Gaza: 80,000 displaced from Rafah as Israeli bombardment intensifies, say UN aid teams

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13 May 2024

Gaza: 80,000 displaced from Rafah as Israeli bombardment intensifies, say UN aid teams

Most of those uprooted by Israeli military evacuation orders in eastern Rafah have already been displaced from other areas of Gaza; they are now leaving with everything they can carry “in vehicles, trucks, (on) motorbikes and donkey carts”, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

More than 47,500 people are estimated to have left their shelters in Rafah on Wednesday alone, UNRWA said, with some families approaching the agency’s shelters at Tel Sultan as well as Al Mawasi in the west.

The World Food Programme’s (WFP) Director for Palestine Matthew Hollingworth said in a post on X on Thursday that the agency’s main warehouse “is now inaccessible.”

“No aid has entered from southern crossings in two days“, he added. There is only a single bakery still operational while supplies of food will last only one to three days.

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Bombs all around

In an update, UNRWA noted “an ongoing and significant amount of bombardment” in eastern Rafah early Thursday “and all through the night”.

The development comes as UN humanitarians repeated warnings about the lack of desperately needed aid reaching highly vulnerable people in Gaza despite reports that the Kerem Shalom crossing near Rafah had reopened.

“We are engaging with all involved on the resumption of the entry of goods, including fuel, and so that we can again begin managing incoming supplies,” said the UN aid coordination office, OCHA late Wednesday. “However, the situation remains extremely fluid, and we continue to confront a range of challenges amid active hostilities. We count on cooperation and facilitation to get these crossings operational again since stocks of critical supplies, including fuel, are being depleted by the hour.”

The Kerem Shalom crossing had been closed following a deadly rocket attack claimed by Hamas last weekend. It is next to Rafah, which is the main entry point for aid into Gaza and which was seized on Tuesday by Israeli forces, dashing ceasefire hopes.

Northern aid delays

According to OCHA, more than a quarter of humanitarian missions to northern Gaza in April “were impeded by Israeli authorities, and 10 percent were denied…The UN and humanitarian partners continue efforts to scale up aid operations whenever and wherever possible.”

On Wednesday the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that it had reached Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, “which had been inaccessible for months”.

In a message on X, the agency said that it was ready to scale up food assistance across northern Gaza, “but rolling back six months months of starvation requires steady flows of food supplies. Safe, lasting access needs to be sustained over time.”

Lost time is lost lives: UNICEF chief

In a later statement, the UNICEF chief Catherine Russell, said fuel was urgently needed “to move lifesaving supplies – medicine, treatments for malnutrition, tents and water pipes – as well as staff to reach children and families in need.”

Supplies have been in effect severed she added, threatening to grind all operations to a halt.

“The limited essential infrastructure in Gaza that remains at least partially functional also depends on fuel to provide lifesaving services. This includes the remaining hospitals and primary healthcare centres, water desalination plants and water wells, sewage pumps and solid waste collection – all of which could run out of fuel within days, if not hours.”

“The situation is dire” she warned and if the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings are not reopened “the consequences will be felt almost immediately: life support services for premature babies will lose power; children and families will become dehydrated or consume dangerous water; sewage will overflow and spread disease further. Simply put, lost time will soon become lost lives.”

West Bank violence unabated

As war continues in Gaza, the UN rights office, OHCHR, warned that violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have also increased substantially.

“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is acting as if there is an armed conflict in the West Bank,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the OHCHR office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in an interview with UN News.

Mr. Sunghay explained that the situation in the West Bank was already very dire even before hostilities erupted in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel that left some 1,250 dead and more than 250 taken hostage.

In its latest update on the situation in the West Bank, the UN aid office, OCHA, noted that the Israeli Supreme Court had ruled in favour of the return of 360 Palestinians to their homes in Khirbet Zanouta herding community in Hebron, six months after being displaced by settler attacks.

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Cries for freedom echo, throughout Pakistan Administered Kashmir as dissent and human rights violations continue to escalate

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13 May 2024

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May 2024 By Thierry Valle CAP Freedom of Conscience

In the heart of this region a new wave of unrest has emerged, shedding light on the challenges faced by residents in their fight for rights. The streets have become a battleground as members of the Joint Action Committee clash with authorities, including police forces and commandos painting a picture of the situation.

The recent surge in unrest was sparked by a government crackdown on leaders during the night. In response authorities in Pakistan Administered Kashmir have enforced Section 144 to restrict gatherings and announced closures for all institutions on May 10th and 11th. Despite these measures the determination of the people to stand up for their rights remains unwavering.

Tensions escalated dramatically in Dadyal when protesters echoing the passion of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) supporters detained an Assistant Commissioner and subjected him to assault. This act of resistance is. Underscores the seated frustration among individuals and their readiness to take action to address their grievances.

The government’s response has been severe with police resorting to tactics such, as baton charges and tear gas to disperse protestors.
The recent events have had repercussions with many protestors sustaining injuries. Tragically a student lost their life after being exposed to gas highlighting the cost of this conflict.

In response, to these incidents the JAAC has declared a shutdown set to begin tomorrow further heightening tensions in the region. The situation in Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK remains precarious. The impending strike is expected to escalate the confrontation between demonstrators and authorities.

The unrest has now spread to parts of PoK with protests erupting in Samahni, Sehansa, Mirpur, Rawalakot, Khuiratta, Tattapani and Hattian Bala. While demonstrations in Kotli, Bagh and Muzaffarabad have not garnered media attention. Raising concerns about censorship and suppression by those in power.

