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In September 2024, a polio vaccination campaign was successfully completed in Gaza, with healthcare workers reaching children in challenging conditions. The campaign, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), faced delays due to regional violence, impacting the delivery of the second round of vaccinations.

According to WHO, 94% of children who received their first dose of the polio vaccine also received the second, despite the obstacles. Nearly 557,000 children under ten were administered their second polio dose, while over 448,000 children aged 2-10 received vitamin A supplements to enhance immune responses.

The campaign achieved high coverage rates, especially in central and southern Gaza, where tens of thousands of people currently reside in emergency shelters due to ongoing military actions. The WHO stressed that the risk of poliovirus transmission remains a concern in Gaza and surrounding areas.

Polio prevention requires two doses administered approximately four weeks apart, with a 90% community vaccination rate necessary to halt transmission. The campaign’s first phase started in early September following a humanitarian ceasefire, though increased violence delayed the second phase in October.

Going forward, the WHO aims to strengthen immunity through routine vaccinations at functional health centers and to enhance disease surveillance to detect potential poliovirus spread. Gaza’s healthcare system, however, remains strained, with only 35% of primary health centers partially operational and 19 of 36 hospitals significantly damaged or out of service.

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October 21, 2024 – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is handling an unprecedented caseload, primarily driven by escalating conflicts worldwide, with the Middle East heavily represented. Philippe Gautier, Registrar of the ICJ, discussed the situation during his recent visit to the UN Headquarters in New York, ahead of his briefing to the Security Council. Gautier emphasized the ICJ’s mission to independently resolve disputes between states, while remaining detached from the political tensions surrounding these cases.

“The ICJ’s mandate is strictly judicial, not political. Our role is to settle legal disputes and to clarify laws without taking political stances,” Gautier told UN News, emphasizing that while the court provides binding judgments, it lacks the power to end conflicts directly.

The ICJ’s docket now includes 23 active cases—a historic high—with eight cases focused on the Middle East. Among them, two cases address the Gaza conflict, examining alleged breaches of the Genocide Convention. Notably, South Africa has brought a case against Israel, while Nicaragua has raised a case against Germany, alleging that German arms provisions to Israel violate humanitarian law. Another prominent case involves Palestine challenging the United States over its embassy’s relocation to Jerusalem, which is seen as a breach of diplomatic law.

Beyond these cases, the ICJ has issued advisory opinions, which, while not binding, carry substantial influence. An opinion from July addressed the legal implications of Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories, deeming it “unlawful” and calling for Israel to end new settlements, withdraw from the occupied territories, and compensate for damages caused. Gautier explained that the advisory opinions aim to clarify legal questions for UN entities but differ fundamentally from contentious cases, where two states seek a binding resolution.

Highlighting the growing demand on the ICJ, Gautier pointed to recent multilateral cases as a positive sign for international cooperation. “Each time a state brings a dispute, it’s a testament to faith in the international system,” he remarked, noting that five new cases were filed since last October. He cited successful examples, such as a territorial agreement between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and a recent sovereignty resolution between Mauritius and the UK over the Chagos Islands, showing that ICJ advisory opinions can catalyze diplomatic agreements.

When asked about the spread of misinformation, Gautier acknowledged the challenge, especially given advancements in artificial intelligence, which complicate the court’s communication efforts. He emphasized the importance of nuanced public understanding, remarking that “international justice cannot be condensed into a tweet; it requires thoughtful engagement with complex issues.”

The ICJ’s increasing caseload reflects both the complexities of modern conflict and the ongoing commitment of states to seek peaceful, legal resolutions. Gautier’s statements underscore the need for an informed public and a well-supported international judicial system to navigate the challenges of a divided global landscape.

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On World Polio Day 2024, UNICEF issued a dire warning about the resurgence of polio, particularly in conflict-affected and fragile regions. Their report highlights a disturbing trend: 85% of children affected by polio in 2023 lived in areas impacted by war, political instability, natural disasters, or humanitarian crises. The breakdown of healthcare systems in these regions has left millions of children vulnerable to diseases like polio, which should be eradicated by now.

The decline in routine childhood immunizations has become a critical issue. Global vaccination coverage has dropped from 75% to just 70%, far below the 95% threshold required to achieve herd immunity and stop the spread of the disease. This sharp decline puts children in these already vulnerable areas at even greater risk, as they become the most susceptible to outbreaks of polio.

UNICEF’s report emphasizes that the resurgence of polio is most pronounced in conflict zones. Out of the 21 countries currently battling polio outbreaks, 15 are considered fragile or conflict-affected. Countries like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen are among the hardest hit, with children in these areas lacking access to even the most basic healthcare services. These countries have seen a dramatic rise in polio cases, partly due to the destruction of health infrastructure and mass displacement caused by ongoing conflicts.

