The international airport had been closed due to rampant gang violence in the country.
The flight carried nearly 15 metric tonnes of medicine and medical supplies to be added to the resources of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mr. Dujarric said this will “support critical, lifesaving operations as insecurity continues to restrict people’s access to healthcare, mainly in the metropolitan area of the capital Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite department.”
The Secretary-General’s spokesperson said that local non-governmental organizations along with WHO are providing many services to displaced civilians, including “screening for malnutrition, cholera prevention and as well as psychosocial support.”
Mr. Dujarric said he hopes that the gradual opening of the airport in Haiti will allow more supplies to be transported; he said that donor support is needed.
A humanitarian response plan for the country requires $674 million but only 21 per cent of the funds – $142 million – has been received, he added.
Multinational Security Support
Meanwhile, UNICEF is warning about child recruitment by armed groups in Haiti, the Secretary-General’s spokesperson said.
Reportedly, 30 to 50 per cent of members of armed groups are children, subjecting them to “coercion, abuse and exploitation stemming from persistent social, economic and political fragility caused by the ongoing violence that has spiralled parts of the country into chaos.”
The Haitian Ministries of Justice, Education and Labor and Social Affairs are working to facilitate the reintegration of young people who had previously belonged to armed groups in hopes this will safeguard their well-being.
Mr. Dujarric said that UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the prompt deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti to assist local police in addressing security situations.
He said that Mr. Guterres calls on Member States to ensure the MSS is financially and logistically supported appropriately.
Mr. Dujarric said children being a part of armed groups in Haiti gives reason to quickly deploy the MSS.
A team of researchers at the University of Missouri is using a system of advanced sensors to detect the progression of ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with hopes of keeping patients healthier, happier, and in their homes longer.
Bill Janes, an assistant professor in the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Occupational Therapy, is the principal investigator on a $400,000 grant from the ALS Association to create a notification system capable of alerting trusted caregivers as soon as a fall or other health change is detected. Janes said the project will build on his own research and the work of eldercare research collaborators across Mizzou.
“There are some key factors that we can watch for to predict before people get sick potentially,” Janes said. “The hope is that we can intervene and try to slow things down down the road.”
By placing a complex system of sensors — adapted for people living with ALS over the past two years through a $500,000 grant from the Department of Defense — throughout a participant’s home, the research team aims to spot warning signs that might indicate the progression of the disease. The latest stage of the research will move the project beyond Columbia to the entire state of Missouri, with a particular focus on ways to notify a patient’s trusted contact and health care team when issues are detected.
Janes got involved with the Mizzou faculty research group after observing patients in MU Health Care’s ALS clinic sporadically miss their quarterly appointments without any insight given to their care team about why they were absent. When the team realized they were in the hospital or deceased, he knew there had to be a way to close the gap between health status changes and the health care providers.
Janes knew that Rachel Proffitt, an associate professor of occupational therapy, was collaborating with Marjorie Skubic, Curators’ Distinguished Professor Emerita with the College of Engineering, to use a similar sensor platform for older adults recovering from stroke. He reached out to his colleagues to see whether the technology could also benefit patients with ALS.
“It seemed like such a natural connection,” Janes said. “We have a population that needs that kind of monitoring, but we can’t do it if they’re only coming to see us quarterly. This system lets us monitor these patients’ health 24/7.”
Eventually, Janes said the hope is for the system to compile all available data on a patient and inform their health care providers when interventions might be helpful.
“If their gait speed is slowing, for example, that might indicate physical therapy needs to get involved,” he said. “If their oxygen saturation is dropping off, we could call in respiratory therapy to see if they might need a medication adjustment or something similar.”
Matthew Hollingsworth, WFP Country Director in Palestine, warned that with limited access to the south “we will no doubt see what we saw happen in the north in the first months of the war”.
Mr. Hollingsworth recently spent 10 days in Gaza. Speaking from Jerusalem, he told journalists in New York that people in the enclave “really are at their wits’ end”.