Residents of PoK are grappling with issues such as electricity bills, lack of wheat subsidies and shortages of necessities like flour. They are also worried about their rights regarding resources and government oversight on projects as encroachment on land by the Pakistani military.
These ongoing protests stem from these grievances as people call for fairer resource distribution and protection of their rights. Despite facing intimidation, from authorities residents of PoK persist in voicing their dissent.
The People’s Rights Day was joyously celebrated on February 5 2024 followed by the Youm e Majammat on March 5 to express discontent, over delays in meeting the demands of JAAC. The march, dubbed as the “People’s Rights Long March” by JAAC is scheduled for May 11 2024. To ensure its effectiveness all JAAC members are engaged in campaigns within their regions. However in response the state government has requested troops from the Central Armed Forces and Punjab Police to be deployed with an approach sparking tension throughout PoK.

On International Labor Day the women’s wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples National Party (JKPNP) organized a protest rally in Bagh and encouraged local residents to join them in Muzaffarabad on May 11. Protest gatherings took place on May 6 in Rawalakot, Hazira, Bhimber, Kotli, Thorat, Poonch and Haveli regions. A torch lit rally was also conducted that day to show opposition against security forces attempting to impede the march.

Residents of PoK assembled near Mangla Dam. Pledged their commitment to ensuring the success of the march. Their unwavering determination, during times reflects the resilience and courage of Kashmiri people.
The situation, in Pakistan administered Kashmir (PoK) is a reminder of the tensions in the region particularly in Kashmir, where the quest for self-determination and basic human rights continues. The area grapples with challenges leaving its residents without rights and liberties.

The crackdown on dissent and the use of force against protestors violate rights. Call for unequivocal condemnation. People in PoK should be able to voice their concerns without fear of reprisal while holding onto hopes for a future.

The crackdown on leaders and the presence of security forces to suppress demonstrations are developments. These actions blatantly disregard the people’s rights in Kashmir seeking to silence their demands. It is imperative for the global community not to turn an eye to the plight of those in PoK but rather offer support. Encouraging governments to uphold rights and engage in dialogues is essential for resolving the Kashmir conflict.

The people of PoK have shown unwavering commitment to freedom and self-determination displaying resilience and a universal quest for justice and equality. It is crucial that the international community listens to their pleas and takes measures to safeguard the aspirations of Kashmiri individuals. The situation in PoK acts as a reflection of tensions prevailing in Kashmir, where endeavors, toward self-determination and human rights endure.
It is crucial for the international community to closely observe the developments that encourage Pakistan to respect the rights of the Kashmiris while engaging in discussions, for a lasting solution. The use of force and suppression of dissent against protesters are violations of rights that should be condemned.

The people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) should be able to voice their concerns without fear of retaliation and their aspirations for a future should be recognized. The fight for self-governance and basic freedoms reflects humanitys pursuit of freedom and justice. It is important for countries to support the people of PoK in safeguarding their visions for the future from being stifled by the strategies employed by the government.

The global community cannot ignore these human rights violations. It is time to take steps and hold accountable those responsible, for actions. The world must rally behind the residents of PoK ensuring that their voices are heard their rights protected and their dreams of a future realized.

Mutations in noncoding DNA become functional in some cancer-driving genes

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13 May 2024

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puzzle, dna, research — Photo by qimono on Pixabay

Some genes are known to drive cancer, and astonishing new research shows why: Mutations in the noncoding regions become functional, altering the abundance of messenger RNA, or mRNA, and potentially facilitating cell proliferation. Even more surprising, the number of mutations in these regions can predict patient survival time for certain types of cancer.

Most genes are a sequence of DNA that holds the recipes for producing proteins. Proteins, in turn, are chains of amino acids that the body uses to send signals between cells, build and repair tissues, and for countless other functions necessary for life. Within these genes, certain areas are directly translated into proteins, whereas others, referred to as noncoding regions, do not directly contribute to protein production.

But these silent, noncoding regions are far from lazy. They act much like a basketball coach during a game, directing the active regions of the gene to either enhance or suppress their expression, thus playing a crucial regulatory role.

Mutations in these noncoding areas are relatively common, yet they were once thought to have minimal impact on an organism’s functions because they don’t alter a protein’s recipe. But what happens to their regulatory duties when a mutation occurs?

Researchers at UCLA now have an answer. Mutations in these noncoding areas are relatively common, yet they were once thought to have minimal impact on an organism’s functions because they don’t alter a protein’s recipe. But researchers at UCLA made an important discovery: These mutations lead to production of abnormal amounts of mRNA. mRNA serves as the DNA’s courier, carrying the blueprint for protein production from the cell nucleus to the cytoplasm, where proteins are synthesized.

When mutations cause changes in mRNA levels, it can lead to either an excess or deficit in protein production, akin to the culinary disaster of mistaking a teaspoon for a cup of salt in a recipe. Because cancer involves the unchecked growth of cells, the abundance of mRNA might activate — or fail to inhibit — proliferation of cells, ultimately leading to tumors and cancer.

The researchers made this discovery by synthesizing thousands of mutations into fully functioning DNA reporters — a kind of gene that helps scientists study what a gene expresses — which they put into cells, then analyzed the resulting alterations in mRNA abundance. The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

“Predicting the outcomes of mutations in protein-coding regions is relatively straightforward, but understanding the functions of mutations in noncoding regions presents a significant challenge,” said corresponding author Xinshu “Grace” Xiao, a UCLA professor of integrative biology and physiology. “We designed a high throughput experiment capable of simultaneously assessing a vast array of mutations.”

Some noncoding mutations are so rare they occur in only a few individuals. Plus, every person has their own unique mutations. Rare mutations are challenging to study because their scarcity means they are hard to obtain in statistically meaningful quantities.

“We focused on these poorly understood rare mutations because with our method, we could generate any number of them, offering an unprecedented opportunity to figure out what they do,” Xiao said.

This exploration led to a completely unforeseen discovery: Many of the rare, functional mutations were associated with genes linked to cancer pathways.

