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Norway brings Israel to the ICJ again, a gold rush in Sudan continues to finance the war, Belgium to pay reparations to abducted children, a few staff released in Yemen but many still imprisoned, Japanese anti-nuke NGO wins the Noble Peace Prize, and much more.
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Afghanistan
NGOs amid food crisis - The article delves into the the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, particularly the severe food crisis. It also looks at the many challenges faced by aid organizations, including Taliban restrictions on women's work and the global decline in humanitarian aid. It underscores the critical role of NGOs in providing essential services and support to vulnerable populations.(Reuters, “In aid-starved Afghanistan, relief workers fight a forgotten hunger crisis”)
Belgium
A Win for Abducted Children in the Congo - the tireless struggle for justice by five women of mixed African and Belgian descent has led to victory in a Belgian Court. The women sued the Belgian government for forcibly abducting them as children in the then Belgian Congo. Link shared by Niloufar Pourzand. (Human Rights Watch, “Belgian Ruling a Landmark Win for Reparations”)
CAR
Abuse by UN Peacekeepers - some key takeaways from last month’s wide-ranging discussion on Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment. (The New Humanitarian, "Moving beyond zero tolerance? Expert takeaways on sexual abuse accountability and supporting survivors")
Israel'obligations - Norway’s Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, explained that “[w]ith this initiative, Norway wants to establish that no country can rise above its obligations under international law. We see similar trends in other countries – that leaders try to undermine humanitarian law and aid work in situations of crisis and conflict. We must stop this development.”(Articles of War, "Norway Seeks ICJ Opinon on Israel's Humanitarian Obligations")
Gaza
GA demands - The UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions demanding an end to the fighting in Gaza and compliance with international law. (UN News, "General Assembly demands ceasefire and hostage release, affirms full support for UNRWA")
Failure of Aid Agencies - critiques international aid organizations and governments for their failure to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza, arguing that these actions amount to war crimes and potentially genocide. It draws historical parallels to the failure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during the Holocaust. Editorial shared by Robert Cohen. (The New Humanitarian, "History will judge your failure to call out Israeli war crimes as complicity.")
Aid blocked last 2 months - Sigrid Kaag said she and other U.N. officials keep repeatedly asking Israel for access for convoys to north Gaza and elsewhere, to allow in commercial goods, to reopen the Rafah crossing from Egypt in the south, and to approve dual-use items.
(AP News, "Humanitarian aid to northern Gaza mostly blocked")
Hosptial bombed - 29 people were killed and dozens wounded on Friday by Israeli shelling in north Gaza, “especially around Kamal Adwan”. AFP reported that four hospital staff members were among the dead, citing Abu Safiyeh. The broadcaster Al Jazeera said it had verified footage of Israeli forces firing on a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance outside the hospital (The Guardian “Israel attacks hospital in northern Gaza”)
Psycholotical help - Psychological damage to children is intense and extensive. This year, supported by the charity War Child, the organisation treated 3,000 people in its four community centres in Gaza. The 90 team members have also offered one-off psychological support to at least 30,000 people living in tents, shelters, schools and bombed-out buildings.(The Guardian, “We can’t give up on 1 million children”)
Nobel Prize
Aid blocked last 2 months - Sigrid Kaag said she and other U.N. officials keep repeatedly asking Israel for access for convoys to north Gaza and elsewhere, to allow in commercial goods, to reopen the Rafah crossing from Egypt in the south, and to approve dual-use items.
