Since October 7, when Israel launched a military operation to annihilate Hamas in response to a terrorist attack by the militant group Hamas in southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages, Gaza health Authorities say at least 25,700 people were killed and about 63,740 injured.
In a lawsuit that began earlier this month in The Hague, South Africa called on the Court, the United Nations' main body, to “indicate interim measures to prevent further serious and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people” under the Genocide Convention. ”.
calls for an immediate cessation of fighting
Among the measures South Africa has demanded is an immediate end to Israeli military operations in the Strip and for its military to take “all reasonable measures” to prevent genocide.
South Africa also urged the World Court to order Israel to prevent forced evacuations, ensure civilians have adequate food and water, and ensure that evidence of potential genocide is preserved. I asked for it.
Interim measures are a type of temporary injunction or suspension prior to a final decision on a dispute. It could take several years before a verdict is handed down.
Although this measure is considered mandatory, courts have no means to enforce it.
In its lawsuit, Israel argued that its war with Hamas was purely defensive and “not against the Palestinian people.”
Israeli lawyers said that if the interim measures were granted, they would amount to “an attempt to deny Israel the ability to fulfill its obligations to the defense of its citizens, hostages and more than 110,000 displaced Israelis.”
$1.8 billion needed to rebuild Libyan communities after devastating floods
The cost of repairing last September's devastating floods, which affected about 1.5 million people, is estimated at $1.8 billion, according to a UN team on the ground in Libya.
More than 4,300 people were killed and thousands more reported missing after Storm Daniel made landfall in Libya, bringing strong winds and sudden downpours, causing dams to burst and thousands of buildings destroyed. There is.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), in a joint report with the World Bank and the European Union, argued that building more resilient housing and public infrastructure is a critical part of the post-disaster recovery process.
Georgette Gagnon, the country's top UN official, said “everything is urgent for the victims” in the east, especially in the coastal city of Derna, where satellite images showed most of the people swept out to sea. That's what it means.
Ms Gagnon said the report sets out a “clear path forward” for recovery, including the creation of a coordinated national platform.
“Let us direct our collective resources and expertise to rebuild, prioritizing people, their lives and well-being,” she said.
Stigma and shame surrounding leprosy patients remains, top rights expert warns
Although leprosy is an ancient disease and has the potential to be cured, the disease remains endemic in more than 120 countries and leaves an estimated 1 to 2 million people with visible scars. and there is a lack of support to address the stigma they face.
This was the urgent message from top UN-appointed human rights experts who said on Thursday that around 200,000 new cases of leprosy are registered each year around the world.
A merchant suffering from leprosy waits for customers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
People suffering from leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, have the right to access quality support and medical care, experts say, and urge governments and international organizations to ensure that policies and procedures meet this basic requirement. We request that this be reflected in the
“Former colony”
In a statement supported by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Women, human rights experts said leprosy patients and their families continue to be isolated in “former colonies” and excluded from public spaces and interactions with others. He pointed out that he continues to be shunned.
Ahead of World Leprosy Day on 28 January, rights experts known as the Special Rapporteur stressed that affected people have the right to early detection and treatment, rehabilitation and active support.
Human rights experts said ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples, as well as children, the elderly, and women, were particularly affected by leprosy and critical attitudes and policies against the disease.
The Special Rapporteur is appointed by the Human Rights Council. They do not receive a salary for their work, but serve in their personal capacity.