This finding shifted the research to the singling out of genes known to drive cancer. These notorious cancer driver genes have many somatic mutations — acquired over the course of the individual’s life rather than through inheritance — in noncoding regions that aren’t understood. The team repeated their experiments, this time testing 11,929 somatic mutations in 166 cancer driver genes.

They discovered that a large fraction — 33% — of somatic mutations in noncoding regions of 155 of the 166 tested cancer driver genes can change mRNA abundance. But Xiao’s group didn’t stop there. They combed a cancer database to find patients who had these mRNA-modulating rare mutations and found many. Turning over this stone revealed an even bigger surprise.

“The number of functional mutations in untranslated regions can predict patient survival for certain cancer types,” said Ting Fu, the first author of the article and a postdoctoral scholar in Xiao’s lab. “We called this metric ‘untranslated tumor mutation burden’ or uTMB and found particularly striking the association between uTMB and lung squamous cell carcinoma as well as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.”

This insight opens up new avenues for the development of prognostic testing tools. By calculating uTMB for individual patients, health care professionals could gain valuable predictions regarding survival outcomes to guide selection of the most effective treatment options.

The findings also signal a promising new direction for research into the gene regulation mechanisms implicated in cancer. Understanding how these mutations influence mRNA abundance — and by extension, protein production — could shed light on the intricate processes that drive cancer progression.

“Our next objective is to unravel the precise regulatory mechanisms by which these mutations function in cancer cells. Given their impact on mRNA levels, the underlying mechanisms could hold critical importance for the advancement of cancer treatment,” Xiao said.

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Written by Holly Ober

Source: UCLA

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Rising Tensions, PiS Vice-President Beata Szydło Challenges EU Policies and Tusk’s Leadership

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13 May 2024

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In a recent statement, PiS Vice-President Beata Szydło expressed strong criticism of the European Union’s influence over Polish sovereignty and domestic policies, particularly under the leadership of Donald Tusk. Szydło’s comments come at a critical time as Poland faces significant political and economic decisions influenced by EU directives.

“Recognizing the primacy of European law over Polish law means that the Polish Constitution, the Polish Parliament, and Polish legislation do not matter,” Szydło stated, suggesting that all critical decisions for Poland are being made in Brussels, not Warsaw. She accused Tusk’s government of committing to EU supremacy, which she described as an act detrimental to the state and a betrayal of Poland.

Szydło highlighted the economic implications of EU policies on Poland, especially the Green Deal, which she claims has led to increased energy costs, threatening the livelihood of Polish industries and agriculture. “The media are reporting new waves of group layoffs… Entire plants are being liquidated,” she remarked, attributing these economic hardships to the rising energy costs driven by EU regulations.

The Vice-President also voiced concerns over the potential loss of financial independence if Poland were to adopt the euro, noting that neighboring countries like Slovakia and Lithuania benefit from Poland’s strong trade and competitive prices due to the zloty.

With the European Economic Congress in Katowice as a backdrop, Szydło criticized the EU’s centralization efforts, which could lead to unfavorable decisions such as adopting the euro. “This is very bad information,” she commented, especially as such discussions coincide with the visit of Ursula von der Leyen to Poland, suggesting a deeper integration of Poland into the EU framework.

Furthermore, Szydło accused the current government of saying what Poles want to hear, particularly before elections, without the intention of following through. She cited previous discrepancies between pre-election promises and post-election actions, such as the raising of the retirement age.

In response to these challenges, Szydło called for a strong representation of the Law and Justice (PiS) party in the upcoming European Parliament elections. “We have to go to the elections and stop the crazy Green Deal. How? By simply electing Law and Justice candidates because we will never agree to such solutions being pushed further,” she urged.

Szydło also discussed the direct impact of EU policies on Polish citizens, mentioning the Building Directive which will require costly renovations to meet new EU standards. “People are terrified,” she said, explaining the financial burden faced by those needing to upgrade their homes and heating systems without support from the EU.

As Poland navigates these complex political and economic waters, Szydło’s call to action underscores a growing debate within the country about the future direction of its relationship with the European Union. With the European Parliament elections on the horizon, her remarks set the stage for a pivotal moment in Poland’s political landscape.

The MATA International Riding Festival in its 12th edition from 17 to 19 May 2024

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13 May 2024

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Equestrian Art MATA: Ancestral heritage and centuries-old traditions, under the sign “MATA, an ancestral intangible heritage and a space for cultural exchange of humanity”

Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the MATA International Riding Festival returns in a new edition from May 17 to 19, 2024, in Zniyed village, commune of Larbaa de Ayacha, provincial district of Moulay Abdessalam Ben Machich, province of Larache, Region of Tangier Tetoun Alhociema.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== The MATA International Riding Festival in its 12th edition from 17 to 19 May 2024

This year’s edition is organized in a special context consisting of the consecration of the integration of the MATA intangible heritage into the World Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).

In this national context, the President of the MATA International Equestrian Festival said that this consecration has been achieved thanks to the Patronage of His Majesty the King during all editions of the festival, and that the safeguarding of Morocco’s intangible heritage, including the MATA festival, has materialized under the aegis of His Majesty the King affirming in his directives that:

” [..] Culture is not only the expression of a creative genius. It is also a reflection of the civilizational dynamics that saw its birth. It is, even more, a vital necessity of our daily lives. A viaticum for the soul and the spirit, culture builds a bridge between the past and the present and allows individuals to be anchored to their social environment. [..]»
Excerpt from the message of His Majesty King Mohammed IV addressed to the participants in the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The safeguarding of the MATA heritage is also a continuation of the important process initiated by Hadj Mohamed Baraka, Dean of the Alamiyine Chorfas, and the late Sidi Abdelhadi Baraka Naquib of Alamiyine Chorfas.

