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The UN asks for de -escalation, the protection of civilians as a conflict kings Syria

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Violence broke out on Sunday between the tribal fighters of the Sunni Bedouins and the Druze militias in Sweida, two days after a Druze merchant was removed on the highway to Damascus.

Victims’ figures are not clear according to local reports, but the number of deaths is at least 30 years old and hundreds have been injured.

While violent troubles continued on Monday, temporary government security forces were deployed to restore order, which would have led to clashes with the local armed militia.

The same day, Israeli forces struck tanks under the control of Syrian forces to defend the Druze, which he considers a minority faithful to the house and in the occupied Golan region, according to reports.

Shortly after the forces of the Government of the goalkeeper in Damascus arrived in Sweida on Tuesday, the defense chief of Syria announced a cease-fire.

Tensions have historically been high between minority groups of the city since the Islamist rebels overthrew the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad in December and a new goalkeeper government was installed, which gained international recognition.

Guterres expresses concern

The secretary general’s spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, addressed the situation in Syria on behalf of Secretary General António Guterres At the Tuesday briefing in New York.

“The secretary general is deeply concerned about the continuous violence we have seen in the Druze-Majority region in the governorate of Sweida,” said Dujarric, adding that he is particularly alarmed by information reporting arbitrary violence against civilians.

Guterres condemned “all violence against civilians, in particular acts that may mobilize sectarian tensions” and have urged de -escalation, protection of civilians and a transparent investigation into those responsible for killings and injuries.

Israel has asked to end violations in Syria

“The secretary general is also concerned about Israel’s air strikes on the territory of Syria and calls on Israel to refrain from violations of the independence of Syria, its sovereignty and its territorial integrity,” said Dujarric.

Mr. Guterres urged support for “a credible, orderly and inclusive political transition in Syria in accordance with the key principles of Resolution 2254 of the Security Council. »»

Mr. Dujarric also relayed the reports of UN humanitarian partners in Sweida, noting that medical services are too far away and that the essential markets and services – including water, electricity and education – have been disrupted.

Although the United Nations help operations have been suspended in the affected areas due to blocked roads, the UN makes fun to meet when the conditions allow it.

Investigators have alarmed themselves

Also Tuesday, the UN Human Rights Council mandated Syrian commission of inquiry released one statement expressing the concern of the situation in Sweida and highlighting the urgent need for de -escalation and the protection of human rights.

The declaration cited the reports of local residents of murders, kidnappings, burns of goods, looting and an increase in online and in person speech.

In addition to highlighting concerns about sectarian violence and Israeli air strikes, the Commission underlined the interim government’s responsibility to maintain human rights and guarantee a safe passage and humanitarian aid.

Independent human rights investigators said they started an investigation into alleged human rights violations linked to Sweida murders in recent days.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Cohesion policy mid-term review: Council and Parliament strike a deal to better address current and emerging challenges

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Cohesion policy mid-term review: Council and Parliament strike a deal to better address current and emerging challenges

Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement to better address current and emerging challenges in the context of EU cohesion policy’s mid-term review.

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Global demand for meat and dairy products to increase, but climatic and nutritional gaps remain

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However, persistent nutritional gaps and environmental mounting pressures reveal an upcoming complex route, according to a new study by the United Nations Food and Agriculture (Fao) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – an International Influential Policy Forum.

THE Agricultural prospects 2025-2034Published Tuesday, projects a 6% increase in world consumption per capita of animal source food by 2034 – beef, pork, poultry, fish, dairy products and other animal products.

The trend is more pronounced in countries with lower intermediate income, where consumption should increase by 24%, far exceeding the global average.

“” These projections indicate better nutrition for many people in developing countries »» said Quonggyu, director general of FAO.

Agricultural prospects 2025-2034

Increase in income, better diets – but not for everyone

THE The increase in consumption in average income economies is largely allocated to the increase in available income, to the evolution of food preferences and urbanization. In these countries, the daily contribution per capita of animal foods should reach 364 kilocalories, exceeding the reference index of 300 kcal.

At the same time, Consumption in low -income countries will remain low – reaching only 143 kcal per day, less than half of the amount deemed necessary for healthy food – highlighting striking inequalities in access to nutrient -rich diets and the challenges to make sure everyone is safe.

Mr. Quar has urged greater efforts to ensure that people in the least returned countries also benefit from an improvement in nutrition and food security.

