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Category: Middle East

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Hostilities in northeast Syria, response plan in Mali, Uyghur deportations in Thailand

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Humanitarian Aid

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued an alert on Tuesday over intensifying hostilities in the northeast in recent days. 

    Between 16 and 18 January, at least three civilians were killed and 14 injured in shelling and other attacks impacting Manbij, Ain al-Arab and other villages near the Tishreen Dam in the eastern Aleppo region.

    UN partners also reported that shops in the main market were damaged when an improvised bomb detonated inside a car in Manbij.

    These incidents have forced people from their homes and obstructed aid access, OCHA reported after sending a mission to the city on Monday.

    The mission visited the Manbij National Hospital and met with local officials, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and local non-governmental organizations to identify and address the issues at stake, according to Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

    OCHA and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also completed a monitoring mission on Monday to the Ain Al Bayda water station in eastern Aleppo.

    Deadly remains

    UN partners have recorded 69 explosive ordnance incidents over the first two weeks of January due to contamination, in which 45 people were killed and 60 others wounded.

    “Since 26 November, a total of 134 new areas with explosive remnants of war have been identified by partners across five governorates – Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Deir-ez-Zor and Latakia,” said Mr. Haq.

    As people continue to move and return to their communities, UN partners are calling for increased and flexible funding for mine action, including risk education and emergency clearance.                   

    Meanwhile, with water and sanitation services suspended in many displacement camps due to funding gaps affecting more than 635,000 people, OCHA asked for increased funding to ensure the continuation of its services.

    $770 million response plan launched in Mali

    On Tuesday, the UN in collaboration with Mali’s transitional authorities, launched a $770 million humanitarian needs and response plan in the capital Bamako to support millions of people across the country this year.

    © UNFPA Mali/Amadou Maiga

    Two girls at the Barigondaga displacement site in Mali.

    The plan aims to address the urgent needs of 4.7 million people affected by conflict, displacement, health emergencies and climate shocks, according to the Deputy Spokesperson.

    Mostly women and children

    Nearly 80 per cent of the people to be reached with aid are women and children who are in need of food, water, healthcare and protection support.

    Last year, UN partners mobilised nearly 40 per cent of what was required – just over $270 million – enabling lifesaving assistance and protection to reach 1.8 million people.

    The Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator on the ground, Khassim Diagne, said it is urgent that the entire humanitarian community and donors renew their commitment to addressing essential needs in the region.

    UN rights experts urge Thailand to halt Uyghur deportations

    Independent UN human rights experts have called on Thailand to immediately stop the deportation of 48 Uyghurs to China, citing serious concerns over potential torture and inhumane treatment.

    “The treatment of the Uyghur minority in China is well-documented,” the Human Rights Council-appointed experts stated. “We are concerned they are at risk of suffering irreparable harm.”

    The experts emphasised the international prohibition on refoulement, which forbids returning individuals to countries where they face real risks of torture or cruel treatment. They urged Thailand to provide urgent medical care to the mostly Muslim Uyghurs being held.

    The 48 individuals are part of a larger group of around 350 Uyghurs detained in Thailand since 2014 after crossing the border irregularly. They have reportedly been held incommunicado for over a decade, without access to legal representation, family members or UN officials.

    No return

    “It is our view that these persons should not be returned to China,” the experts said. “They must be provided with access to asylum procedures and humanitarian assistance, including medical and psycho-social support.”

    The experts highlighted that 23 of the 48 Uyghurs held suffer from severe health conditions, including diabetes, kidney dysfunction and paralysis. “It is essential they receive appropriate medical care,” the experts added.

    Thai authorities were reminded of their obligation to treat all detainees humanely and with dignity, ensuring access to legal representation, medical assistance and the ability to communicate with lawyers and family members.

    The plea underscores the urgent need for Thailand to uphold international human rights standards and protect the Uyghur detainees from potential harm.

    Special Rapporteurs and other experts are not UN staff, receive no salary for their work and are fully independent of any government or organization. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Mast, HFAC Members Meet with King and Crown Prince of Jordan

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-321-9747

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah to Capitol Hill for a meeting with committee members.

    During the meeting, Chairman Mast underscored the close friendship between the U.S. and Jordan and thanked the two leaders for their work to further strengthen the bilateral ties.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Lebanon: UN hails election of new President as a critical first step

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    UN Affairs

    The United Nations has welcomed the election of a President in Lebanon.

    General Joseph Aoun was declared President on Thursday following voting in Lebanon’s parliament.

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated the new leader as he takes up his functions, saying this is a critical step towards overcoming Lebanon’s political and institutional impasse after over two years of presidential vacuum. 

    The election of the President provides an important opportunity to empower the state institutions to address the country’s multi-faceted crises, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists attending his daily media briefing in New York.

    Form a government

    Earlier on Thursday, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert welcomed the election of the new President.

    She called the development a long-awaited first step towards overcoming Lebanon’s political and institutional vacuum and providing the Lebanese people with the functioning state institutions they deserve.

    “A Prime Minister must be designated and a government formed without delay. The tasks ahead of the Lebanese State are too monumental to waste any more time,” she stressed. 

    “Now is the moment for each and every decision-maker to put the interest of Lebanon above all personal or political considerations.”

    Renewed hope

    She noted that the election of a President offers renewed hope and an opportunity to pave the way for progress towards consolidating the cessation of hostilities and preserving the country’s security and stability, including by strengthening state authority across Lebanon and advancing comprehensive and sustainable reforms.

    She said the UN looks forward to working with President Aoun and relevant authorities to support Lebanon as it takes meaningful and measurable steps in this direction. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: At least 68 journalist killings in 2024, UNESCO reports

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Human Rights

    For the second consecutive year, conflict zones have proven dangerous for journalists and media workers, with 2024 seeing at least 68 deaths in the line of duty, according to new data from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

    More than 60 per cent of these killings occurred in countries experiencing conflict – the highest percentage in over a decade.

    “Reliable information is vital in conflict situations to help affected populations and to enlighten the world,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

    “It is unacceptable that journalists pay with their lives for this work. I call on all States to step up and ensure the protection of media workers, in accordance with international law,” she added.

    Alarming trends

    The report highlights that 42 journalists were killed in conflict zones this year, including 18 in Palestine, which recorded the highest toll.

    Other countries such as Ukraine, Colombia, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Sudan also saw multiple fatalities, underscoring the heightened risks in regions marked by violence and instability.

    This follows an unsettling trend seen in 2023, with more journalists losing their lives in conflicts over the past two years than in any comparable period since 2016-2017.

    A glimmer of hope

    While conflict zones remain a critical concern, the overall number of journalist killings decreased slightly during this year.

    A notable reduction in deaths occurred in non-conflict areas, where 26 journalists were killed – the lowest figure in 16 years.

    This decline was particularly evident in Latin America and the Caribbean, where journalist killings dropped from 43 in 2022 to 12 in 2024.

    This suggests some progress in addressing threats against journalists in peacetime, especially in regions previously plagued by violence against media workers.

    Beyond the numbers

    UNESCO‘s data, sourced from leading international press freedom organizations, is rigorously verified to ensure impartiality.

    Cases are excluded if deaths are deemed unrelated to the victims’ journalistic work. However, dozens of cases remain under review, and UNESCO continues to monitor developments closely.

    The Organization’s mandate extends beyond tracking fatalities. It works to protect journalists through initiatives such as the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

    Emerging threats

    In addition to physical threats, journalists are facing new challenges, including financial and legal pressures.

    UNESCO has reported a 42 per cent increase in attacks on journalists reporting on environmental issues between 2019 and 2024, highlighting the evolving nature of risks confronting the media.

    As UNESCO continues its efforts to promote press freedom and safeguard journalists, the agency calls on the international community to strengthen protections for media workers – ensuring that the quest for truth does not come at the ultimate cost.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: First Person: Tears of joy as Argentinian city children encounter nature for first time

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Daniel Dickinson

    Climate and Environment

    An environmental lawyer has told UN News how children and teenagers from some of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, have been moved to tears after encountering nature for the first time.

    Ana Di Pangracio works for the civil society organization Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales or FARN which is involved in projects to restore degraded land in Argentina.

    She spoke to UN News in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she was attending a UN conference (COP16) focused on desertification, drought and land restoration.

    UN News/Daniel Dickinson

    Ana Di Pangracio attends the COP16 desertification conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    “We work in the Matanza Riachuelo basin which is a polluted area on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, which is home to around 4.5 million people, many of whom are living in socio-environmental vulnerable situations or other difficult circumstances.

    Restoration activities include planting native flora and removing non-native invasive species across some 4.5 hectares, as well as building viewpoints and interpretative trails and cleaning up illegal garbage disposal.

    Part of our work is bringing people, especially young people, to experience this restored natural wetland.

    Many live close by in very urban, built-up areas and may come from challenging or violent environments but have never seen this land or had not even known of its existence.

    Emotions and tears

    Some are moved to tears when they experience nature for the first time in their lives.

    We comfort them and tell them it is OK to be emotional; I’m really pleased that they are able to connect with nature in this way, as I can see that our work is having a big impact.

    Some are moved to tears when they experience nature for the first time in their lives.

    They tell their friends and teachers about the experience as well and so we get more visitors.

    There is an educational element to our work as we teach the children about the importance of protecting wetlands but also the adjacent grasslands and native forest.

    I am a birdwatching lawyer, and although I am no expert, I enjoy showing our visitors my favourite bird, the carancho, which is a very clever and funny bird which you can see across Argentina, including in urban areas. It is my way to connect with nature.

    The recognition that the right to a healthy environment is a human right underpins all of our work.

    © FARN

    An ibis and ducks graze the wetlands close to Buenos Aires.

    There is a lot of land loss in Argentina, including areas which have become degraded by drought. In 2020, we experienced a three-year-long drought, the worst in over 60 years. This had serious social and environmental impacts.

    UN desertification conference

    It’s important to come to this conference of the UN Convention on Combatting Desertification (UNCCD) as it gives us the opportunity to engage with civil society constituencies and to consider the interface between national and global policy on a range of issues including land restoration and biodiversity.

    If you believe in multilateralism, it is important to be here and civil society organizations (CSOs) can make a difference.

    It was the pressure from CSOs which led to the inclusion of human rights and gender-focused elements in the Biodiversity Convention and its recently adopted Global Biodiversity Framework.

    In the UNCCD, the issue of land tenure, reflected in COP decisions, was also promoted by CSOs.

    © FARN

    A carancho sits on a sign in the wetlands in Buenos Aires Province.

    The UNCCD process, and this COP16 is no exception, does facilitate inclusivity, as CSOs are able to access the plenary meetings and deliver statements so we are being listened to.

    We are mindful that CSOs in other international fora like the UN climate COPs do not have the same level of access.

    We have received a grant from the G20 Global Land Initiative and are presenting our work at the meeting in Riyadh. This support will enable us to carry on our work in the Matanza Riachuelo basin.

    I’m excited to give more young people the opportunity to enjoy nature and for them to become the new guardians of wetlands and take the message back to their peers about the importance of preserving ecosystems for future generations.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Health needs in Syria worsen amid winter conditions

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Vibhu Mishra

    Humanitarian Aid

    Health challenges in northwest Syria have escalated due to harsh winter conditions, exacerbating the vulnerability of displaced populations, the UN World Health Organization (WHO)-led Health Cluster reported on Friday.

    It also cited rising cases of respiratory illnesses, compounded by inadequate heating, overcrowded camps and damaged infrastructure.

    “There is continuous significant rise in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), since the beginning of winter with subsequent rise in hospital visits and heightened public health concerns,” the Health Cluster said.

    Led by WHO, the Health Cluster coordinates the efforts of over 900 partners globally to address health needs in humanitarian emergencies, providing expertise, capacity-building and technical guidance to ensure effective and life-saving responses in crisis-affected regions.

    Worsening conditions

    Harsh winter conditions in northwest Syria continue to exacerbate the existing health vulnerabilities, especially among the internally displaced, who often reside in makeshift shelters and overcrowded camps that lack adequate insulation and heating, it added.

    Public health officials also warned of heightened risks, including hypothermia, as temperatures fall.