The President of the festival, Mr. Nabil BARAKA, stressed that the integration of the MATA intangible heritage into the ICESCO list on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco is a great historical event, achieved thanks to the Royal High Patronage, as well as the support of the festival’s partners in its various cultural, economic and social spaces and is a well-deserved consecration of the MATA riders and the JEBALA regions who have made this rich ancestral cultural heritage shine and varied.

The president of the festival also highlighted the distinction recently awarded in Seville, Spain, to the Mata International Horse Riding Festival, namely the prize of the Spanish historian, politician and writer Emilio Castellar, this recognition was awarded by the great efforts made by the festival to promote the rapprochement of cultures between civilizations and nations. The award was received by Mrs. Nabila Baraka, President of the Alamia Association, in the presence of major personalities and international organizations as a recognition of the cultural and national achievements of the late Sidi Abdelhadi Baraka, Dean of the Alamiyine chorfas.

He also emphasized the attachment to the spiritual tradition that the festival perpetuates for the Chorfas Alamiyines and the followers of the Tarika Machichiya Chadiliya, encouraging the men of thought, religion, culture, art and politics, present at this festival, to spread the values bequeathed by the great Quotb Moulay Abdeslam Ibn Machich in the world, while inviting a prayer for peace, in the zones of conflict and war, especially between Palestinians and Israelis, Ukrainians and Russians, while affirming that the Chorfas Alamiyines and the followers of the Tarika Machichiya Chadiliya, are under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful.

The president of the MATA International Horse Riding Festival also indicated that the program of this year’s edition will be rich in competitions, and performances of MATA horses and riders, in addition to the organization of an international conference under the theme:

“Mata, space for the cultural exchange of humanity”, supervised by researchers from various international and national organizations, to celebrate a heritage that has become a prerogative of the enhancement of dialogue between cultures and civilizations in all corners of the world. He stressed, to this end, the strengthening of ties between Africa and Europe, thanks to the geographical and historical junctions between Morocco and Spain, and between the rest of the world, noting the essential role played by the various press organizations that honor the festival spaces with their presence.

Mrs. Nabila Baraka, president of the Alamia Laaroussia Association for Social and Cultural Action, said that the MATA festival is organized in a context of debate around the Moudawana, and consecrates the role of the Moroccan woman who was and will remain active in society, thus highlighting the role of women in the JEBALA tribes in the celebration of this ancestral Moroccan heritage in all MATA spaces. The festival is also an opportunity to discover the strong links between the northern region and the Moroccan Sahrawi tribes permanently invited to the festival, and represented by cultural and media organizations, and cooperatives of local products and crafts.

The last 2023 edition had recorded, according to the president of the MATA international festival, a great success at all levels, cultural, social, and economic, and saw the participation of more than 300,000 people between national and international visitors, the competition attracted more than 300 riders from different Jebala tribes, and 80 agricultural and industrial cooperatives exhibited their local products to visitors, in addition to an evening of traditional Moroccan music animated by the artists: Bachir El Attar, Faisal Saghir, Ikram El Abdia, Lemsari, and Iman El Hajeb, and the actors Hassan and Mohsin. During this evening, a tribute was paid to the great art artist Jebli El Hajji Srifi, as well as other cultural personalities.

“MATA”, a World Heritage Site

All around the Jbel Allam, the peasants welcomed spring by playing a particularly original game that calls on the courage, skill, flexibility, delicacy, intelligence and finesse of those who devote themselves to it. It is a game where horse and rider, in perfect symbiosis, celebrate a legendary complicity and above all the ancestral culture of an extraordinary region. The “jbalas” have named this game “MATA”.

Even today, the tradition is jealously guarded by the tribes of Bni Arous and the rules of the game are scrupulously respected. After the sifting of the wheat fields, first in the village of Aznid, then in others later, young girls and women of the tribe to whom this operation is entrusted accompany it with their songs, their youyous and their famous ‘iyou’, to the sound of ghaitas and drums specific to the region. It is these same women who make, with the help of reeds and fabrics, the doll that will be fought over by the bravest riders of the Jebala country, a region where the art of riding horses, raising them and training them is a strong cultural specificity. Riders who participate in the “MATA” game must ride bareback, dressed in the ancestral jellabas and amamas. According to oral tradition, the winner of the game “MATA” is the one who, using his skill and boldness, will be able to snatch the doll from the other riders and carry it away. A supreme reward was then awarded to him: He was married to the most beautiful girl of the tribe.

The game “MATA” is probably inspired by Bouzkachi, a similar but more violent game, imported, according to legend, by Moulay Abdeslam lbn Mashich during his visit to Ibn Boukhari. . The bouzkachi practiced in Afghanistan is about the corpse of a goat that the riders fight over in brutal jousts that leave many injured.

This annual event celebrates an ancestral culture through which is expressed the rehabilitated sense of honor, the rooted faith, patriotism as a Sufi school and spiritual and universal values; all the humanist heritage bequeathed by the great Quotb Moulay Abdeslam Ibn Mashich to the Chorfas Alamiyines, to the Tarika Mashichiya Shadhiliya and to the inhabitants of this exceptional region.

Haiti: UNICEF ensures thousands have safe drinking water

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12 May 2024

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Haiti: UNICEF ensures thousands have safe drinking water

Port-au-Prince has been in the grip of armed groups for several years now, and roughly two months ago they launched coordinated attacks which paralyzed the metropolitan area.

Since then, UNICEF, alongside the National Directorate for Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) and partners, has provided more than 2.6 million litres of safe drinking water to children and families across 20 sites housing those displaced.

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Dire conditions, disease threat

The recent escalation of violence has compounded the already dire situation faced by children and families, who already lack essential support and facilities.

