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On October 21, 2024, ongoing airstrikes across Lebanon continued to cause widespread destruction and displacement, affecting hundreds of civilians overnight. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), these attacks have overwhelmed the country’s capacity to shelter the growing number of displaced families. Most of the displacement has been concentrated in Beirut and the Mount Lebanon Governorate, where shelter facilities are reaching their limits.

UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, highlighted that nearly 1,100 collective shelters have opened across Lebanon, hosting around 192,000 displaced individuals. However, with over 900 of these shelters already at full capacity, the situation is becoming increasingly dire. Late on Sunday, displacement orders were issued following airstrikes targeting a social finance network linked to Hezbollah. This further exacerbated the already critical humanitarian situation.

Destruction of Vital Humanitarian Facilities

The airstrikes have not only displaced civilians but also destroyed essential humanitarian infrastructure. One of the most severe incidents occurred in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where a UNFPA-supported safe space for women and girls was destroyed, along with a primary healthcare center. This facility had provided critical services, including counseling, legal aid, and support for survivors of gender-based violence in one of the most vulnerable communities in Beirut.

In addition to this destruction, insecurity has forced the closure of 10 other UNFPA-supported facilities across Beirut, Bekaa, and Mount Lebanon. These include primary healthcare sites, safe spaces for vulnerable populations, and mobile maternity units that serve some of the most at-risk groups.

Ongoing Humanitarian Aid Efforts

Despite the escalating violence and widespread destruction, humanitarian efforts continue across Lebanon. On Monday, a six-truck convoy supported by UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and OCHA successfully delivered essential supplies to Jaboule in Baalbek Governorate. This was the first such delivery since September, bringing enough food to sustain 1,000 people for two months, along with five days’ worth of ready-to-eat meals.

Additionally, UNICEF provided crucial non-food items such as water bottles, mattresses, blankets, and hygiene kits to support three shelters in Jaboule town. This aid is essential in helping displaced families survive under increasingly challenging conditions.

Urgent Call for Health Support

At the same briefing, Mr. Haq reported that health authorities in Baalbek and Bekaa governorates have issued an urgent appeal for assistance to strengthen health infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas. These regions are struggling to cope with the escalating number of casualties and displaced individuals, and additional medical resources are urgently needed to support ongoing relief efforts.

Widespread Regional Impact

The conflict’s devastating impact is not limited to Lebanon. According to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 800,000 people have been internally displaced within the country, putting immense pressure on local resources. Additionally, more than 420,000 people have fled across the border into Syria, seeking refuge from the violence. Of these, nearly 17,000 have continued their journey into Iraq, where they hope to find safety and shelter.

This ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for international support and intervention, as Lebanon’s already strained infrastructure struggles to cope with the escalating humanitarian disaster.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

By Conor Lennon | September 16, 2024 | UN Affairs

As the world’s poorest nations struggle under the burden of debt, many are forced to spend more on repayments than on essential services like health, education, and infrastructure. This growing crisis will be a central focus at the upcoming Summit of the Future, where world leaders will discuss the urgent need to overhaul the international financial system to reduce inequality and improve lives globally.

Outdated Financial Structures

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized on September 12 that the current international financial architecture is outdated and inadequate for addressing today’s complex global challenges. He called for significant reforms to support sustainable development, particularly in nations grappling with unsustainable debt that stifles economic growth and essential public services.

A New Bretton Woods Moment

In a policy brief published in May 2023, Guterres proposed a “new Bretton Woods moment,” referring to the historic 1944 conference that established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. These institutions, initially created by just 44 countries, now have 190 members, yet decision-making power remains concentrated in the hands of a few developed nations. Guterres argues that the system is no longer fit for purpose in a world facing climate change, systemic risks, and extreme inequality.

He suggests that reforms should include increasing financial support to eradicate poverty, democratizing decision-making within the IMF and World Bank, and creating a new global body, akin to an “Economic Security Council,” to coordinate economic policies and respond to global crises effectively.

The Pact for the Future

These reform ideas will be a key part of the discussions at the Summit of the Future, where a new “Pact for the Future” will be adopted. This document, endorsed by UN Member States, represents a commitment to using global tools to address pressing challenges before they become unmanageable. The Pact focuses on bold actions to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with an emphasis on ending hunger and poverty, reducing inequalities, and addressing climate change.

The outcomes of the Summit will also help build momentum for the International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), scheduled to take place in Spain in June 2025, where further steps toward reforming the global financial system are expected to be discussed.

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Ukraine: Aid Trucks Reach Kherson Despite Heavy Bombardment

Humanitarian agencies continue to provide aid to communities trapped on Ukraine’s frontlines. On Wednesday, an inter-agency convoy delivered three trucks of relief supplies to Beryslav, a town in the Kherson region, marking the ninth successful delivery of aid this year. Despite ongoing shelling, nearly 2,000 residents, including 70 children and 90 individuals with limited mobility, remain in the town, which is without electricity, gas, or water due to damaged infrastructure, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

The convoy brought essential items such as a portable power station, hygiene products, blankets, bedding, and warm clothing to support residents facing harsh conditions. In addition, increasing missile strikes by Russian forces have caused nearly 30 civilian casualties in the Donetsk and Sumy regions. The Ukrainian government has launched mandatory evacuations for children and caregivers in 40 towns across the Donetsk region.