Expanding production but increasing emissions

To meet growing demand, Global production of agriculture and fish should increase by 14% in the next decadeWidely motivated by productivity gains in intermediate income nations.

The production of meat, dairy and egg products should grow by 17%, while total livestock stocks should develop by 7%.

However, these gains have an environmental cost: Direct emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) of agriculture should increase by six% by 2034, despite improving the intensity of emissions.

As production becomes more effective, emissions generated per unit of production will decrease, but the overall footprint will always increase unless additional measures are taken.

Agricultural prospects 2025-2034

Other key results

  • Cereal yields to grow by 0.9% per year, the harvested area extending at only 0.14% per year – half the pace of the last decade
  • By 2034, 40% of cereals will go directly to human consumption, to 33% of animal food, and the rest for biofuels and industry
  • The demand for biofuels should increase by 0.9% per year, led by Brazil, India and Indonesia
  • The flock of beef of sub -Saharan Africa plans to grow by 15%, although productivity remains only a tenth of North America
  • India and Southeast Asia will stimulate 39% of global consumption growth by 2034; China’s share fell to 13%, compared to 32%
  • High income countries to see a drop in fat per capita and sweeteners due to health trends and policy changes

A win-win: more food, less emissions

The report describes a Scenario in which food improves for everyone, and agricultural emissions are reduced to seven percent below current levels by 2034.

The achievement of this double result would require significant investments to improve productivity, in parallel with a general adoption of existing low -emission technologies such as precision agriculture, the improvement of food for livestock animals and the hierarchy of nutritional production.

Future progress will depend on a mixture of political coordination, technological innovation and targeted investments – especially in countries where the gap between demand and nutritional value is striking.

“” We have the tools to end hunger and stimulate global food security »» said Mathias Cormann, OECD secretary general.

“Well coordinated policies are necessary to keep the global food markets open, while promoting long -term productivity improvements and sustainability in the agriculture sector.”

Central role for world trade

The prospects also reiterates the importance of trade, given that 22% of all the calories consumed will have crossed international borders by 2034.

“” International trade will remain essential to the world food sector“, Underlined the report.

“” Multilateral cooperation and agricultural trade based on rules are essential to facilitate these trade flowsBalance food deficits and surpluses across countries, stabilize prices and improve food security, nutrition and environmental sustainability. »»

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Gaza: 875 people confirmed dead trying to source food in recent weeks

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Gaza: 875 people confirmed dead trying to source food in recent weeks

“As of 13 July, we have recorded 875 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food; 674 of them were killed in the vicinity of GHF sites,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, OHCHR spokesperson, referencing the US-Israeli run private organization which has bypassed regular humanitarian operations.

The remaining 201 victims were killed while seeking food “on the routes of aid convoys or near aid convoys” run by the UN or UN-partners still operating in the war-shattered enclave, Mr. Al-Kheetan told journalists in Geneva.

Killings linked to the controversial US and Israeli-backed aid hubs began shortly after they started operating in southern Gaza on 27 May, bypassing the UN and other established NGOs.

The latest deadly incident happened at around 9am on Monday 14 July, when reports indicated that the Israeli military shelled and fired towards Palestinians seeking food at the GHF site in As Shakoush area, northwestern Rafah.

According to OHCHR, two Palestinians were killed and at least nine others were injured. Some of the casualties were transported to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hospital in Rafah. On Saturday medics there received more than 130 patients, the “overwhelming majority” suffering from gunshot wounds and “all responsive individuals” reporting they were attempting to access food distribution sites.

Deadly hunger

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, expressed deep concerns about the continuing killing of civilians trying to access food, while deadly malnutrition spreads among children.

“Our teams on the ground – UNRWA teams and other United Nations teams – have spoken to survivors of these killings, these starving children included, who were shot at while on their way to pick up very little food,” said Juliette Touma, UNRWA Director of Communications.

Speaking via video from Amman, Ms. Touma insisted that the near-total Israeli blockade of Gaza has led to babies dying of the effects of severe acute malnutrition.

“We’ve been banned from bringing in any humanitarian assistance into Gaza for more than four months now,” she said, before pointing to a “significant increase” in child malnutrition since the Israeli blockade began on 2 March.

Ms. Touma added: “We have 6,000 trucks waiting in places like Egypt, like Jordan; it’s from Jordan to the Gaza Strip it’s a three-hour drive, right?”