The current rainy season has only added to their plight, leading to major flooding in lowland areas of the capital and the resurgence of cholera cases in Cité Soleil, an extremely impoverished neighbourhood.

“With no drinking quality water and adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities, displaced children are exposed to water-borne diseases, more specifically to a widespread cholera outbreak” said Ruben Um Bayiha, Chief of UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programme.

‘Navigating a war zone’

Furthermore, he said “operating in such an insecure and volatile environment is akin to navigating a war zone every day.”

Despite the challenges, UNICEF and partners are stepping up efforts to protect children and families and provide the lifesaving support they desperately need, he stressed.

Supporting displaced families

UNICEF leads WASH response in Haiti, providing over half of overall support, ensuring safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services at all displacement sites.

Initiatives include trucking water, treating piped water, repairing water supply and sanitation systems, building temporary latrines, providing essential hygiene items, and delivering hygiene messages.

UNICEF said its WASH efforts “yielded significant outcomes” during March, with over 700,000 gallons (2.66 million litres) of chlorinated water distributed to displaced families and children.

Collaborative efforts with partners such as the aid organizations Solidarités International, ORRAH, and ACTED, have ensured that essential needs were met even in the most challenging circumstances.

Furthermore, UNICEF and partners have distributed hygiene kits to almost 11,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) across six sites.

A schoolgirl in Port-au-Prince holds up a sign in French which reads ‘peace’.

‘Crisis will worsen’

UNICEF has also prioritized improving sanitary conditions in the high-risk IDP sites, including removing and safely disposing about 78 cubic metres of fecal sludge from three sites accommodating roughly 7,000 people.

Mr. Um Bayiha upheld the agency’s commitment to addressing evolving needs, particularly as the region braces for the upcoming hurricane season.

Yet, he warned that “this crisis will worsen unless the response is scaled up urgently,” underscoring the need for funding.

UNICEF aims to support more than 884,000 people across Haiti this year to access quality water for drinking and domestic needs, as well as appropriate sanitation services and critical WASH supplies.

Thousands receive meals

Meanwhile, UN humanitarians and partners been supporting people affected by recent gang clashes in Delmas commune in Port-au-Prince.

Meals, shelter and other supplies have been provided to displaced persons and the host community, and the hope is that assistance will ramp up as soon as security allows.

This week, the World Food Programme distributed food to 264,000 schoolchildren and more than 5,600 displaced people in the capital.

WFP also distributed food in Cité Soleil, reaching some 26,000 people this week.

Teams have reached more than 680,000 people since the beginning of March and provided more than 800,000 hot meals to more than 94,000 displaced people in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

WFP has also distributed school meals to more than 330,000 school children across Haiti.

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Somalia urged to take ‘concrete action’ against officials who violate citizens’ rights

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United Nations News

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12 May 2024

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Somalia urged to take ‘concrete action’ against officials who violate citizens’ rights

Concluding an official visit to the Horn of Africa nation Isha Dyfan highlighted the impact on civilians, especially women and children, who continue to bear the brunt of deadly attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab terrorists.

“I strongly condemn the continued deadly attacks perpetrated by Al-Shabaab and urge the Government to take all steps to ensure the protection of civilians, and for armed groups to comply strictly with the obligations applicable to them under international humanitarian and human rights law,” she said.

“It is also important that the Government takes concrete actions to prosecute State officials involved in human rights violations, ensuring that those responsible were held accountable and that the survivors of such violations were adequately compensated.”

During her visit, she held a series of meetings with representatives from the Somali Federal Government, civil society, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and various UN agencies.

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Act against sexual violence

Ms. Dyfan also urged authorities to promptly investigate and prosecute cases of sexual and gender-based violence.

Allegations of rape and gang rapes combined with homicide need to be addressed efficiently, ensuring that alleged perpetrators are identified and brought to justice, she said.

“All necessary measures must be taken to strengthen capacity for investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence and to promote a safe environment where victims and survivors can report crimes without fear of reprisals or stigma and to ensure that victims are protected and have access to justice and effective remedies,” she added.

Restrictions on civic space

The independent expert further voiced grave concerns over continuing restrictions on civic space, including harassment, arbitrary arrest, detention and imprisonment of journalists and media workers leading to self-censorship.

“A safe and inclusive civic space is essential to good governance, rule of law, and can help to reduce and prevent violence,” she urged.

“While I am encouraged by the appointment of the Somali National Media Council members in an effort to enhance the media landscape, I have also received concerns that the process was not in accordance with the media law,” she added.

International assistance urged

In conclusion, Ms. Dyfan also appealed to the international community to continue its assistance to Somalia towards strengthening the Federal and State institutions to promote the rule of law and human rights.

“I also urge the international community to strengthen its humanitarian response and reinforce long-term resilience against future disasters in Somalia as the country continues to face serious cyclical humanitarian and climate challenges,” she said.

Independent expert

Ms. Dyfan was appointed as the Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia by the Human Rights Council in May 2020.

She forms a part of the Council’s Special Procedures, a group of Special Rapporteurs and other experts, mandated to monitor and assess protection and promotion of human rights in certain thematic or country situations.

The experts work voluntarily, are not UN staff and do not receive a salary.

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A once-dormant magnetic neutron star is emitting strangely polarised light

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12 May 2024

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abstract, futuristic, wallpaper hd — Photo by Engin_Akyurt on Pixabay

Magnetars are neutron stars with strong magnetic fields. With CSIRO astronomers, Dr Manisha Caleb from the School of Physics has found one of the most powerful magnets discovered – XTE J1810-197 – and it doesn’t quite fit existing theory.

Astronomers using Murriyang, CSIRO’s radio telescope at Parkes NSW, have detected unusual radio pulses from a previously dormant star with a powerful magnetic field.

