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Gaza: Health system crumbles amid growing desperation over food, fuel

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UN reiterates call for urgent de-escalation amid Iran-Israel conflict, worsening Gaza crisis

“Definitely, people get shot,” said Gaza-based medic Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator. “They are victim of blast injuries as well and bodily injuries.”

The WHO official’s comments follow reports of another mass casualty incident on Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir al Balah.

More than 20 people were killed and approximately 70 others were injured, said the UN aid wing, OCHA, with victims rushed to Al Aqsa Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex and two other health facilities.

Hundreds killed seeking food

In addition to the latest deadly incident, at least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch aid from controversial non-UN aid hubs supported by Israel and the United States, the UN human rights office, OHCHRsaid on Tuesday.

Providing high-quality medical care is very difficult in the war-torn occupied enclave today, “particularly because we are speaking about a high volume of patients every time”, Dr Pigozzi insisted.

Health needs are widespread and dramatic, with almost 50 per cent of medical stocks completely depleted.

WHO’s first medical shipment into Gaza on Wednesday was its first since 2 March, when Israel imposed a full blockade on the Strip.

In total, nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies entered the enclave with 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma; all transited through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is “only a drop in the ocean” of what is required, Dr Pigozzi said.

Aid obstacles remain

Speaking to journalists from Jerusalem, WHO’s Dr Rik Peeperkorn highlighted renewed difficulties in securing agreement from the Israeli authorities to allow more UN and partner agencies’ supply trucks into Gaza.

“That’s really unfortunate and should not happen, because you don’t want to see those desperate people, and specifically desperate young men, risking their lives to get some food either,” he said, amid reports of a chaotic rush for supplies at non-UN distribution points and of starving Gazans taking goods directly off lorries.

Before the Israeli blockade, the UN and its humanitarian partners demonstrated that their aid delivery system reached those most in need, insisted Dr Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory. Today that is not the case because of repeated refusals by Israeli authorities to allow supplies into Gaza.

“Open the routes and make sure that we can get our supplies in,” he said. “The market needs to be flooded with food and non-food items and water, et cetera, et cetera, and including essential medicines in a most cost-effective manner.”

Denied entry

Since March, aid teams have encountered a 44 per cent denial rate, meaning that for every 10 staff requesting entry, “four to five of them are denied per rotation”, WHO’s Dr Pigozzi said.

Echoing that message, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier insisted that people are starving, sick and dying across Gaza every day.

“They have been killed on the way trying to get medical help, they have been killed inside hospitals. Now, additionally, they are being killed on the way to get food items which are scarcely being provided,” he said.

“We have food and medical help minutes away across the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months by now. Just open the door.”

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Gaza: The health system collapses in the midst of despair of food for food, fuel

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“Certainly, people are shot,” said the doctor of Gaza, Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency medical team coordinator. “They are also victims of explosion injuries and bodily injuries.”

The comments of the WHO official follow the reports of another mass mass incident Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir Al Balah.

More than 20 people were killed and around 70 others were injured, said the United Nations wing, OchhaThe victims rushed to Al Aqsa hospital, the Nasser medical complex and two other health establishments.

Hundreds killed in search of food

In addition to the last murderous incident, at least 410 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army while trying to recover the aid of controversial aid centers supported by Israel and the United States, the United Nations Human Rights Office, Ohchr,, said Tuesday.

The provision of high -quality medical care is very difficult in the enclave occupied in war today, “especially because we are talking about a high volume of patients each time,” insisted Dr Pigozzi.

Health needs are widespread and dramatic, with almost 50% of medical actions completely exhausted.

Wednesday, which is the first medical shipment to Gaza was its first since March 2, when Israel imposed a complete blockade on the band.

In total, nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies entered the enclave with 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 plasma units; All passed through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is “only a drop in the ocean” of what is necessary, said Dr. Pigozzi.

Help obstacles remain

Addressing Jerusalem journalists, including Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, stressed the difficulties renewed in obtaining an agreement from the Israeli authorities to allow more UN supply trucks and partner agencies in Gaza.

“It is really unhappy and should not happen, because you do not want to see these desperate people, and in particular desperate young men, risking their lives to obtain food either,” he said, in the middle of chaotic rush reports for supplies to distribution points not one and hungry gasans by taking goods directly from Lorries.

Before the Israeli blockade, the UN and its humanitarian partners have shown that their aid delivery system had reached those who needed it most, insisted Dr. Peeperkorn, representative of the occupied Palestinian territory. Today, this is not the case due to the repeated refusals of the Israeli authorities to authorize supplies in Gaza.