In addition to food supplies, these UN trucks contain other vital if basic supplies including bars of soap. “Medicine and food are going to soon expire if we’re not able to get those supplies to people in Gaza who need it most, among them one million children who are half of the population of the Gaza Strip,” Ms. Touma continued.

West Bank: ‘Silent war is surging’

Meanwhile in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, Palestinians continue to be killed in violence allegedly linked to Israeli settlers and security forces, UN agencies said.

According to OHCHR, two-year-old Laila Khatib was shot in the head by Israeli security forces on 25 January while she was inside her house in Ash-Shuhada village, in Jenin.

On 3 July, 61-year-old Walid Badir was shot and killed by Israeli security forces, reportedly while he was cycling back home from prayers, passing through the outskirts of the Nur Shams camp, the UN rights office continued, pointing to intensifying “killings, attacks and harassment of Palestinians in past weeks.

“This includes the demolition of hundreds of homes and forced mass displacement of Palestinians,” OHCHR’s Mr. Al-Kheetan noted, with some 30,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced since the launch of Israel’s operation “Iron Wall” in the north of the occupied West Bank earlier this year.

“We should recall that international law is very clear about this in terms of the obligations of the occupying power,” he said. “Bringing about a permanent demographic change inside the occupied territory may amount to a war crime and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing.”

“We continue to have a silent war that is surging, where heavy restrictions on movement continue, where poverty is increasing as people are cut off from their livelihoods and unemployment soars,” said UNRWA’s Ms. Touma.

With its current focus on the northern occupied West Bank, the Israeli military operation has impacted the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams.

“It is causing the largest population displacement of the Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967,” Ms. Touma continued.

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Sudan: humanitarian needs approved in the midst of increasing hostilities and heavy rain

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Almost 27 months have passed since the fighting broke out between the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and a former ally, the fast paramilitary security forces (RSF), creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The UN expressed alarm On the climbing of hostilities in El Fasher, the besieged capital of the state of Darfur du Nord.

Serious risk of renewed violence

A large number of RSF fighters would have entered the city on Friday for the first time since the start of the siege over a year ago.

Local sources report that recent ferocious fights, especially in the southwest and east of El Fasher, have led to civilian victims.

“The situation remains very volatile and unpredictable, with a serious risk of renewed violence, as well as new trips and disruption of humanitarian operations – which are already under high tension”, “,” Ochha said.

Insecurity in the state of northern Kordofan

Meanwhile, in the state of North Kordofan, increasing insecurity forced 3,400 people to flee their homes this weekend, according toThe United Nations International Organization for Migration (Iom).

Local reports indicate that at least 18 civilians were killed and that the houses were burned in several villages.

The OCHA reminded of all parties that attacks on civilians and civil infrastructure are prohibited by international humanitarian law and that civilians must be protected at any time.

Rainy season constraints

Meanwhile, heavy rains have been reported in the western and darfur center states, which can affect road conditions in certain places and worsen the challenges that humanitarian workers are already faced with access to people in need.

“While the rainy season continues until October, the risk of floods, access constraints and epidemics of the disease increases – especially during this meager critical season, a time between harvests where food stocks are traditionally low,” warned Ocha.

Families return to the west of Darfur

The agency said that despite the crisis, signs of small -scale yields are visible in the western state of Darfur, where displaced families have returned from Chad to three localities – Sirba, Jebel Moon and Kulbus – to cultivate their farms.

In addition, local authorities report around 40 people who return to Kulbus daily, with 300 arriving in last week.

OCHA has urged all parties to allow safe and unhindered access to all people in need through Sudan and so that donors intensify their support.

Some 30 million people nationally – more than half of the population – need vital assistance and protection this year.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Gaza: 875 people confirmed dead trying to source food in recent weeks

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Gaza: 875 people confirmed dead trying to source food in recent weeks

“As of 13 July, we have recorded 875 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food; 674 of them were killed in the vicinity of GHF sites,” said Thameen Al-Kheetan, OHCHR spokesperson, referencing the US-Israeli run private organization which has bypassed regular humanitarian operations.

The remaining 201 victims were killed while seeking food “on the routes of aid convoys or near aid convoys” run by the UN or UN-partners still operating in the war-shattered enclave, Mr. Al-Kheetan told journalists in Geneva.

Killings linked to the controversial US and Israeli-backed aid hubs began shortly after they started operating in southern Gaza on 27 May, bypassing the UN and other established NGOs.

