International
UN denounces Israeli attacks on refugee sites in southern Gaza
October 17 |
The United Nations (UN) confirmed Tuesday that the occupation army’s air force has continued to attack the south of the Gaza Strip, just where it had demanded that refugees fleeing Tel Aviv’s previous incursions move to.
The attacks, denounced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), have taken place over the town of Khan Yunis, despite having ordered civilians to move to that part of the Palestinian enclave, where more than 600,000 people have arrived in recent days.
According to UNRWA, the most serious problem at the moment is the lack of water and warned that “people will start dying without it”.
In this regard, UNRWA points out that the last seawater desalination plant operating in Gaza has stopped operating, increasing the risk of dehydration and disease as Palestinians begin to drink water unfit for human consumption.
At the same time, the director of the World Health Organization (WHO) office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed al Mandhari, assured that UN humanitarian aid has been ready in Egypt for more than 72 hours awaiting distribution to the Gaza Strip and Israeli authorization.
According to al Mandhari, “We have repeatedly called for humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt.” Gaza will become a “real catastrophe,” al Mandhari warned, as its water, electricity and fuel supplies will run out in less than 24 hours.
Meanwhile, UN World Food Program representative Abeer Etefa also called for “unimpeded access and a safe corridor for urgently needed humanitarian supplies” in Gaza.
Etefa stated that “we have heard from Egypt that the security situation does not allow convoys to move.”
International humanitarian organizations continue to stockpile essential supplies for the people of the Gaza Strip in Egypt as they wait for Egyptian authorities to authorize the opening of the Rafah crossing, the only one that allows access to the Palestinian territory and which is not controlled by Israel.
The agency’s food aid shipments are at an Egyptian location near the Gaza border and are ready to be taken there as soon as the agency receives the necessary permits, he added.
The situation in the Gaza Strip is worsening just as Israel is preparing to launch a ground offensive, for which no date has been set but which seems increasingly imminent.
In fact, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the preparation of 2,000 troops and several units with rapid deployment capability in the Middle East in case of need, the Pentagon said in a statement.
In addition, Austin approved the extension of the stay in the area of the Gerald R.Ford aircraft carrier strike group, within the sixth operations fleet of the U.S. naval forces.
International
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
Parades, baton twirlers, and a mix of Salvadoran and international music set the tone for the 20th edition of the Festival Salvadoreñísimo, held in Houston, Texas, with Tony Villatoro once again leading the organization.
This year, the highly anticipated event moved to a new venue: The Crown Festival Park in Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, within the “space city.” Despite the scorching sun of the open-air setting, spirits remained high, and a brief drizzle later brought relief and renewed energy to the celebration.
More than 5,000 Salvadorans gathered at the park, joining with Guatemalans, Hondurans, and even Mexicans to commemorate 204 years of independence for El Salvador and Central America. The festival was marked by a family-friendly atmosphere, where traditional foods such as pupusas, panes con gallina, pastelitos, and horchata could not be missed.
“Twenty years with this festival, and I am very grateful to the Salvadoran community that always shows up. Thanks to them, the sponsors, and to Diario El Salvador for supporting us since the beginning,” said Tony Villatoro, as more compatriots continued arriving to the celebration.
“I am satisfied. I didn’t expect this level of attendance, especially since we were trying a new outdoor venue with some challenges, but we made it through successfully,” Villatoro added.
The Festival Salvadoreñísimo, now a two-decade-long tradition, once again took place as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when independence festivities run from mid-September through October.
International
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched the National Reintegration Plan for Returned Salvadorans 2025-2029, a strategy designed to create greater opportunities, ensure access to quality services, and provide a favorable environment for Salvadorans returning to their home country to rebuild their lives.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Network on Migration, coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), financed by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), and backed by the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Migration Unit.
During the presentation, Vice Minister of Diaspora and Human Mobility Cindy Mariella Portal emphasized that migrants often face multiple challenges upon returning to their communities.
“That is why we are implementing actions that generate real and sustainable opportunities for these individuals,” she stated.
International
Authorities capture CJNG financial chief in international airport operation
A man identified as the main financial operator of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was arrested Thursday at Mexico City’s international airport, authorities reported.
The individual, named by Mexican media as Óscar Antonio Álvarez, was apprehended during an operation involving the army, navy, National Guard, police, and the attorney general’s office, according to a joint statement.
Álvarez is considered the primary financial operator of a criminal group originating in Jalisco, and the capture took place at Benito Juárez Airport as he arrived on a flight from Barcelona, Spain.
Authorities stated that Álvarez faces charges of organized crime and money laundering, specifically for receiving and transferring illicit funds. His work with the CJNG reportedly included purchasing properties and managing businesses in the tequila and livestock sectors.
According to El Universal, Álvarez was directly under the command of Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, the cartel’s top leader, for whom the U.S. offers a $15 million reward.
The CJNG, which operates throughout Mexico and in various parts of the world, was designated earlier this year as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the U.S. government.
Álvarez was handed over to the federal public prosecutor to determine his legal situation, the report added.
20th Festival Salvadoreñísimo brings together thousands of salvadorans in Houston
El Salvador unveils 2025-2029 National Reintegration Plan for returned migrants
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