“Open the routes and make sure we can get our supplies,” he said. “The market must be flooded with food and non -food and water, and this, and this, and including essential drugs in the most profitable way.”

Refused entry

Since March, aid teams have encountered a denial rate of 44%, which means that for 10 employees requesting entry, “four to five of them are refused by rotation,” said Dr. Pigozzi.

Echoing this message, which spokesman Christian Lindmeier insisted that people are hungry, sick and die through Gaza every day.

“They were killed on the way while trying to obtain medical help, they were killed in hospitals. Now, moreover, they are killed on the way to obtaining foods that are barely provided, “he said.

“We have food and medical help a few minutes on the other side of the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months now. Open the door. “

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Gaza: Health system crumbles amid growing desperation over food, fuel

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Gaza: Health system crumbles amid growing desperation over food, fuel

“Definitely, people get shot,” said Gaza-based medic Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator. “They are victim of blast injuries as well and bodily injuries.”

The WHO official’s comments follow reports of another mass casualty incident on Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir al Balah.

More than 20 people were killed and approximately 70 others were injured, said the UN aid wing, OCHA, with victims rushed to Al Aqsa Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex and two other health facilities.

Hundreds killed seeking food

In addition to the latest deadly incident, at least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch aid from controversial non-UN aid hubs supported by Israel and the United States, the UN human rights office, OHCHRsaid on Tuesday.

Providing high-quality medical care is very difficult in the war-torn occupied enclave today, “particularly because we are speaking about a high volume of patients every time”, Dr Pigozzi insisted.

Health needs are widespread and dramatic, with almost 50 per cent of medical stocks completely depleted.

WHO’s first medical shipment into Gaza on Wednesday was its first since 2 March, when Israel imposed a full blockade on the Strip.

In total, nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies entered the enclave with 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma; all transited through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is “only a drop in the ocean” of what is required, Dr Pigozzi said.

Aid obstacles remain

Speaking to journalists from Jerusalem, WHO’s Dr Rik Peeperkorn highlighted renewed difficulties in securing agreement from the Israeli authorities to allow more UN and partner agencies’ supply trucks into Gaza.

“That’s really unfortunate and should not happen, because you don’t want to see those desperate people, and specifically desperate young men, risking their lives to get some food either,” he said, amid reports of a chaotic rush for supplies at non-UN distribution points and of starving Gazans taking goods directly off lorries.

Before the Israeli blockade, the UN and its humanitarian partners demonstrated that their aid delivery system reached those most in need, insisted Dr Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory. Today that is not the case because of repeated refusals by Israeli authorities to allow supplies into Gaza.

“Open the routes and make sure that we can get our supplies in,” he said. “The market needs to be flooded with food and non-food items and water, et cetera, et cetera, and including essential medicines in a most cost-effective manner.”

Denied entry

Since March, aid teams have encountered a 44 per cent denial rate, meaning that for every 10 staff requesting entry, “four to five of them are denied per rotation”, WHO’s Dr Pigozzi said.

Echoing that message, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier insisted that people are starving, sick and dying across Gaza every day.

“They have been killed on the way trying to get medical help, they have been killed inside hospitals. Now, additionally, they are being killed on the way to get food items which are scarcely being provided,” he said.

“We have food and medical help minutes away across the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months by now. Just open the door.”

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

From 28 June, the emergency number 112, banks, public transport and other services must be accessible to all European citizens, especially the 100 million people with disabilities living in the EU. For example, ATMs must include accessible interfaces and online banking operations must be accessible.

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

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European Accessibility Act enters into force

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Eighty years on, UN Charter marked by reflection, resolve – and a run

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Eighty years on, UN Charter marked by reflection, resolve – and a run

Under cooler skies after days of intense heat, the run ended where it all began, at the original UN Charter – the document that launched the Organization and reshaped the modern international order – now on display at UN Headquarters.

Inside the General Assembly Hall, delegates gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its signing.

They reflected on the past eight decades in which the UN helped rebuild countries after the Second World War, supported former colonies’ independence, fostered peace, delivered aid, advanced human rights and development, and tackling emerging threats like climate change.

To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war

General Assembly President Philémon Yang described the moment as “symbolic” but somber, noting ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, and the growing challenges to multilateralism.

He urged nations to choose diplomacy over force and uphold the Charter’s vision of peace and human dignity: “We must seize the moment and choose dialogue and diplomacy instead of destructive wars.”

Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this call, warning that the Charter’s principles are increasingly under threat and must be defended as the bedrock of international relations.