    To address these issues, health partners emphasized the need for targeted interventions, including better insulated shelters, heating and access to essential medical supplies.

    Humanitarian response

    The UN and partners have also intensified efforts to improve healthcare access.

    As of Wednesday, 750 trucks carrying aid from seven UN agencies, including WHO and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), crossed into northwest Syria through Bab Al-Hawa and Bab Al-Salam crossings, with 37 trucks arriving this week.

    These shipments include vital medical supplies, food and other humanitarian aid.

    WHO has supported 37 health facilities and 14 health cluster partners with 510 trauma supply kits, enabling treatment for over 90,000 individuals.

    The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has also delivered health kits and material to shore up sexual and reproductive health services. Mobile mental health units continue to deliver psychological support to vulnerable populations, including children and IDPs, in isolated areas.

    To address critical shortages, health partners such as the WATAN foundation have deployed three mobile blood banks, collecting 210 blood units through donation campaigns. Other partners are also extending support to hospitals in Aleppo, focusing on pediatric care and trauma services.

    Ongoing challenges

    Despite these efforts, the health crisis in northwest Syria remains dire.

    Recent landmine explosions in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama have caused fatalities and injuries, further straining the health system. On 24 December, three explosions killed a man in Idlib and injured others in Aleppo, including a child.

    Funding shortages are another critical concern.

    The Health Cluster requires $22 million over the next three months to sustain essential healthcare services for 450,000 people. Severe underfunding has left 140 health facilities at risk, including general and specialized hospitals, primary health centers and dialysis units.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Syria: UN teams support cholera vaccination in northeastern camps

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Health

    In northeast Syria, UN teams pressed ahead with a lifesaving cholera vaccine campaign in Al Hol detention camp complex on Friday, despite rumours of attacks by ISIL extremists and uncertainty across the war-torn country, following the overthrow of the Assad regime. 

    The cholera outbreak was detected in the camp in early October and subsequently confirmed by laboratory tests. Because Al Hol does not have a specialist treatment centre for acute watery diarrhoea, it is crucial that as many people are vaccinated as quickly as possible, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, insists. 

    “For the first time we received the vaccine of cholera from northwest Syria to the northeast to vaccinate people in Al Hol camp, even [despite] the escalation and security situation in the country, but we managed to access to the people and get them with the vaccine,” UNICEF health and nutrition officer Khourchid Hasan told UN News.

    Mr. Hasan credited the caretaker authority in Damascus with making the shipment possible, along with the local authorities in Syria’s northeast, who facilitated delivery of the vaccines to the gates of Al Hol, which is controlled by the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

    Conditions ‘back to normal’

    And despite threats published on social media last December “that there will be an attack on this camp and [that ISIL planned on] releasing their families” which closed access to Al Hol for three days, Mr. Hasan insisted that the vaccine rollout will not stop. 

    “Everything is back to normal,” he said, adding that at least 14,000 people have received a cholera vaccination so far: “The campaign is ongoing even during the season’s holidays and the vaccination teams are doing a great job there to give this lifesaving as treatment to children and their caregivers.”

    Soundcloud

    Teams of vaccinators work by making their way on foot through the camp’s tented shelters with a loudhailer urging families to bring themselves and their children to receive their dose. Once delivered, the vaccine protects against cholera, which can be deadly within hours if it is not treated correctly.

    Mr. Hasan stressed that that the campaign was able to go ahead after the agency successfully transported 25,000 doses of vaccine from northwest Syria across former active battle lines. He also praised the awareness-raising work of UNICEF’s social behaviour change and risk communication colleagues and partners, who engaged with community networks in support of the oral cholera vaccine campaign and fostered trust among Al Hol’s population.

    For years, Al Hol has housed the wives and children of ISIL fighters, displaced people and refugees caught up in the Syrian war, which erupted after deadly Government repression of peaceful protesters in 2011.

    Conditions remain dire

    The majority of those held there by the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are Syrian and Iraqi nationals. Conditions are dire and have been the subject of numerous alerts by top rights experts reporting to the Human Rights Council.

    Foreign nationals who either went to or were coerced to travel to Syria to join ISIL fighters and their children are held in an annexe of the camp, which is divided into five zones. In December, the population of the tented settlement was almost 40,000 people.

    Al Hol is in fact two different camps: Al Hol, which is close to the Iraqi border, and Roj camp, located on the border with Turkïye; they are both in Al-Hasakeh governorate. Male ISIL fighters are held in a prison in Al-Hasakeh city about 45 kilometres away.

    Cholera was detected for the first time in Syria in 2022 but the camp escaped infection. “We vaccinated immediately (in 2022) as a precautionary measure, but this time it’s appeared and started in Al Hol camp,” UNICEF’s Mr. Hasan explained, citing funding shortfalls, poor nutrition, dirty water and bad sanitation as contributing factors in the current outbreak.

    Agencies on site

    Several UN agencies have a presence in Al Hol in addition to the UN Children’s Fund, including the UN sexual and reproductive agency, UNFPA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the NES NGO Forum network operating in northeast Syria.

    “Those [NGOs] are supported by the local authority, but the need is still very high, especially for secondary health care,” Mr. Hasan stressed. 

    “There are three field hospitals in Al Hol camp and one field hospital in Roj camp, but still there is a huge need for medicines for non-communicable diseases, for secondary healthcare. And now, because of the security situation, it’s a big challenge to refer the people from those camps outside the camp to go to private hospitals, for example, in Al-Hasakeh, or Qamishli.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN chief proposes $3.6 billion budget for 2025, highlighting peace, development and reforms

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Vibhu Mishra

    UN Affairs

    The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday presented a $3.6 billion budget proposal for programmes in 2025, highlighting the Organization’s commitment to peace, sustainable development, and human rights initiatives, while advancing key reforms.

    Outlining his proposal at the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, the forum for administrative and budgetary matters, António Guterres said the proposal for UN’s regular budget comes with a sense of urgency, amid multiplicity of challenges.

    “In a context of major global shocks, the United Nations is more needed than ever,” he said.

    The proposal reflects the priorities set out in recent landmark agreements, he emphasised, citing the Pact for the Future and its annexes, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations.

    “[These] represent a commitment towards updating and reforming international cooperation to make it more networked, effective, fair and inclusive,” he added.

    The regular budget (RB) encompasses UN programmes spanning various domains, such as political affairs, international justice and law, regional cooperation for development, human rights and humanitarian affairs, and public information.

    Organization maintains a separate budget for peacekeeping operations, which follows a fiscal cycle from July 1 to June 30, while the regular budget aligns with the calendar year.

    Budget highlights

    Excluding the Special Political Missions (SPMs), the proposed budget for 2025 includes a total of 10,494 posts, representing a net increase of 115 posts for new or strengthened mandates.

    $711 million is proposed for SPMs, reflecting a $31 million decrease due to the discontinuation of field operations in Sudan (UNITAMS) and the investigative team in Iraq (UNITAD).

    Secretary-General Guterres presenting 2025 proposed programme budget to the Fifth Committee.

    The budget proposal also includes, among other programmes, $50 million for the Peacebuilding Fund to address ongoing funding gaps; an increase of $8 million for the UN human rights office, OHCHR, to support regional initiatives; and an additional $8.3 million to support the work of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria.

    The proposed budget further includes $3.5 million in additional humanitarian resources for the crisis Gaza, including an increase of $2.5 million for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a lifeline for Palestine refugees.

    The 2025 budget proposal also includes measures to place the System-Wide Evaluation Office on firmer footing with RB funding, alongside a $2 million increase for the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the Ethics Office to bolster capacities.

    Focus on development

    Sustainable development remains a core priority, with an increase of about $4.5 million, marking the sixth consecutive annual increase.

    The Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation (RPTC) will receive a $2 million boost, and an additional $500,000 is proposed for technical assistance and advice to nations on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and African Union’s Agenda 2063.

    The proposal also includes an increase of $1 million for the Development Account to enhance targeted, country-level support.

    Mr. Guterres also highlighted the “chronic funding shortfall” facing the Resident Coordinator system and need for “a sustainable and predictable funding mechanism”, through partial RB financing.

    Liquidity challenges

    Mr. Guterres concluded by urging Member States to fulfil their financial obligations in full and on time, stressing that the UN’s ability to meet its mandates depends on the availability of funds.

    He explained that the Organization started 2024 with only $67 million in cash, down from $700 million the previous year, “making it extremely vulnerable to adverse changes in payment patterns of assessed contributions”.

    To stave off implementation constraints next year, Mr. Guterres proposed that the General Assembly temporarily suspend the return of credits for 2023 against the 2025 assessment. The credits would be held in a reserve and released as conditions improve.

    “Ultimately, the effectiveness of programme delivery and use of financial resources in 2025 will depend on the availability of cash,” he said.

    UN budget discussions

    Over the next several weeks, the Fifth Committee will discuss the proposal, including with heads of UN Secretariat departments and senior programme managers.

    The Committee will then present its report with recommendations to the General Assembly plenary, for approval of the UN budget by the end of December.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Iraq: How the world helped Mosul rise from the rubble of war

    Source: United Nations 2

    By Eileen Travers

    Culture and Education

    Terrorist fighters with ISIL/Da’esh invaded Iraq’s second city of Mosul in 2014, destroying centuries-old landmarks in a bid to erase its history and impose a bleak and repressive future on the nearly two million people who lived there.

    Now, with UN support, Mosul has risen from the ashes of war and its historic monuments which had been reduced to rubble, dot the skyline once again.

    The devastating nine-month-long battle to liberate the city from the terrorist group killed 10,000 civilians, leaving it in ruins.

    In less than seven years, reconstruction has revitalised the city, with robust support from UN agencies and international partners, like Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union.

    UNESCO

    The Al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul was severely damaged in 2017 during the occupation by ISIL.

    International cooperation builds lasting legacy

    The intensity of the fighting between the terrorists and Iraqi ground forces – supported by US-led coalition airstrikes – left many priceless buildings completely or partially destroyed, including the famous 12th century Al-Nouri Mosque.

    UN agencies forged action plans with local authorities and international partners to rebuild the war-torn city.

    Teams tackled the enormous challenges, from recycling rubble and removing unexploded bombs, to rebuilding classrooms and centuries-old landmarks while re-energising the Moslawi spirit.

    ©UNICEF/Anmar Anmar

    Two girls walk in the ruins of the city of Mosul.

    Reviving the spirit of Mosul

    The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) joined those efforts in 2018, with a budget of $115 million and 15 partners, including the UAE and the European Union.

    The Revive the Spirit of Mosul project drafted plans to resurrect historic landmarks, classrooms and homes alongside the vibrant essence of a reborn city.

    Learn more about the plans here.

    © Salah El Din Samir Hareedy & team

    The Al-Nouri Mosque complex in Mosul is due to be rebuilt with support from UNESCO.

    Blueprints amid the rubble

    The rebuilding plans unfolded at a steady pace.

    To document the dramatic transformation, young Iraqi filmmakers set out to track the recovery in a UNESCO-supported video series.

    Its 48 episodes captured the human dimension of the city’s rejuvenation, telling the poignant stories of Moslawis alongside their hopes and dreams for their beloved city.

    Watch the full series here.

    UNMAS/Cengiz Yar

    An UNMAS team in war-torn Mosul, Iraq, searches for and clears explosives in the rubble.

    Safety comes first

    When a conflict ends, unexploded remnants of war must be safely removed as they pose deadly threats long after the guns go silent.

    First, safety was ensured for civilians returning to their neighbourhoods.

    To address those dangers, a UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) team was deployed to search for and clear unexploded ordnance among the rubble.

    Dealing with 8 million tonnes of debris

    To deal with an estimated seven to eight million tonnes of debris created by the battle for Mosul, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) joined forces in 2021 with local authorities to establish the city’s first debris recycling centre.

    “By processing the rubble to produce quality materials that can be used in reconstruction efforts, creating much needed job opportunities for returnees and cleaning-up the urban environment, this initiative practically illustrates how humanitarian needs and sustainable development goals can be addressed in a joint manner,” Dr. Jassim Humadi, Iraq’s Deputy Environment Minister, said at the time.

    The local population welcomed the project.