(AP News, "Humanitarian aid to northern Gaza mostly blocked")
Hosptial bombed - 29 people were killed and dozens wounded on Friday by Israeli shelling in north Gaza, “especially around Kamal Adwan”. AFP reported that four hospital staff members were among the dead, citing Abu Safiyeh. The broadcaster Al Jazeera said it had verified footage of Israeli forces firing on a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance outside the hospital (The Guardian “Israel attacks hospital in northern Gaza”)
Psycholotical help - Psychological damage to children is intense and extensive. This year, supported by the charity War Child, the organisation treated 3,000 people in its four community centres in Gaza. The 90 team members have also offered one-off psychological support to at least 30,000 people living in tents, shelters, schools and bombed-out buildings.(The Guardian, “We can’t give up on 1 million children”)
Nobel Prize
Nhon Hidankyo - As we reported on 11 October, the organization Nihon Hidankyo won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. The Award Ceremony took place in Oslo on 10 October. In his acceptance speech on behalf of the organization, 92 year old Terumi Tanaka, said, "“I am infinitely saddened and angered that the ‘nuclear taboo’ threatens to be broken,”News shared by Niloufar Pourzand. (NBC News, "Japanese atomic bomb survivor warns nuclear taboo is at risk")
Rights
Femicide - “"Among almost 85,000 women and girls who were intentionally killed in 2023, 60 percent of them were murdered by intimate partners or other family members and mostly by men." workplace-related femicides receive less attention compared to domestic cases. (PassBlue “It’s Time to Talk about Femicide at Work”)
Sudan
Gold rush - This article exposes the dark side of Sudan's gold rush, which is fueling a brutal civil war. The warring parties, the military and the paramilitary R.S.F., are using gold to fund their fight, while millions of Sudanese people starve. To end the war, follow the money. Gold feeds the supply of weapons, and we need to pressure the individuals behind it. At the end of the day, they are merchants of death." (NYTimes, "The Gold Rush at the Heart of a Civil War")
Syria
Geir Peterson, UN Special Envoy, “Syria is now at a crossroads with great opportunities for us, but also with grave risks. And we need really to look at both,” said Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria. “We know that, of course, HTS is now the dominant group in control of Damascus, but it's important also to remember that they are not the only armed group in Damascus.” UN News “Nothing must stop peaceful transition”
Yemen
Rights
Femicide - “"Among almost 85,000 women and girls who were intentionally killed in 2023, 60 percent of them were murdered by intimate partners or other family members and mostly by men." workplace-related femicides receive less attention compared to domestic cases. (PassBlue “It’s Time to Talk about Femicide at Work”)
Sudan
Gold rush - This article exposes the dark side of Sudan's gold rush, which is fueling a brutal civil war. The warring parties, the military and the paramilitary R.S.F., are using gold to fund their fight, while millions of Sudanese people starve. To end the war, follow the money. Gold feeds the supply of weapons, and we need to pressure the individuals behind it. At the end of the day, they are merchants of death." (NYTimes, "The Gold Rush at the Heart of a Civil War")
Syria
Geir Peterson, UN Special Envoy, “Syria is now at a crossroads with great opportunities for us, but also with grave risks. And we need really to look at both,” said Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria. “We know that, of course, HTS is now the dominant group in control of Damascus, but it's important also to remember that they are not the only armed group in Damascus.” UN News “Nothing must stop peaceful transition”
Yemen
Detained staff - Houthi authorities have released one UN staff member and two NGO workers. However they continue to hold more than 50 staff from the UN, international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, and diplomatic missions, in addition to four other UN personnel detained in 2021 and 2023. (UN News “Humanitarians still held in Yemen”)
UN
‘Ruthless’ appeal?? - Next year’s response plans estimate some 305 million people are in need of aid, but targets roughly 62% of them. The problem is many of the humanitarian sector’s reform pledges are nascent, stagnant, or incremental. For example, money for anticipatory action, the broad movement to make responses more predictive and less reactive, adds up to less than 1% of the system. The New Humanitarian, “Key takeaways from the U’s ‘ruthless’ aid for 2025”
UN
‘Ruthless’ appeal?? - Next year’s response plans estimate some 305 million people are in need of aid, but targets roughly 62% of them. The problem is many of the humanitarian sector’s reform pledges are nascent, stagnant, or incremental. For example, money for anticipatory action, the broad movement to make responses more predictive and less reactive, adds up to less than 1% of the system. The New Humanitarian, “Key takeaways from the U’s ‘ruthless’ aid for 2025”
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