UN News Today 11 August 2025 |

Gaza: UN rights office condemns killing of Palestinian journalists

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has condemned the killing of six Palestinian journalists in Gaza after their tent was targeted by Israeli military forces.

Among those killed, five worked for the Al Jazeera network, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif – who Israel alleges was a Hamas operative, a charge the network strongly denies.

OHCHR called the attack a grave breach of international humanitarian law and urged Israel to respect and protect all civilians, including media workers.

Since 7 October 2023, at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the conflict. Israel has barred international journalists from entering the enclave since the fighting began.  

OHCHR called for immediate, safe, and unhindered access to the Strip for all media workers.  

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in the enclave continues to worsen.

Olga Cherevko from the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, visited Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Sunday and described the conditions as shocking.

The hospital hallways were crammed with patients, many brought from dangerous aid distribution points or convoy routes.

She said civilians desperate for food are continuously being killed or injured. During her visit, five injured people and three bodies were brought in from such areas.  

Afghanistan: UNICEF urges safe returns amid education concerns

To Afghanistan, where the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for a safe, dignified, voluntary, and phased approach to the large-scale return of Afghan refugees, amid concerns for the wellbeing of millions of returnees and fragile communities.

Ted Chaiban, the agency’s Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action, recently visited Afghanistan, where more than two million Afghans, including half a million children, have returned from Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia this year.

At the Islam Qala border reception centre, in the west of the country, where tens of thousands arrive daily, UNICEF and partners are coordinating humanitarian and protection services.  

Mr. Chaiban said families expressed hope for a future in Afghanistan but worry about rebuilding their lives, especially amid restrictions on girls’ education.

UNICEF has documented and supported over 6,000 unaccompanied and separated children, working to reunify them with their families.

World Steelpan Day: Celebrating a Caribbean instrument with global impact

Finally, Monday marks World Steelpan Day, celebrating the Caribbean musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago and is now enjoyed worldwide.

Known as the steelpan or steel drum, it’s played with rubber-tipped sticks and has roots in the early 20th-century Carnival percussion groups of the islands.

The UN recognizes the steelpan not only for its rich cultural and historical significance but also for its role in promoting diversity and sustainable development.

In proclaiming World Steelpan Day, the UN General Assembly encourages activities that raise awareness of the steelpan’s cultural importance and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals.

This celebration highlights how music and culture can foster inclusive societies and sustainable communities worldwide.

Emma Trager-Lewis, UN News.