All articles tagged with #aid workers
The UK, Canada and Australia condemned Israel’s decision not to launch a criminal investigation into the April 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza that killed seven humanitarian workers, calling for accountability and urging Israel to ensure aid workers can operate safely under international humanitarian law.
Cindy McCain, executive director of the UN World Food Programme, tells Face the Nation that hunger is at record levels and the agency has only about half the funding needed to feed people this year, calling on the US, private sector, and other donors to step up amid multiple looming famines. She discusses the Congo Ebola outbreak, Sudan’s Darfur crisis, Iran–Strait of Hormuz disruptions, and broader Middle East turmoil, noting aid workers are increasingly targeted and humanitarian access is being blocked. McCain criticizes US aid policy shifts and calls for scalable aid, better use of technology, and a field-led leadership to prevent famine from fueling instability and radicalization. She will step down soon and urges her successor to lead with heart and take risks to secure lifesaving aid.
Aid workers visiting al-Fashir, Sudan, found the city largely deserted following a paramilitary takeover, with over 100,000 fleeing amid reports of violence, mass killings, and detentions. The remaining population appears to be mostly those unable to leave due to age or injury, and the city shows signs of significant trauma and destruction. The situation remains dire, with ongoing concerns for the injured and missing, and limited access for humanitarian aid.
The IDF has warned aid workers in northern Gaza that only hospitals are protected sites, with all other infrastructure potentially targeted amid ongoing military operations and a large-scale evacuation of Gaza City, raising concerns about humanitarian access and the future of the territory's population.
A veteran Gaza aid worker, Amjad Al Shawa, describes the severe food and water shortages in Gaza due to Israeli restrictions and ongoing conflict, warning that thousands could die of starvation in the coming days, as infrastructure collapses and aid efforts struggle to meet basic needs.
Doctors and aid workers in Gaza report a worsening hunger crisis with widespread malnutrition, especially among children, leading to deaths and severe health emergencies amid ongoing conflict and limited aid access.
MSF investigation concludes Ethiopian troops were responsible for the execution of three aid workers in Tigray in 2021, despite the Ethiopian government not providing a credible account, highlighting ongoing violence against humanitarian efforts during the conflict.
Hamas has placed bounties on American aid workers in Gaza and demands that any ceasefire include ending the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is separate from UNRWA. The U.S. government confirms Hamas's threats and their efforts to undermine aid efforts, criticizing the UN and NGOs for allegedly enabling Hamas's misuse of aid. The situation complicates negotiations for a ceasefire, with ongoing concerns about aid being stolen and used by Hamas.
Two US aid workers were injured in an attack by militants at a Gaza aid distribution site, amid ongoing conflict and negotiations for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The incident highlights the dangers faced by aid workers and the complex political situation in Gaza, where violence continues to escalate with significant casualties reported.
For the first time, two American aid workers were injured in Gaza during a food distribution, allegedly attacked by Hamas with grenades. The incident highlights ongoing risks to aid efforts amid complex political tensions, with the U.S. reaffirming support and the future of aid operations uncertain due to political disagreements over aid mechanisms.
An aid group in Gaza, supported by Israel and the U.S., reported that Hamas attacked a bus carrying its Palestinian workers, resulting in at least five deaths and injuries, with some workers possibly taken hostage.
Multiple aid workers were killed in Gaza after a bus was attacked by Hamas, which also threatened the organization amid ongoing violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
Aid agencies accuse the Israeli military of systemic failings in protecting humanitarian workers in Gaza, citing a pattern of attacks on aid workers and infrastructure. The killing of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen has sparked global outrage and international pressure on Israel, leading to rare expressions of contrition and the removal of two senior officers from their posts. The attacks have resulted in the curtailment of aid deliveries to Gaza's starving population, despite agencies' efforts to coordinate with Israeli authorities for protection. The IDF's preliminary investigation into the recent attack found multiple errors in targeting the aid convoy, but the mounting toll faced by aid agencies suggests deeper systemic issues in the military's approach to protecting humanitarian workers.
European allies of Israel are expressing unprecedented criticism and considering halting arms sales following the Israeli military's killing of seven aid workers in Gaza. The attack has triggered calls for a cease-fire and increased public pressure on European politicians, who are caught between supporting an ally and addressing growing concerns about the conflict. The international outrage over the deaths of foreign aid workers contrasts with the subdued response to the suffering of Gaza residents, leading to increased pressure on Europe's governments to suspend arms sales to Israel. The United States has also begun to harden its line toward Israel, with President Joe Biden emphasizing the need for Israel to take more action to protect civilians and aid workers.
Aid groups in Gaza had warned of a broken system for coordinating deliveries with Israel's military, leading to the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen employees in a strike. The incident prompted global outrage and a reassessment of support for Israel by the United States. The faulty process for deconflicting humanitarian operations with the Israeli military in Gaza has endangered staff and prevented lifesaving assistance from reaching civilians. The situation has prompted exasperation in the Pentagon, and Israel has pledged to open a joint situation room for coordination with international organizations.