    “Young people in our village view debris recycling as a golden chance in terms of job creation, which additionally, by clearing the rubble, is allowing us to return and rebuild our homes,” added Mijbel Mar’i, a 24-year-old day labourer.

    Read more about that project here.

    Reclaiming unity

    Reconstruction is about much more than physical restoration; it is about reclaiming identity and unity.

    This conviction lies at the heart of UNESCO efforts to rebuild Mosul’s treasured monuments, including Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret.

    The project employed more than 7,700 Moslawis and has rehabilitated four religious monuments, 124 historical homes and renovated 404 classrooms.

    Read the full report on the project here.

    UNESCO

    Workers repair part of the Al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul.

    ‘Watching my city come back to life’

    “When I saw the minaret rise again, it was like watching my city come back to life,” said Omar, a young architect.

    He was among several local experts that helped meticulously piece together its fragments.

    Over 45,000 original bricks have been recovered from Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret and cleaned and catalogued for the reconstruction of the latter.

    Learn more about this rebuilding effort here.

    Beyond bricks and mortar

    UN agencies also led projects to rebuild education institutions and other civilian infrastructure damaged or destroyed.

    The newly rehabilitated Central Library at Mosul University, Iraq’s second-largest university that serves more than 50,000 students, was officially reopened in 2022 by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

    But, reviving Mosul goes beyond bricks and mortar.

    UNICEF/Jennifer Sparks

    Girls at a primary school in west Mosul, Iraq. (file)

    By 2021, damaged or levelled schools were being rebuilt, and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) supported psychosocial training activities for teachers, including at Al Huda Primary School in west Mosul.

    UNESCO trained over 5,000 educators and parents in preventing violent extremism, supporting more than 120,000 students.

    Moslawis are now free to enjoy their culture and passions, from music to sports, like the Mosul Girls Football Club, founded in 2021 by the Sustainable Peace Foundation with UN migration agency (IOM) support.

    In helping to revive the “spirit” of Mosul, UNESCO has demonstrated that culture can play an essential role in post-conflict reconstruction and the promotion of peace.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Mystery still surrounds death of revered UN chief Hammarskjöld, 63 years after tragic plane crash

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Vibhu Mishra

    UN Affairs

    One of the most enduring mysteries in United Nations history – the 1961 plane crash that killed Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and all on board as he sought to broker peace in the Congo – will linger on, with a new assessment announced on Friday suggesting that “specific and crucial” information continues to be withheld by a handful of Member States.

    Mr. Hammarskjöld served as Secretary-General from April 1953 until his death aged 56, when the chartered Douglas DC6 aircraft he was travelling in with others, registered as SE-BDY, crashed shortly after midnight on 17-18 September 1961, near Ndola, then in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).

    He was en route to negotiate a ceasefire between UN peacekeepers and separatists from the breakaway Congolese region of Katanga, and possibly even a peace agreement encompassing the whole of newly independent Congo.

    The Life and Death of Dag Hammarskjöld

    Visit the full UN Photo essay here

    Fourteen of the 15 passengers died on impact, and the sole survivor succumbed to their injuries a few days later.

    An initial inquiry by Rhodesian authorities reportedly attributed the crash to pilot error but the finding was disputed.  

    Eyewitness accounts suggested several scenarios, that “more than one aircraft” – possibly a jet – was observed in the air, “SE-BDY was on fire before it crashed”, and/or “SE-BDY was fired upon or otherwise actively engaged” by another aircraft.

    General Assembly action

    Over the years, the UN General Assembly has mandated a series of inquiries into the death of Mr. Hammarskjöld and those of his party. The most recent, in December 2022, was led by Mohamed Chande Othman, former Chief Justice of Tanzania, with the formal title of “Eminent Person”.

    Mr. Othman also led several previous investigations into the fateful crash and the events surrounding it.

    On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres transmitted Mr. Othman’s latest report to the Assembly.

    UN Photo

    On the first day of his second term, Secretary-General Hammarskjöld (back of car, at right) leaves UN Headquarters on the way to the luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in his honour, hosted by New York City Mayor Robert Wagner.

    Significant new information

    According to the UN’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, “significant new information” has been submitted to the inquiry for this latest update.

    This included probable intercepts by Member States of communications related to the crash, the capacity of Katanga’s armed forces, or others, to mount an attack on SE-BDY and the involvement of foreign paramilitary or intelligence personnel in the area at the time.

    It also included additional new information relevant to the context and surrounding events of 1961.

    “At this juncture, [Mr. Othman] assesses it to remain plausible that an external attack or threat was a cause of the crash. [He] notes that the alternative hypotheses that appear to remain available are that the crash resulted from sabotage or unintentional human error,” Mr. Haq said.

    Documents almost certainly withheld  

    However, Mr. Othman assesses so far that it is “almost certain” specific, crucial and so far undisclosed information exists in the archives of Member States, Mr. Haq said.

    He noted that Mr. Othman has not received, to date, specific responses to his queries from some Member States believed to be holding useful information.

    “The Secretary-General has personally followed up on [Mr. Othman’s] outstanding requests for information and calls upon Member States to release any relevant records in their possession,” Mr. Haq added.

    “With significant progress having been made, the Secretary-General calls on all of us to renew our resolve and commitment to pursue the full truth of what happened on that fateful night in 1961.”

    UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata

    View of the field at Ndola, Zambia, where the plane carrying Mr. Hammarskjöld and his party crashed the night of 17-18 September, 1961; the site is marked by a cairn.

    ‘An extraordinary man’

    Appointed at just 47 years old, Dag Hammarskjöld of Sweden remains the youngest UN Secretary-General.

    Widely regarded as a visionary diplomat and reformer, Mr. Hammarskjöld is credited with strengthening the role of the newly established UN during a period of intense global tensions, including the drive to decolonise Africa and Asia.

    “Hammarskjöld was not usually a companionable man, but he was certainly an extraordinary one, and we were all prepared – indeed anxious – to serve him without question to the limit of our powers and endurance,” Sir Brian Urquhart, a former senior UN official, remarked.

    His leadership was pivotal during the tumultuous events of 1956. He led a ceasefire mission to the Middle East and continued through the Suez crisis, where he helped negotiate the withdrawal of foreign forces from Egypt and oversaw the deployment of the Organization’s first emergency peacekeeping mission, the UN Emergency Force.

    Mr. Hammarskjöld was known for his integrity and dedication to public service, earning the Nobel Peace Prize “for developing the UN into an effective and constructive international organization capable of giving life to the principles and aims expressed in the UN Charter”.

    He is the only Nobel Peace Prize Laureate to have been awarded the distinction posthumously.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Egypt malaria-free, tropical storm lashes Cuba, Mozambique killings, WHO support for South Sudan

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Health

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially certified Egypt as malaria-free. The achievement marks the culmination of a century-long effort to eradicate a disease that has plagued the nation since ancient times.

    “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilisation itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future,” said Tedros Adhanom-Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

    “This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic, and a testament to the commitment of the people and Government of Egypt to rid themselves of this ancient scourge.”

    Egypt’s success story represents a significant victory in the global fight against malaria, especially for a country with a population exceeding 100 million.

    Growing list

    In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region, Egypt becomes only the third country to receive this certification, following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

    Egypt joins a group of 44 countries and one territory worldwide that have achieved this status.

    Tedros emphasised the broader implications of this achievement.

    “I congratulate Egypt on this achievement, which is an inspiration to other countries in the region, and shows what’s possible with the right resources and right tools.”

    UN ready to support Cuba, as millions left without power

    The UN Country Team in Cuba stands ready to support the Caribbean nation and mobilise technical assistance amidst reports of rolling power outages and a slow-moving tropical storm which threatens flooding in both urban and rural areas.

    Cuba’s power grid reportedly failed on Friday after weeks of rolling outages, leaving an estimated 10 million without electricity. There have been three other crashes up to Monday, all of which is being compounded by Tropical Storm Oscar, which made landfall on Sunday.

    According to news reports, the Cuban Government has said the weeks of worsening blackouts are due to infrastructure problems, fuel shortages and rising demand, together with the impact of the United States trade embargo and an inability to acquire spare parts for Cuba’s oil-fired fuel plants, resulting from economic sanctions.

    Significant rain

    “The strong but slow-moving storm has generated significant rainfall in the eastern and central parts of Cuba over the past few days,” said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, at the regular press briefing in New York on Monday.

    “The slow movement of the storm at only four kilometres an hour will compound the situation with more rainfall and potential flooding in the coming hours.”

    He said the UN was aware of the reported ongoing outages adding that under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator in Cuba Francisco Pichon, “we stand ready to support and mobilise technical assistance if needed. The UN Emergency Technical Team is activated and in touch with national counterparts.”

    Mr. Haq said the storm was also impacting the Bahamas where the UN is working together with local and regional authorities to respond as necessary.

    Guterres calls for swift probe into killing of opposition figures in Mozambique

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appealed for calm in Mozambique following the killing of two opposition figures amid a dispute over elections held earlier this month.

    Elvino Dias, legal advisor to presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, and Paulo Guambe, the legal representative of the political party PODEMOS, were gunned down in the capital, Maputo, on Friday night.

    PODEMOS rejected provisional results of the 9 October presidential elections which showed that the FRELIMO party, which has ruled Mozambique for nearly 50 years, was in the lead.

    Secretary-General Guterres urged the authorities to swiftly investigate the killings and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    He called on all Mozambicans, including political leaders and their supporters, to remain calm, exercise restraint and reject all forms of violence ahead of the official announcement of the electoral results.

    He also reaffirmed the UN’s unwavering support to peace and stability in Mozambique during this important phase in the country’s history.

    WHO supports South Sudan amid severe flooding

    The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with authorities and partners in South Sudan as the country faces some of the worst flooding in decades, affecting 42 out of 78 counties and impacting some 890,000 people.

    Although heavy downpours during the rainy season between April and November often trigger floods, they have become increasingly severe due to climate change, WHO said.

    So far, more than 226,000 people have been displaced, and roads and key infrastructure have been submerged. This includes 58 health facilities, while nearly 90 others are inaccessible.

    The floods have exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in the country, which is hosting almost 800,000 refugees and returnees fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan.

    Most refugees and returnees pass through Renk county in Upper Nile state, where two suspected cholera cases have been detected. Meanwhile, malaria is on the rise, with more than 120,000 suspected cases and 31 suspected deaths as of late September.

    WHO has distributed about 88 metric tonnes of emergency health kits to Renk and other key locations to assist flood-affected communities. The kits can treat over 870,000 people and include critical medical supplies such cholera treatment and antimalarial drugs.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Israeli military operation displaces 40,000 in the West Bank

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    The forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the northern part of the West Bank is escalating at an alarming pace, the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees UNRWA warned on Monday. 

    Several refugee camps are nearly empty after Israeli forces launched Operation Iron Wall on 21 January, making it the longest operation in the West Bank since the second intifada, according to the agency.

    The operation started in Jenin camp and then expanded to Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and El Far’a camps, displacing 40,000 Palestine refugees. 

    UNRWA said thousands of families have been forcibly displaced since Israel began carrying out large-scale operations in the occupied West Bank in mid-2023. 

    Cycle of displacement

    “Repeated and destructive operations have rendered the northern refugee camps uninhabitable, trapping residents in cyclical displacement,” the agency stressed.

    Last year more than 60 per cent of displacement was a result of Israel Defense Forces operations.

    UNRWA said forced displacement in the occupied West Bank is the result of an increasingly dangerous and coercive environment.

    “The use of air strikes, armoured bulldozers, controlled detonations, and advanced weaponry by the Israeli Forces has become commonplace – a spillover of the war in Gaza,” the agency noted.

    Palestinian militant activity

    Meanwhile, armed Palestinians are also increasingly active in the northern West Bank, deploying improvised explosive devices inside refugee camps, including near UNRWA facilities and civilian infrastructure. 

    The militants have engaged in violent clashes with both Israeli and Palestinian forces, UNRWA said. Furthermore, from December 2024 onwards, Palestinian forces operations further exacerbated displacement from Jenin camp. 

    New laws in effect

    UNRWA reiterated that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times and that collective punishment is never acceptable.