Matthew Hollingworth, World Food Program (WFP) Country Director in Palestine
He said the “exodus” from Rafah over the past 20 days “has been an awesome and horrific experience for many, many people.” Most have been displaced several times over and had thought they would be staying in a safe area for the remainder of the war.
They have fled to areas where clean water, medical supplies and support are insufficient, food supply is limited, and telecommunications have stopped.
“Public health concerns are beyond crisis levels” and “the sounds, the smells, the everyday life, are horrific and apocalyptic”, he said
“People sleep to the sounds of bombing, they sleep to the sounds of drones, they sleep to the sounds of war as now tanks roll into parts of central Rafah, which is only kilometres away. And they wake to the same sounds.”
Immense needs
Meanwhile, humanitarians have seen ever-decreasing amounts of assistance coming in, and WFP bakeries in Rafah have closed due to lack of fuel and supplies.
He said that from 7 to 20 May, “not a single WFP truck crossed from the southern corridors from Egypt into Rafah”.
The UN agency has been unable to access its main warehouse in the south because it was in an evacuation zone, and the 2,700 tonnes of food inside were either looted or destroyed in the fighting.
“We are living and working precariously in the south,” he said, adding that some aid partners are able to provide hot meals in Rafah.
“We serve around 27,000 people right now, but that’s not enough in Rafah itself, and we’re trying desperately hard to gear up to support people in the central areas, in Al Mawasi in particular, where almost a million people have fled to in this great exodus.”
WFP and partners are able to provide roughly 400,000 hot meals a day to people in the Middle Area of Gaza, but again supplies are limited.
Situation in the north
Mr. Hollingsworth also addressed the situation in north Gaza, which he said has improved following the opening of two crossings. UN agencies had previously warned of looming famine in the region.
“We’re actually seeing the results of what can happen when there is a will to enable sufficient levels of aid,” he said.
Roughly 12,000 tonnes of inter-agency aid, mostly food, have entered since 1 May, “and the north looks very different because of it.”
The WFP official stressed the need for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages, noting that previous calls have gone unheard.
“We are tired. People are tired. We desperately need to start helping people go beyond this day-to-day existence and scraping for an existence,” he said. “And to do that, there has to be a ceasefire.”
Allegations of responsibility point to both armed groups and State actors.
“While armed groups are presumed responsible for the vast majority of incidents and victims and should be held accountable, I am also deeply disturbed that security and defence forces and their auxiliaries, the Volontaires pour la défense de la patrie, allegedly carried out wanton killings, including summary executions,” Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in statement.
The reported killings were among the alleged violations and abuses affecting at least 2,732 individuals in the West African country between November 2023 and April 2024.
That figure was a sharp spike of 71 per cent compared to the previous six months.
According to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, armed groups, such as Jamāʿat nuṣrat al-islām wal-muslimīn, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and other similar organizations, have stepped up their attacks against civilians, including internally displaced people.
State forces are also alleged to be behind the violence.
In one particularly abhorrent incident, over 220 civilians, including 56 children, were reportedly killed in attacks allegedly carried out by the military in two villages in the north on a single day in late February.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since early 2022 amid an insurgency by extremist militants which triggered a series of coups and counter coups. Capt. Ibrahim Traoré was named transitional president in September 2022, and the transitional government has continued to battle insurgents and further reported counter-coup attempts.
Amidst the highly volatile situation, more than six million Burkinabè, out of a total population of 20 million, have been left dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Respect international law
“I fully appreciate the complex security threats that Burkina Faso is facing. A response to these threats will only succeed if international law is fully respected throughout. I therefore reiterate my call to the authorities in Burkina Faso to take all possible measures to ensure the protection of civilians,” High Commissioner Türk said.
He urged the Government to support a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into all allegations of violations and abuses of international law, and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice through legal due process.
“There must be justice and accountability if the authorities are to reassure the population, restore social cohesion and rebuild trust between civilians and the security forces,” Mr. Türk added.
The High Commissioner had raised his concerns on the situation in Burkina Faso with Government officials, including President Traoré, during a visit to the country in March.
