Blockages of Aid in Gaza Threatens Survival for 2.2 Million

Following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for deliberate war crimes committed on the people of Gaza, there has been a considerable surge in hostilities, mostly concentrated in the enclave’s northern regions. The humanitarian crisis is expected to deteriorate as the availability of essential resources, such as water, food, fuel, and electricity has significantly dwindled over the past few weeks due to sustained blockages by Israeli authorities. Additionally, levels of civilian casualties and displacements have reached new peaks.

Mayan Farmers Improve Their Livelihoods and Polyculture of Milpa in Mexico

María Bacab, a Native Maya, considers herself the “guardian of seeds” as she cares for the milpa - an ancestral Mesoamerican polyculture that mixes maize, beans, squash and other vegetables - and promotes its practice and use in Mexico.

Sudan Ravaged By Disease, Famine, and War

As living conditions in Sudan deteriorate as a result of the Sudanese Civil War, levels of famine and violations of international humanitarian law continue to accelerate among the roughly 11.5 million displaced persons. Conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have severely hampered aid efforts, leaving millions of civilians to deal with widespread disease and an overall lack of essential resources.

Doctors Without Borders Halts Operations in Haiti Amid Threats from

Doctors Without Borders, the medical humanitarian organization, which has served in Haiti for over 30 years, announced on Wednesday that it would suspend its activities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital amid repeated threats from local law enforcement. This announcement indicates the precariousness of the situation in Haiti where humanitarian groups on the ground face security issues from even members of law enforcement.

Housing for Tomorrow: Sustainable Solutions from Habitat for Humanity

In the face of a growing climate crisis, the connection between housing and environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly urgent.

Rebuilding Trust, Dialogue, Collaboration Key to COP29’s Success, Says Barbados Minister

"This Finance COP has to deliver. I think this is a crucial moment for the COP process," said Shantal Munro-Knight, Barbados Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. Barbados, a nation at the forefront of climate advocacy, continues to push boundaries at COP29, the so-called Finance COP. Knight shared her views on the state of negotiations, the urgency of climate finance, and the innovative solutions her country is championing.

Human Rights Watch Condemns Israel’s “Deliberate” Military Offensives in Gaza

A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) postulates that Israeli military practices in the Gaza Strip constitutes as war crimes. Released on November 14, the new report details the scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip over a 13-month period, during which time the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) undertook a campaign to enact “deliberate, controlled demolitions of homes and civilian infrastructure” that were conducted to drive millions of Gazans out of their homes and inflict as much damage as possible.

Climate Finance Loans a Disaster for Climate-Burdened African Communities

African environmental activists at the ongoing climate summit (COP29) in Baku have called on climate financiers to stop suffocating poor countries with unbearable loans in the name of financing climate adaptation and mitigation on the continent.

Robust Negotiations Still Needed to Push Rich Countries to Honor Financial Commitments

The irony is that whatever the stakes, finance always features as the “crying onion” at each COP. Hence for the COP29, dubbed the finance COP, no wonder we reach an ocean of tears—especially in view of the current geopolitics, when the world is facing the likelihood of having its historically biggest financial contributor on climate pull out.

Women, Indigenous Communities Must Lead Climate Finance Allocations at COP29—Plan International Global Director

Plan International, a global leader in advocating for children’s rights and gender equality, sees the need for women and Indigenous people to be at the forefront of climate negotiations.

Africa’s Demands: Continent’s COP29 Irreducible Minimums Amid Release of First Draft Text

As expected, climate finance has taken center stage in Baku COP29 in a bid to renew the global focus on finance as a means to transform climate ambitions into tangible, sustainable action. 

Sudan Faces Esclations in Famine, Humanitarian Law Violations

After 19 months of conflict, the ongoing Sudanese Civil War continues to deteriorate living conditions for millions of Sudanese people. Intensive conflicts between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have greatly exacerbated nationwide levels of famine. Numerous civilians have been caught in the crossfire, leading to a rising death toll. Sexual violence and rape have been used as weapons of war, with thousands of cases going unreported due to a pervasive state of fear. Sudan has seen record numbers in displacement, becoming one of the biggest displacement crises in the world.

Israel’s Moves to Ban UNRWA—Signals Uncertainty for Affected Palestinians

The decision of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, to adopt two laws that would severely limit or outright ban UNRWA has the potential to set a dangerous precedent, where countries can simply implement their own justification to ban the activity of the United Nations, even if it violates their obligations under international humanitarian law. Even with the rest of the world condemning this course of action, for Israel, this has been a long time coming and they are unlikely to back down.

Armed Violence and Floods Aggravate Humanitarian Crisis in Chad

Chad is currently in the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis due to persisting armed conflict, mass displacement, widespread hunger, natural disasters, and an overall lack of essential services. Due to security challenges from the Boko Haram militant group, millions of Chadians have faced decreased mobility as well as human rights violations including imprisonment, beatings, kidnappings, and killings.

Syrian Displaced Children Go Hungry, Stunting Their Growth

Children in northern Syria are suffering from hunger, illness, and malnutrition as a result of poverty, poor living conditions for most families, and the collapse of purchasing power amid the soaring prices of all essential food commodities. Displacement and a lack of job opportunities make this worse.

Aid Blockades Signal Trouble for Gaza Ahead of Winter

On October 15, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the beginning of the second round of Gaza’s polio vaccination campaign. Over the last week, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in partnership with WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has managed to vaccinate over 181,000 children under the age of ten in Gaza.

Localization in Zimbabwe: A Critical Look at the Grand Bargain and Charter for Change

Localization has become a buzzword in international development, aiming to shift power and resources closer to the communities directly impacted by crises.

World Told Act Now or Face 136 Years of Hunger, Report Warns

High levels of hunger will continue for another 136 years in many developing countries, according to a new report assessing global hunger.

Continued Airstrikes Threaten Civilians and Aid Workers in Lebanon

As Israel continues its siege on the southern borders of Lebanon, concerns among humanitarian organizations grow as the frequency of attacks rise. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reports that approximately 2,169 people have been killed and over 10,212 have been injured in the past year. Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, has described this conflict as one of the deadliest in recent memory.

Building Resilience Against Climate Risks: The Transformative Role of Social Protection

While the impact of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine on food system disruptions was widely covered, underlying food system vulnerabilities across Asia and the Pacific had been steadily growing long before these crises unfolded.

When Will World Food Day be a Day to Actually Celebrate?

World Food Day seems like it should be a time to celebrate. A day to eat delicious meals and enjoy the rich traditions and cultures of food around the globe.