'Last lifelines' are collapsing in Gaza: UN chief
"The last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. The United Nations chief "deplores the growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition."
More than two dozen Western countries Monday also called for an immediate end to the war, saying that suffering had "reached new depths" as Israel's military expanded its operations to Gaza's central city of Deir el-Balah.
"The Secretary-General notes that the intensification of hostilities in recent days comes as the humanitarian system is being impeded, undermined and endangered," Dujarric said.
"A new evacuation order in parts of Deir el-Balah -- home to tens of thousands -- pushes people into more desperate conditions and further displacement and restricts the United Nations' ability to deliver life-saving aid."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
UN says Israeli military killed over 1,000 seeking Gaza aid since late May
GENEVA: The UN on Tuesday said Israeli forces have killed over 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations. An officially private effort, the GHF began operations on May 26 after Israel halted supplies into the Gaza Strip for more than two months, sparking famine warnings. GHF operations have been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on people waiting to collect rations in the Palestinian territory. "Over 1,000 Palestinians have now been killed by the Israeli military while trying to get food in Gaza since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operating," UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told AFP. "As of July 21, we have recorded 1,054 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food; 766 of them were killed in the vicinity of GHF sites and 288 near UN and other humanitarian organisations' aid convoys." Kheetan added, "Our data is based on information from multiple reliable sources on the ground, including medical teams, humanitarian and human rights organisations." The war in Gaza has created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people who live in the coastal territory. Gaza's population faces severe shortages of food and other essentials. GHF says it has distributed more than 1.4 million boxes of foodstuffs to date. "We're adjusting our operations in real time to keep people safe and informed, and we stand ready to partner with other organisations to scale up and deliver more meals to the people of Gaza," GHF interim director John Acree said Monday. The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives and violates basic humanitarian principles.
Deccan Herald
22 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
US pulls out of UNESCO, State Department says
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said, 'UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.'
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Existential issues not just Europe's concern': India counters Western pressure on Russian oil
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has pushed back against renewed Western criticism over India's continued imports of Russian oil. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Misri emphasised that India's energy security remains a fundamental priority and warned against viewing the global energy crisis through a narrow, Eurocentric lens. While acknowledging the gravity of the security crisis in Europe stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine, Misri stressed that other parts of the world are facing their own urgent and potentially existential challenges — many tied to energy affordability and access. "On energy-related issues itself, also, as we have said previously, it is important not to have double standards and to have a clear-eyed perception of what the global situation is insofar as the broader energy market is concerned... We do understand that there is an important and serious security issue that is confronting Europe, but the rest of the world is also there. It is also dealing with issues that are existential for the rest of the world, and I think it's important to keep balance and perspective when talking about these issues," Misri was quoted as saying. He argued for a balanced, globally inclusive perspective on energy policy and warned against double standards in applying sanctions or pressuring energy partners. EU sanctions put India's oil exports at risk His remarks come as the European Union rolls out a fresh round of sanctions targeting Russia's oil revenues. The new restrictions — aimed at curbing Moscow's ability to finance its war effort — include tighter controls on fuels derived from Russian crude, a lower price cap, and new banking penalties. Among the targets is an Indian refinery operating in partnership with Russian energy giant Rosneft, raising concerns about collateral damage to India's energy trade. The EU's crackdown is expected to affect countries like India, Turkey, and the UAE, which process Russian crude and export refined products such as diesel and jet fuel — often to European buyers. Analysts warn that this could pose a direct threat to India's export earnings. According to trade policy think tank GTRI, India's petroleum product exports to the EU have already fallen sharply — from $19.2 billion in FY24 to $15 billion in FY25, a drop of over 27per cent. The EU's new sanctions may further squeeze India's $5 billion in oil-derived exports to the bloc, especially since they now prohibit imports of refined fuel made from Russian crude, even if processed outside Russia. At the same time, India's reliance on Russian oil has grown. In FY2025, India imported over $50 billion worth of crude oil from Russia — making up more than a third of its total oil import bill of $143 billion. U.S. threatens harsh tariffs on Russian oil buyers Meanwhile, Washington has also adopted a tougher stance. US President Donald Trump and several U.S. lawmakers have threatened punitive trade measures against countries like India, China, and Brazil for maintaining energy ties with Moscow. Senator Lindsey Graham, speaking on Fox News, warned that the U.S. would impose steep tariffs on nations buying Russian oil, accusing them of enabling the war through "blood money." Trump has gone a step further, saying the U.S. would levy 100per cent secondary tariffs on any country continuing to import Russian fossil fuels, unless Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a peace deal within 50 days. His remarks came during a meeting with NATO officials, signaling that this could become a key foreign policy position in a potential second Trump administration.
