International
Unicef warns that the military incursion in Rafah is “catastrophic” for thousands of children
UNICEF warned on Monday that one of Israel’s military incursion into Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, is “catastrophic” for 600,000 children who take refuge in the city, thousands of whom have a disability, medical condition or other vulnerability that puts them in even greater danger.
“Rafah is now a city of children who have no safe place to go in Gaza,” Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, said in a statement after the warning from the Israeli Army that ordered the evacuation of about 100,000 residents of Rafah in the face of the possibility of a military action.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), after the October evacuation orders to move south, it is estimated that there are now about 1.2 million refugees in Rafah, which was home for 250,000 people.
Another aspect to take into account, given the high concentration of children, – including many who are very vulnerable and on the verge of survival – as well as the probable intensity of violence, with possible evacuation corridors probably mined or full of unexploded ammunition and services in relocation areas that are most likely limited,
He said that military operations will cause a large number of civilian casualties and that the few basic services and infrastructures that remain and that they need to survive, will be totally destroyed.
“More than 200 days of war have taken an unimaginable price in children’s lives,” Russell said.
He also assured that if large-scale military operations are carried out, children will not only be at risk of suffering violence, but also chaos and panic, “at a time when their physical and mental states are already weakened.”
Killed and injured disproportionately, children suffer more acutely from interruptions in medical care, education and lack of access to sufficient food.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 14,000 children have died in the conflict that began on October 7.
UNICEF estimates that about 65,000 children have some pre-existing disabilities, including difficulties seeing, hearing, walking, understanding and learning; that about 78,000 are under two years of age and that, of them, almost 8,000 suffer from acute malnutrition.
In addition, about 175,000 children under the age of 5 (or 9 out of 10) are affected by one or more infectious diseases and almost all of them already need psychosocial and mental health support, said the organization, which called for an “immediate and lasting” humanitarian ceasefire, the release of the hostages and the end of any serious violation against children.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
Panama seizes over three tons of drugs hidden in Caribbean port container
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International5 days agoMexico City prepares for 13 million pilgrims at Basilica of Guadalupe
-
International4 days agoWashington declares State of Emergency as atmospheric river brings severe flooding
-
International4 days agoU.S. to require five-year social media history from tourists under Visa Waiver Program
-
Central America5 days agoHonduras’ electoral chief reports ongoing technical issues but says results remain intact
-
Central America5 days agoU.S. accuses Ortega regime of systematic human rights abuses in Nicaragua
-
Central America5 days agoU.S. finds no evidence of fraud in Honduras election despite delays
-
International3 days agoCuba battles out-of-control dengue and chikungunya epidemic as death toll rises to 44
-
Central America4 days ago
OAS and EU urge honduran political actors to respect vote results and avoid unrest
-
Central America3 days ago
Honduras election crisis deepens as CNE president denounces intimidation attempts
-
International3 days agoColombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
-
International1 day agoSeveral people shot in attack on Brown University campus
-
International4 days agoSix ecuadorian soldiers jailed pending trial for alleged extrajudicial execution
-
International3 days agoEcuador on track for record violence as homicides hit highest level in Latin America again
-
International1 day agoU.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
-
Central America4 hours agoPanama seizes over three tons of drugs hidden in Caribbean port container