Children are now freezing to death’: harrowing updates from Gaza. United Nations. Key Points from the Report.

January 09, 2025.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

1. Death Toll and Child Mortality:

Over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, most of whom are women and children.

In the past month, eight newborns died of hypothermia, and 74 children perished due to harsh winter conditions.

2. Freezing Conditions for Children:

Children in Gaza are succumbing to extreme cold, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.

Louise Wateridge from UNRWA described the lack of progress and solace as the New Year begins.

Ongoing Conflict

3. Military Operations and Hostilities:

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations continue to cause mass casualties and widespread destruction.

Palestinian armed groups are launching rockets into Israel, endangering Israeli civilians.

4. UN Condemnations:

The UN Secretary-General condemned the large-scale killing and injuries to civilians.

Calls were renewed for adherence to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians.

Hunger Crisis.

5. Food Supply Shortages:

Severe restrictions and looting have led to the depletion of food supplies in Gaza.

120,000 metric tonnes of food remain blocked outside Gaza, while community kitchens serving over 200,000 meals are at risk of closure.

6. Fuel Shortages and Health Crisis:

Fuel scarcity is paralyzing health services, with only five out of 20 bakeries operational.

Hospitals rely on dwindling fuel reserves, jeopardizing patient care and aid worker efforts.

North Gaza Conditions

7. Restricted Access and Healthcare Collapse:

North Gaza is heavily besieged with limited humanitarian access.

Al Awda Hospital, the only partially functioning hospital in North Gaza, faces severe operational challenges.

8. Blocked Humanitarian Missions:

Out of 15 humanitarian missions, Israeli authorities facilitated only five, denying or impeding many others.

UN-led efforts to access North Gaza have been consistently thwarted.

Statements and Appeals

9. UN Appeals for Ceasefire and Hostage Release:

The Secretary-General urged an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages in Gaza.

He emphasized the urgent need to meet civilians' basic needs and uphold humanitarian protections.

10. Humanitarian Efforts Amid Adversity:

Despite the challenges, 560,000 people in Gaza received primary and secondary healthcare from 22 December to 8 January.

The UN continues to advocate for unrestricted humanitarian access to save lives and alleviate suffering.

Summary

This report paints a grim picture of Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis, where freezing conditions, starvation, restricted access to aid, and continued violence create harrowing living conditions for civilians, particularly children. The UN reiterates its call for urgent action to protect human lives and adhere to international humanitarian law.

Source:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1158881

Comments

Columbia President ( Katrina Armstrong) Is Replaced as Trump Threatens University’s Funding. Key Points. NYTimes

Key Points & Further Details on Columbia University Leadership Change 1. Presidential Change at Columbia University Katrina Armstrong stepped down as interim president of Columbia University. Claire Shipman , a journalist and Columbia alumna, was named acting president . Armstrong’s departure marks Columbia’s third leadership change since August 2024. 2. Trigger for Leadership Change The Trump administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia. This funding is roughly 20% of the university’s operating revenue . The university ultimately complied with government demands , causing internal and external backlash . 3. Government Demands & Columbia’s Compliance Columbia agreed to: Employ 36 campus safety officers with arrest powers . Adopt a formal definition of antisemitism . Review admissions policies . Increase oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department . These changes sparked faculty and...

Havens for Open Debate Or Enforcers of Political Orthodoxy. From Mahmood Khalil to Rumeysa Ozturk: The Rising Cost of Pro-Palestinian Activism on Campus.

The case of Rumeysa Ozturk , a Tufts University student detained by federal authorities , along with earlier incidents like that of Mahmood Khalil of Columbia University, raises serious concerns about the targeting of international students for their political views, particularly regarding Palestine-Israel discourse. This situation has broader implications for academic freedom, free speech, and the reputation of U.S. universities abroad , especially given the significant financial and intellectual contributions of international students to American higher education. --- 1. Impact on International Students: A Revenue & Reputation Concern - Financial Contribution : International students contribute $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy, with universities relying heavily on their tuition fees (often at higher out-of-state rates). - Chilling Effect : Cases like Ozturk’s and Khalil’s may deter prospective students from applying, fearing political perse...

Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" Key Points. Mondoweiss

Key Points from the Article: "Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" 1. Israel’s Resumption of War Israel resumed its military assault on Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians , including 130 children . Key figures in Gaza’s civil administration were also targeted to weaken Hamas’s governance . 2. The Ceasefire Agreement and Israel’s Stalling Tactics A ceasefire deal was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S . two months prior. The second phase of the deal included discussions about ending the war and reconstructing Gaza in exchange for Israeli captives . Netanyahu stalled , aiming to release captives without committing to ending the war . 3. Israel’s Blockade and Its Impact In early March , Israel blocked the Rafah crossing and cut off humanitarian aid , causing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza . Prices of goods soared , bakeries shut down , and hospitals ran out of fuel . 4. Hamas’s Unexpected Move ...

Ignoring Massacres in Gaza City While Protesting for Democracy in Tel Aviv, Hanin Majadli. Key Points. Haaretz

Brief introduction of Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli is a Palestinian Israeli journalist and editor at Haaretz , Israel's liberal-leaning newspaper. She holds a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic and Islamic Studies from Tel Aviv University. As an opinion columnist, Majadli focuses on the experiences and challenges of Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel , examining their complex relationships with the state and its Jewish citizens . She gives particular attention to the history of the Nakba and its deliberate omission from Israel's social and political narrative. In her role as editor of Haaretz 's Arabic edition , Majadli aims to broaden the reach of alternative Israeli perspectives, presenting journalistic work that diverges from mainstream Israeli media. Before joining Haaretz, Majadli founded a popular spoken Arabic school in Tel Aviv, promoting Arabic language and culture . She has also been active in addressing pol...

Price Tag Attackers: Extremist Settler Violence in the West Bank.

Year-by-year breakdown of documented " Price Tag" attacks in the West Bank and Israel , based on reports from UN OCHA , B’Tselem , Yesh Din , and Israeli media (Haaretz, Times of Israel). Introduction to "Price Tag" Attackers "Price Tag" attackers are extremist Israeli settlers , primarily affiliated with radical right-wing groups, who carry out violent acts agains Palestinians, Israeli security forces, and left-wing activists in retaliation for perceived threats to Jewish settlements in the West Bank . The term refers to the " price " they seek to impose for actions like outpost demolitions or Palestinian attacks on Israelis. - Vandalism, arson, or violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians, Israeli security forces, or left-wing activists. - Often involves graffiti (e.g., "Price Tag," "Revenge," or "Arabs Out"). - Retaliation for Palestinian attacks, outpost demolitions, or Israeli gover...

Ainnbeen

Search This Blog