The Charter of the United Nations is not optional. It is not an à la carte menu. It is the bedrock of international relations,” he said, stressing the need to recommit to its promises “for peace, for justice, for progress, for we the peoples.”

Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Security Council President for June, emphasized the urgency of renewed collective action to address emerging global threats.

Let this 80th anniversary of the Charter be not just an occasion for reflection, but also a call to action,” she urged.

General Assembly commemorates 80th anniversary of the signing of UN Charter.

To unite our strength to maintain international peace and security

Eighty years ago, on 26 June 1945, delegates from 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to sign a document that would change the course of history.

Forged in the aftermath of the Second World War, by a generation scarred by the Great Depression and the Holocaust and having learnt the painful lessons of the League of Nations’ collapse, the Charter of the United Nations represented a new global pact.

Its preamble – “We the peoples of the United Nations” – echoed the determination to prevent future conflict, reaffirm faith in human rights, and promote peace and social progress.

That very document, preserved by the United States National Archives and Records Administration, has returned – for the first time in decades – to the heart of the institution it founded.

Now on public display at UN Headquarters through September, the original Charter stands as a powerful symbol: not just of a past promise, but of an enduring commitment to multilateralism, peace and shared purpose.

Video: UN Charter returns to UN Headquarters

To promote social progress and better standards of life

More voices – from the presidents of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – also took the floor, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the Charter and the need to defend it.

Bob Rae, ECOSOC President, drew an arc through human history to underscore the UN’s relative youth – just eight decades old in a global context of millennia.

“We currently have the advantage of being able to lucidly look at what we have accomplished, while also recognizing our successes and failures,” he said, holding up a copy of the Charter once used by his father.

The United Nations is not a government and the Charter is not perfect,” he said, “but it was founded with great aspirations and hope.

ICJ President Judge Yuji Iwasawa reflected on the progress since 1945 and the challenges still facing the global community.

“In the 80 years since the drafters of the Charter set down their pens, the international community has achieved remarkable progress. However, it also faces many challenges,” he said. “The vision of the Charter’s drafters to uphold the rule of law for the maintenance of international peace and security, remains not only relevant but indispensable today.

Jordan Sanchez, a young poet, speaks at the General Assembly during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter.

Jordan Sanchez, a young poet, speaks at the General Assembly during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter.

To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights

In a powerful reminder that the Charter speaks not only to the past but to future generations, Jordan Sanchez, a young poet took the stage.

Her spoken word piece, Let the Light Fall, evoked not declarations, but feelings of hope and vision for a better world.

“Let the light fall,” she began, “on fallen faces hidden in the shadow of scorn…where may the children run towards the light of your face, towards the warmth of your presence and the stillness of your peace.”

“There is no fear, only abundance, of safety, of security, of knowing there will always be enough light for me” she said, describing a dreamscape of Eden restored – not a paradise lost, but glimpsed in justice, fairness and shared humanity.

Let us be bold enough to look down and take it, humble enough to kneel down and bathe in it, loving enough to collect and share it, and childish enough to truly, truly believe in it.

The equal rights of men and women

As the world marks 80 years of the UN Charter, it’s worth remembering that its promise of equal rights for men and women was hard-won from the very start.

In 1945, just four women were among the 850 delegates who gathered in San Francisco to sign the document, and only 30 of the represented countries granted women the right to vote.

In a 2018 UN News podcast, researchers spotlighted these overlooked trailblazers – and asked why the women who helped shape the UN’s founding vision are so often left out of its story.

Listen to the podcast here.

 

Note: The subheads in this article are taken directly from the Preamble of the United Nations Charter, whose enduring language continues to guide the Organization’s mission.

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Flying the EU flag for 40 years!

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Flying the EU flag for 40 years!

 

The flag of the European Union is turning 40 this June. Its 12 gold stars on a blue background are instantly recognisable and synonymous with the European project that unites all Europeans. With time, it has also become a symbol of the EU’s ideals of unity, solidarity, and harmony among the peoples of Europe.

The flag was first used as the flag of the Council of Europe in 1955. Following World War Two, the Council of Europe was looking for a flag that would give Europe a symbol with which its inhabitants could identify. It chose the design which best conveyed neutrality, timelessness, and simplicity. 

Contrary to a common misconception, the number 12 does not represent the number of EU countries in our Union but rather are a symbol of perfection and stability, and the circle, a symbol of union. The fixed number means the flag remains unchanged regardless of the European Union’s growth.

In 1983 the European Parliament adopted the flag devised by the Council of Europe and recommended that it become the European Communities’ emblem. The European Council gave its approval in June 1985. The European Communities have now evolved into the European Union, as we know it today.

