Articles You May Have Missed - 26 January to 1 February 2025

 

In the DRC Goma falls and a massive humanitarian crisis looms, ceasefire in Gaza but attacks worsen in the West Bank, Gaza refugees return to the north while counting up the human toll, particularly on children, Ecuador and Nicaragua condemned by UN Human Rights Committee for forcing young girls into motherhood, questions arise about how humanitarians inflate numbers in funding appeals, Israel closes UNRWA but its future in West Bank and Gaza remains unclear, Houthis arrest more UN staff.  

DRC
At least 12 international peacekeepers, including two UN soldiers, have been killed in fighting around Goma, as M23 rebel forces close in on the city. (NPR, "International peacekeepers killed as fighting rages around eastern Congo's key city")

Goma falls -  With M23 fighters in control of much of the city, aid teams and ambulances are not able to run.  The situation is a public health nightmare.  Hundreds of thousands have fled the city and at least 700,000 are in temporary camps.  (UN News, "Public health nightmare is unfolding")

Gaza

Adding up the numbers -  The war in Gaza has been devastating for children: More than 13,000 have been killed, an estimated 25,000 injured, and at least 25,000 hospitalized for malnutrition, according to UNICEF.OCHA reported Thursday that of the 40,717 Palestinian bodies identified so far in Gaza, one-third – 13,319 – were children. (Washington Post,"Devastating toll for Gaza's Children")

Children held by Israel -  Since 2016, Israeli law allows children as young as 12 to be tried in military courts, often leading to long sentences. Palestinian children, detained for offenses like stone-throwing or participating in protests, face harsh conditions and limited rights in military detention, with reports of abuse and lack of basic due process.   "Israeli authorities regularly arrest Palestinian children during nighttime raids, interrogate them without a guardian present, hold them for longer periods before bringing them before a judge and hold those as young as 12 in lengthy pretrial detention." — Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch. (Al Jazeera, "Why are so many Palestinian children in Israeli prisons? )

Return to Rafah - Khalil Fahjan returned to Rafah on January 19, only to find his home and neighborhood reduced to rubble. Once a refuge for 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, Rafah was devastated by an Israeli invasion in May. Despite a ceasefire, Israeli attacks continued, leaving behind destruction, mass graves, and an unlivable city. Survivors struggle to return, facing ruins, unexploded ordnance, and an uncertain future. (Dropsite, ""A City of Ghosts"

Lost children - This article emphasizes the horror of war as experienced by innocent lives, particularly young children, who were often killed in their own homes under horrific circumstances. The author urges readers to focus on the individual tragedies of these children, whose deaths are too often reduced to numbers or political arguments.  (The Guardian, "Goodbye to the lost children of Gaza, you were loved, you will be remembered, you didn't deserve it")

What we owe the children -  The war on Gaza has had devastating impact of deaths, injuries, and disabilities among children. These atrocities violate international law, including conventions protecting children and people with disabilities. The authors warn that global inaction sets a dangerous precedent, normalizing civilian harm in conflicts worldwide. Ultimately, the article calls for an end to impunity, a commitment to protecting civilians, and a push for political solutions over military action. Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand who notes that one of the authors, Professor Bina D’Costa, has worked with UNICEF. ("What we owe the children of Gaza")

Human Rights Committee

The UN Human Rights Committee issued a groundbreaking ruling against Ecuador and Nicaragua, noting that girls as young as 13 were forced into motherhood when governments denied them the right to abortion. Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand  (PassBlue, "UN condemns Ecuador and Nicaragua for forcing girls into motherhood.")

Lebanon

The UN warns that Israel has not met the withdrawal timelines set in the November ceasefire with Hezbollah, and violations of Resolution 1701 continue. Civilians returning to southern Lebanon face risks, with reports of Israeli fire. The UN urges all sides to recommit to the ceasefire to ensure stability. (UN News, "UN Officials call for ceasefire compliance after 15 people killed")

In the two months since the Israel-Hezbollah truce began, Israeli forces have killed at least 83 people. Since the beginning of the conflict on October 8, 2023, to November 26, 2024, Israeli forces killed at least 3,961 people across Lebanon and injured at least 16,520. the day Israeli forces were due to withdraw from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that the Israeli army had shot and killed at least 24 people, including six women, and injured 134 others, among them 14 women and 12 children. (Al Jazeera, "How many people has Israel killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire?)

