August 18, 2022 No comments
Israel urged to allow humanitarians to continue working in Palestine
INTERNATIONAL, 18 August 2022, Human Rights - Allow human rights and humanitarian organizations to continue their work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), UN agencies and other partners have urged Israel. On Thursday morning, Israeli Forces broke into, searched and sealed the offices of seven Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organizations³ in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Their property was confiscated and destroyed and military orders closing the offices were left at the premises. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Palestine Lynn Hastings said that attempted closures “affect all institutions working to promote human rights and development and are delivering assistance”. Lodging charges The United Nations and its partners take seriously allegations of funding terrorism as well as the Israeli designations of these entities as unlawful...
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August 18, 2022 No comments
WHO expert group recommends second COVID-19 booster for vulnerable groups
INTERNATIONAL, 18 August 2022, Health - Countries should consider giving a second COVID-19 vaccine booster to older persons, pregnant women, health workers, people with weaker immune systems and those at higher risk of severe disease, experts appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. The recommendation comes in a statement issued by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, following a meeting held last week. Most COVID-19 vaccines consist of a primary series of two doses, with a first booster administered some four to six months after completion to improve immune response. “There is increasing evidence on the benefits of a second booster dose of vaccines in terms of restoring waning vaccine effectiveness (VE),” the statement said. Waning effectiveness Protection offered by current vaccines declines substantially...
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August 18, 2022 No comments
Grain deal ‘victory for diplomacy,’ UN chief tells journalists in Ukraine
INTERNATIONAL, 18 August 2022, Humanitarian Aid - Positive momentum on the landmark Black Sea Grain Initiative to help vulnerable people access food reflects “a victory for diplomacy” for those caught in a cost-of-living crisis as well as for Ukraine’s hard-working farmers, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told reporters on Thursday in Lviv, Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference alongside Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to visit “again during such a difficult period”. Despite that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed a few weeks ago, the UN chief reiterated that “there is no solution to the global food crisis without ensuring full global access to Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertilizers”. Assistance en route In less than one month, 21 ships have...
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August 18, 2022 No comments
South Sudan: ‘Urgent collective efforts’ needed in most dangerous humanitarian situation
INTERNATIONAL, 18 August 2022, Humanitarian Aid - On the eve of World Humanitarian Day, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, called on Thursday for joint action to address the aid crisis in the country and end attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers. “It takes a village to raise a child. In the same way, it takes an array of partners to support crisis-affected people,” stated Sara Beysolow Nyanti. “We need urgent collective efforts to help the vulnerable population in South Sudan”. Lauding humanitarians The Humanitarian Coordinator paid tribute to the aid workers, communities, local authorities and first responders who provide life-saving assistance to thousands of people in dire humanitarian need. “I commend the humanitarian workers and all those risking their own lives to alleviate the suffering and...
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August 18, 2022 No comments
UN deplores deadly attack in Afghanistan, killing scores and injuring many others
INTERNATIONAL, 18 August 2022, Peace and Security - The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned on Thursday, a fatal attack on a Mosque in the capital, Kabul. “We deplore yesterday’s attack in a Kabul Mosque, the latest in a disturbing series of bombings which have killed & injured more than 250 people in recent weeks, the highest monthly number of civilian casualties over the last year,” UNAMA said in a short statement posted on Twitter. On Wednesday, news media cited police in reporting that a huge explosion ripped through the crowded mosque during evening prayers, injuring 33 people and killing another 21, including the mosque's imam, Amir Muhammad Kabuli. While the blast scene in Kabul has been sealed off, it remains unclear who was behind the...
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