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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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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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ESAs publish guide on DORA Oversight activities

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Minimising the risks children and young people face online

The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA, ESMA – the ESAs) today published a guide on oversight activities under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The aim of this guide is to provide an overview of the processes used by the ESAs through the Joint Examination Teams (JET) to oversee critical Information and communication technology (ICT) […]

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EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival

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EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival

EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival

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Sudan: Humanitarian needs deepen amid rising hostilities and heavy rains

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Sudan: Humanitarian needs deepen amid rising hostilities and heavy rains

Nearly 27 months have passed since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a former ally, the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF), creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The UN voiced grave alarm over escalating hostilities in El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur state. 

Serious risk of renewed violence

Large numbers of RSF fighters reportedly entered the city on Friday for the first time since the siege began over a year ago.

Local sources report that recent fierce fighting, particularly in the southwest and east of El Fasher, has led to civilian casualties.

“The situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable, with a serious risk of renewed violence, as well as further displacement and disruption of humanitarian operations – which are already under severe strain,” OCHA said.

Insecurity in North Kordofan state

Meanwhile, in North Kordofan State, growing insecurity forced 3,400 people to flee their homes over the weekend, according to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

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

OCHA reminded all parties that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law, and that civilians must be protected at all times.

Rainy season constraints

Meanwhile, heavy rains have been reported in West and Central Darfur states, which may affect road conditions in some locations and worsen the challenges humanitarians are already facing in accessing people in need.

“With the rainy season continuing through October, the risk of floods, access constraints and disease outbreaks is growing – especially during this critical lean season, a time between harvests when food stocks traditionally run low,” OCHA warned.

Families return to West Darfur

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

Furthermore, local authorities report about 40 people returning daily to Kulbus, with 300 arriving over the past week.

OCHA urged all parties to enable safe and unimpeded access to all people in need across Sudan, and for donors to step up their support.

Some 30 million people nationwide – more than half the population – need vital aid and protection this year. 

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World News in Brief: Inter-ethnic violence in Syria, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, global information security

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World News in Brief: Inter-ethnic violence in Syria, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, global information security

The violence erupted two days after a Druze merchant was abducted on the highway to Damascus.

The incident marks the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist rebels toppled former dictator Bashar al-Assad in December and installed a new caretaker Government, which is gaining increasing international recognition.

Those targeted include the Druze sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam.  

UN voices ‘deep concern’

On Monday, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Najat Rochdi, expressed “deep concern” over these reports and urged authorities and stakeholders to “take immediate steps to protect civilians, restore calm and prevent incitement.”

She also underscored the need for inclusion, trust-building and meaningful dialogue to advance a credible and inclusive political transition in Syria.

UN human rights chief says ‘wisdom’ of Indigenous Peoples needed in climate change, digital policy upgrades

The UN human rights chief spoke at a high-level political forum on the rights of Indigenous Peoples on Monday.

Underscoring how crucial such forums are to advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Volker Türk highlighted developments in Colombia, Finland and Guatemala that have given them more self-determination.

But despite these advances, violations against Indigenous Peoples’ rights continue.

Many still lack formal land recognition, while mining activity, deforestation and large-scale agricultural development often cause environmental destruction.

Indigenous Peoples also experience immense discrimination and face the brunt of climate chaos, Mr. Türk stressed.

Toll on activists

Furthermore, data from the human rights office reveals that 26 per cent of rights activists killed in 2023 and 2024 were Indigenous, largely in the Americas.

Additionally, states are using AI in ways that harm Indigenous Peoples through surveillance, data exploitation and exclusion from decision-making. Türk thus called for human rights-based approaches that uphold Indigenous data sovereignty and self-determination.

The High Commissioner also called for future policies on climate, digital technologies and other areas to “reflect the wisdom and experience of Indigenous Peoples.”

“This is not only essential to respect and fulfil the human rights of Indigenous Peoples,” he concluded. “There is growing recognition that the ideas and approaches of Indigenous Peoples hold important lessons for all of us.”

Guterres welcomes step forward in securing digital technology worldwide

The UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday, welcomed the adoption by consensus of the UN Open Ended Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies.

It was established in 2020 with a five-year mandate to promote regular institutional dialogue and initiatives focused on keeping digital technologies safe and secure.  