New results published today in Nature Astronomy describe radio signals from magnetar XTE J1810-197 behaving in complex ways.

Magnetars are a type of neutron star and the strongest magnets in the Universe. At roughly 8000 light years away, this magnetar is also the closest known to Earth.

Most magnetars are known to emit polarised light, though the light this magnetar is emitting is circularly polarised, where the light appears to spiral as it moves through space.

Dr Marcus Lower, a postdoctoral fellow at Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, led the research and said the results are unexpected and totally unprecedented.

“Unlike the radio signals we’ve seen from other magnetars, this one is emitting enormous amounts of rapidly changing circular polarisation. We have never seen anything like this before,” Dr Lower said.

Co-author Dr Manisha Caleb from the School of Physics and University of Sydney Institute for Astronomy said studying magnetars offers insights into the physics of intense magnetic fields and the environments these create.

“The signals emitted from this magnetar imply that interactions at the surface of the star are more complex than previous theoretical explanations,” she said.

Detecting radio pulses from magnetars is already extremely rare: XTE J1810-197 is one of only a handful known to produce them.

While it’s not certain why this magnetar is behaving so differently, the team has an idea.

“Our results suggest there is a superheated plasma above the magnetar’s magnetic pole, which is acting like a polarising filter,” Dr Lower said.

“How exactly the plasma is doing this is still to be determined.”

XTE J1810-197 was first observed to emit radio signals in 2003. Then it went silent for well over a decade. The signals were again detected by the University of Manchester’s 76-metre Lovell telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in 2018 and quickly followed up by Murriyang at Parkes, which has been crucial to observing the magnetar’s radio emissions ever since.

The 64-metre diameter telescope on Wiradjuri Country is equipped with a cutting-edge ultra-wide bandwidth receiver. The receiver was designed by CSIRO engineers who are world leaders in developing technologies for radio astronomy applications.

The receiver allows for more precise measurements of celestial objects, especially magnetars, as it is highly sensitive to changes in brightness and polarisation across a broad range of radio frequencies.

Studies of magnetars such as these provide insights into a range of extreme and unusual phenomena, such as plasma dynamics, bursts of X-rays and gamma-rays, and potentially fast radio bursts.

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Research

Lower, M, et al, ‘Linear to circular conversion in the polarized radio emission of a magnetar’, Nature Astronomy, vol 8 (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-024-02225-8

Acknowledgement

The researchers acknowledge the Wiradjuri People as the traditional custodians of the Parkes Observatory site where Murriyang, CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope, is located.

Declaration

The authors declare no competing interests. Research was funded by the Australian Research Council, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Dutch Research Council.

Source: University of Sydney

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Lia Kali on psychiatry: “a child tied to a bed, even for ten minutes… is torture”

By

Juan Sanchez Gil

-

12 May 2024

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It struck a chord with many when it was released a year ago. The song sheds light on the flaws and mistreatment prevalent in psychiatric facilities, drawing attention from both the audience and critics. Recently, Lia Kali shared her journey behind the song on the popular Spanish TV show “El Hormiguero” on Antena 3TV where she opened up about the personal struggles that inspired her music.

“UCA” serves as more than a musical piece, it stands as a powerful testament to the challenges faced by a young girl caught in a system that fails to provide genuine support and compassion, instead perpetuating oppression and cruelty. The song delves into a narrative of turmoil within a family dynamic that quickly spirals into violence, leading Lia Kali to seek refuge and eventually find herself confined in an adolescent psychiatric facility out of desperation.

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Life in a psychiatric center was like torture, says Lia Kali

During her appearance on “El Hormiguero” Lia Kali shared how her freedom and autonomy were stripped away in the name of treatment. She painted a picture of conditions at UCA, where youths are often heavily medicated and kept isolated, resembling prisoners more, than patients. The song talks about how she was made to take medication without a diagnosis, highlighting the lack of empathy and care that worsened her suffering and that of other young people in similar circumstances.

The showman Pablo Motos asked Lia Kali “what was life like? I’ve never asked him…. I’ve never been with anyone who’s already been…. What was life like in there?”

And Lia answered categorically: “Torture. I mean…all of a sudden… that’s when you realize it and that’s also why, when I… when I asked myself whether I wanted to release this song or not, I realized that I did because I talked to people who still dealt with those centers and who still knew that the same practices were still being done, which ultimately are torture, which is tying people to the bed the same way for a week.

Kali described the inhumane and degrading practices that still persist in some adolescent crisis units, where young people are tied to beds and over-medicated, deprived of any human contact and basic understanding-treatments that she said are tantamount to torture.

“Are you going to tell me that you are trying to heal and help someone who is sick and what she needs is a fucking hug, and you won’t let her have any physical contact or talk to anyone and that your solution is to medicate her until she doesn’t even know who she is and have her tied to the bed without really caring about her diagnosis? I think that in Spain there is a big problem that what we do with people who bother is to put them to sleep. They dont care.” Lia Kali said.

She continued saying: “So I am ashamed and I am very sad that even today there are people who have relatives who have to go through similar tortures, tortures that are even forbidden in Europe, for example mechanical restraint, which is tying you to a bed, a lot of places in Europe, in which it is forbidden because it is understood as torture, which is what it is. I mean, to have a child, even a child tied to a bed, whether it is for an hour, ten minutes, it doesn’t matter, it is torture. It is a child… For God’s sake!””

Lia Kali’s impactful story in “UCA” has sparked conversations about the morality of psychiatric treatment for juveniles and the urgent need for changes within these facilities. The singer not only critiques the physical and emotional harm she endured but also condemns the apathy and systemic mistreatment by individuals who are meant to provide protection and healing.

