The EU has adopted a new law that will see the progressive launch of the Entry/Exit digital border management system over six months. The system will digitally record entries and exits, including fingerprints and facial images, of non-EU nationals travelling for short stays in an EU country.
Three people were killed and at least 10 others were injured in the bombing of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, according to media reports.
Stephanie Tremblay, a spokesperson for the Secretary-General, noted that the church was both a place of worship and a sanctuary for civilians.
“Attacks on places of worship are unacceptable. People seeking shelter must be respected and protected, not hit by strikes,” she said during the daily media briefing from New York.
“Too many lives have already been lost,” she added, before stressing the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours have hit sites hosting displaced Palestinians, some of whom were injured and killed.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 11,500 people in Gaza were newly displaced between 8-15 July.
Overall, more than 737,000 people have been uprooted since the latest escalation of hostilities on 18 March, or roughly 35 per cent of the population.
Furthermore, nearly everyone in Gaza has been displaced, in many cases multiple times, since the war began in October 2023.
Ms. Tremblay reminded journalists that most housing in Gaza is flattened or otherwise unhabitable and families are staying in the open because the UN has not been allowed to bring in tents and other shelter materials since early March.
She also highlighted a “worrying development” as humanitarians report that many displaced people are wary of bathing in the Mediterranean Sea after Israel reinstated a ban prohibiting swimming and fishing.
“OCHA says that for many, the sea has been their only option to wash, as there is barely any functioning water infrastructure and almost no fuel to pump water, a much-needed outlet in the hot weather in Gaza,” she explained.
Humanitarians also continue to report that the amount of fuel Israel is allowing into Gaza is still nowhere enough to keep life-saving services operating and shutdowns are a real risk.
Ms. Tremblay mentioned “a small but important step” that occurred on Thursday, as the UN was finally allowed to bring in some benzene – used to power ambulances and other critical services – for the first time in more than 135 days.
“That’s in addition to the limited amounts of diesel allowed over the past week. But it’s not enough,” she said.
“We are calling for more fuel – both benzene and diesel – to come in regularly. And the ban on shelter materials needs to be lifted immediately. Lives depend on both.”
The Council adopted its 18th package of economic and individual restrictive measures designed to target vital sectors of the Russian economy such as energy and banking, further weakening the regime’s ability to wage its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.
Since February 2022, the legal and illegal economies in Ukraine have been seriously disrupted by the war.
The report examines the evolution of the structures of the crime organized in the country and is focused on six distinct areas: drug trafficking and production, online and fraud scams, arms trafficking, economic crime, trafficking in people and facilitation of illegal exit and escape.
“War not only inflicted incalculable suffering on the Ukrainian people, but has also triggered a marked development of organized crime – which may have profound implications for the country’s journey to takeover and reconstruction,” said Angela Me, head of research and analysis Unodc.
While cocaine and heroin trafficking in Ukraine has decreased considerably since 2022, production and traffic in synthetic drugs such as Cathinons and methadone have increased.
The expansion of Cathinone traffic in recent years has been facilitated by Darknet, in particular through market platforms such as Hydra, which was dismantled in April 2022.
Regarding methadone, the report noted that most of Ukrainian production is treated in the country and not abroad, because domestic demand for drugs are increasing.
War has also increased the availability of weapons in the country, especially due to a massive influx of weapons in the battlefield.
This surplus leads to an increase in convulsions and violence among civilians, marked in particular by an increase in the violence of domestic and intimate partners.
Although there is no evidence suggesting that large -scale arms trafficking outside Ukraine, UNODC stressed the importance of monitoring the situation in light of the number of weapons available and the historic regional presence of criminal actors specializing in arms trafficking.
Although there is, for the moment, no evidence of drones used in a non -military context, civil drones and 3D printed components for front -line attacks could feed new illicit markets, according to the report.
As around 14 million people were moved by war, some criminal groups have exploited these populations by attracting them to shelters or dwellings disguised as humanitarian assistance suppliers, where they are subject to forced work.
While the intensified border patrol, associated with the almost complete closure of the eastern and northeast borders, limited the smuggling of migrants via Ukraine, the traffickers rather turned to the facilitation of the escape of the project by Ukrainian men.
“The reduction of organized crime is a key requirement to achieve sustainable peace, justice, national security and the protection of human rights,” said Matthias Schmale, United Nations humanitarian resideer and humanitarian coordinator in UkraineAs the World Organization is ready to support the country in this critical work.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Simplification: Council adopts new law to ‘stop-the-clock’ on due diligence rules for batteries. Source link
Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities. Source link
The governorate of Druze-Majority Sweida, long relatively isolated from the anterior phases of the 14-year-old conflict in Syria, has become a flash point.
Brose an emergency meeting of the Security adviceKhiari, UN assistant secretary Khaled Khiari painted a dark image: hundreds of victims among soldiers and civilians-including women, children and the elderly-alongside mass movement reports, attacks against infrastructure, and “quasi-capacity” hospitals in the middle of power and water cuts.
“” There were other alarming relationships of civilians, religious personalities and prisoners subject to extrajudicial executions and humiliating and degrading treatment“He said.
Violent reprisals and looting have devastated communities, graphic images circulating largely on social media amplifying fear and anger.
He urged all parties to protect civilians and civil infrastructure.
July 12: Series of mutual abductions in Sweida are transformed into armed confrontations between the Bedouin tribes and the armed groups of Druze.
July 14: Syrian security forces are deployed to “stop clashes” and “restore order”. At least 10 people were said to have been killed by groups armed with Druze, others kidnapped. Reports the surface of the abuses against civilians while the forces enter Sweida.