Numbers we use

Do we fudge the numbers?   -   In 2025, humanitarian response plans are focused on prioritizing acute needs in fast-onset emergencies over long-term crises due to funding shortages. While this helps make funding requests more manageable, it also means fewer people in need will receive aid, and the cost of reaching each person is rising. Prioritization has led to a reduction in the number of people targeted for aid, but the methodology behind these numbers is becoming less clear, raising concerns about transparency and the true scale of humanitarian need. Donors are urged to trust the numbers, but shifting metrics and underfunding risk undermining the credibility of humanitarian efforts. See the useful charts.  (TNH, "In numbers we trust: How “prioritisation” makes humanitarian numbers murky")

Planned Parenthood

IPPF protests Gag Rule - Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand. IPPF protests reinstatement of the 'Global Gag Rule'. IPPF anticipates it will lose $61 million USD for programs that provide sexual and reproductive health services for millions of women and youth. 13 countries and 16 healthcare projects worldwide are affected by the Global Gag Rule. Without funding, the people we serve will otherwise go without these vital services, including women suffering the burden of health and humanitarian crises. "The rule violates our core principles. IPPF cannot and will not sign it." (IPPF, "On the reinstatement of the global gag rule")

Sudan

Darfur - a girl and 3 boys were killed during an attack on the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher on FridaySyria. "“This heinous attack is a blatant violation of children’s rights. Children are being killed and injured in the very places where they should be safest from harm,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. (UNICEF, "4 children killed, 3 injured in attack on hospital")

Syria

The world failed in Syria -  The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has prompted reflection on the global response to the Syrian crisis. The funeral of activist Mazen al-Hamada, who was tortured and killed after returning to Syria, symbolizes the brutality Syrians endured. Despite widespread awareness of the regime’s atrocities, the world failed to act decisively to protect Syrian lives. Millions fled the war, seeking asylum globally, often facing dangerous journeys and poor conditions in refugee camps. While many individuals and organizations offered aid, systemic failures persisted. The crisis serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to support displaced people and prevent future humanitarian tragedies. "We cannot say that we did not know why Syrians were fleeing." (America Magazine, "The Tragedy of Syria - what we could have done differently") 

UNWRA

Call to prevent Israel's ban taking effect -  Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand. "We call on Guterres to reject Israel’s demand and take immediate steps to prevent UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters from being taken over by Israel. The secretary-general should also direct the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, to lead and coordinate the response to the void left from the UNRWA ban.".."as one UN official put it, “now begins the septic effects of this self-inflicted wound on the state of Israel, blindly removing a key instrument of stability in Palestinian communities across the region. They will likely pay a heavy price ultimately.” (PassBlue, "As Israel’s UNRWA Ban Kicks In, the UN Boss Must Be Ready for Day After")

Ban comes into effect - Israel’s ban on UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has come into effect, blocking its operations on Israeli land, including occupied East Jerusalem. Despite international backlash, Israel insists alternative aid channels exist. The UN has vowed to continue UNRWA’s work in Gaza and the West Bank, where it provides food, healthcare, and education to 5.9 million Palestinians. Critics call the move part of a disinformation campaign against the agency, with countries like Norway and Turkey condemning Israel’s actions.  (Al Jazeera, "Israel's ban comes into effect"

USA

Rise in Unexpeted Infant Deaths - Despite an overall decline in infant mortality, a new study shows a troubling 11.8% rise in sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). There are clear racial and ethnic disparities. Black infants have a 10X higher SUID than Asian infants and 3X than white children. (Sleep Review, "Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Is on the Rise")

West Bank

Worsening attacks -  In the last few days, Israeli security forces have surrounded Jenin camp – targeting militants – using drones, Apache helicopters, fighter jets, and aerial bombing tactics, according to OHCHR’s top official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ajith Sunghay. (UN News, "UN Human rights     deeply concerned over uptick in violence against children")

WHO

U.S. withdrawal from the WHO will have catastrophic consequences for global health, particularly for underserved and vulnerable communities. Article shared by Niloufar Pourzand(Partners in Health, "What the US withdrawal from WHO means for PiH, Global Health")

Yemen

Houthis arrest 7 more UN staff. UN suspends all travel in Houthi controlled areas. SG Guterres said,"their continued arbitrary detention is unacceptable."...”The continued targeting of U.N. personnel and its partners negatively impacts our ability to assist millions of people in need in Yemen,” he warned in a statement. “The Houthis must deliver on their previous commitments and act in the best interests of the Yemeni people and the overall efforts to achieve peace in Yemen(AP News, "UN suspends all trips into Houthi-held areas of Yemen over 7 more staffers being detained")