Today – amid a fragile ceasefire and the devastation of her country – she takes to the soccer field not only as a player, but also as a symbol of resilience and hope.

For Farah, football is more than just a game: it’s a new beginning, a way to reclaim one’s identity and a bridge to precious pre-war memories.

Never give up

“I came here to play sports to be like before and to recover memories. My message is: continue the journey, don’t give up. Don’t let anything get in your way. Despite your injury, you must insist on being like everyone else,” she said. UN News.

Farah is one of dozens of players who took part in the Gaza Amputee Hope Football Championship, demonstrating that disability does not mean incapacity and that passion for sport can become a path to healing and empowerment.

The tournament was organized by the Palestinian Amputee Football Federation and hosted at the Ittihad Shabab Deir al-Balah club stadium.

Lost limbs, but good humor

It brought together players who lost limbs in the conflict and who continue to play with remarkable spirit and determination.

Our correspondent was at the stadium to capture the competitive atmosphere and inspiring scenes from the four-day championship that concluded last week.

The initiative is part of wider efforts to support those injured in conflict and encourage their inclusion in sport – despite the rubble and challenges around them.

As part of its mission, the association aims to integrate thousands of others injured during recent hostilities.

A missed opportunity for the World Cup

Captain Ali Abu Armanah, coach of the Palestinian national amputee football team, spoke about the team’s lost opportunity to qualify for the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Costa Rica.

“We launched this championship to rekindle hope after two years of war against our children and families in the Gaza Strip. At that very moment, we were supposed to be in Jakarta, Indonesia, to represent Palestine in the West Asia qualifiers, but the ongoing conflict and the closure of the border crossing prevented our participation.”

The Palestinian national team missed out on qualifying for next year’s FIFA World Cup by just one point, after drawing their final group stage match in June while the war was still raging.

Life on one leg

Mohammad Abu Jufail, a former footballer, lost his leg in the 2014 Gaza war. The physical and psychological challenges were immense, but he chose not to give up.

“I was playing football before my injury. After my leg was amputated, I stopped playing for about five months. Then the club I played for told me there was a special team for amputees. The beginnings were difficult, I had played with two legs, and now with just one, on crutches.

“We trained continuously for two years and met an amputee athlete from abroad who guided us. After that, we resumed our lives,” he said.

Call for greater support

Player Abdullah Abu Mukaimer highlighted the scale of the needs. “We are sending the message that we continue to contribute to football in Gaza and that many new players are joining us. There are almost 60,000 amputees in Gaza after the war. We call on the relevant authorities to support amputee football as the numbers are extremely high.”

6,000 amputations in two years

According to local health organizations in Gaza, more than 6,000 cases of limb amputation have been recorded over the past two years of conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, requiring urgent and long-term rehabilitation.

Children make up about 25 percent of all amputee cases, while women make up almost 13 percent.

Assistive devices remain in short supply, compounding the suffering of people with war-related disabilities.

Ramiz Alakbarov took stock of the situation in the battered enclave and the occupied West Bank, before discussing developments in Lebanon and Syria.

“Today we gather in a moment of renewed hope,” he said from Jerusalem.

“Even though progress on the ground is fragile and deep uncertainty persists, we must seize the opportunity before us to chart a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the region as a whole.”

A fragile ceasefire under threat

Last month, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire and the release of hostages following a plan presented by US President Donald Trump.

However, recent Israeli airstrikes on populated areas have caused widespread casualties and destruction, while Palestinian militant attacks on Israeli soldiers have resulted in deaths.

“This violence is jeopardize the fragile ceasefire“, Mr Alakbarov said, urging all parties “to exercise restraint and respect their commitments under the agreement”.

“First glimmers of respite”

THE Security Council “also took an important step in the consolidation of the ceasefire” with the adoption of the resolution 2803 (2025)he added.

The text approves the American plan and the deployment of a temporary international force for Gaza.

“Although still facing unbearable living conditions and seemingly insurmountable destruction, Gaza residents have experienced at least the first glimmer of respite from the near-constant bombardment of the past two years,” he said.

At the same time, Israeli families found their loved ones held hostage.

Others received the remains of their loved ones, although the bodies of three hostages have not yet been returned.

Displacement, damage and destruction

Mr. Alakbarov reported that “the UN has redoubled its efforts to mobilize and intensify humanitarian assistance” in Gaza, but that efforts need to be expanded.

He highlighted the grim situation on the ground, with more than 1.7 million people still displaced and almost 80 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed.

The senior official visited the destroyed enclave last week, where “the picture remains dark“, emphasizing the “crucial need to move from emergency humanitarian assistance to helping communities rebuild their lives and restore essential services.”