Sustainability and reuse are important parts of our renewable energy strategy, with great potential for innovation and improvement. The industry lacks extensive experience decommissioning and recycling large-scale floating offshore wind farms.
While there has been progress in the reuse and recycling of wind turbine blades, there is still a gap in addressing the reuse and recycling of floating offshore wind substructures.
Gunfleet Sands offshore wind farm 172MW wind farm 7 km off the Clacton-on-Sea and Holland Essex coast in the Northern Thames Estuary. Image credit: Ashley Dace via geograph.org.uk, CC BY-SA 2.0
Overview
The Seeker needs innovative solutions to manage the end-of-life phase of floating offshore wind substructures – steel and concrete. Early focus on reuse, afterlife, circularity, and recycling is important to adjust and optimize design. A scheduled Q&A session will present one example case for all challenge applicants.
The Seeker invites you to contribute your expertise and innovative ideas to help us address this challenge and advance the sustainability of the offshore wind industry.
About the Seeker
Equinor has a long history in the energy sector, with 50 years of experience in oil and gas and over 20 years in offshore wind. This unique combination of expertise makes Equinor a leader in developing and operating offshore wind projects. Our floating wind projects include the Hywind demo, Hywind Scotland, and the latest, Hywind Tampen. Hywind Tampen, the world’s largest floating wind farm, supplies power to oil and gas installations, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 200,000 tons annually.
Equinor aims to be the leading industrial offshore wind player in Norway, and we expect floating wind to play a central role in the sector’s development. Floating wind is ready for industrialisation, and we see huge potential in Norway.
Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 14:00 EDT, 26 Aug 2024.
Those who read me know that I am not gentle with the Netanyahu government and that I defend the idea of two states (Israel and Palestine) in the Middle East. I did not wait for the Israeli response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks to do so. However, in the face of the current wave of protests and criticism, I can’t help but wonder: where were all these demonstrators and politicians before this last war? Why have we never heard them talk about two states? Why have they never gone to Gaza or Ramallah? The answer is simple: they didn’t care about the Palestinians.
Silence on Assad’s crimes and intra-Palestinian conflicts
When Assad massacred thousands of Palestinians, they turned a blind eye. The world remained silent in the face of the atrocities committed by the Syrian regime against Palestinian refugees. When the two Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, slaughtered each other in a fratricidal struggle, these same critics plugged their ears. This complicit silence reveals an alarming indifference to the real suffering of the Palestinians.
Selective outrage: Israel as a scapegoat
When Israel attacks, they all take to the streets, brandishing signs and chanting slogans. But when the Russians, Assad, or others kill Palestinians, they remain silent like cowards. This selective outrage demonstrates an obvious double standard, where criticism of Israel becomes a facade for an ideology or political agenda, rather than a real compassion for the Palestinians.
Student protests and the complexity of slogans
Young students protest for Palestine, which is their right. However, before protesting, they must understand certain slogans. They shout “Two States” but, at the same time, call for the destruction of Israel with the slogan “From the river to the sea.” This glaring contradiction reveals either a misunderstanding or a manipulation of political and historical realities.
LGBT movements and ignorance of realities in Gaza
LGBT movements are in the streets to defend Palestinians. However, it is crucial that they know that homosexuals are murdered in Gaza, and many of them have sought political asylum in Israel. This ignorance of the real living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza once again shows a deep indifference disguised as solidarity.
The silence of feminist movements
It is also troubling to note the silence of feminist movements in the face of the rapes of Israeli women. When Israeli women are victims of sexual violence, these movements, so quick to denounce injustices elsewhere, remain strangely silent. This lack of support reveals yet another disturbing double standard. Women’s rights should not be selective; they should be defended universally, regardless of the nationality or origin of the victims.
