In recent updates, crucial issues unfold across Myanmar, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and a somber reflection on the upcoming World Humanitarian Day.
Myanmar: Urgent Call for Humanitarian Access and Funding
Following a three-day visit to Myanmar, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, has sounded the clarion call for expanded humanitarian access and increased funding to aid the staggering 18 million individuals in dire need.
The situation has grown increasingly dire as the number of displaced individuals in Myanmar has surged fivefold in under three years, from 380,000 at the outset of 2021 to a staggering 1.9 million at present.
During his visit, Mr. Griffiths engaged with families affected by both conflict and natural disasters, including the Rakhine and Rohingya communities. He also held discussions with State Administration Council Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, addressing the necessary requisites for scaling up direct assistance to affected populations.
In a press release, Mr. Griffiths underscored concerns about civilian protection risks within conflict zones and the bureaucratic hurdles obstructing humanitarian efforts. The call for adequate humanitarian space for safe and sustained aid delivery across the nation rings imperative.
Occupied Palestinian Territory: School Demolition Amidst New Academic Year
As the new school year approaches, a disheartening development mars the landscape in the West Bank’s Ein Samiya area, where an elementary school catering to Palestinian children aged 6-12 was demolished. According to UNICEF, this incident adds to the distressing toll of 3 schools demolished across the West Bank in the past 12 months, affecting 78 students.
The unsettling reality persists as 58 schools within the Occupied Palestinian Territory face the specter of demolition by Israeli authorities. The school’s role in serving Palestinian families amid the challenges of displacement and diminishing grazing land underscores the broader concerns surrounding settler violence.
OCHA’s documentation since 2022 reveals the displacement of 477 Palestinians from seven herding communities, with three of these communities now standing vacant. The United Nations and its humanitarian allies are actively evaluating the pressing needs of 60 similar herding communities grappling with comparable challenges.
World Humanitarian Day: Reflecting on a Challenging Year for Aid Workers
World Humanitarian Day, observed on August 19, commemorates the 20-year mark since the tragic 2003 suicide bomb attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, claiming the lives of 22 UN staff members.
The poignant occasion arrives amidst another year marked by grim statistics for aid workers. As of now, 62 humanitarian workers have lost their lives, 84 have sustained injuries, and 34 have been kidnapped in crises around the globe, as per provisional data from the Aid Worker Security Database research team at Humanitarian Outcomes.
South Sudan emerges as the most perilous destination for aid workers for several consecutive years, recording 40 attacks and 22 fatalities as of August 16. Sudan follows closely, with 17 attacks on humanitarians and 19 fatalities this year. The toll extends to other regions, including the Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia, and Ukraine, underscoring the immense challenges faced by those dedicated to alleviating crises.
