing financial and military support.” emphasize.
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“It is important for humanitarian organizations to utilize all available channels for humanitarian delivery, including less used routes, to ensure aid reaches the populations most vulnerable”.
The experts – who do not receive a salary from the United Nations and do not represent any government or organization – said that along with their foreign backers, rival armies are fighting the civil war over the past 18 months “must be held responsible for what was clearly an intentional use of starvation, which constitutes crimes against humanity and war crimes under international law.”
More than 400,000 people have fled to Syria from Lebanon
More than 260,000 Lebanese and refugees are being supported with some form of cash assistance in Lebanon, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCRreported on Thursday.
Access to safe shelter continues to be an urgent need for those internally displaced by the war between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.
According to UNHCR, to date, an estimated 405,000 people – both Lebanese and Syrians – have crossed the border from Lebanon to Syria. About 60% of all new arrivals are under 18 years old.
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the majority of those who fled to Syria were struggling to meet their basic needs.
“People are coming exhausted, scared, in desperate need of help, to a country that has endured crisis and violence for more than 13 years,” he added. “UNHCR and partner organizations continue to be present at Syrian border crossing points and provide assistance to new arrivals.
United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPAdistributed 2,520 dignity kits through its partner, the Syrian Arab Red Cross, to women and girls at four newly established Border Health Protection Support Points.
Women’s participation in defense is growing – but the gender gap remains
United Nations released its first time report on women in the traditionally male-dominated defense sector, based on analysis provided by 55 Member States.
Although their participation is increasing, with the number of women in the armed forces increasing by 27% between 2016 and 2022, the gender gap remains significant.
On average, women make up 12% of the army, 15% of the air force, 14% of the navy and 16% of the gendarmerie.
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Women’s representation is particularly low in leadership roles. More than 97% of generals and admirals are men, while women make up less than one in 10 senior officers and only about one in six junior officers.
Furthermore, very few women took on combat roles. Women working in the armed forces are often concentrated in logistics, administrative, combat support and medical positions, and they are also strongly represented in legal, human resources and public works roles. service.
Where women are allowed to join combat units, their participation rate averages about 10%.
Palestinian olive farmers face ‘most dangerous season ever’: UN experts
Palestinian farmers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are facing “the most dangerous olive season ever” according to Independent United Nations human rights experts
The olive harvest, central to Palestinian life and culture, is seriously threatened by escalating violence and restrictions.
“Palestinians’ relationship with olive trees goes back hundreds of years, as does their relationship with their ancestors and their future,” experts said.
They emphasized that “restrictions on olive harvests, destruction of orchards, and bans on water access are an attempt by Israel to expand illegal settlements.”
“In 2023, the harvest was marred by a sharp increase in movement restrictions and violence by Israeli forces and settlers,” independent experts reported.
They noted that last year saw “the highest levels of Israeli settler violence” in the occupied West Bank, including “physical attacks, arson, and damage to property, stealing sheep and preventing them from accessing their land, water and grazing areas.”
As a result, it has displaced “a record number of Palestinians,” the group of experts said.
The restrictions have also resulted in significant economic losses. In 2023, more than 96,000 dunums of olive land remained unharvested due to restrictions imposed by Israel, resulting in the loss of 1,200 tons of olive oil, worth $10 million.
