World news in brief: Fighting in Syria, Israeli detentions, ‘summer COVID-19 wave’ in Europe
At least 20 civilians have been reported killed and 15 others injured in recent days, while water stations and other civilian facilities have been damaged or affected, including a UN-supported rural livelihoods center.
The fighting also caused power outages, affecting hospitals and water stations.
People living in Deir-ez-Zor continue to suffer from severe water and fuel shortages, very limited access to health care facilities, and food insecurity.
OCHA urge Parties to a conflict must respect international humanitarian law, including always paying due attention to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure during military operations.
The latest escalation comes as Syria faces record needs after 13 years of war, with more than 16 million people needing assistance this year, amid a severe shortage of financial resources.
The $4 billion humanitarian response plan for the country has so far received $962 million, less than 25 percent.
Human rights office renews call for investigation into Israel’s detention practices
The UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has reaffirmed the urgent need to investigate Israel’s detention practices after another video allegedly showing a Palestinian man being sexually assaulted and tortured by soldiers went viral.
IN a statement Released on Thursday, the office said that “according to a major Israeli media outlet, the video allegedly captured the act at Israel’s Sde Teiman detention camp, where nine soldiers were arrested on July 29.”
The report also added that in recent months, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented a number of videos showing serious violations of the rights of Palestinians detained by Israel, including ill-treatment, torture, sexual violence and rape.
“Israel must ensure prompt, independent and effective investigations into all allegations of violations relating to the treatment of detainees and conditions of detention, which according to the UN Human Rights Monitor may be widespread, and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable,” the office said.
Vaccines in focus amid ‘summer COVID-19 wave’ in Europe
As Europe faces a surge COVID-19 infection, a new study from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirm that vaccines can really save lives.
The study found that COVID-19 vaccines reduced pandemic deaths by nearly 60 percent from the time they were introduced in December 2020 to March 2023. As a result, more than 1.6 million lives were saved in the WHO European Region, which includes 53 countries.
The report also revealed that the region’s known COVID-19 death toll, now at 2.2 million, could reach four million without a vaccine.
“The results are clear: COVID-19 vaccination can save lives,” said Dr. Margaux Meslé, author of the study published in the journal. Lancet Respiratory Medicine diary.
“Without a robust vaccination effort, we will see more lives disrupted and more families losing their most vulnerable,” she added.
The WHO said the findings were valuable because several European countries have reported a surge in cases in recent weeks, or a “summer wave” of COVID-19.
The agency said it was “a timely reminder that while COVID-19 is fading into distant memory for millions, the virus has not gone away”.