In Gaza, polio has made a concerning return for the first time in 25 years. In response, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an emergency polio vaccination campaign in September 2023. Nearly 600,000 children under the age of 10 were targeted for vaccination. However, renewed conflict, bombings, and the mass displacement of families have severely disrupted the campaign’s progress, especially in northern Gaza, where healthcare workers are struggling to reach those in need. The situation in Gaza highlights the difficulties of conducting health campaigns in areas affected by ongoing violence.

UNICEF has stressed that successful polio vaccination efforts in fragile and conflict-affected countries are crucial to preventing further outbreaks. One of the key strategies to enable these campaigns is the implementation of humanitarian pauses, which allow healthcare workers to safely access communities caught in conflict. Without these pauses, children in these areas remain unreachable, increasing the risk of more widespread polio outbreaks.

The report also sounds the alarm on the potential for polio to spread to neighboring countries. If outbreaks in fragile states are not contained, the disease could easily cross borders, threatening children in nearby regions. UNICEF has called on governments, international organizations, and donors to take urgent action and provide support to stop the spread of polio before it regains a foothold in more regions.

As part of its ongoing efforts, UNICEF delivers more than one billion doses of polio vaccines annually to countries around the world. The organization continues to work alongside the WHO and other partners to reach children in high-risk areas. However, they warn that time is running out, and urgent intervention is needed to eliminate polio completely.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell reinforced the gravity of the situation, stating: “In conflict, children face more than bombs and bullets; they are at risk of deadly diseases that should no longer exist.” She emphasized that eradicating polio remains one of the most critical global health challenges. “The final push is the hardest, but now is the time to act. We cannot rest until every child, in every corner of the world, is safe from polio – once and for all.”

With global attention focused on eradicating polio, UNICEF’s call to action highlights the urgent need for international collaboration, humanitarian access, and increased funding to prevent further loss of progress in the fight against polio. The organization warns that without immediate efforts, the world risks seeing a resurgence of a disease that had been on the verge of eradication.

On October 21, 2024, ongoing airstrikes across Lebanon continued to cause widespread destruction and displacement, affecting hundreds of civilians overnight. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), these attacks have overwhelmed the country’s capacity to shelter the growing number of displaced families. Most of the displacement has been concentrated in Beirut and the Mount Lebanon Governorate, where shelter facilities are reaching their limits.

UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, highlighted that nearly 1,100 collective shelters have opened across Lebanon, hosting around 192,000 displaced individuals. However, with over 900 of these shelters already at full capacity, the situation is becoming increasingly dire. Late on Sunday, displacement orders were issued following airstrikes targeting a social finance network linked to Hezbollah. This further exacerbated the already critical humanitarian situation.

Destruction of Vital Humanitarian Facilities

The airstrikes have not only displaced civilians but also destroyed essential humanitarian infrastructure. One of the most severe incidents occurred in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where a UNFPA-supported safe space for women and girls was destroyed, along with a primary healthcare center. This facility had provided critical services, including counseling, legal aid, and support for survivors of gender-based violence in one of the most vulnerable communities in Beirut.

In addition to this destruction, insecurity has forced the closure of 10 other UNFPA-supported facilities across Beirut, Bekaa, and Mount Lebanon. These include primary healthcare sites, safe spaces for vulnerable populations, and mobile maternity units that serve some of the most at-risk groups.

Ongoing Humanitarian Aid Efforts

Despite the escalating violence and widespread destruction, humanitarian efforts continue across Lebanon. On Monday, a six-truck convoy supported by UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and OCHA successfully delivered essential supplies to Jaboule in Baalbek Governorate. This was the first such delivery since September, bringing enough food to sustain 1,000 people for two months, along with five days’ worth of ready-to-eat meals.

Additionally, UNICEF provided crucial non-food items such as water bottles, mattresses, blankets, and hygiene kits to support three shelters in Jaboule town. This aid is essential in helping displaced families survive under increasingly challenging conditions.

Urgent Call for Health Support

At the same briefing, Mr. Haq reported that health authorities in Baalbek and Bekaa governorates have issued an urgent appeal for assistance to strengthen health infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas. These regions are struggling to cope with the escalating number of casualties and displaced individuals, and additional medical resources are urgently needed to support ongoing relief efforts.

Widespread Regional Impact

The conflict’s devastating impact is not limited to Lebanon. According to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 800,000 people have been internally displaced within the country, putting immense pressure on local resources. Additionally, more than 420,000 people have fled across the border into Syria, seeking refuge from the violence. Of these, nearly 17,000 have continued their journey into Iraq, where they hope to find safety and shelter.

This ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for international support and intervention, as Lebanon’s already strained infrastructure struggles to cope with the escalating humanitarian disaster.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

By Conor Lennon | September 16, 2024 | UN Affairs

As the world’s poorest nations struggle under the burden of debt, many are forced to spend more on repayments than on essential services like health, education, and infrastructure. This growing crisis will be a central focus at the upcoming Summit of the Future, where world leaders will discuss the urgent need to overhaul the international financial system to reduce inequality and improve lives globally.

Outdated Financial Structures

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized on September 12 that the current international financial architecture is outdated and inadequate for addressing today’s complex global challenges. He called for significant reforms to support sustainable development, particularly in nations grappling with unsustainable debt that stifles economic growth and essential public services.