The demonization of Israel in French media
Yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister was interviewed by a French television channel. A mob was in the streets to scream scandal. How could a television channel give a “criminal” a voice? Where were all these people when Assad or Putin were on television ? The answer is simple: they were silent like cowards. This media double standard fuels a biased and unfair perception of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
General ignorance about Zionism
I amused myself by asking internet users who vomited on Zionists what Zionism was. Not one could give a correct answer. This widespread ignorance demonstrates a manipulation of public opinion and the use of complex terms without understanding their real meaning.
LFI and political opportunism
La France Insoumise , an extrem left French political party(LFI), a political party in decline, hopes to gain some community votes by surfing the anti-Israeli wave. Too bad for them, but it doesn’t work, because the majority of people in France understand that everything is not black and white. This political opportunism once again shows how the Palestinian cause is exploited for electoral purposes.
The crucial question: what Palestinian State?
If I had to debate with Mélenchon or his lieutenants, I would only have one question for them: they want a Palestinian state, which is good, but a large majority of Israelis have been asking for it for years. The question is, what Palestinian state? Because if they really knew the situation, they would have understood that the inhabitants of the Ramallah region do not want to live with the inhabitants of Gaza, that a civil war exists among the Palestinians. So, which Palestine do they want? The one of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority? And above all, how to achieve this state?
Rima Hassen: complicit silence
I won’t talk about Rima Hassen, who is a prop for Mélenchon and who is the most cowardly of all. When Assad murdered Palestinians, she remained very silent. The only question would be: why this silence? This attitude reveals once again the hypocrisy and manipulation of those who claim to defend the Palestinians.
Is Israel criticized so much Because it is a Jewish State?
Finally, it is legitimate to wonder if it is not because Israel is a Jewish state that it is so criticized. This question, although delicate, cannot be ignored. Anti-Semitism, deeply rooted in history, could well play a role in the virulence and selectivity of the criticism directed at Israel. Why is Israel so often demonized in contexts where other nations guilty of human rights violations go unnoticed? This bias reveals a worrying partiality that needs to be examined and questioned. It is essential to ensure that criticisms are based on facts and principles of universal justice, not on hidden prejudices or discriminations.
In conclusion
This article does not aim to unconditionally defend Israel, but to expose the hypocrisy of certain critics who use the Palestinian cause as a political tool without really caring about the well-being of the Palestinians. The path to peace requires recognizing these double standards and sincerely committing to a two-state solution. Criticism must be fair and based on facts, not slogans or hidden agendas. It is imperative that human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, and minority rights advocates adopt a consistent and honest approach, without selecting their causes based on their political biases.
In Pakistan the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a minority group has long been facing discrimination, violence and rights violations. The inaugural annual report from the International Human Rights Desk (IHRD) founded by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Head of the Ahmadiyya Community in November 2023 has highlighted the escalating persecution endured by Ahmadis in Pakistan and globally. This piece reviews the IHRDs findings from its Annual Report 2023 focusing on uncovering discrimination against Ahmadis and stressing the need for actions to address human rights abuses targeting the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan.
Key Findings from the 2023 Annual Report
The report by IHRD exposes trends in Ahmadis persecution in Pakistan throughout 2023. Incidents of desecration of Ahmadiyya places of worship have notably increased, with features like minarets and niches becoming points of contention. Despite commitments and international obligations concerning freedom of religion and belief Pakistani authorities have consistently fallen short in safeguarding Ahmadis rights.
Additionally the report sheds light on human rights violations suffered by Ahmadis during Eid ul Adha, including assaults false accusations leveled against them. Attacks, on their places of worship.Extremist groups, such, as Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have made life harder for the community by barring Ahmadis from participating in their practices and creating an environment of fear and discrimination. The IHRD report underscores the rooted discrimination faced by Ahmadis in Pakistan. Laws like the Second Amendment to Pakistans Constitution and Ordinance XX specifically target Ahmadis severely restricting their freedom of religion and belief. The report urges for the repeal of these laws and the implementation of legislation to protect the rights of Ahmadis.
