分类： world

NAIROBI, Kenya—A severe humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Central Africa as over 30,000 civilians from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have sought refuge in neighboring Burundi within a single week. This mass exodus was triggered by a major military offensive led by the M23 rebel faction, which is advancing towards the strategic border city of Uvira.

According to confidential sources within Burundi’s administration who spoke with AFP on Tuesday, the pace of displacement has accelerated dramatically, with more than 8,000 individuals crossing the border daily during the past 48 hours. This alarming figure has been independently verified by a representative from the United Nations refugee agency.

The current assault marks a significant escalation in the prolonged regional conflict, occurring almost exactly one year after M23 forces captured Goma and Bukavu—the two most important urban centers in eastern DRC. The contested territory, abundant with valuable mineral resources, has been embroiled in violent instability for three decades, with various armed groups vying for control.

International observers note that the M23 militia receives substantial backing from Rwanda, further complicating diplomatic relations in the region and hampering efforts towards peaceful resolution. The rapid closure of main supply routes and critical infrastructure around Uvira has left civilian populations with minimal options for safety, prompting this sudden cross-border movement.

GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stern condemnation of devastating aerial strikes that targeted a kindergarten and hospital in Sudan’s South Kordofan state, resulting in massive civilian casualties. According to verified reports, the attacks last Thursday claimed 114 lives, including 63 children, with an additional 35 individuals sustaining injuries.

The assault occurred in the army-controlled town of Kalogi, where paramilitary forces conducted multiple drone strikes. Local administrator Essam al-Din al-Sayed described the horrific sequence of events to AFP: initial explosions hit a kindergarten, followed by strikes on Kalogi Rural Hospital, and finally a third attack as rescue efforts were underway to save trapped children.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, citing the UN agency’s Attacks on Health Care monitoring system, revealed disturbing details of the incident. Emergency responders faced additional violence while attempting to transport injured children to medical facilities. Survivors have been relocated to Abu Jebaiha Hospital for treatment, with urgent appeals circulating for blood donations and medical supplies.

This tragedy unfolds against the backdrop of Sudan’s devastating conflict, which has raged since April 2023 between the national army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The violence has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced nearly 12 million people. The RSF’s recent eastward push into the oil-rich Kordofan region following their October capture of El-Fasher has intensified hostilities.

The WHO documented that the attacks occurred between 6:00 am and noon, involving heavy weapons that damaged healthcare infrastructure and deliberately obstructed medical assistance. The organization’s incident report specifically notes psychological violence and intimidation tactics against healthcare workers.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed profound dismay through spokesman Stephane Dujarric, urging influential nations to leverage their positions to halt combat operations and stem weapons flows fueling the conflict. The WHO has recorded 63 separate attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan this year alone, resulting in 1,611 fatalities and 259 injuries across 52 personnel incidents, 45 facility impacts, and 32 patient-directed assaults.

While the WHO verifies and documents attacks on medical infrastructure, the organization emphasizes it does not assign blame as it lacks investigative authority. The international health agency continues to demand immediate ceasefire implementation and expanded humanitarian access to address what it describes as entirely preventable suffering among the Sudanese population.

KINGSTON, Jamaica—In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact, UNICEF has intensified its multifaceted humanitarian response to address the educational and psychological needs of Jamaican children. The organization’s coordinated efforts with the Jamaican government and local partners focus on reestablishing educational continuity while prioritizing mental health support for storm-affected youth.

Current assessments reveal substantial disruption across Jamaica’s education sector, with more than 650 schools serving approximately 150,000 students experiencing significant operational challenges. UNICEF Education Specialist Rebecca Tortello emphasized the dual nature of the recovery mission: “Our objective extends beyond physical reconstruction to encompass the rebuilding of confidence and hope among Jamaica’s children.”

The organization’s strategic response includes both immediate and long-term interventions. Material support comprises the distribution of over 1,000 protective tarpaulins, 105 classroom tents, and hundreds of curriculum-aligned learning kits to create temporary learning environments. Additionally, infrastructure rehabilitation grants will benefit at least ten educational institutions, ultimately serving nearly 10,000 students alongside their educators and parents.

Recognizing the profound psychological impact of natural disasters, UNICEF has implemented a robust mental health support framework. This includes specialized training for 600 teachers in the Return to Happiness methodology, enabling them to provide enhanced psychosocial guidance to approximately 18,000 students. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will train an additional 450 counselors and volunteers to deliver targeted support to the most severely affected 5,500 students and families.

Complementing these efforts, UNICEF has developed age-appropriate Psychosocial First Aid activity booklets for students across all educational levels, forming part of comprehensive mental health interventions projected to reach over 100,000 students and family members.

The response also addresses critical public health concerns through the restoration of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in educational institutions and emergency shelters. Collaborative initiatives with Water Mission International have already supplied more than 980,000 liters of treated water to affected communities and healthcare facilities in Westmoreland, serving approximately 50,000 residents.

UNICEF’s participation in high-level CARICOM education meetings has facilitated the exchange of best practices for emergency education management, ensuring Jamaica’s recovery efforts incorporate regional expertise and innovative approaches to crisis-responsive education.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has played a pivotal role in enhancing Jamaica’s disaster response capabilities in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation on October 28. According to Rogerio Mobilia, OCHA’s Regional Deputy Director, a specialized team was immediately deployed to the Caribbean nation to facilitate coordinated relief operations among international partners and national authorities.

Mobilia, speaking after a strategic briefing at Jamaica’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), emphasized that OCHA’s intervention focused on two critical areas: coordination and information management. The team worked closely with both international agencies and Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to establish clear operational priorities, sector responsibilities, and needs assessment protocols.

“Our initial objective was to create consensus within the international community and systematically capture their operational data,” Mobilia explained to JIS News. “This allowed us to identify geographic coverage gaps, align sector-specific approaches, and eliminate duplication of efforts.”

Over their five-week deployment, OCHA’s team transformed initial generic damage assessments into detailed, sector-specific intelligence products. This evolution enabled more structured coordination meetings and collaborative reporting between national authorities and international partners. Mobilia noted significant progress in how relief efforts became increasingly targeted toward addressing the population’s most pressing needs.

Before departing the island on December 5, Mobilia expressed satisfaction with the strengthened coordination mechanisms established during OCHA’s mission, which have left Jamaica with enhanced disaster response capabilities for future emergencies.