    “Jenin Camp stands empty today, evoking memories of the second intifada. This scene stands to be repeated in other camps,” the agency said.

    UNRWA stated that it no longer has any contact with the Israeli authorities following the implementation of two laws on 30 January, thus making it impossible to raise concerns about civilian suffering or the urgent need for humanitarian aid delivery.

    The situation “puts at grave risk the lives of Palestine Refugees and the UNRWA staff that serve them.”

    The laws ban UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory and prohibit Israeli officials from having any contact with the agency. 

    Separately, UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said ongoing operations by Israeli forces in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas continue to cause civilian casualties, with at least 40 people reportedly killed since 21 January.

    The UN and partners continue to support Palestinians affected by the ongoing operation in Jenin, which continues to drive displacement. OCHA said the World Food Programme (WFP) and partners have reached nearly 1,200 households with cash assistance. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: Aid activities suspended in Yemeni governorate, Gaza humanitarian update, UN welcomes summit on DR Congo crisis

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    The UN Secretary-General has instructed agencies, funds and programmes to pause all activities in Sa’ada governorate in Yemen for security reasons, the global body said on Monday. 

    The decision follows the recent detention by the Houthi de facto authorities of eight additional UN personnel, including six working in Sa’ada, which has impacted operations.

    The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been holding dozens of staff from the UN, international organizations and diplomatic missions for more than a year.

    “This extraordinary and temporary measure seeks to balance the imperative to stay and deliver with the need to have the safety and security of the UN personnel and its partners guaranteed,” said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, speaking during the daily media briefing from New York.

    He said the pause aims to give time to the de facto authorities and the UN “to arrange the release of arbitrarily detained UN personnel and ensure that the necessary conditions are in place to deliver critical humanitarian support guided by the principles of impartiality, neutrality, independence and humanity.”

    The UN underlined its full commitment to assist the millions of people in need across Yemen, where Houthi rebels and Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have been fighting for more than a decade.

    © WHO

    People displaced by the war are slowly returning to their homes across Gaza.

    Humanitarians continue to return to newly accessible areas of Gaza

    More than 1.5 million people in Gaza have received food parcels since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on 19 January, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Monday.

    The UN and partners continue to observe movement across the Netzarim corridor that separates the north and the south of the enclave as people return to their neighbourhoods.

    They also continue to re-establish their presence in newly accessible areas across the Strip. 

    Food, water and healthcare

    The World Food Programme (WFP) has distributed food parcels, hot meals and cash to more than 860,000 people in Gaza, OCHA said, and partners are providing more meals as community kitchens open in new areas. 

    Repair work continues on water wells across the enclave.  However, the widespread destruction of infrastructure and shortages of spare parts, generators and solar panels are affecting efforts to increase water production.      

    Nearly 60 health partners provide primary and secondary health services across the Gaza Strip, ensuring access to essential care. 

    The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is distributing sexual and reproductive health supplies expected to benefit more than 65,000 people over the next three weeks. 

    UNFPA has also supported another health partner which has opened three temporary primary healthcare centres in Gaza and a temporary medical point in Jabalya in the north.

    OCHA reported that recent winter storms destroyed at least five child-friendly spaces in Khan Younis and the Middle Area in Gaza.

    The storms also destroyed the Jabalya women and girls’ safe space, the largest such site in the north, serving nearly 500 women and girls each month.

    WFP

    Women in Goma in the eastern DR Congo collect food provider by the UN and its partners.

    UN welcomes Tanzania summit on eastern DRC crisis

    The UN has welcomed a recent meeting of African leaders to address the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    The joint summit by the Southern African bloc, SADC, and the East African Community (EAC) was held in Tanzania on Saturday. Participants reaffirmed the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC.

    Fighting escalated in late January when M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda, seized control of parts of North Kivu province, including the regional capital Goma.

    Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the Organization remains committed to supporting the immediate measures announced, including an immediate ceasefire, the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, and efforts to ensure the security of Goma and its key infrastructure.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Judges on the ICC said there were reasonable grounds that the three men bore “criminal responsibility” for the alleged crimes committed “from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024” – the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest – the Court said in a press release.

    “With regard to the crimes, the [Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber I] found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Netanyahu…and Mr. Gallant…bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts,” said the ICC.  

    The arrest warrants followed the ICC’s rejection of Israel’s challenges to the Court’s jurisdiction.

    Warrant against Hamas commander

    The warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif also alleges crimes against humanity and war crimes, although Israel has said that he was killed in an air strike in Gaza in July.  

    “The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Deif … is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other form of sexual violence.”

    Investigations continue

    The ICC said it was continuing to gather information regarding the reported death of Mr. Deif. As of 15 November, his status is unknown.  

    “The Prosecution also noted that it continues to investigate the crimes in the ongoing conflict and envisions that further applications for warrants of arrest will be submitted,” the release added.

    The Prosecution had initially filed applications for warrants of arrest for two other senior Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. However, these were withdrawn following confirmations of their deaths.

    ‘In the interest of victims and their families’

    The three arrest warrants are classified as “secret” to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of investigations.

    However, the Chamber decided to release the information due to the continuation of the war and likely violations of international law that are continuing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the fact hostages continue to be held in Gaza.

    “The Chamber considers it is also in the interest of victims and their families to be aware of the warrant’s existence,” the Court said.

    Prosecutor calls for focus on victims

    In a statement issued later on Thursday the ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said that “our collective mind and focus should be on the victims of international crimes in Israel and in the State of Palestine.”

    He said during meetings with the victims and families of hostages taken on 7 October “and with victims from Gaza who have lost so many loved ones, I have underlined that the law is there for all, that its role is to vindicate the rights of all persons.”

    He stressed that the warrants had been sought in May following an independent investigation, and on the basis of objective, verifiable evidence, vetted through a forensic process.

    “I appeal to all States Parties to live up to their commitment to the Rome Statute by respecting and complying with these judicial orders,” said Mr. Khan. “We count on their cooperation in this situation, as with all other situations under the Court’s jurisdiction. We also welcome collaboration with non-States Parties in working towards accountability and upholding international law.”

    About the ICC

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) is not part of the United Nations but they have a cooperative and complementary relationship.

    The ICC is an independent judicial body established by the Rome Statute, which was adopted in 1998 and came into force in 2002.

    It was established to address serious international crimes and ensure accountability when national justice systems are unable or unwilling to act.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel, Hamas leadership: what happens next?

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Why have the warrants been issued?

    The ICC can only investigate and prosecute if the national judicial system of the countries concerned are not, in the eyes of the Court, conducting genuine investigations or prosecutions for the same alleged crimes.

    “The primary responsibility is for the national judicial systems,” Fadi El Abdallah, the ICC spokesperson, told UN News. “However, if there are no genuine investigations or prosecutions, then the court has to investigate and to prosecute where the legal conditions are met. So that means that it’s not enough to have a legal system, but there is a need to demonstrate that this legal system is active in relation to crimes or alleged crimes.”

    The warrants, related to alleged war crimes stemming from the year-long Gaza conflict triggered by the Hamas-led attacks in Israel, indicate that the judges have found reasonable grounds to believe the suspects are responsible for crimes under ICC jurisdiction.

    Soundcloud

    This is just the first step

    At the pre-trial stage, for the defendants to challenge the admissibility of the proceedings. “It’s possible either for the concerned state or for the concerned suspect to seek from the ICC to stop the proceedings against him or her,” says Mr. El Abdallah, “but that has to be based on evidence that there are genuine serious prosecutions, at the national level, for the same alleged conduct.”

    It is also important to note that the ICC does not conduct trials in absentia: the defendants must be physically present in order for the case to begin.

    All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt before the ICC. Each defendant is entitled to public and impartial proceedings. If and when suspects appear, they are provided with a defence team if needed, and undergo a confirmation of charges hearing before the case can proceed to trial.

    Once the defendants appear before the court, a “confirmation of charges” hearing takes place, at which the judges will decide, after having listened to the defence, whether the prosecutor evidence is still solid enough for the case to move to trial.

    If they decide to go ahead, the defence and prosecution will call witnesses and present evidence. Legal representative of the victims also have the rights to present their observations in person.

    The court then decides if the defendants are innocent or guilty, and what their sentence should be.

    Finally, the defendants have the right to appeal to the ICC Appeals Chamber, made up of five judges, different from the three judges of the pretrial and the other three trial judges.

    How significant are these warrants?

    The answer to this question lies in the reason the court was set up in the first place. Created in 2002, the ICC is the world’s first permanent, treaty-based international criminal court to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and the crime of aggression.

    The warrants send a signal that the rule of law must be upheld, and provide a legal avenue for justice, which is crucial to breaking the cycle of violence and revenge.

    Countries that recognize the Court are obliged to support the warrants

    The court has no police to enforce its warrants and depends on its member States to implement its orders. This means that, if Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Gallant or Mr. Deif (whom Israel claims to have killed, although this has not been confirmed by Hamas) visit one of the 124 countries that accept the Court’s jurisdiction, the authorities of the nation in question should arrest them and deliver them to a detention centre in the Netherlands, where the Court is based.

    Why issue the warrants, if the defendants are unlikely to come to trial?

    “The judges have decided, based on the evidence and on the rule of law as they have interpreted them, and we need to respect that,” declares Mr. El Abdallah.

    “It is important to let people believe that the law is there for them, and to believe that justice will be done, because if not, what choices are we leaving to them, other than continuing in the cycle of violence and revenge?”

    About the ICC

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) is not part of the United Nations but they have a cooperative and complementary relationship.

    The ICC is an independent judicial body established by the Rome Statute, which was adopted in 1998 and came into force in 2002.

    It was established to address serious international crimes and ensure accountability when national justice systems are unable or unwilling to act.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Report exposes systematic torture in Syrian detention facilities

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Human Rights

    The UN General Assembly-mandated team investigating serious crimes in Syria released a new report on Friday, documenting systematic torture and abuse across over 100 Government detention facilities.

    Titled ‘The Syrian Government Detention System as a Tool of Violent Repression,’ the report from the UN International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) draws on over 300 witness interviews, medical forensic evidence and the Syrian Government’s own documentation. It reveals widespread human rights violations including sexual violence and enforced disappearances.

    “Our report lays bare the harrowing reality within the Syrian Government detention system,” said IIIM Head Robert Petit. “The interview records of former detainees, corroborated by forensic medical evidence, reveal the severity of the mental and physical harm that was intentionally inflicted”.

    Patterns of violence

    Former detainees described severe physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, stress positions and sexual violence. The investigation documented inhumane conditions characterised by overcrowding, insufficient food and water, lack of hygiene and denial of medical care.

    The investigation highlighted the ongoing trauma faced by victims’ families.

    “Thousands of families bear the psychological toll of not knowing where their loved ones are,” Mr. Petit said.

    “This is unimaginable psychological torture, yet the Syrian Government continues to intentionally withhold and cover-up information,” he added.

    Path forward

    Established in 2016 by UN General Assembly, the IIIM works to collect and preserve evidence for future accountability proceedings, though it cannot conduct trials. The report includes an interactive map of detention facilities and has been released in redacted format to protect witnesses.

    Despite seeking cooperation from Syria, the IIIM has received no response but continues outreach efforts to states holding relevant evidence, demonstrating its commitment to impartial justice.

    Mr. Petit emphasised the report’s significance: “We are making the Detention Report public and widely available, to contribute to the ongoing justice and accountability efforts, not only for past abuses but also those that continue to this day”.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNRWA ‘continues to deliver’ as Israeli ban comes into effect

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA on Thursday upheld its commitment to support millions across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) as Israel’s order for it to cease operations went into effect. 

    “UNRWA continues to deliver assistance and services to the communities we serve,” the agency said in a post on the social media platform X.

    “Our clinics across the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem are open while the humanitarian operation in Gaza continues.”

    No official word

    Last October, the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, passed two laws that called for ending UNRWA’s operations in its territory and prohibiting Israeli authorities from having any contact with the agency.

    Israel ordered UNRWA to vacate all premises in occupied East Jerusalem and cease operations in them by 30 January of this year.

    In a separate post on X, UNRWA said it had not received any official communication on how the bills will be implemented.

