Gaza: Over 1,000 Palestinians killed seeking food in recent months
As starvation deepens in Gaza, people continue to be killed in the desperate search for food, the UN human rights office in the occupied Palestinian territory reported on Friday.
It said shooting and shelling of Palestinians continues along the routes of food convoys and near sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), the aid distribution mechanism backed by Israel and the United States.
This is happening despite Israel’s recent announcement of a pause in military actions in some areas of the Strip “to improve humanitarian response.”
Over the past two days, 105 Palestinians were killed and at least 680 were injured along convoy routes in areas of North Gaza, Khan Younis and in the vicinity of GHF sites in Middle Gaza and Rafah.
At least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed since 27 May, which is when the GHF began operations. Of this number, 859, were killed in the vicinity of GHF sites and 514 along food convoy routes.
The UN rights office called for each of these killings to be promptly and independently investigated, and those responsible held to account, adding that urgent measures must be put in place to prevent recurrence.
Syria: First UN aid mission reaches Sweida
The first UN inter-agency mission to embattled Sweida governorate in Syria arrived there on Thursday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported.
The team went to the main city, also called Sweida, and two districts where they met with local community representatives and partners, in addition to visiting displacement sites and reception centres.
Hundreds of people have been killed in Sweida governorate, and some 175,000 people displaced, in recent sectarian violence amid Syria’s ongoing political transition since the fall of the Assad regime last December.
A senior UN official told the Security Council earlier this week that a fragile ceasefire is “largely holding”.
OCHA added that a fifth humanitarian aid convoy organized by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent also arrived in Sweida on Thursday.
The 40-truck convoy – the largest so far – delivered medical supplies, flour, fuel, canned goods, hygiene kits and shelter materials, among other assistance.
World Breastfeeding Week: Invest in health systems and policies to benefit mums and babies
1 August marks the start of World Breastfeeding Week and focus this year is on investing in health systems as well as policies, laws and programmes DPEthat prioritize women, babies and breastfeeding.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) says that investing in breastfeeding support is one of the most powerful tools policy-makers have to improve public health, strengthen economies, and secure the well-being of future generations.
WHO explained that breastfeeding protects child health and improves survival, especially in the first months of life. Besides being a nutritional source, it also provides protection against many common illnesses like diarrhoea, pneumonia and infections.
Mothers also benefit as breastfeeding reduces the risk of postpartum haemorrhage, as well as breast and ovarian cancers, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
The UN health agency urges governments to allocate dedicated funding for breastfeeding support, including for when new mums come home, along with maternity protections like paid leave after giving birth.
Dianne Penn, UN News.
Source of original article: United Nations (news.un.org). Photo credit: UN. The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of Global Diaspora News (www.globaldiasporanews.com).
To submit your press release: (https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/pr).
To advertise on Global Diaspora News: (www.globaldiasporanews.com/ads).
Sign up to Global Diaspora News newsletter (https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/newsletter/) to start receiving updates and opportunities directly in your email inbox for free.