The Secretary-General welcomed the Final Report of 10 July, which summed up the past five years of negotiations, said a statement issued by his Spokesperson.  

It reflects shared views on current and emerging threats, responsible government policies, international law, norms and efforts such as confidence-building and capacity development.  

Call for cooperation

It also establishes a permanent mechanism to continue discussions about responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies, which the Secretary General particularly appreciated.  

“The Secretary-General now calls upon all States to work together through the Global Mechanism to tackle digital risks and ensure these technologies are leveraged for good,” the statement said.  

The Secretary General congratulated the group on its accomplishments, saying the consensus adoption “demonstrates that even in the most challenging international security environment, collective action is still possible.” 

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EU – Central America Association Council, 14 July 2025 – Joint Communiqué

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EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival

The European Union and the six Central American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama met in Brussels on 14 July 2025 for an historical first EU-Central America Association Council in the framework of the Association Agreement between Central America and the EU.

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The Security Council renews the mission in Nations in Haiti

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By adopting resolution 2785, the Council renewed the authorization of the UN integrated office in Haiti (Binuh), reaffirming support for a solution led by Haitian with crises overlapping from the island nation.

The decision comes as the armed gangs maintain their grip over most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, with more than 1.3 million people displaced and more than 4,000 killed in the first half of 2025 only, according to UN figures.

The conditions have deteriorated considerably in the context of the growth of food insecurity and the erosion of public institutions. The security of women and girls is particularly worrying, with a strong increase in relations of sexual violence since the beginning of the year – including rape, rape of gangs and sexual slavery.

Time runs out

THE Security advice also “expressed his intention to consider, without delay” recommendations By the secretary general on possible future roles for the UN in maintaining security and stability in Haiti.

In February, António Guterres presented a range of options to the council.

“” Each new wave of criminal attacks against communities and institutions in Haiti is a painful sign that time is exhausted“Said the UN chief in a letter.

He urged Member States to support the mission of the multinational security support (MSS), which The Council authorized in October 2023 To help the national police of Haiti to fight against the violence of the gangs and the restoration of the order. He also pointed out that international efforts to improve security must be equaled by national progress towards the resolution of the political crisis.

Several members of the council expressed their desire to engage in the proposals of the secretary general. The Chinese representative, for example, said that Beijing was open to work with others to trace a constructive path to follow.

“Regarding how to improve the situation in Haiti, including the way of responding to the secretary general’s recommendations, we are ready to have frank communication with all parties, to explore viable solutions and to seek the widest possible consensus,” said Geng Shuang, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the UN.

The Security Council adopts the resolution extending the mandate of the integrated UN Office in Haiti (Binuh) during the meeting on the issue concerning Haiti.

Critical mission

The action of the council was greeted by the Haiti ambassador, who underlined the political and security issues before a critical transition calendar in 2026.

“” This extension should help the Haitian authorities to undertake real real political dialogue, to strengthen good governance, to strengthen security and to make justice and to promote human rights“Said Pierre Ericq Pierre, permanent representative of the UN.

He also expressed the expectation of his government that the United Nations mission supports the implementation of the national roadmap, including reforms and constitutional elections.

Stressing national property, he added: “Binuh must work within the framework of a holistic plan to support the Haitian authorities to face the serious crisis that shakes the country.”

The United States, which has led to resolution negotiations alongside Panama, stressed the urgency of political progress and called international partners to increase support.

“Less than a year remains on the planned roadmap of the Presidential Council for the Transition for the Restoration of Democratic Institutions,” said Ambassador Dorothy Shea, acting representative.

“” Supporting election security and the participation of all sectors of society are essential for sustainable political progress in Haiti. Without Binuh, realizing that the vision of a stronger and more resilient society would be less likely.“”

New leadership of the mission

The members of the Council also welcomed Carlos G. Ruiz Massieu, appointed new special representative of the secretary general and head of Binuh, succeeding María Isabel Salvador.

Mr. Ruiz Massieu, who currently directs the United Nations verification mission in Colombia, brings decades of diplomatic and political experience, including in peace negotiations and the construction of institutions.

The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (Binuh) – a special political mission – was created in 2019 to advise and support the Haitian authorities on political dialogue, justice, human rights and governance.

He succeeded a series of peacekeeping and political missions of the UN on the island, Dating from 1993Including the large scale Minustah Operation, which ended in 2017 after 13 years.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com