International
People are already dying from diseases in Gaza and not only from the bombings, denounces MSF
The quasi-total collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip, devastated after more than 200 days of war with Israel and more than 34,400 deaths; in addition to the shortage of drinking water, overcrowding and lack of medicines make many Gazans die from easily treatable diseases.
“How many children have already died of pneumonia in overflowing hospitals?” asks Mari Carmen Viñoles, head of the Emergency Unit of Doctors Without Borders, an organization present in the Palestinian enclave and which this Monday publishes a report entitled: ‘Silent deaths’.
“And the deadly consequences of the closure of renal dialysis units in the hospitals attacked? These are the silent deaths of Gaza that are not reported,” Viñoles adds.
According to the report, based on medical data and patient testimonies, the current living conditions in Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians take refuge, are not conducive to survival.
The UN coordinator for humanitarian aid and reconstruction of Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, warned on Monday that the reconstruction efforts of the devastated Gaza Strip are “tied” to the two-state solution, although she warned that the Palestinians “can’t wait.”
“It needs to be said that reconstruction efforts, not only politically but from an investment perspective, are all tied to political parameters: the two-state solution,” Kaag said in a panel on Gaza at the special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is held in Riyadh.
Likewise, the head of the UN warned that from a humanitarian point of view “civilians cannot be asked to wait” for the creation of a Palestinian State to begin the reconstruction of the enclave and recalled that more than one million children are not being enrolled in school because of the war.
According to Kaag, schools are being used as shelters, contagious diseases represent a threat as there is a shortage of water and lack of sanitation and insecurity prevents the beginning to rebuild the devastated Strip.
“We need to act now, and this cannot wait for a political solution (…) We have failed the Palestinians countless times,” insisted Kaag, who added that “political will is what is required.”
On the other hand, he called for a “paradigm shift” in the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, and assured that it is not only necessary to increase the volume of assistance, but also to expand the type of products that are distributed to the population, such as medicines.
“We are no longer counting trucks. We are seeing what aid is being distributed and what kind of assistance reaches the population,” Kaag said.
The diplomat recalled that the distribution of aid still faces “a number of obstacles,” such as “behavior at Israeli checkpoints,” something she said “must change.”
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
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Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
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