West and Central Africa: School Closures Due to Escalating Violence

More than 14,300 schools across West and Central Africa have been forced to close due to rising insecurity, leaving 2.8 million children without access to education, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). From Mali to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, violent incidents affecting education increased by 103% from March to June this year. The lack of funding continues to hamper humanitarian efforts, with only a quarter of children in affected areas having access to education during the most recent period under review, compared to half at the start of the year.

Georgia: UN Expert Calls for End to Repression of Human Rights Defenders

In Georgia, human rights defenders have faced an intensified “wave of repression” throughout 2024, according to UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor. The situation has worsened following the adoption of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in May, which violates Georgia’s obligations to uphold freedom of association and expression.

Lawlor highlighted that human rights defenders have been subjected to physical attacks, harassment, and threats, often with no consequences for the perpetrators. Government officials have publicly smeared these defenders, further inflaming hostilities and legitimizing attacks. Lawlor called for an immediate end to the targeted repression and urged the Georgian government to protect the rights of those standing up for human dignity.

These issues underscore the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable populations worldwide and the critical need for international support and advocacy.

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Warsaw, Poland – August 26, 2024

The restrictive abortion laws in Poland are leading to significant violations of women’s rights, according to a report released on Monday by independent human rights experts. The stringent regulations have resulted in “several preventable deaths” and have forced women to either carry unwanted pregnancies to term, seek unsafe procedures, or travel abroad for legal abortions, as noted by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).

The findings, published by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), reveal that the majority of abortions in Poland are conducted illegally and under unsafe conditions. The current legal framework severely limits access to abortion, with very few exceptions, making it nearly impossible for women to obtain the necessary services.

Genoveva Tisheva, the Committee’s Vice-Chair, stated that the situation in Poland amounts to gender-based violence against women and could be considered as torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Systemic Failures and Stigmatization

The report highlighted systemic issues within Poland’s legal and healthcare systems, including doctors’ reluctance to perform abortions due to fear of criminal liability or moral and religious objections. This reluctance further complicates access to safe abortion services, particularly in cases where pregnancies result from criminal acts. The bureaucratic process is complex and not supportive of victims, exacerbated by the influence of strong anti-abortion groups and the stigmatization of those who assist in abortion procedures.

Ms. Tisheva described the environment in Poland as “complex, hostile, and chilling,” where access to safe abortion is stigmatized and practically impossible for many women.

The CEDAW committee concluded that Poland’s restrictive abortion laws not only jeopardize women’s health and lives but also cause significant mental and physical suffering, which is a gender-based violation of human rights. The report urged Poland to recognize abortion as a fundamental human right and to adopt a human rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health. Key recommendations included legal reforms aimed at decriminalizing and legalizing abortion to ensure that women can safely access the services they need.

Recommendations for Reform

In summary, the report by CEDAW underscores the urgent need for Poland to reconsider its abortion laws to protect the rights, health, and well-being of women across the country.

Refer To The Source

On August 26, 2024, humanitarian teams in Myanmar began distributing emergency aid to families impacted by severe monsoon flooding in the Ayeyarwady Delta, a crucial rice-producing region where nearly half a million people may be affected.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that significant areas of farmland have been submerged, creating an urgent need for basic necessities such as food, clean water, and sanitation in the hardest-hit areas.

This disaster exacerbates an already dire situation across Myanmar, which has been suffering from escalating conflict, displacement, and severe threats to civilian safety following a military coup over three years ago.

WFP’s initial relief efforts target approximately 35,000 individuals currently taking refuge in evacuation centers within the Ayeyarwady Delta. The provided food packages include rice, fortified biscuits, and nutritional support aimed at preventing acute malnutrition, particularly among mothers and children.

Sheela Matthew, WFP’s Representative in Myanmar, expressed concern that the flooding may drastically reduce the region’s monsoon rice production, potentially endangering the food security of small-scale farmers.

Widespread Challenges

Matthew highlighted that the consequences of the flooding are expected to resonate not just within the Ayeyarwady Delta but across broader regions of Myanmar. As a result, WFP is working to mitigate potential food shortages.

According to the Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2024, even before the floods, 1.5 million people in the Ayeyarwady region were already in need of humanitarian aid – roughly one-quarter of the population. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had previously reported that 18.6 million people nationwide were in need of assistance. The crisis has had a particularly devastating impact on children, with six million in need due to displacement, disrupted healthcare and education, food insecurity, malnutrition, and protection risks such as forced recruitment and psychological distress.

WFP’s Return to the Delta

This marks the WFP’s first aid mission to the Ayeyarwady Delta in nine years; the last intervention was in 2015 after widespread flooding. The organization has also extended support to 130,000 people in other flood-affected areas of Myanmar, including Bago, Kachin, Kayin, Magway, Mandalay, and Sagaing. The WFP is also assessing needs in Rakhine and is prepared to respond as necessary.

Although many areas affected by the floods have also been impacted by ongoing conflict, the Ayeyarwady Delta and parts of Bago remain relatively conflict-free, allowing for focused relief efforts.

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