    Fears of impact

    Speaking to The Guardian, UNRWA Communications Director Juliette Touma said its headquarters in East Jerusalem “is still there” and the flag is still flying.

    “We don’t have plans to close our operations,” she said. “But we are in the dark.”

    Since 1950, UNRWA has been assisting Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

    The ban threatens life-saving aid, education and healthcare for millions in the OPT, and the UN has repeatedly warned of the consequences.

    Palestinians in Gaza are also worried, including Iman Hillis, who is currently staying in an UNRWA school with her family.

    “We will have nothing to eat or drink, and this will affect us greatly,” she told UN News on Wednesday. “All the people will be destroyed and will not have food, water or flour.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Dreams of returning home dashed by reality in Gaza City

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    People continue to stream back into Gaza City in the wake of the temporary ceasefire across the Strip, with some 500,000 reportedly returning so far, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Thursday. 

    Tess Ingram, Communications Manager for UNICEF Middle East and North Africa, is in the northern city where she witnessed people moving through the streets on donkeys, in cars, or by bicycle.

    “There’s a lot of people with shovels trying to remove rubble, and of course you can see people setting up makeshift shelters or tents on what I’m guessing used to be their homes,” she told UN News. 

    Hope and heartache

    Ms. Ingram believes that many people were filled with hope and joy as they were finally able to come back to the place they had hoped to return to for more than 15 months.

    “But now, as I speak to people, I think that joy is being replaced somewhat by a sense of heaviness as they discover the reality of what has happened here in Gaza City,” she said.

    “They were hoping to return to a home that is not there, or to a loved one who has been killed, and I think that that heaviness is really sinking in for people.”

    Soundcloud

    Living conditions also remain very difficult. Ms. Ingram visited a school-turned-shelter which is housing returnees along with people who had been living there throughout the war.  

    She met a mother and her five children who desperately need winter clothes and food, but mostly a place to stay because the home where they had hoped to return is gone.

    This story is not uncommon. “It is not one person. It is not 100. There are probably thousands of people who are in a similar situation,” she said.

    Danger on the way

    Ms. Ingram noted that families are making long, treacherous journeys to get back to Gaza City.

    On Wednesday she travelled from Al Mawasi, located in the central Gaza Strip, which took 13 hours. However, some families took as long as 36 hours to make the trip.

    “And of course the journey itself over those 36 hours is incredibly dangerous,” she said.

    “We’ve heard reports of people being killed by unexploded remnants of war on the way, because these very dangerous unexploded ordnance are buried underneath the rubble.”

    Soundcloud

    Support for returnees

    UNICEF is supporting returning families with the basics that they need to survive.  The agency is bringing in nutrition supplies, medical supplies, fuel to run bakeries and hospitals, and water pumps so that people have access to clean water.

    On Wednesday, UNICEF and other UN agencies brought in 16 trucks of fuel that will be provided to water wells, hospitals and bakeries to get essential services back up and running again.

    They are also providing services for mental health and psychosocial support for children to help them deal with the trauma they have experienced over the past 15 months. Nutritional screening and immunization services are forthcoming. 

    Keeping families together

    Hundreds of children have also reportedly been separated from their families while making the journey to the north, and UNICEF is responding to the situation. 

    Staff have been providing children under the age of four with identification bracelets that have their names, their families’ names and phone numbers, on them.

    “So, if in the worst case they did get lost in the wash of people there would be some hope of reconnecting them soon with their loved ones,” Ms. Ingram said.

    © UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

    Displaced Palestinians walk along a street in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

    People on the move

    Humanitarians report that more displaced families are returning to northern Gaza as the ceasefire continues to hold. 

    More than 462,000 people have crossed from the south since the opening of the Salah ad Din and Al Rashid roads on Monday.

    The UN and partners are providing water, high-energy biscuits and medical care along the two routes, while the World Food Programme (WFP) plans to set up more distribution points in the north this week.   

    Displaced Palestinians are also moving from north to south, though in smaller numbers, with about 1,400 people making the journey as of Thursday. 

    Restoring critical services

    Across Gaza, extensive efforts are underway to restore critical services, including civilian infrastructure, which the UN and partners are supporting.

    WFP has delivered more than 10,000 metric tonnes of food to the enclave since the ceasefire took effect.

    On Thursday, 750 trucks entered Gaza, according to information obtained by the UN on the ground through interactions with the Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire deal.

    The previous day, UNICEF distributed 135 cubic metres of water to communities in Jabalya, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, located in North Gaza governorate.  These areas had been besieged for over three months.  

    Furthermore, 35,000 litres of fuel were delivered to northern Gaza to sustain the operations of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, while water trucking in Rafah is being scaled up.

    Humanitarian partners are also coordinating with the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company to repair the damaged power line that feeds the South Gaza desalination plant, which is currently running on fuel.

    West Bank violence continues

    Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli military operations in northern areas have expanded beyond Jenin and Tulkarm to the nearby governorate of Tubas. 

    Ten people reportedly were killed on Wednesday when an Israeli air strike hit a group of Palestinians in Tammun, a village in Tubas governorate. 

    This brings the death toll from the ongoing Israeli operation in the northern West Bank to 30, including two children.   

    Overall, more than 3,200 families have been displaced from Jenin refugee camp in the context of Palestinian Authority and Israeli operations since December, according to local authorities. 

    Humanitarian partners continue to deliver aid, including food parcels, kitchen kits, baby supplies, hygiene items, medicines, and other essential supplies.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Relief chief in Israel and Palestine: ‘We must be practical, innovative and persistent’

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    The top UN aid official arrived in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory on Monday for a week-long visit, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, has reported. 

    Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher is in the region as a fragile ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas continues to hold in Gaza, amid rising violence in the West Bank.

    He will engage with authorities, aid partners and those on the frontlines of the humanitarian response.

    “Humanitarian needs are huge – we must be practical, innovative and persistent,” he wrote in a post on the social media platform X.

    Understand obstacles, strengthen coordination

    Mr. Fletcher held discussions with Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and several Palestinian ministers.  

    He also met Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, President of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, to discuss the challenges that emergency responders are facing.

    “Palestine Red Crescent teams have been saving lives under impossible conditions, showing extraordinary courage – too many paying the ultimate price,” he wrote in another social media post.

    He’s also scheduled to meet Israeli and Palestinian officials and visit areas in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Israel to better understand obstacles facing aid partners, and strengthen humanitarian coordination. 

    © UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

    A car filled with belongings heads back to Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

    Aid scale-up

    The UN and partners are expanding life-saving aid operations as more humanitarian supplies enter Gaza. They are also assessing the needs of Palestinians across the enclave and adapting the response accordingly. 

    OCHA noted that displaced people continue to move between southern and northern Gaza as they reunite with family and start rebuilding their lives. 

    Latest figures indicate that more than 545,000 people are estimated to have crossed from the south to the north over the past week, while more than 36,000 people have been observed moving in the opposite direction.

    Keeping children safe

    Furthermore, partners working in the protection sector have distributed identity bracelets to more than 30,000 children under the age of four to help prevent family separation.

    “This effort was critical, as partners reportedly received more than 250 young children who had been separated from their caregivers while crossing to the north,” OCHA said.

    Protection and services

    In North Gaza governorate, protection partners said three temporary sites have been established in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and Jabalya, each of which can host 5,000 people. 

    The UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency UNFPA has also reported the expansion of protection services for women in Jabalya, as well as in Gaza city.  

    The World Food Programme (WFP) noted that prices have started to fall since the ceasefire took effect and as more humanitarian commodities enter Gaza, although they still remain above pre-conflict levels. 

    One-third of households reportedly have better access to food, but consumption remains significantly below levels prior to the crisis. “For most households, the primary obstacle is lack of cash,” OCHA said.

    Meanwhile, partners working on education report that some 280,000 school-aged children in Gaza have registered in the e-learning programme run by the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA. 

    West Bank update

    OCHA also reported on the situation in the West Bank, where an ongoing operation by Israeli forces in Jenin and Tulkarm has expanded to nearby Tubas governorate, resulting in further death, destruction and displacement.

    The agency warned that “once again that lethal, war-like tactics are being applied, raising concerns over the use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards.”

    On Monday, Israeli forces raided El Far’a refugee camp and blocked the entrances. As a result, dozens of families have reportedly fled the camp, fearing a larger Israeli operation.

    This came a day after Israeli forces reportedly destroyed 20 residential structures in the Jenin refugee camp where more than 50 families were living.

    They also conducted house-to-house searches in the town of Tammun, displacing as many as 15 families and blocking the town’s entrance.

    OCHA reported that the Palestinian death toll in recent Israeli operations in the West Bank now stands at 39 since 21 January, the day when the operation in Jenin began.

    “Meanwhile, tight movement restrictions across the West Bank continue to hamper access to basic services, leaving Palestinians queuing for hours at Israeli checkpoints or forced to take significantly longer detours,” the agency said. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza: More than a million receive food aid since the start of the ceasefire

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    Over one million people in the Gaza Strip have received food assistance since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect nearly three weeks ago, UN aid coordination office OCHA said in an update on Wednesday. 

    The temporary agreement to stop the fighting and release hostages brought an end to some 15 months of conflict and destruction in the Strip, following the brutal Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel of 7 October 2023.

    The truce came into force on 19 January and OCHA said the surge in the daily entry of supplies into Gaza since then, along with improved access conditions, have allowed humanitarians to meaningfully expand the delivery of lifesaving assistance and services across the enclave.

    Moreover, coordination with the Israeli authorities for humanitarian aid missions is mostly no longer required, except when entering buffer zones. 

    Food and healthcare delivery expands

    “As a result, humanitarian partners are adjusting their response in accordance with population movements, including by expanding their operational presence and services in areas that were previously hard or impossible to access, such as Rafah, Gaza and North Gaza governorates,” OCHA said.

    Needs remain dire in Gaza, where the war has left over two million people fully dependent on food assistance, homeless, and without any income.

    Over the past two weeks, the World Food Programme (WFP) delivered more than 10 million metric tonnes of food to the Strip, reaching roughly a million people through food parcel distributions to households. 

    This is in addition to expanding bread deliveries at bakeries and community kitchens and re-opening a community kitchen in North Gaza on 24 January.  

    WFP also delivered fuel that enabled the five bakeries in Gaza governorate that it supports to increase production capacity by 40 per cent to meet the growing demand.

    Furthermore, 25 emergency medical teams are operating as of Tuesday, with 22 in the centre and south, two in Gaza City, and one in North Gaza. 

    © UNICEF/Eyad El Baba

    Palestinian families travel back to their homes in the north of the Gaza Strip.

    On the move

    OCHA noted that since 27 January, population movements have continued across the Strip but have largely slowed down.

    Over 565,092 people have crossed from the south to the north, while more than 45,678 have been heading southwards due to the lack of services and the widespread destruction of homes and communities in the north.

    It is estimated that more than half a million people have returned to Gaza and North Gaza governorates, and the need for food, water, tents and shelter materials remains critical.

    Shelter concerns

    “Despite the entry of a large volume of supplies since the ceasefire took effect, priority was given to food during the first two weeks, significantly limiting the entry of shelter assistance,” OCHA said, citing partners working in the sector.

    Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported bringing at least 3,000 tents into northern Gaza on Monday, and an additional 7,000 tents are expected to arrive in the coming days.

    Highlighting other developments, OCHA said this past Sunday saw the start of medical evacuations through Rafah crossings into Egypt. Between 1 and 3 February, 105 patients, including 100 children, and 176 companions were evacuated. 

    Hostage releases continue

    The update also included details on hostage releases. Hamas and other groups killed around 1,200 people in the 7 October attacks on Israel. They also seized some 250 others, both Israelis and foreigners, who were taken to Gaza.

    OCHA said estimates indicate that 79 people currently remain captive, including hostages who have been declared dead and whose bodies are being withheld in Gaza.

    Over the past week, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the third and fourth release operations since the ceasefire took hold.

    On 30 January, three Israeli and five Thai hostages were transferred from Gaza to Israeli authorities, and 110 Palestinian detainees were released from Israeli detention centres. Among the Palestinian detainees were 30 children as well as 20 prisoners from the West Bank who were released to the Gaza Strip. 