The iconic flag has become a powerful emblem beyond EU borders, a rallying point for people fighting for their rights. For freedom and democracy, dignity and equality, the rule of law and human rights, peace and security. Some 70 years after it was created, the EU flag not only represents EU ideals, but it has become a symbol of hope.

For more information

European flag

Flying the European flag since 1985  

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UN calls for restraint after deadly Kenya protests

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UN calls for restraint after deadly Kenya protests

At least 400 people were injured, including police officers, according to media reports. The official death toll has not been confirmed, with estimates ranging from eight to 16. 

The demonstrations marked the anniversary of last year’s anti-tax protests, when 60 people were reportedly killed and dozens abducted by police.

This year, anger intensified following the death of blogger Albert Ojwan, 31, who died in police custody earlier this month.

The demonstrators reportedly targeted government and police offices, chanted for the occupation of the presidential residence and attacked, looted and burned shops and businesses in Nairobi.

At a press conference, Kenyan Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen accused protestors of attempting to unconstitutionally enact “regime change.”

He also said nine police stations were attacked, dozens of vehicles destroyed, and five guns were stolen. 

UN Human Rights response

On Thursday, as smoke still rose from torched buildings in Nairobi, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, released a statement expressing concern.

Alarmed by reports that protesters had been wounded or killed by gunfire, OHCHR stressed that under international human rights law, law enforcement should only use lethal force when strictly necessary to protect life or prevent serious injury from an imminent threat.

The office welcomed the announcement that Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority will investigate the incidents and underlined the need for “prompt, thorough, independent and transparent investigations to bring those responsible to justice” and prevent recurrence. 

OHCHR also called for calm and restraint.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric echoed these concerns at the daily press briefing in New York, saying: “We are obviously concerned about the violence we have seen in Kenya. We are closely monitoring the situation. We are very saddened by the loss of life.”

He also reiterated concerns over the reported gunshot wounds and welcomed plans for oversight investigations.

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‘Our kids cry for food’: Most Gaza families survive on one meal a day

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‘Our kids cry for food’: Most Gaza families survive on one meal a day

The meals which families are able to obtain are nutritiously poor — thin broths, lentils or rice, one piece of bread or sometimes just a combination of herbs and olive oil known as duqqa

Adults are routinely skipping meals in order to leave more for children, the elderly and the ill. And still, on average since January, 112 children have been admitted on a daily basis for acute malnutrition.  

“[When my children wake up at night hungry] I tell them ‘Drink water and close your eyes.’ It breaks me. I do the same – drink water and pray for morning,” as one parent said. 

Risking lives for food

Due to these extreme food shortages, people in Gaza are forced to risk their lives on a daily basis to access small amounts of food. Since 27 May, 549 Palestinians have been killed and 4,066 have been injured trying to access food, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza.

“The majority of casualties have been shot or shelled trying to reach US-Israeli distribution sites purposefully set up in militarized zones,” said Johnathan Whittall, head of office for the UN humanitarian affairs agency, OCHA, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 

Since the end of May, the US-Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has been distributing aid in Gaza, bypassing the UN and established NGOs.

The UN has said Palestinians who seek aid from the GHF face threats of gunfire, shelling and stampedes.

“We don’t want to be out there. But what choice do we have? Our kids cry for food. We don’t sleep at night. We walk, wait, and hope we come back,” one Palestinian told WFP.

Water is delivered to Gazans sheltering at an UNRWA school.

Systems near collapse

Protracted conflict and bombardment have pushed almost all service systems in Gaza to the brink.

As a result of fuel shortages, only 40 per cent of drinking water facilities are functional and 93 per cent of households face water insecurity. 

The fuel shortage is also negatively affecting the provision of medical services with medical equipment and medicine storage reliant on electricity.

For the first time since the resumption of limited aid entry on 19 May, nine trucks containing medical items offloaded supplies on the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday.

Displaced, over and over again

Since the resumption of Israeli bombardment in Gaza on 18 March after a 42-day ceasefire, over 684,000 Palestinians have been displaced. And for almost all of them, this is not the first time.

With over 82 per cent of Gaza either designated as an Israeli militarized zone or under a displacement order, there are few places — much less safe places — that the newly displaced can go.

They have been forced to take shelter in overcrowded displacement camps, makeshift shelters, damaged buildings and sometimes just on open streets. Schools are no longer buildings of learning but of shelter.

An UNRWA member of staff inspects destroyed infrastructure.

An UNRWA member of staff inspects destroyed infrastructure.