The latest deadly incident happened at around 9am on Monday 14 July, when reports indicated that the Israeli military shelled and fired towards Palestinians seeking food at the GHF site in As Shakoush area, northwestern Rafah.

According to OHCHR, two Palestinians were killed and at least nine others were injured. Some of the casualties were transported to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hospital in Rafah. On Saturday medics there received more than 130 patients, the “overwhelming majority” suffering from gunshot wounds and “all responsive individuals” reporting they were attempting to access food distribution sites.

Deadly hunger

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, expressed deep concerns about the continuing killing of civilians trying to access food, while deadly malnutrition spreads among children.

“Our teams on the ground – UNRWA teams and other United Nations teams – have spoken to survivors of these killings, these starving children included, who were shot at while on their way to pick up very little food,” said Juliette Touma, UNRWA Director of Communications.

Speaking via video from Amman, Ms. Touma insisted that the near-total Israeli blockade of Gaza has led to babies dying of the effects of severe acute malnutrition.

“We’ve been banned from bringing in any humanitarian assistance into Gaza for more than four months now,” she said, before pointing to a “significant increase” in child malnutrition since the Israeli blockade began on 2 March.

Ms. Touma added: “We have 6,000 trucks waiting in places like Egypt, like Jordan; it’s from Jordan to the Gaza Strip it’s a three-hour drive, right?”

In addition to food supplies, these UN trucks contain other vital if basic supplies including bars of soap. “Medicine and food are going to soon expire if we’re not able to get those supplies to people in Gaza who need it most, among them one million children who are half of the population of the Gaza Strip,” Ms. Touma continued.

West Bank: ‘Silent war is surging’

Meanwhile in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, Palestinians continue to be killed in violence allegedly linked to Israeli settlers and security forces, UN agencies said.

According to OHCHR, two-year-old Laila Khatib was shot in the head by Israeli security forces on 25 January while she was inside her house in Ash-Shuhada village, in Jenin.

On 3 July, 61-year-old Walid Badir was shot and killed by Israeli security forces, reportedly while he was cycling back home from prayers, passing through the outskirts of the Nur Shams camp, the UN rights office continued, pointing to intensifying “killings, attacks and harassment of Palestinians in past weeks.

“This includes the demolition of hundreds of homes and forced mass displacement of Palestinians,” OHCHR’s Mr. Al-Kheetan noted, with some 30,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced since the launch of Israel’s operation “Iron Wall” in the north of the occupied West Bank earlier this year.

“We should recall that international law is very clear about this in terms of the obligations of the occupying power,” he said. “Bringing about a permanent demographic change inside the occupied territory may amount to a war crime and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing.”

“We continue to have a silent war that is surging, where heavy restrictions on movement continue, where poverty is increasing as people are cut off from their livelihoods and unemployment soars,” said UNRWA’s Ms. Touma.

With its current focus on the northern occupied West Bank, the Israeli military operation has impacted the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams.

“It is causing the largest population displacement of the Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967,” Ms. Touma continued.

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Yemen: The Security Council extends the UN mission to the crucial port city in the middle of the Red Sea Conflicts Climbing

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Adopted unanimously, the resolution extending the United Nations mission to support the Hudaydah agreement (UNMHA) Until January 28, 2026, underlines the essential role of the mission in maintaining fragile stability in the midst of renewed military climbing signs and deepening humanitarian needs.

Resolution – 2786 (2025) – reaffirms the support of the council to Stockholm contract 2018Including the ceasefire in the port city controlled by the Houthi-and the demilitarization of its quays, where the majority of imports of Yemen and vital aid expeditions pass.

The future of the mission

He also reports an increasing debate on the future of the mission, asking the Secretary General to submit an exam by November to improve the coordination and consistency of UN operations, “keeping the challenges in mind” which directly hampered the AMHA capacity to deliver.

“” THE Security advice… Expresses its intention to review the full range of options for UNMHA’s mandate, including the assessment of future viability and sunset of the missionAnd make all the necessary adjustments to gain efficiency and reduce costs or otherwise, as is necessary for UN operations in Hudaydah by field developments, including, in particular a cease-fire of sustainable national struggle, “noted the resolution.

The UNMHA was created in 2019 to support the implementation of the Stockholm agreement between the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah (as the Houthis are officially known), which sought to prevent major conflicts in the region.

The mission monitors the ceasefire, facilitates the redeployments and supports de-escalation through connection mechanisms between the parties.

Assembly of tensions

While the military situation on the ground remains stable in a tenuous manner, tensions rise on several fronts.