Lia Kali’s appearance on “El Hormiguero” not just helped share her personal journey but also amplified the message of the song, resonating with audiences who may have been unaware of the reality faced by many adolescent crisis units, or those who suffered it and thought it “was normal”, or just did not find the strength to speak up. Her courage in sharing her story has been praised as a step towards demanding change, motivating others to speak up and take action against injustices and tortures in the mental health sector.

Psychiatry, treating patients “like dogs”

“What I found was a bunch of psychopaths who were there, probably underpaid, but treating us as if we were literally dogs. And in the UCA of Sant Boi I will say it and well, well, even enjoying it, for me the hardest thing was to say that I was there for a week, because after that week they realized that I did not have to be there. I got there because of something that made no sense at all and it was a doctor who did not feel like stopping to look at what was happening to me at home and why I was the way I was at that moment and sent me to a place where I did not belong.”

Evidencing a practice that is denounced a common in psychiatric hospital, Lia stated that she “was medicated without a diagnosis, right? I mean, it was like super crazy and I was aware of everything and I was like ‘how can there be such psychopaths here enjoying watching and laughing even when they do a restraint on someone and throw them on the [floor]?’. You know those…” speaking of when the hospital personnel were putting their knees on the chest of the patient, “Yeah, this happened to me. And I remember the face. I have that kid’s face etched in my mind, that half smile, of enjoying that and saying Loco, man, we have real psychopaths. How come there’s not a much bigger control in Spain? Fuck, they are our people, you know? They are also people. They’re people who feel, they’re people who love and they’re people who sometimes life has gotten the better of them. Sometimes they are just born this way, different. And I don’t think anybody deserves this. Hopefully, it will never happen to anyone in your family, no and hopefully and hopefully, it will change. And what I am saying here now, I hope that tomorrow there will be more control over these shitty centers where people are literally mistreated.”

“UCA” by Lia Kali transcends being a song, it serves as a call to provoke change emphasizing that art has a role, in addressing society’s darkest truths to inspire empathy. In a world where young voices are often disregarded or hushed, Lia Kali has found a potent means to ensure that her voice alongside others is acknowledged.

More about Lia Kali

According to the site of her agents:

“Lia Kali first discovered music within home and when she was just sixteen she rode her bike over all the jams in Barcelona. There’s where she made friend with lots of musicians and artists of the city and where she started to dialogue with reggae, jazz, soul and rap. Since then she has never stopped singing. Lia jumped from jams to other live stages of Barcelona with a bunch of projects, such as the Amy Winehouse tribute she leaded. That’s how she realised her love with the stage was much more than a first-glimpse love: the stage is her place to be. Eventually she got tired of singing others’ songs and started writing her own pieces and discovered the healing within it. Lia Kali writes the original soundtrack from her day by day stumbles and falls and released her first singles on 2022, going viral and reaching milions of streams and views in musical platforms and TikTok. On March 2023 she launches her very first album ‘Contra Todo Pronóstico’, where she summs featurings with the real who-is-who in the urban and rap Spanish scene such as Toni Anzis, Acción Sanchez, J Abecia, Zatu Rey from SFDK and even the top respected Colombian rapper Nanpa Básico. Lia Kali is nowadays most requested voices of the scene and with her debut album she makes one thing clear above all: any label falls short for her!”

Gaza: As exodus from Rafah continues, UN urges reopening of aid lines

By

United Nations News

-

11 May 2024

0

Gaza: As exodus from Rafah continues, UN urges reopening of aid lines

“As Israeli Forces bombardment intensifies in Rafah, forced displacement continues,” said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in a post on X. “Around 110,000 people have now fled Rafah looking for safety. But, nowhere is safe in the Gaza Strip and living conditions are atrocious. The only hope is an immediate ceasefire.”

In addition to the immediate threat of ongoing military action, UN aid agencies have warned with increasing urgency since Israeli tanks rolled into the Rafah border crossing on Monday that the humanitarian operation across the enclave has been crippled.

“Impossibly, again, it will worsen if humanitarian operations are not revived in the next 48 hours,” said UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Senior Emergency Coordinator in the Gaza Strip, Hamish Young.

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UN under attack

In a related development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned a new attack by protesters on an UNRWA facility in Jerusalem.

“I condemn the recent attack on @UNRWA’s Headquarters in East Jerusalem. Targeting aid workers and humanitarian assets is unacceptable, and must stop,” the UN chief said in a post on X.

His comments underscored those of UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on Thursday who reported that Israeli residents had “set fire twice to the perimeter” of the agency’s headquarters, marking the second time UNRWA had been targeted in a week amid weeks of demonstrations.

Uprooted again

Back in Gaza, the latest images from Rafah provided by UNRWA showed a steady stream of people leaving the east of the city with cars, motorbikes and donkey carts laden with their belongings in response to evacuation orders from the Israeli military.

Most of those displaced are seeking safety in Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah. But, these areas lack the basic services required to support civilians who need food, shelter and healthcare, aid teams maintain.

Roads to the coastal zone of Al Mawasi, where Gazans have been instructed to move to, “are jammed”, said UNICEF’s Mr. Young. Speaking from Rafah via video-link to journalists in Geneva, he described desperate scenes as families were uprooted once again, with “many hundreds of trucks, buses, cars and donkey carts loaded with people and possessions” continuing to stream out of the southern city.

“People I speak with tell me they are exhausted, terrified and know life in Al Mawasi will, again, impossibly be harder,” he said. “Families lack proper sanitation facilities, drinking water and shelter. People are making improvised toilets by digging holes in the ground around groups of tents. Open defecation is on the rise.”

“One of the fathers told me he had nothing other than bad options to choose from. And as he was telling me where he was going, he started sobbing. Then his children starting crying and then started asking me what to do. It’s just a tragic situation and there’s just nowhere safe in Gaza for children.”