Ahmadis often find themselves arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned because of their beliefs. The anti-Ahmadi laws are frequently misused to oppress community members without reasons. Unjust denials of bail and harsh prison sentences handed down by the judiciary only add to their persecution. In 2023 133 Ahmadis were unfairly targeted, highlighting the need for reforms.
Moreover discrimination against Ahmadis persists in sectors like education, employment and business as detailed in the report. Ahmadi students have been expelled, assaulted, harassed, given exam questions and excluded from activities that violate their rights. Ahmadi professionals working in government roles face threats, intimidation and forced transfers due, to their beliefs. Additionally businesses owned by Ahmadis have been boycotted, attacked and socially isolated by groups.
Despite facing criticism and disapproval the Pakistani government has largely overlooked pleas for action. The absence of dialogue and political initiatives has hindered progress in addressing discrimination against Ahmadis. The report underscores the necessity for leadership of effecting change to protect the rights of Ahmadis and promote a more inclusive and tolerant society.
The 2023 Annual Report from the International Human Rights Desk sheds light on the hurdles encountered by the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan unveiling a recurring pattern of persecution. It highlights instances of discrimination legal obstacles and widespread human rights abuses faced by Ahmadis across aspects of their lives. The communitys concerns and calls for action underscore the need to tackle this issue.
Efforts to address the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan collaboration among stakeholders and engagement, from the community.
The government of Pakistan must demonstrate a commitment, to upholding human rights principles by engaging in discussions and implementing measures to abolish discriminatory laws and protect the rights of Ahmadis. The global community should continue to exert pressure on Pakistan to fulfill its responsibilities under human rights agreements and hold them accountable for any failures in safeguarding the Ahmadiyya Community.
The findings from the IHRD report serve as a reminder of the actions needed to address human rights abuses against Ahmadis in Pakistan. It is essential that the recommendations and insights outlined in this report are taken seriously leading to actions that guarantee the safety and welfare of the Ahmadiyya Community within Pakistan and, beyond.
As we approach the European Elections in June, Parliament’s press services will be publishing a weekly newsletter, highlighting the main election-related news of the week so that you do not miss anything or need a reminder of what information is available and where to find it. The newsletter will be published each Friday until 7 June.
Election days
Next week between 6 and 9 June 2024 more than 370 million European citizens are eligible to vote in the 27 Member States to elect 720 members of the European Parliament. The results will be available in real time on the European elections results website.
Practical details for media can be found here. For live coverage of election days and night, click here.
Campaigning on the ground
With the European elections right around the corner, initiatives are multiplying to inform citizens about the importance of voting. Below, a snapshot of the many actions taken across the EU.
The European Parliament’s liaison office in Greece and the municipality of Athens jointly organised a bingo for volunteers and senior citizens on 28 May. Participants had the opportunity to test their EU knowledge and the chance to win collectible gifts.
The European Parliament’s office in Slovenia worked with hosts of the RTVSLO Saturday late-night show Tilen Artač and Robert Petan on three music videos promoting the European elections. Listen here to their first song “European Elections. Come, be there”.
Volunteers from the eu community have launched an EU-wide mobile app called Palumba to help voters identify the political options that best fit their preferences at the elections.
Bulgarian choir “the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” together with the Institute for the Development of Public Environment and the Convo Foundation have filmed several videos on low turnout. One third of singers start singing – the full choir joins in later to highlight the difference participation can make. See the video about Sofia
Multipliers
The European Parliament welcomes initiatives by private companies promoting the importance of voting in the upcoming elections. Below a few examples:
Spotify launched a “Play Your Part, Europe!” playlist on 21 May to encourage people to vote in the European elections and will be sending in-app notifications to users leading to the European Parliament’s election webpages on 6-9 June.
Oatly is encouraging business leaders in Europe to join them in mobilising their employees, communities and customers to vote in the upcoming election. With banners on buildings across Europe and the organisation of film screenings in Stockholm, Amsterdam and Helsinki, they are sharing their message: ‘VOAT! for the planet
Coca-Cola Europelaunched a communication action ”Options exist. The choice is yours. 6-9 June 2024” on social media and using tailored external amplification in some countries to encourage people to vote in the upcoming European elections.