    The following day, three Israeli hostages were transferred out of Gaza to Israel, and 183 Palestinian detainees were released from Israeli detention centres. The Palestinians freed included 111 people who were detained from the Gaza Strip after 7 October and seven detainees who were released to Egypt. 

    Overall, the ICRC has facilitated the return of 18 hostages and 583 Palestinian detainees since the ceasefire began. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham, Blumenthal, Cotton, Rosen, Britt Introduce Resolution to Affirm Hamas Cannot Retain Control of Gaza

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Jackie Rosen (D-Nevada), and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) today introduced a bipartisan resolution to affirm that Hamas cannot retain any political or military control of the Gaza Strip.
    “One of the defining moments for the future of the Middle East and the world at large is to state directly and with moral clarity that Hamas – a terrorist organization – will no longer have political or military control of Gaza at the end of this conflict,” said Senator Graham.
    Senator Graham continued, “Hamas is responsible for the brutal and horrific October 7 attack against Israel and ruthlessly detaining hundreds of hostages, including many Americans. They have oppressed the Palestinian people under their control. They are corrupt and would push the world into further darkness if they could. Hamas exists to destroy Israel, not to bring a better life for the Palestinian people. I appreciate the bipartisan support for this resolution and believe it will receive overwhelming support in the U.S. Senate.”
    “Hamas is an anathema—to Palestinians and Israelis alike, indeed to all who live in the region,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Their barbarity and inhumanity is a terrorist scourge—demonstrated most tragically in the October 7 massacre—and a major barrier to peace and stability. Eliminating Hamas ought to be common ground as a paramount goal.”
    “Hamas is a group of murderous terrorists with American and Israeli blood on their hands,” said Senator Cotton. “The United States must back Israel to the hilt and help ensure Hamas isn’t allowed to retain any political or military control in Gaza.”
    “Hamas is a terrorist organization backed by Iran, and it is responsible for committing the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. In order to best ensure the safety and security of Israel, as well as the Palestinian people, Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in power in Gaza in any capacity,” said Senator Rosen. “It is imperative we continue to push for diplomatic solutions to the current conflict, which must make abundantly clear that there is no future for Hamas in the Middle East.”
    “It has been almost 500 days since Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel,” said Senator Britt. “I will continue to stand with my colleagues and call for our nation to use every tool in our toolbox to halt all sources of funding for Iranian-backed terrorists. Our support for Israel’s right to defend herself is unwavering as they work to bring every single hostage home. The threat of Hamas must be ended permanently. Only through strength can we achieve lasting, sustainable peace.”
    This resolution:
    Affirms that Hamas cannot be allowed to retain any political or military control in the Gaza Strip;
    Calls upon the President to use all economic and diplomatic tools possible to halt all sources of funding for Hamas from the Islamic Republic of Iran and all other sources of revenue; and
    Supports the State of Israel as it continues to defend its sovereignty against attacks from Hamas, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all other Iranian proxies.
    To read the full resolution text, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Guterres calls on US to exempt development and humanitarian funds from aid ‘pause’

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Humanitarian Aid

    The UN Secretary-General on Monday called on the US Government to consider “additional exemptions” to a directive which pauses nearly all foreign aid for 90 days.

    President Trump’s executive order a week ago called for all foreign aid to be re-evaluated to ensure that it complies which his new foreign policy priorities.

    The immediate scope of the order was not clear but on Friday, according to news reports, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an order putting any new funding on hold, pending review.

    The State Department directive reportedly clarifies that funding for existing programmes is also suspended until it has been reviewed.

    The only exceptions were reportedly for military assistance to Israel and Egypt and emergency food aid.

    Concern over aid freeze

    “The Secretary-General notes with concern the announcement of a pause in US foreign assistance,” said the statement issued on behalf of António Guterres by his Spokesperson.

    “The Secretary-General calls for additional exemptions to be considered to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities for the most vulnerable communities around the world, whose lives and livelihoods depend on this support.

    The statement added the Mr. Guterres was looking forward to engaging with the Trump administration on how “much needed development support” can be provided to citizens in the developing world who face the severest challenges.

    “The United States is one of the largest aid providers and it is vital that we work constructively to jointly shape a strategic path forward,” the statement continued.

    The US Government is the largest single donor of aid in the world, disbursing around $72 billion in assistance during 2023. It also reportedly provided more than 40 per cent of all humanitarian aid accounted for by the UN during 2024.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Explainer: How family planning saves lives

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Health

    Sakina Sani was married off when she was 12 years old amid conflict and food shortages in northern Nigeria. She became pregnant at 15 but miscarried and then had two children in rapid succession.

    “I will never allow my daughter to go through what happened to me,” she told UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency.

    What happens when conflict displaces tens of thousands of people in hotspots like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Ukraine, and women die every day in childbirth or pregnancy?

    UNFPA is there, equipping displacement camps and medical personnel with lifesaving supplies.

    When an earthquake tumbles whole city blocks, it puts contraceptives onto emergency relief convoys alongside kits for delivering babies and medicines to stop internal bleeding.

    When a cyclone slashes through remote island communities, the agency sends contraceptives just as it sends sterile medical equipment, including condoms, oral and injectable contraceptives, contraceptives implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs).

    Why? Because contraceptives are part of lifesaving humanitarian care.

    This may be counterintuitive to some, but it is a settled fact in the eyes of medical science, humanitarian responders and women themselves.

    Even outside emergency settings, having access to modern, safe contraceptives empowers women to make their own decisions about their fertility, which in turn reduces unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, improves health outcomes and lowers the risk of maternal and child mortality.

    In short, family planning saves millions of lives. Here are some of the reasons why:

    © UNFPA/Karel Prinsloo

    A woman is injected with a contraceptive at a UNFPA-supported health centre in the Central African Republic.

    Getting pregnant does not stop in emergency settings

    More than 60 per cent of all maternal deaths are estimated to take place in humanitarian crises and fragile settings, places where women struggle to access the care and nutrition needed to safely carry a pregnancy.

    Even in the best circumstances, alarming proportions of women are unable to say no to sex, roughly one quarter of women, according to the most recent data.

    In a humanitarian crisis, women experience about twice the rates of gender-based violence as well as the heightened risk of rape as a weapon of war and tool of genocide and the increased risk of intimate partner violence. All of this elevates their vulnerability to an unintended pregnancy.

    © UNFPA/Danil Pavlov

    Preventing fatal complications

    While contraception is sometimes criticised – incorrectly – as a new medication, one that is unnatural or poorly understood, the truth is that they have existed for millennia. Condoms, for example, have been used for centuries.

    When it comes to  modern forms of contraception, they are among the most prescribed and well-studied medications in existence. Contraceptives have been investigated not just by pharmacologists and medical researchers, but also by healthcare economists, epidemiologists and policymakers, and the findings are conclusive: by preventing unintended pregnancy, contraceptives prevent women from dying.

    How? Every pregnancy carries a risk, and pregnancies in crisis settings, where health systems are in tatters and medical care scarce, are particularly dangerous.

    Lifesaving aid because babies don’t wait

    What happens when a woman is ready to give birth after a hurricane or in a war zone?

    In the crisis-addled DRC, a breakdown in healthcare infrastructure has led maternal mortality rates to soar, with three women dying every hour from pregnancy or childbirth complications.

    “Many women in northwest Syria lose their lives while being transferred between hospitals in the absence of essential supplies for critical conditions,” Dr. Ikram Haboush, in Idlib, said.

    Unintended pregnancies are also directly correlated with higher maternal mortality rates.

    “That is why every public health programme designed to reduce the number of maternal deaths incorporates contraception as one of the pillars of action,” according to the experts who wrote UNFPA’s flagship annual publication, the State of the World’s Population Report, Seeing the unseen: The case of action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy.

    By preventing unintended pregnancy, contraceptives also reduce the incidence of maternal injuries and illness, stillbirth and neonatal death.

    In 2023, UNFPA’s dedicated supplies partnership procured $136 million worth of contraceptives, which is estimated to have prevented nearly 10 million unintended pregnancies and over 200,000 maternal and newborn deaths. It is estimated these contraceptives also prevented nearly three million unsafe abortions.

    © UNFPA

    Two community workers provide information about contraceptives in Bihar, India.

    Preventing fatal illness, chronic ailments

    Contraceptives like male and female condoms additionally save lives by decreasing the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

    Even a treatable STI can be life-threatening in settings with limited access to medical care,  as is the case for women and girls in Haiti, for example, where widespread and relentless sexual violence has led to rising rates of unintended pregnancy as well as STIs, while the health system has all but collapsed.

    Only around three per cent of survivors in Haiti report receiving post-rape treatment within 72 hours of being assaulted. This treatment includes emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy and post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission.

    Contraceptives also treat ailments unrelated to sexual activity that are debilitating in even stable and secure circumstances like polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea and extremely heavy bleeding.

    For women like Omaira Opikuko from Venezuela, there is no question that long-term contraception after her sixth delivery was lifesaving.

    She suffered both haemorrhaging and a prolapsed uterus during her last labour.

    “I was on the brink of death,” she said.

    UN News/Daniel Dickinson

    Two Thai peer educator high school students describe a range of available condoms.

    Cost-effective humanitarian interventions

    Family planning is cost effective.

    In 2023, more than 50 countries that received UNFPA contraceptive supplies made collective savings of over $700 million through reduced healthcare costs for pregnancy, delivery and post-abortion care.

    Numerous studies have shown that family planning is a critical investment for society, not only by averting unintended pregnancy and the maternal health problems that accompany it, but also by increasing education and employment gains among women.

    In humanitarian settings, contraceptives are all the more critical, helping women and families survive and stabilise and leaving them better prepared to recover.

    No one knows this better than survivors of humanitarian crises themselves

    “There is a lot of demand for family planning services,” one emergency responder said in the immediate aftermath of a deadly cyclone.

    Amid the world’s growing precarity, rising catastrophes and increasing displacements, these services are a light in the dark for women and girls around the world.

    As Ms. Opikuko in Venezuela said, “I don’t want to be scared anymore.”

    Learn more about UNFPA here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: World News in Brief: US executive orders continue, killings in Sudan, breast cancer alert in Africa, human rights in Tunisia

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    UN Affairs

    New executive orders issued by the White House are set to further impact the cooperative, multilateral work of the United Nations, two weeks since the United States declared that it was pulling out of the UN health agency, WHO.

    According to President Trump’s latest directive from the White House on Tuesday on international cooperation, the US will no longer participate in or financially support the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is set to meet on Friday to discuss the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    The executive order also calls for a review of US membership of UNESCO, the UN agency for education, science and culture.

    Leading the review will be US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has 90 days to evaluate “how and if” UNESCO supports Washington’s interests.

    The third UN agency immediately affected by the order is UNWRA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, which the White House order maintained “has reportedly been infiltrated” by terrorist affiliates.

    The presidential order withdraws US funding from UNRWA and notes the UN agency’s alleged involvement in the 7 October attacks on Israel, something which UNRWA strongly condemned and responded to by opening itself up to an independent as well as an internal investigation, ultimately sacking nine staff for their possible involvement.

    Israel did not provide independent investigators with evidence to fully corroborate its allegations.

    By 4 August 2025 – in just six months’ time – the US executive order also calls for a review of US membership in “all international intergovernmental organizations” and all conventions and treaties.

    Praise for lifesaving US support

    UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in response to questions regarding the latest executive order that “from day one”, it has been clear that US support for the UN has “saved countless lives and advanced global security”.

    “As I have mentioned, the Secretary-General looks forward to speaking to President Trump. He looks forward to continuing what was a very frank and productive relationship during the first term,” he said.

    Mr. Dujarric recalled President Trump’s remarks in the Oval Office on Tuesday where he said the UN has “got great potential” with a critical role to play in taking on many big challenges facing the world.

    At least 40 children killed in three days as violence escalates in Sudan

    A surge in violence across Sudan has reportedly killed at least 40 children in just three days, with shelling targeting multiple areas of the country, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned.

    On Monday, heavy shelling in Kadugli, South Kordofan state, killed 21 children and injured 29 others.