Griffiths call

“Civilians in Gaza are being starved and killed…This is Gaza today,” said the UN’s top aid official, Martin Griffiths.

In a social media post on X, he warned late Thursday that for days, “nothing and no one had been allowed in or out of Gaza.”

The closure of Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings in southern Gaza – the main entry points for critically needed aid food, water, fuel and medical supplies – “means no aid”, Mr. Griffiths continued.

“Our supplies are stuck. Our teams are stuck,” he said, a message echoed by aid teams whose assessment missions have been cancelled because of a lack of fuel.

Meanwhile, civilians have faced and repeatedly fled intense and daily bombardment and clashes “and we are prevented from helping them”, the emergency relief chief insisted.

Aid stores too dangerous to access

At the same time, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that its main warehouse in Gaza was now out of reach.

“Our main warehouse is now inaccessible. No aid has entered from southern crossings in two days,” said WFP Palestine Country Director ad interim Matthew Hollingworth on X late Thursday.

“Thousands of people are on the move. Only one bakery is still working. Supplies of food and fuel in Gaza will only last one to three days. Without them, our operations will go into standstill.”

Hospital services critical

The outlook is equally dire for the enclave’s remaining medical facilities, warned the UN World Health Organization (WHO), which said that “without fuel, the whole system collapses”.

WHO is responsible for fuel deliveries to all hospitals in Gaza, but it has had to suspend missions to the north so that those in the south can stay open, said spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris.

“All the things that a hospital does, all the lifesaving treatments no longer can be done, even if you’ve got somebody back from the brink, you’ve operated on them, you’ve put them on a ventilator, the ventilator stops, they no longer breathe.”

The following health facilities are scheduled to run out of fuel within the next 24 hours, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said, citing Gazan authorities:

• Five ministry of health-run hospitals

• 28 ambulances (14 Palestinian Red Crescent Society and 14 from the health ministry)

• 17 primary health care centers run by UNRWA and other partners

• Five field hospitals

• 10 mobile clinics which provide immunizations, trauma care and malnutrition services and 23 medical facilities in Al Mawasi

From UNICEF, Executive Director Catherine Russell also warned that services for premature babies risk losing power unless fuel supplies reached Gaza.

“We need fuel to move lifesaving supplies – medicine, treatments for malnutrition, tents and water pipes – as well as staff to reach children and families in need.”

Without fresh aid supplies, children and families face becoming dehydrated or will be forced to drink dangerous water, while sewage treatment centres “will overflow and spread disease further”.

According to UNICEF, approximately 80 babies are born at Emirati hospital every day. But, it “cannot function” without fuel, insisted Mr. Young, who added that pregnant women “are left without options for safe delivery of their newborns. As we have seen in other parts of Gaza over the last seven months, when hospitals run out of fuel, lifesaving equipment such as ventilators and incubators stop working.”

Rising toll

According to the Gazan health authorities, at least 34,900 people have been killed and well over 78,500 wounded during the Israeli bombardment and ground operation in Gaza since 7 October.

Some 1,250 people were killed in Hamas-led terror attacks on southern Israel that sparked the war, with more than 250 taken hostage. Dozens are still being held.

Gaza crossings are ‘aid lifelines’: Rights chief

In a statement later on Friday UN Human Rights Chief (UNHCR) Volker Türk said he disapproved of any hostilities that impact the “entry and distribution of critically needed humanitarian aid” to Gaza.

“The handful of land crossings into Gaza serve as lifelines for the supply of food, medicine, fuel and other necessities that must be allowed to reach the despairing and terrified population,” Mr. Turk said.

He called on all warring parties to “lay down their weapons immediately” to ensure that crossings for civilians and necessary goods and aid will reach people in Gaza with no delay and without risk through military operations.

Security Council calls for independent and immediate investigation into mass graves

Also on Friday, members of the Security Council voiced “deep concern” over reports of the discovery of mass graves, in and around the Nasser and Al Shifa medical facilities in Gaza, where several hundred bodies, including women, children and older persons, were located.

Underscoring the need for accountability for violations of international law, Council members called for “investigators to be allowed the unimpeded access to all locations of mass graves in Gaza to conduct immediate, independent, thorough, comprehensive, transparent and impartial investigations to establish the circumstances behind the graves”.

They also reiterated their demand that all parties “scrupulously comply” with their obligations under international law, in particular the protection of civilians and civilian objects.

Members also reaffirmed the importance of allowing families to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing love ones.

Experts raise concern of threats against ICC staffers and their families

UN independent human rights experts on Friday voiced concern over some US and Israeli statements that threaten retaliation against the International Criminal Court (ICC), its officials and family members.

“At a time when the world should unite to end the terrible bloodshed in Gaza and seek justice for those unlawfully killed, injured, traumatised, or taken hostage, since October 7, it is distressing to see State officials threatening to retaliate against a Court for pursuing international justice,” the experts said.

The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) condemned statements made on Friday, May 4, regarding threats to retaliate against the court. It reminded everyone that per Article 70 of the Rome Statute, any threats of reprisal could be considered a crime against the administration of justice.

“Threats of retaliatory action violate human rights norms against attacks on justice personnel and exceed the accepted limits of freedom of expression. We call on all States to respect the Court’s independence as a judicial institution and protect the independence and impartiality of those who work within the Court.”

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Life in a psychiatric center was like torture, says Lia Kali

Psychiatry, treating patients “like dogs”

More about Lia Kali

UN under attack

Uprooted again

Griffiths call

Aid stores too dangerous to access

Hospital services critical

Rising toll

Gaza crossings are ‘aid lifelines’: Rights chief

Security Council calls for independent and immediate investigation into mass graves

Experts raise concern of threats against ICC staffers and their families

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