“Schools have transformed into empty shelters, devoid of any elements of a safe learning environment,” said Kamla, a teacher with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Nuseirat. 

All of these shelters are experiencing rapidly deteriorating conditions as a result of insufficient shelter materials, according to Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General. 

“No shelter materials have entered Gaza since 1 March, before the Israeli authorities imposed a full blockade on aid and any other supplies for nearly 80 days,” he said at a briefing on 19 June.

“While some commodities have subsequently been allowed in small quantities, tents, timber, tarpaulins and any other shelter items remain prohibited.”

The UN and its partners have 980,000 shelter items prepared to dispatch into Gaza once authorization is granted by the Israeli authorities. 

‘Symbols of hope’

Since the beginning of the violence in Gaza, UNRWA has continued to work tirelessly to provide displaced and injured Palestinians with many types of support.

“Despite all this, the eyes and hopes of our community remain fixed on us. UNRWA staff are not merely service providers. In the eyes of people in Gaza, we are pillars of resilience, lifelines of stability and symbols of hope,” said Hussein, an UNRWA worker in Gaza City. 

An UNRWA worker carries a young boy in Gaza.

An UNRWA worker carries a young boy in Gaza.

But as fuel shortages continue and only small amounts of humanitarian aid — food, medicine, shelter materials — trickle through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the job of UNRWA workers and other humanitarians in Gaza is increasingly untenable. 

“We have lost all the tools needed to work, so we have had to adapt,” said Neven, a psychosocial UNRWA worker in Khan Younis.

Dspite their best efforts, the bombardment and devastation of Gaza continues with children going hungry and some even expressing suicidal thoughts. 

“I told my daughter her deceased father is safe, eating and drinking with God,” one mother said. “Now, she cries every day and says, ‘I’m hungry and want to go to my father because he has food to feed us.’” 

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Millions of people remain invisible – but the leaders of Asia -Pacific engage in the change by 2030

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Now governments have committed to filling this gap by 2030.

At the end of Third ministerial conference on civil registration and vital statistics in Asia and the Pacific,, The leaders have adopted a renewed declaration to strengthen national civil registration systems – the fundamental mechanisms that record births, deaths and other vital events.

This decision extends the regional initiative of the “decade of the CRVS”, launched for the first time in 2014, in a new phase aligned with the Sustainable development objectives (ODD), in particular Target 16.9 by ensuring a legal identity for all.

“” These figures are more than statistics, they represent lives without legal recognition and families are left without support »» said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escape), who summoned the forum.

“This week was a powerful call for action. We have seen inspiring examples from countries reaching the most marginalized, adopting digital innovation and strengthening legal and institutional frameworks. ”

More than statistics

Civil registration systems and civil statistics (CRVS) are essential to establish legal identity, access services and ensure inclusion in public policy.

A birth certificate can mean access to health care, education and social protection.

A death certificate allows families to claim inheritance, pensions and other rights.

Without these critical documents, individuals – in particular women, children and rural populations – exclusion of risks, vulnerability and injustice.

Unequal progress

According to a recent escape report,, The region has produced remarkable gains since 2012 – The number of children not recorded under the age of five has dropped by more than 60%, from 135 million to 51 million.

In 2024, 29 countries now recorded more than 90% of births in one year, and 30 do the same for deaths. The number of countries publishing civil statistics based on civil registration has almost doubled during this period.

However, progress remains uneven – around 14 million children in the region reaching their first birthday without their birth being recorded. And 6.9 million deaths are not recorded each year, in particular those that occur outside health establishments or in remote areas.

Many countries are always faced with gaps in the certification and coding of death causes, hampering the surveillance of diseases and public health responses, as shown in the COVID 19 pandemic.

Escap Photo / Panumas Sanguanwong

A participant in the ministerial conference on civil registration and essential statistics (CRV) in Bangkok participates in a demonstration at the Thai Digital Id and Verification exhibition stand.

Put everyone in the photo

The new ministerial declaration calls for universal and reactive CRVS systems which are inclusive, digitally compatible and resilient.

It emphasizes gender equity in registration, legal protections for personal data and continuity of services during emergencies.

Governments have also been committed to increasing training, extending community awareness and improving relationship relationships – including through verbal autopsies and improving certification systems.

“” Everyone counts. Data save livesMs. Alisjahbana said“Legal identity is a right, not a privilege. No one should be left behind – simply because they have never been counted in the first place. ”

“” Let’s finish what we started. Let’s give everyone in the photo and make sure that each life really matters.“”

Originally published at Almouwatin.com