The escalating conflict in Myanmar between the military junta and ethnic armed groups has triggered a humanitarian crisis, prompting calls for India to review its policy and engage with the armed groups. Experts discuss the complexities of the situation, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes humanitarian assistance and stability in the region.
Pakistan has initiated the second phase of its controversial plan to deport undocumented Afghan refugees, facing criticism from the international community, including the United Nations. The plan, citing security concerns and economic strain, aims to expel over 800,000 Afghans, adding to the 541,000 already deported in November 2022. The UN and refugee organizations argue that the deportations are exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and urge Pakistan to consider the profiles of individuals before expelling them.
Israel has dismissed a UN-backed report highlighting catastrophic hunger in Gaza, claiming it is misleading and biased. The report, published by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), stated that 495,000 Gazans are facing severe food insecurity, while another 745,000 are in a food emergency. Despite some improvement in the north, the report warns of a worsening situation in the south, attributed to the May hostilities in Rafah.
At the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, Vice President Kamala Harris announced over $1.5 billion in aid to support Ukraine’s energy sector and address humanitarian needs created by Russia’s ongoing attack. The aid includes $500 million in new funding for energy assistance and the redirecting of $324 million for emergency energy infrastructure repair. Additionally, $379 million in humanitarian assistance will be provided for food, health, shelter, and sanitation services. Harris highlighted that the support will help Ukraine respond to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure while enhancing its energy resilience and expanding its energy system. The $1.5 billion aid package is part of the United States’ ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense and humanitarian efforts. Harris met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during the summit and delivered an address at the plenary session, as President Biden was unable to attend due to prior commitments. Russia was not invited to the summit, but Ukraine has indicated the possibility of inviting a Moscow representative to a future peace summit.
Sudan’s year-long civil war shows no signs of abating, pushing the nation towards a humanitarian catastrophe. The conflict between the military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has escalated, displacing millions and plunging the country into the world’s worst displacement crisis. Foreign meddling and the exploitation of Sudan’s gold resources further fuel the conflict, while the international community struggles to address the escalating crisis.
The United Nations has suspended food distribution in the southern Gaza city of Rafah due to a lack of supplies and security concerns stemming from Israel’s military operation. The UN warns that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, with over 1.1 million people facing severe hunger. Israel claims it has addressed US concerns about a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah, but the US stopped short of greenlighting the plan.
The Israeli flag has been waving over the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing for a fortnight, but the future of this critical aid terminal has swiftly become a headache for Israel. Egypt has declined to reopen its side of the crossing as long as Israeli forces occupy the Palestinian side, effectively shutting down one of the few entry points through which much-needed aid reaches Gaza.
This impasse has exacerbated the severe humanitarian crisis affecting the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Palestinian territory, with repeated warnings of impending famine after more than seven months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Rafah crossing, situated on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, was symbolic of Hamas’s authority over the area after the Iranian-backed militant group took power in 2007. However, on May 7, the Israeli army swiftly seized control of the crossing, alleging that it was being utilized for “terrorist” purposes. Since then, it has been closed, significantly reducing the flow of aid into Gaza.
As Israel’s eight-month-long offensive in Gaza rages on, new divisions within the Israeli government have surfaced over the postwar governance of the territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from his political rival Benny Gantz, who threatens to leave the government if a plan for international administration of Gaza is not formulated by June 8. Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll continues to rise, with an airstrike in Nuseirat killing 20 people, mostly women and children.
The fighting remains intense, with reports of heavy airstrikes and artillery fire in northern Gaza, where a famine is underway according to the World Food Program. International pressure mounts on Israel, with the US expressing frustration over the conduct of the war and holding up a shipment of bombs, while also approving the sale of arms to support Israel’s offensive.
An Indian national working with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UN DSS) was killed in an attack in Gaza, marking the first international casualty for the organization since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The victim was traveling in a UN vehicle when it was struck, resulting in another DSS staff member being injured. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack and called for a full investigation, while also expressing condolences to the deceased staff member’s family.
Torrential rainfall in Afghanistan has triggered devastating flash floods, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 300 individuals. The northern province of Baghlan has borne the brunt of the flooding, with countless homes destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people isolated. Children have been particularly vulnerable, withUNICEF reporting that 51 of the deceased are young children. International aid organizations are mobilizing relief teams and providing essential supplies to the affected areas, while the World Health Organization has delivered 7 tons of medicines and emergency kits. The United Nations and human rights organizations have urged immediate assistance for flood victims and emphasized the urgent need for long-term planning to address Afghanistan’s susceptibility to climate-related disasters.