    Over the weekend, attacks on markets in El Fasher in Darfur state and Sabreen in Khartoum state claimed the lives of at least 19 more children, with several others wounded.

    “Sadly, it is rare that more than a few short days go past without new reports of children being killed and injured,” said Annmarie Swai, the UNICEF representative in the country.

    Daily killings

    Since June 2024, as the conflict has spread into new regions, an average of over four incidents per day has been documented, with an overwhelming 80 per cent of these cases involving killings and maimings.

    The violence has also hit vital civilian infrastructure. In late January, shelling reportedly struck the only functioning hospital in El Fasher, killing and injuring seven children, while another attack on a UNICEF child-friendly space in Khartoum state left three children dead or wounded.

    “Children in Sudan are paying the ultimate price of the relentless fighting,” Ms. Swai said, urging all parties to uphold international humanitarian law.

    135,000 women in Africa could die from breast cancer by 2040, warns WHO

    An estimated 135,000 women could die from preventable breast cancer by 2040 in sub-Saharan Africa without urgent action, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

    According to a WHO study in 42 of the region’s 47 countries, there are significant gaps and disparities in breast cancer control.

    Key findings included a critical shortage of healthcare workers who are essential for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

    Tackling breast cancer is also limited by a lack of access to specialised cancer centres, WHO said.

    Lack of screening

    The UN health agency found that only five out of 47 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have regular breast cancer screening programmes. Lab screening facilities are also lacking, with only two countries meeting the standard of one lab per 100,000 people.

    Breast cancer-related deaths in the region continue to be driven by late diagnosis and insufficient prevention and care. Much more healthcare investment is needed, WHO insisted.

    In 2022 alone, the UN agency said that 38 out of every 100,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 19 per 100,000 died from the disease.

    Tunisia: Rights panel demands immediate release of activist on hunger strike

    Top independent rights experts reiterated their call to the Tunisian authorities on Wednesday to release an imprisoned activist who is intensive care after going on hunger strike.

    Sihem Bensedrine, 75, was the former president of the Truth and Dignity Commission in Tunisia until she was detained in August last year.

    In a joint appeal, the independent rights experts insisted that Ms. Bensedrine must be immediately and unconditionally released and any charges against her dropped.

    The rights experts – Special Rapporteurs Bernard Duhaime, Mary Lawlor and Margaret Satterthwaite – said that her arrest appeared to be in retaliation for her activism.

    Truth to power

    In particular, they cited her contribution to the Truth and Dignity Commission’s report which they said “should lead to the prosecution of alleged perpetrators of serious violations of past regimes”.

    The Tunisian commission was established in 2014 in collaboration with the UN human rights office, OHCHR, and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). It was tasked with investigating alleged abuses going back six decades as well as acting as an arbiter in cases of corruption and gross human rights violations.

    Ms. Bensedrine is accused of falsifying the commission’s report on corruption in the banking system and has been the subject of judicial investigations since 2021, before her pre-trial detention last year.

    The Human Rights Council-appointed independent experts further argued that commission members and staff cannot be held liable for any content, conclusions or recommendations in the report as their work was carried out in line with their mandate.

    Chad and Nigeria sign agreement for voluntary refugee repatriation

    The governments of Chad and Nigeria, in collaboration with UN refugee agency, UNHCR, have signed a tripartite agreement to allow the voluntary repatriation of Nigerian refugees currently residing in Chad.

    It marks a significant milestone in regional efforts to provide durable solutions for refugees, ensuring that any future returns are voluntary, safe and dignified.

    A tripartite commission will be set up to develop standard operating procedures for implementing the agreement. This includes facilitating ongoing dialogue, joint assessments and coordination between Chad, Nigeria and UNHCR. The commission will ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and that the protection needs of refugees remain central to the process.

    “This tripartite agreement is a crucial step toward ensuring that any voluntary repatriation of refugees is conducted in a manner that upholds their fundamental rights and dignity,” said UNHCR regional bureau director Abdouraouf Gnon-Kondé.

    The signing of this agreement is part of a broader commitment by the governments of Chad and Nigeria to strengthen protection and solutions for forcibly displaced populations. This includes ongoing cooperation with neighbouring countries to enhance regional coordination on voluntary repatriation and reintegration efforts.

    UNHCR commends the governments of Chad and Nigeria for their leadership in promoting durable solutions while safeguarding refugee rights. The agency stands ready to implement its commitments under this tripartite agreement.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Meds platform launch gives children with cancer a fighting chance

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Health

    A new UN-partnered project to distribute essential childhood cancer medicines has begun in Uzbekistan and Mongolia, the first rollout for a project due to be piloted in six countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

    Around 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year and most of them live in low-income countries where medicines are either unaffordable or unavailable, resulting in an overwhelming 70 per cent death rate.

    In high-income countries, more than eight in 10 children who are diagnosed survive.

    “The platform is now set to close this gap”, said Dr. Andre Ilbawi, Technical lead of the WHO cancer control programme.

    The UN agency’s goal – working with leading US paediatric facility St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – is to reach 50 countries where needs are greatest, providing medicines to treat 120,000 children with cancer in the next five to seven years. Although it is an ambitious goal, it is achievable, Dr Ilbawi told journalists in Geneva.

    “This marks the beginning of a global movement to provide children with cancer the medicines that they need, regardless of where they live, or their ability to pay”, he insisted thanks to the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.

    Major funding boost

    The launch of the platform has been made possible by a $200 million investment by St. Jude’s – marking the largest financial commitment ever made for childhood cancer medicines globally.

    The initiative also draws on the experience of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization Strategic Fund, which procure and distribute the medicines. “This innovation has now become a needed beacon of hope for families around the world”, Dr. Ilbawi said.

    The platform is not a donation programme, but rather a joint venture involving governments, the pharmaceutical industry, non-governmental organizations and local stakeholders such as hospitals.

    Complex and challenging

    The remaining four countries of the pilot phase that will soon receive cancer medication are Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal and Zambia. Within days, El Salvador, Moldova, Senegal, Pakistan, Ghana and Sri Lanka will join the programme too.

    The needs of a child suffering from cancer are complex and demanding, ranging from qualified professionals to pharmaceutical companies and communities that are ready to support a family through the traumatic process of diagnosis, WHO explained.

    But with the launch of this platform come hopes of scaling it up. “The vision of giving every child a chance to fight cancer – no matter where they are born, is now becoming a reality” Dr. Ilbawi said.

    Soundcloud

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNOPS: the UN agency turning commitments into reality

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Humanitarian Aid

    Nations around the world which are seeking practical solutions to peace and security, humanitarian and development issues are marking 30 years of collaboration with a specialized UN agency.

    Despite immense security risks and logistical challenges, the agency worked with international partners to transport and eliminate hundreds of tonnes of chemical materials under strict deadlines. This mission drew praise from global leaders, illustrating how a UN body with the right expertise can help neutralize threats to international peace and security.

    The devastating 2004 tsunami left Indonesian provinces Aceh and Nias in ruins. Amid overwhelming damage, UNOPS constructed 225 earthquake-resistant schools in the region, providing children with secure, modern learning environments. By combining engineering expertise, local labor, and a rapid implementation timeline, education was revitalized for communities that had lost so much.

    UNOPS commitment to helping protect the environment was also highlighted through its work on the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that led to the healing of the ozone layer. By providing technical guidance and project support, UNOPS helped countries transition to safer alternatives for nearly 100 chemicals that harm the ozone layer.

    © UNOPS/John Rae

    A newly installed tap in Mirtala Village, India provides a clean water supply

    Bridging the gap between ambition and action

    In any country coming out of conflict, rebuilding essential infrastructure can make the biggest difference. UNOPS remains committed to supporting countries in conflict – building on its recent work in Ukraine, Syria and Gaza, which has been practically reduced to rubble. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is still in its early stages, but UNOPS stands ready to support a coordinated UN reconstruction response.

    From its beginnings as a small department to its evolution into a driving force for concrete action, the UNOPS journey is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and partnership. As global challenges multiply, the agency’s role in bridging the gap between humanitarian, developmental and environmental needs is an example of what the UN can achieve through determination, expertise, and a global commitment to improving lives worldwide.

    Today, the office is committed to bridging the gap between ambitions and tangible action, building foundations for countries to recover and thrive, from constructing schools and hospitals, building roads that connect communities in remote areas, and strengthening health systems.

    In 2025, as it marks its 30th anniversary, UNOPS is planning for the future, to ensure that it provides solutions where needs are greatest, with a focus on serving some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: US funding pause leaves millions ‘in jeopardy’, insist UN humanitarians

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Humanitarian Aid

    UN agencies on Tuesday offered a dire assessment of the global impact of deep cuts to grassroots humanitarian funding by the incoming US administration and reiterated calls for Washington to retain its position as a global aid leader.

    The development follows the pause announced to billions of dollars of funding on 24 January by the US administration affecting “nearly all US foreign aid programmes, pending a 90-day review”, said Pio Smith from the UN’s sexual reproductive health agency, UNFPA, briefing journalists in Geneva.

    ‘Unwavering commitment’ to serve people in need

    In a letter to all UN personnel released on Tuesday morning in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he had responded to the executive order from US President Donald Trump with a call to “ensure the delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities”.

    Mr. Guterres said the organization will remain actively engaged in assessing and mitigating the impact of the order.

    “Now, more than ever, the work of the United Nations is crucial…Together, we will ensure that our organization continues to serve people in need around the world with unwavering commitment.”

    Deadly consequences

    Mr. Smith said that in response to the executive order, UNFPA “has suspended services funded by US grants that provide a lifeline for women and girls in crises, including in South Asia”.

    The UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific warned that between 2025 and 2028 in Afghanistan, the absence of US support will likely result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 additional unintended pregnancies.

    Mr. Smith said the agency was seeking “more clarity” from the administration “as to why our programmes are being impacted, particularly those which we would hope would be exempt” on humanitarian grounds.

    Meanwhile, the UN aid coordination agency OCHA, said that there have been no “layoffs or closing down access” in response to the executive orders. 

    Spokesperson Jens Laerke added that the agency’s country offices were “in close contact” with local US embassies to better understand how the situation will unfold.

    He explained that the US Government funded around 47 per cent of the global humanitarian appeal across the world last year; “that gives you an indication of how much it matters when we are in the situation we are in right now, with the messaging we’re getting from the Government”.

    The move follows the announcement that the new US administration has placed the country’s principal overseas development agency, USAID, under the authority of the Secretary of State.

    Staff from the agency have been locked out of their offices, while the head of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency has accused USAID of criminal activity and a lack of accountability.

    “Public name-calling won’t save any lives,” said OCHA’s Mr. Laerke, while Alessandra Vellucci, head of the UN Information Service at UN Geneva, highlighted the UN Secretary-General’s appeal for a relationship of trust with the Trump administration.

    “We are looking at continuing this work together [and listening]…if there are criticisms, constructive criticism and points that we need to review,” she told reporters, underscoring the “decades-long relationship of mutual support” between the UN and the US.

    © UNICEF/Anmar Anmar

    USAID and UNICEF sign a partnership in 2024 to improve water and sanitation services across Iraq.

    Retreat from Human Rights Council

    At the same scheduled press encounter, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Council responded to news reports that President Trump plans to issue an executive order withdrawing the US from the 47-member world body.

    The US was a member of the Council from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024, meaning that since 1 January this year it has been an “observer State…like any of the 193 UN Member States that are not Council Members” explained spokesperson Pascal Sim:

    “Any Observer State of the Council cannot technically withdraw from an intergovernmental body that is no longer part of.”

    Preventable problems

    Amid uncertainty about future US funding, UNFPA’s Mr. Smith underscored the immediate impact on at-risk individuals in the world’s poorest settings: “Women give birth alone in unsanitary conditions; the risk of obstetric fistula is heightened, newborns die from preventable causes; survivors of gender-based violence have nowhere to turn for medical or psychological support,” he said.

    “We hope that the US Government will retain its position as a global leader in development and continue to work with UNFPA to alleviate the suffering of women and their families as a result of catastrophes they did not cause.”

    Afghanistan emergency

    UNFPA works across the world including in Afghanistan, where more than nine million people are expected to lose access to health and protection services because of the US funding crisis, it said.

