Port Sudan: No let-up in drone attacks as UN chief urges peace
Amid reports that new drone strikes on a key Sudanese aid hub were shot down late Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for serious peace negotiations to end more than two years of war.
The UN chief warned any further escalation of the conflict could result in massive civilian casualties and worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation across the country.
His appeal follows days of drone strikes on key infrastructure in Port Sudan that have opened a new front in the fighting between forces of the military government and heavily armed paramilitaries.
Brutal fighting across Sudan has reportedly killed more than 18,800 civilians and injured tens of thousands more.
Aid agencies say that the country’s people are in the grip of the largest hunger catastrophe on the planet. Here’s Leni Kinzli from the World Food Programme talking to UN News:
“WFP is extremely concerned about recent attacks in Port Sudan, which is a major humanitarian hub and where WFP has its primary office in the country. Our operations in Port Sudan, however, are ongoing, trucks and loading, headed to destinations across the country, including to Khartoum. And our operations in the rest of Sudan are ongoing and it’s critical that the deliveries of vital aid continue safely and regularly as we’re responding to unprecedented needs. Across Sudan, 25 million people face acute hunger.”
Gaza crisis worsens as more community kitchens shut down
The situation in the Gaza Strip grows worse by the day as aid teams remain blocked from bringing in huge stockpiles of lifesaving supplies to help people in the wartorn enclave.
That’s the stark message from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, which has more than 240,000 tonnes of supplies ready to be dispatched from warehouses outside Gaza.
This is in addition to large quantities of supplies already waiting at crossing points to enter the Strip.
OCHA also reports that community kitchens serving hot meals continue to shut down.
The UN agency said that by Tuesday, more than 60 of the 180 kitchens it supports had closed after using up their last remaining supplies.
Humanitarians also report that adults are prioritizing feeding their children over themselves when they do find something to eat.
Occupied West Bank: Israeli soldiers enter UNRWA schools in Jerusalem
To the occupied West Bank, where four UN schools for Palestinian children have closed after Israeli soldiers entered one in East Jerusalem and ordered teachers to dismiss their students.
Video posted by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA – which runs the school – showed the moment a small group of Israeli troops entered the school grounds, followed by children leaving.
Condemning the Israeli move – in which one UNRWA staff member was detained – the UN agency reported that teachers at the school in Shu’fat Camp had been harassed.
As a precaution, the UN agency evacuated all children from its five other schools in East Jerusalem.
Head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said that forcing schools to shut showed a “blatant disregard” for international law. He insisted that they should stay open “to safeguard an entire generation of children”.
Daniel Johnson, UN News
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved.
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).
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