Restoring dignity and hope

He said that “the damage in Gaza – physical, economic and social – is catastrophic.” Therefore, the international community cannot only address immediate physical needs, but also psychosocial needs, issues of social cohesion and justice.

“We must restore dignity and hope,” he said. “These efforts must be anchored in a clear political horizon to resolve the conflict, end the illegal occupation and achieve the two-state solution. »

“Alarming” violence in the West Bank

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, “settlement expansion, proliferation of outposts, violence, including settler violence, displacement and evictions, continue to escalate to alarming levels,” he reported.

Israeli military operations, particularly in the north, have resulted in death, destruction and the continued displacement of thousands of Palestinians from refugee camps.

“Settler violence has reached emergency levels,” he said. “In October, during the olive harvest season, the UN recorded the highest number of settler attacks on Palestinians since UN monitoring began – an average of eight per day. »

Additionally, arson and desecration of holy sites by settlers have further heightened tensions, while attacks by Palestinians – including acts of terror, such as a recent stabbing and ramming attack south of Jerusalem – have taken place.

He insisted that all perpetrators of violence must be held accountable.

Concern for Lebanon and Syria

Turning to the region as a whole, he reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s call to parties in Lebanon to respect their obligations to maintain the cessation of hostilities.

The agreement, reached between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024, follows more than a year of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, linked to the Gaza war.

The senior official also echoed the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate cessation of all violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Challenges require commitment

Back in Gaza, Alakbarov said decisions made now will determine whether the ceasefire endures or collapses.

He stressed that the first phase of the agreement must be fully implemented and that the parties must urgently reach agreement on how to achieve the next steps.

“The challenges remain immense, but the cost of failure is unimaginable. We have the tools to lay the foundation for success, but the work ahead requires unwavering commitment from everyone,” he said.

He said the UN “remains committed to seizing this crucial opportunity to move from crisis management to conflict resolution” and that all efforts “must be guided by It is imperative to establish a genuine political process that will resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict once and for all..”

The “Green Revolution” is believed to have saved millions of lives in India during the 20th century, by introducing new scientific techniques that led to increased yields, thereby providing food and livelihoods.

But the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides has come at a huge cost, both to the environment and to health, leading to growing interest in organic farming – combining the latest scientific knowledge with traditional techniques to produce nutritious food without harming the soil.

“It’s a win-win,” says Amit Singh, head of sustainability at Nature Bio Foods, referring to a business model that sees thousands of Indian farmers producing high-quality, sustainable food for consumers, while being paid well for it.

The winners

On Sunday, the company, an Indian social enterprise, won a ONE World Innovation Awardin recognition of its farm-to-table approach to sustainability, which involves ensuring that every aspect of food production – from planting to harvesting, processing and transportation – is as sustainable as possible.

“In the last three years alone, we have reduced our carbon emissions by introducing various innovations and scientific solutions such as solar energy and methods to reduce methane emissions from rice production,” Mr. Singh said.

The company helps nearly 100,000 small farmers access the market and profits are reinvested in initiatives that benefit the community, such as clean water and school funding.

Find the ideal partner

This success would not be possible without the partnerships that Nature Bio Foods has established within the private and public sectors.

The company works closely with the Indian government and, as it seeks to expand its operations, the United Nations International Development Organization (UNIDO), helps them in terms of technological know-how and investment.

Mr. Singh was speaking on the occasion of the Partnership and Investment Day of the Global Industry Summit, the UNIDO General Conference, which was held in Riyadh between 23 and 27 November.

The Day showcased pioneering initiatives and cutting-edge digital solutions with the potential to transform industry in developing countries.

Fittingly, Mr Singh had to interrupt his chat with UN News in order to meet some of the many investors invited to the event, an example of the matchmaking taking place throughout the week.

How does AI smell without a nose?

The common thread throughout many of the Partnership Day sessions was the use of AI to help different partners find sustainable solutions.

“It’s not about ChatGPT, CoPilot or Deep Seek. It’s about how AI can solve real-world problems we face on the ground,” says Jason Slater, head of AI and innovation at UNIDO, as he took a brief break between sessions.

His job is to find ways to access technology to support countries in the Global South. “For example, we are working with a startup that has developed an AI chip that can smell food: it learns what it is and identifies where the waste is so that the company can change its production process and become more efficient.

According to Slater, AI also has a crucial role to play in bringing together development stakeholders such as the private sector, the UN, government and academia, helping them more easily define problems, connect the dots and find solutions.

“Whether it’s shrimp farming in Vietnam or smart manufacturing in Tunisia, the UN is a trusted partner in a world where new technologies are rapidly emerging. Member States know that as technology rapidly comes to market, we follow ethical principles, ensuring that no one is left behind and that safeguards are in place.