Iran-Israel crisis: UN nuclear watchdog ready to respond ‘within an hour’
As Israel and Iran continue to trade missile strikes, the head of the UN nuclear energy agency said on Monday that it is able “to respond to any nuclear or radiological emergency within an hour.”
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was speaking to its board of directors which is meeting in Vienna.
He said there had been “no additional damage” at a key Iranian uranium enrichment plant in Nantanz since it was attacked on Friday.
The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event.”
He noted, however, that the strikes destroyed facilities above ground including electricity infrastructure and back-up generators that may have damaged centrifuges used to enrich uranium.
The IAEA has inspectors in Iran who monitor its nuclear programme, which the authorities have always maintained is being used for peaceful purposes.
Mr. Grossi said the agency will remain in the country and inspections will continue as soon as conditions allow.
UNRWA chief calls for peace in Gaza and the wider region
Moving now to Gaza, where scores more have been killed and injured in recent days including starving people trying to get food.
That’s the message from the head of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, in a statement on Monday.
He said “tragedies go on unabated” in the war-torn enclave “while attention shifts elsewhere.”
He said the UN continues to face restrictions when it comes to bringing in aid, “despite an abundance of assistance ready to be moved into Gaza.”
Furthermore, “severe shortages of fuel are now hampering the delivery of critical services especially health and water.”
Mr. Lazzarini warned that “killings and wars will breed more wars and bloodshed,” and civilians are the ones who always suffer the most.
He stressed that “political will, leadership and courage are overdue and needed more than ever,” calling for lasting peace in Gaza and across the region.
‘Brutal funding cuts’ force humanitarians to slash global aid appeal
The UN and humanitarian partners have reduced and re-prioritised their appeal to help millions this year in the wake of the deepest cuts ever to aid funding.
They are now seeking $29 billion to assist 114 million people worldwide, significantly down from the $44 billion announced in the Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO), launched in December.
In a statement on Monday, UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator Tom Fletcher said, “we have been forced into a triage of human survival.”
The GHO covers more than 70 countries and aims to assist nearly 180 million people, but less than 13 per cent of the $44 billion has been received to date.
Humanitarians are now re-prioritizing, with a focus on the people and places with the most critical needs.
“Brutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices,” said Mr. Fletcher.
He emphasized that the plan wasn’t just an appeal for money but “a call for global responsibility, for human solidarity, for a commitment to end the suffering.”
Dianne Penn, UN News
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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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