A New Bretton Woods Moment

In a policy brief published in May 2023, Guterres proposed a “new Bretton Woods moment,” referring to the historic 1944 conference that established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. These institutions, initially created by just 44 countries, now have 190 members, yet decision-making power remains concentrated in the hands of a few developed nations. Guterres argues that the system is no longer fit for purpose in a world facing climate change, systemic risks, and extreme inequality.

He suggests that reforms should include increasing financial support to eradicate poverty, democratizing decision-making within the IMF and World Bank, and creating a new global body, akin to an “Economic Security Council,” to coordinate economic policies and respond to global crises effectively.

The Pact for the Future

These reform ideas will be a key part of the discussions at the Summit of the Future, where a new “Pact for the Future” will be adopted. This document, endorsed by UN Member States, represents a commitment to using global tools to address pressing challenges before they become unmanageable. The Pact focuses on bold actions to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with an emphasis on ending hunger and poverty, reducing inequalities, and addressing climate change.

The outcomes of the Summit will also help build momentum for the International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), scheduled to take place in Spain in June 2025, where further steps toward reforming the global financial system are expected to be discussed.

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Ukraine: Aid Trucks Reach Kherson Despite Heavy Bombardment

Humanitarian agencies continue to provide aid to communities trapped on Ukraine’s frontlines. On Wednesday, an inter-agency convoy delivered three trucks of relief supplies to Beryslav, a town in the Kherson region, marking the ninth successful delivery of aid this year. Despite ongoing shelling, nearly 2,000 residents, including 70 children and 90 individuals with limited mobility, remain in the town, which is without electricity, gas, or water due to damaged infrastructure, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

The convoy brought essential items such as a portable power station, hygiene products, blankets, bedding, and warm clothing to support residents facing harsh conditions. In addition, increasing missile strikes by Russian forces have caused nearly 30 civilian casualties in the Donetsk and Sumy regions. The Ukrainian government has launched mandatory evacuations for children and caregivers in 40 towns across the Donetsk region.

West and Central Africa: School Closures Due to Escalating Violence

More than 14,300 schools across West and Central Africa have been forced to close due to rising insecurity, leaving 2.8 million children without access to education, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). From Mali to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, violent incidents affecting education increased by 103% from March to June this year. The lack of funding continues to hamper humanitarian efforts, with only a quarter of children in affected areas having access to education during the most recent period under review, compared to half at the start of the year.

Georgia: UN Expert Calls for End to Repression of Human Rights Defenders

In Georgia, human rights defenders have faced an intensified “wave of repression” throughout 2024, according to UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor. The situation has worsened following the adoption of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in May, which violates Georgia’s obligations to uphold freedom of association and expression.

Lawlor highlighted that human rights defenders have been subjected to physical attacks, harassment, and threats, often with no consequences for the perpetrators. Government officials have publicly smeared these defenders, further inflaming hostilities and legitimizing attacks. Lawlor called for an immediate end to the targeted repression and urged the Georgian government to protect the rights of those standing up for human dignity.

These issues underscore the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable populations worldwide and the critical need for international support and advocacy.

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Warsaw, Poland – August 26, 2024

The restrictive abortion laws in Poland are leading to significant violations of women’s rights, according to a report released on Monday by independent human rights experts. The stringent regulations have resulted in “several preventable deaths” and have forced women to either carry unwanted pregnancies to term, seek unsafe procedures, or travel abroad for legal abortions, as noted by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).

The findings, published by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), reveal that the majority of abortions in Poland are conducted illegally and under unsafe conditions. The current legal framework severely limits access to abortion, with very few exceptions, making it nearly impossible for women to obtain the necessary services.

Genoveva Tisheva, the Committee’s Vice-Chair, stated that the situation in Poland amounts to gender-based violence against women and could be considered as torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Systemic Failures and Stigmatization

The report highlighted systemic issues within Poland’s legal and healthcare systems, including doctors’ reluctance to perform abortions due to fear of criminal liability or moral and religious objections. This reluctance further complicates access to safe abortion services, particularly in cases where pregnancies result from criminal acts. The bureaucratic process is complex and not supportive of victims, exacerbated by the influence of strong anti-abortion groups and the stigmatization of those who assist in abortion procedures.

Ms. Tisheva described the environment in Poland as “complex, hostile, and chilling,” where access to safe abortion is stigmatized and practically impossible for many women.

The CEDAW committee concluded that Poland’s restrictive abortion laws not only jeopardize women’s health and lives but also cause significant mental and physical suffering, which is a gender-based violation of human rights. The report urged Poland to recognize abortion as a fundamental human right and to adopt a human rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health. Key recommendations included legal reforms aimed at decriminalizing and legalizing abortion to ensure that women can safely access the services they need.

Recommendations for Reform

In summary, the report by CEDAW underscores the urgent need for Poland to reconsider its abortion laws to protect the rights, health, and well-being of women across the country.

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