According to a letter From the secretary general to the council of 15 members in June, an increasing number of ceasefire violations-on average more than 100 per day between June 2024 and May 2025-highlight the fragile state of the region.

The forces aligned by the government fortified positions in anticipation of a possible offensive in the city, while the Houthi units have increased infiltration attempts and the mobilization of the public, including military style camps in the areas they control.

The Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 2786 (2025) extending until January 28, 2026, the mandate of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah agreement (UNMHA).

Mortal passage from the Red Sea

By aggravating this, the Houthi attacks against international navigation in the Red Sea have intensified. On July 8, the eternity of the commercial ship was sunk, killing several crew members and leaving the other missing. This followed the sinking of the magic sea ship two days earlier.

In a statement, the UN special envoy, Hans Grundberg, condemned attacks, calling them violations of international maritime law and warnings that they have risked serious environmental and geopolitical benefits.

He called Ansar Allah to stop attacks that may degenerate tensions in and around Yemen.

“” [He urges them] To rely on the cessation of hostilities with the United States in the Red Sea and to provide sustainable guarantees to the region and to the broader international community, ensuring the security of all those who use this critical navigable path, “noted the press release.

Important operational constraints

In Hudaydah himself, UNMHA faces important constraints.

THE June letter By the secretary general details the restrictions by the Houthi authorities of the United Nations patrols at the critical ports of the Red Sea – Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Issa.

Damage caused by repeated air strikes, notably by the United States and Israel in response to Houthi attacks, left partially inoperative key port infrastructure, disturbing fuel, food and medical imports.

With Hudaydah responsible for 70% of commercial imports from Yemen and 80% of humanitarian deliveries, the issues are high.

© Unicef / Mahmoud Alfilastini

A child receives vaccination against polio in Yemen.

Polio vaccination reader

Meanwhile, a new series of polio vaccinations is underway in areas controlled by the Southern Yemen Government, in the midst of increasing concerns concerning the continuous propagation of the virus.

From July 12 to 14, health workers were deployed in 12 governorsaimed at braking the trigger of type 2 poliovirus varying.

The campaign, led by the Ministry of Yemen of Public Health with the support of the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the World Health Organization (WHO), came as 282 cases have been reported since 2021, environmental surveillance confirming continuous transmission.

“” The campaign is essential to interrupt transmission and protect each child from the debilitating effects of polio“Said Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, acting who represented Yemen.

Peter Hawkins of Unicef echoes the emergency, warning of the “Imminent threat” for non -vaccinated children If the immunization differences persist.

“But, thanks to vaccination, we can ensure the safety of our children,” he said.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Minimising the risks children and young people face online

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Minimising the risks children and young people face online

Children and young people face many risks online. To minimise these, the Commission has presented guidelines to ensure high levels of privacy, safety and security on online platforms. It has also put forward a prototype of an age-verification app that prioritises protecting people’s privacy.

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Minimising the risks children and young people face online

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Minimising the risks children and young people face online

Children and young people face many risks online. To minimise these, the Commission has presented guidelines to ensure high levels of privacy, safety and security on online platforms. It has also put forward a prototype of an age-verification app that prioritises protecting people’s privacy. Source link

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Prior Information Notice to organise and implement training activities on the Official Controls Regulation under the Better Training for Safer Food initiative

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Prior Information Notice to organise and implement training activities on the Official Controls Regulation under the Better Training for Safer Food initiative

HaDEA has published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) for a call for tenders to be funded under the Better Training for Safer Food initiative (BTSF) of the European Union.

Interested parties are invited to consult the EU Funding and Tenders Portal possible publication of the contract notice and tender documents.

PIN for HADEA/2025/OP/0036 – Harmonising the implementation of EU legal requirements in the fields of the Official Controls Regulation, border controls, and the use of Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) through the ‘Better Training for Safer Food’ Initiative

The subject of this call for tenders is the organisation and implementation of training activities on the Official Controls Regulation – Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (OCR) including border controls at border control posts (BCPs) and use of TRACES. 

Estimated budget: €3 900 000

Background

The EU Single Market Programme brings together the Union actions in the fields of competitiveness of enterprises, especially SMEs, consumer protection, customers and end-users in financial services, policymaking in financial services and in the plant, animal, food and feed areas.

The BTSF Initiative is a training initiative of the European Commission, which has the objective to improve the knowledge and implementation of EU rules covering food safety and plant and animal health.

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