Apple is featuring a rolling storyin all EU-27 App Store storefronts, reaching millions of users. Apple is also spotlighting official EU apps like the European Parliament’s “Citizens’ App”, as well as news apps and ride hailing apps so voters can easily get to the polling stations.
Private companies are also making efforts to counter disinformation in the run-up to the European elections. Snapchat recently committed to act – as did Meta, Google, and TikTok.
Good to know
Did you know that Estonia is the only EU country where voting online is possible for the European elections? For more facts about the upcoming European elections, click here.
In a #UseYourVote campaign video, recent Sakharov Prize laureates and their teams share messages with EU citizens ahead of the 6 – 9 June European elections.
“We are losing freedom in the world. Use your vote to defend democracy, use your voice for those who cannot”, said Oleksandra Matviichuk, 2022 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Laureate and Chair of the Center for Civil Liberties, an NGO recording war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, which was awarded the 2022 Nobel peace prize.
“Dear fellow citizens of Europe, in Europe you have a precious gift: the power to elect your leaders and shape your future”, underlines Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, one of the 2020 Sakharov Prize laureates.
“Democracy is a system that is difficult to build, yet also very easy to lose”, adds Lorent Saleh, former political prisoner, 2017 Sakharov Prize Laureate representing the democratic opposition in Venezuela.
The video also features Leonid Volkov, former Chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, 2021 Sakharov Prize laureate, who died in prison in Russia on 16 February 2024, and was one of the strongest oppositional voices to Vladimir Putin; members of the Sakharov Fellowship network, like the fashion designer Louise Xin (Sweden) also share their message with EU citizens.
Background
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work. It recognises individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought. Through the prize and its associated network, the EU assists laureates, who are supported and empowered in their efforts to defend their causes.
The experts highlighted recent incidents targeting the Persian language news service Iran International, its journalists and staff, and its owner Volant Media UK Limited. Death threats and intimidation against the staff escalated into the violent stabbing of journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his home in London on 29 March.
Since 2017, Iran International has faced ongoing threats and harassment from Iranian authorities and their proxies, which intensified following the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests in Iran. Persian media abroad were falsely accused of inciting unrest, exacerbating the abuse.
“Such attacks not only violate the human rights to life and personal security but are also aimed at suppressing freedom of expression and the media, including legitimate criticism of the Iranian Government,” they said.
According to the experts, there have been at least 15 credible Iranian plots to kill or kidnap individuals in the United Kingdom since 2022.
British counter-terrorism police warned two Iran International personnel, including Volant’s General Manager Mahmoud Enayat, of “imminent threats to their lives” in November 2022, prompting them to flee the UK.
Additionally, a plot to kill two television presenters, including Fardad Farahzad, was thwarted in November 2023.
Chilling effect on the press
The experts warned that these attacks and threats could have a chilling effect on journalists both inside and outside Iran.
They cited a September 2023 incident in New York where Iran International journalist Kian Amani was assaulted by a member of Iran’s delegation to the United Nations.
Iran imposed travel and financial sanctions on Volant Media and Iran International in 2022 for supposedly supporting terrorism and, in 2019, froze the assets of the owners and their family members in Iran.
“We deplore the blatant misuse of counter-terrorism law against journalists, which violates freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, the right to travel, privacy, family rights, the right to reputation and due process and judicial safeguards,” the experts said.
Pattern of attacks
The experts noted that the incidents against Iran International were part of a pattern of threats and attacks against Persian language media and dissidents outside Iran, including journalists working for BBC News Persian, Deutsche Welle, Voice of America, IranWire and Radio Farda.
“We urge Iran to refrain from violence, threats and intimidation against Iran International and its staff, online and offline, and other journalists and media workers reporting on Iran from abroad, and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for such acts,” they said.
Appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, Special Rapporteurs are mandated to monitor and report on specific human rights sectors and country situation. They are not UN staff and do not draw a salary for their work.