The clashes are intensifying, killing hundreds of deaths or wounded among the security forces and the combatants of the Druze, victims also reported among civilians Druze and Bedouins, including women, children and the elderly. Sectal rhetoric increases on social networks.
July 15-16: Hundreds of occupied Syrian Golan Druze and Syria gather on both sides of the ceasefire line, in the presence of the Israeli defense forces (FDI), expressing solidarity with the Druze community in Sweida.
In this context, Israel, “committing to protect” the Druze community has launched “climbed” strikes on Syrian territory, said Khiari.
Between July 12 and 16, the air raids targeted the forces of the Damascus authorities and the official buildings, the military facilities and the surroundings of the presidential palace.
“” In addition to violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, Israel’s actions undermine the efforts to build a new Syria in peace with itself and the region, and further destabilize Syria at a sensitive moment“Said Mr. Khiari.
He urged Israel and Syria to maintain the 2017 forces disengagement agreement and to “refrain from any action that would mine more and the stability of the Golan”.
A wide view of the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs Coordination (Ochha) There are serious disruptions to provide routes, with insecurity and road closures blocking help deliveries. The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) Trauma care files in Daraa, but Sweida remains inaccessible.
Khiari underlined the need for humanitarian access and called Damascus to ensure that any investigation into alleged abuse is “transparent and in accordance with international standards”.
Reaffirming the March Call for the Security Council for an inclusive political process belonging to Syrian under resolution 2254, Mr. Khiari warned: “Safety and stability in Sweida, and indeed, in Post-Assad Syria, can only be obtained by real reconciliation and with the participation of all the components of the Diversified Society of Syria.“”
He urged all the Syrian stakeholders to engage in dialogue and underlined the UN’s support for an inclusive and credible political transition which ensures responsibility, promotes national healing and lays the foundations for restoration and long -term prosperity of Syria.
“” It was not until that time, can Syria really get out of the inheritance of conflicts and embrace a peaceful future“, He concluded.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Mr. Guterres addressed journalists after welcoming the Cypriot chief Greek Nikos Christdoulides and the Turkish Cypriot chief at the United Nations in New York.
“” Today’s discussions were constructive. The two leaders examined the progress of the six initiatives they accepted in March to establish confidence ”, he said.
Of these six initiatives, four were carried out: the creation of a technical committee on young people, environmental initiatives and climate change, the restoration of cemeteries and an agreement on demining which will be closed once the final technical details.
“And the discussions will continue on the other two,” added the UN chief, referring to the opening of four crossing points on the divided island and solar energy in the buffer zone.
In addition, managers have reached a common understanding of new initiatives, including an advisory body for civil society engagement, the exchange of cultural artefacts, improving air quality monitoring and the fight against microplastic pollution.
“” It is essential to implement these initiatives – all – as soon as possible for the benefit of all Cypriots,“Said Mr. Guterres.
The secretary general also confirmed that he would meet the two leaders during the high -level week of the United Nations General Assembly in September. Another informal meeting in the same format is later scheduled for this year.
“” There is a long road to come. And it is important to think about what the future can mean – for all Cypriots“He said.
“” But these steps clearly demonstrate a commitment to pursue a dialogue on the path to follow and work on initiatives that benefit all Cypriots“, He added.
The United Nations played a central role in efforts to a full and mutually acceptable regulation for the question of Cyprus, supporting the dialogue between the Cypriot Cypriot and Cypriot Cypriot chiefs.
Although it is not found that enough common ground allow the resumption of official negotiations, the commitment to this end continues – including the informal meetings summoned by the Secretary General and other senior officials of the UN.
Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unclog), deployed since 1964, remains on the ground, helping to maintain stability through the island.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
Three people were killed and at least 10 other people were injured in the bombing of the Church of the Holy Family of Gaza City, according to the media.
Stephanie Tremblay, spokesperson for the secretary general, note that the church was both a place of worship and a sanctuary for civilians.
“The attacks on places of worship are unacceptable. People looking for a shelter must be respected and protected, not struck by strikes, “she said at the New York daily press conference.
“Too many lives have already been lost,” she added, before highlighting the urgent need for an immediate cease-fire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Meanwhile, the Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours have hit sites welcoming displaced Palestinians, some of which were injured and killed.
The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs Coordination (Ochha)) reported that more than 11,500 people in Gaza were newly moved from July 8 and 15.
Overall, more than 737,000 people have been uprooted since the last escalation of hostilities on March 18, or about 35% of the population
In addition, almost everyone in Gaza has been moved, in many cases to several cases, since the start of the war in October 2023.
Ms. Tremblay reminded journalists that most of the accommodation in Gaza are flattened or not abundant and that families remain in the open air because the UN has not been allowed to provide tents and other shelters since early March.
She also underlined a “worrying development” when humanitarian workers report that many displaced people are wary of swimming in the Mediterranean Sea after Israel has restored a prohibition prohibiting swimming and fishing.
“OCHA says that for many, the sea has been their only option to wash, because there is practically no water infrastructure that works and almost no fuel to pump water, a very necessary socket in hot weather in Gaza,” she explained.
Humanitarians also continue to point out that the amount of fuel that Israel authorizes Gaza is still zero enough for the vital services in operation and the closures are a real risk.
Ms. Tremblay mentioned “a small but important stage” which occurred on Thursday, because the UN was finally authorized to bring benzene – used to supply ambulances and other critical services – for the first time in more than 135 days.
“This is added to the limited quantities of diesel authorized during last week. But that’s not enough, “she said.
“We ask more fuel – benzene and diesel – to come regularly. And the ban on shelter equipment should be lifted immediately. Lives depend on both. ”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