    This will impact nearly 600 mobile health teams, family health houses and counselling centres, whose work will be suspended, Mr. Smith explained.

    “Every two hours, a mother dies from preventable pregnancy complications, making Afghanistan one of the deadliest countries in the world for women to give birth. Without UNFPA’s support, even more lives will be lost at a time when the rights of Afghan women and girls are already being torn to pieces.”

    Pakistan, Bangladesh fall-out

    In Pakistan, the UN agency warns that the US announcement will affect 1.7 million people, including 1.2 million Afghan refugees, who will be cut off from lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services, with the closure of over 60 health facilities.

    In Bangladesh, nearly 600,000 people, including Rohingya refugees, face losing access to critical maternal and reproductive health services.

    “This is not about statistics. This is about real lives. These are literally the world’s most vulnerable people,” Mr. Smith insisted.

    In Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar refugee camp complex –where more than one million Rohingya refugees remain trapped in dire conditions – nearly half of all births now take place in health facilities, with UNFPA’s support.

    “This progress is now at risk,” Mr. Smith continued, noting that the agency requires more than $308 million dollars this year to sustain essential services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Rights experts call for immediate release of Abu Zubaydah from Guantánamo

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Human Rights

    UN independent human rights experts have called for the immediate release of Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, known as Abu Zubaydah, who has been detained without charge by US authorities at the Guantánamo Bay detention facility for almost 20 years.

    On Monday the United States military sent 11 long-term detainees from the facility to Oman after reaching agreement with the Government there on relocation and resettlement. 

    Only 15 detainees now remain, according to news reports. The prison opened in 2002 and at its peak it held more than 600 prisoners overseen by over 2,000 military and civilian personnel.

    Captured in Pakistan

    Captured in March 2002 in Faisalabad, Pakistan, following the 11 September 2001 attacks, Abu Zubaydah was transferred to CIA custody and held at multiple secret locations, where he was reportedly tortured, the experts reminded in a press release issued on Wednesday.

    Despite being imprisoned for nearly two decades, he remains in Guantánamo Bay without any formal charges having been made.

    Release ‘long overdue’

    “We are exceptionally requesting a Presidential pardon for Mr. Abu Zubaydah, owing to his treatment while in detention and the lack of due process since he was first detained,” the experts stated. “His immediate release and relocation to a third safe country are long overdue.”

    The Human Rights Council-appointed experts highlighted Abu Zubaydah’s serious health conditions, which include injuries sustained during torture that have allegedly been exacerbated by the denial of medical attention.

    They also noted significant impediments to lawyer-client communication.

    Various international and regional human rights mechanisms have examined Abu Zubaydah’s case, establishing that he has suffered multiple human rights violations within the context of the US rendition and secret detention programme, the experts noted.

    “In addition to his liberation, we request that Mr. Abu Zubaydah is accorded an enforceable right to compensation and other measures of reparation, in accordance with international law,” the working group members and Special Rapporteurs said.

    The experts emphasised the profound psychological and physical trauma he has endured due to torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, and enforced disappearance. They reiterated their call for the US Government to immediately release and relocate him to a safe third country.

    “We recall the principle of joint responsibility that applies to States when more than one of them was involved in the perpetration of a human rights violation,” the experts said. “Accordingly, we call on States to proactively offer their territory for the prompt relocation of Mr. Abu Zubaydah.”

    The experts also expressed concerns about the continued detention of 14 other individuals at Guantánamo Bay, who are in varying stages of legal proceedings and face allegations of ongoing human rights abuses.

    Independent rights experts are not UN staff, receive no salary for their work and are independent of any organisation or government.

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Will those responsible for atrocities in Syria finally face justice?

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Conor Lennon

    Law and Crime Prevention

    Hopes are rising that, with the support of the United Nations, the architects of the brutal former regime of Bashar al Assad in Syria will eventually be held accountable for their crimes.

    For years, UN human rights bodies have been documenting, monitoring and publishing reports on abuses, and bringing Syria’s dire human rights record to the world’s attention.

    The fall of Bashar al Assad in December 2024 was largely greeted with euphoria by the Syrian people, but images of hundreds of people pouring into the notorious Sednaya Prison, desperately searching for friends or relatives, and testimony from former prisoners, recounting the sadism and torture they endured, was a vivid reminder of the atrocities committed under the former regime.

    Since 2016, the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), has been amassing a vast collection of evidence, aiming to ensure that those responsible are eventually held accountable.

    In the eight years since, consistently denied access to Syria, they have had to work from outside the country.

    However, everything changed after the rapid collapse of the regime. Just days later the head of the IIIM, Robert Petit, was able to travel to Syria where he met members of the de facto authorities. During this historic visit, he made a point of emphasizing the importance of preserving evidence before it’s lost forever.

    UN News interviewed Mr. Petit from his offices in Geneva and began by asking him to describe the reactions of the Syrians he met during his visit.

    This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

    Robert Petit: It was a sobering and emotional time. I experienced a mix of hope and joy, as well as fear and anxiety, and a lot of sadness from the families of prisoners who had been killed.

    But there was definitely a sense of change across the board. It’s my personal hope that the aspirations of Syrians will be fully realized with the help of the international community.

    UN News: What was the purpose of your visit, and was it successful?

    Robert Petit: As with most of the world, we were shocked at the speed with which the regime crumbled, although in hindsight we should have realized that the foundations were completely eroding for years.

    We had to quickly start thinking about how to address this new situation: for the first time in eight years, we have the chance to really fulfill our mandate.

    The main purpose of the visit was to start engaging diplomatically and explain to the new authorities what our role is and what we would like to do and get permission to do so. We found them to be receptive.

    We formally requested permission to send teams to work and discharge our mandate in Syria. That was back on December 21. We’re still waiting for the answer. I have no reason to believe that we will not be granted permission. I think it’s a matter of processes rather than willingness, and we’re hoping that within days we will get that permission and then we will deploy as soon as we can.

    © IIIM Syria

    Documents are piled up at a court house in Damascus, Syria, which was visited by the head of the IIIM, Robert Petit.

    UN News: How hard was it to collect evidence during the years that you were denied access to the country?

    Robert Petit: Syrian civil society and Syrians in general have, since March 2011, been the best documenters of their own victimization. They accumulated an enormous quantity of evidence of crimes, often at great risk the cost of their own lives.

    Every year since we were created, we tried to access Syria. We could not get permission, but we developed close relationships with some of these civil society actors, media stakeholders and individuals who collected credible evidence, as did other institutions.

    We accumulated over 284 terabytes of data over the years to build cases and support 16 different jurisdictions in prosecuting, investigating and prosecuting their own cases.

    Now we potentially have access to a wealth of fresh evidence of crimes, and we’re hoping to be able to exploit that opportunity very soon.

    UN News: During the Assad years, though, you had no guarantee that anyone would be brought to justice.

    Robert Petit: Our mandate has been very clear from the beginning: prepare cases to support current and future jurisdiction. And that’s what we’ve been doing. There was always a hope that there was going to be some kind of tribunal, or comprehensive justice for the crimes in Syria. In anticipation of that, we have been building cases and we hope to build a wealth of understanding of the situation and the evidence that could support these cases.

    At the same time, we’ve been supporting 16 jurisdictions all over the world prosecuting these cases, and I’m very happy to say that we have been able to support over almost 250 of those investigations and prosecutions and will continue to do so.

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    UN News: During your trip you said there’s a small window of opportunity to secure sites and the material they hold. Why?

    Robert Petit: Syria’s state apparatus functioned for years, so there will be a lot of evidence, but things go missing, they get destroyed and disappear. So, there is a time issue.

    UN News: Are the de facto authorities in Syria helping you to secure evidence?

    Robert Petit: We had messaging from the caretaker authorities that they were conscious of the importance of preserving all this evidence. The fact is that they have been in control for barely six weeks, so there are obviously a lot of competing priorities.

    I think the situation in Damascus is relatively good in that a lot of the sites, the main ones at least, are secured. Outside of Damascus, I think the situation is a lot more fluid and probably worse.

    UN News: When Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, visited Syria in January he called for fair, impartial justice in the wake of the end of the Assad regime. But he also said that the extent of atrocity crimes “beggars belief”. Do you personally think that justice rather than revenge, in a place where people have been so badly brutalized, is possible or likely?

    Robert Petit: That’s for the Syrians to answer themselves and hopefully be heard and supported in what they will define as justice for them and for what they’ve suffered.

    If people are given the hope that there will be in place a system that will deal fairly and transparently with at least those most responsible for the atrocities, it will give them hope and patience.

    I think it is possible. I have worked in enough of these situations to know that a variety of things can be done to address these very complex situations, but it must be Syria-led, and they must have the support of the international community.

    UN News: Do you envisage that criminal trials would take place in Syria at a national level or at an international level, for example at the International Criminal Court?

    Robert Petit: Again, it will depend on what Syrians want. You’re talking about literally thousands of perpetrators, and a whole state apparatus dedicated to the commission of mass atrocities. It’s an incredible challenge to define what accountability means.

    In my opinion, those most responsible, the architects of the system, must be held criminally accountability. For everyone else, the ways a post-conflict society tackles the issue varies.

    Rwanda, for example, tried to use traditional forms of dispute resolution to try 1.2 million perpetrators over a decade. Others, like Cambodia, simply try to bury the past, and pretend it never happened.

    The best solution is the one that Syrians will decide for themselves. 

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Syria: Assad’s armed forces must face accountability, says rights probe

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Human Rights

    Widespread pillaging and the destruction of property in Syria by all parties to the conflict have largely gone unpunished and likely amount to war crimes, top independent rights investigators reporting to the Human Rights Council maintained on Thursday.

    The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria’s latest report follows the lightning operation led by mainly Hayat-Tahrir al-Sham fighters that toppled President Bashar al-Assad last December, ending the 13-year war that decimated the country and destabilised the entire region.

    The violence is believed to have killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and uprooted 15 million, the report’s authors said.

    They noted that various armed groups – including former government troops and opposition fighters – carried out widescale damage to and pillaged Syrian property, particularly in areas that changed hands repeatedly during the fighting.

    The Assad regime’s security forces targeted those perceived as political opponents, including demonstrators, activists, deserters and defectors, their families and communities, the report’s authors continued.

    Persistent and repeated crimes

    Vast areas of land where refugees and internally displaced people had relocated to were also pillaged and ransacked to the point of rendering entire neighbourhoods uninhabitable.

    Forces stole household items, furniture and valuables, which they would sometimes sell at markets including some created specifically for this purpose.

    They also dismantled roofs, doors, windows, iron rods, electrical wires and plumbing fixtures.

    ‘Systematic pillage’

    “Systematic pillage was coordinated by members of the former Syrian army, such as the Fourth Division, and affiliated security forces and militias, who concluded business agreements with private contractors or merchants interested in acquiring looted items, including raw materials,” the Commissioners explained.

    The wrongdoings could “amount to war crimes” if “carried out for private or personal gain”, they added.

    Near-total impunity

    To date, accountability for these crimes has not happened and the overwhelming majority of perpetrators have escaped any accountability. “The impunity for the war crime of pillage has been near total in Syria” except for a few convictions in areas held by the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).

    “The only known convictions that relate to pillage or property offenses concern female former members of ISIL [or Da’esh, the terrorist group]”, the report said, adding that none of the forces perpetrating pillage on a massive scale had been prosecuted.

    Accountability and reform

    Among their recommendations, the Commissioners urged renewed efforts to protect housing, land and property rights as paramount to the country’s efforts to rebuild after a decade of crippling conflict.

    If the violations remain unaddressed, grievances and social tensions will be exacerbated, fuelling cycles of violence and displacement, the commission warned.

    The investigators write that following the fall of the regime, on 8 December, the “devastating patterns” of pillage “must not be repeated”.

    The report urges all military commanders and newly empowered leaders to prevent and punish any instances where property is stolen that was left behind by those newly displaced.

    Independent experts

    The Commissioners representing the top rights panel are appointed and mandated by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. They are not UN staff, do not draw a salary, and serve in their individual capacity, independent of the UN Secretariat.

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