Category: Global Politics

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October 8, 2025 Economic development

Seafood is one of the most in-demand food commodities on the planet. Per capita consumption has doubled since the 1960s, and this figure is projected to double again by 2050.

Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, they play a key role in food security and provide a source of income for millions of people. However, behind the scenes of this thriving market lurks a disturbing trend: seafood adulteration.

Substituting expensive fish for cheaper ones, mislabeling origin, and selling defrosted fish as fresh—these are all examples of fraud that can occur at any stage of the supply chain. Such actions not only mislead consumers but also pose health risks, ranging from allergens and toxins to parasites and pathogens. Furthermore, mislabeling can conceal the fact that fish were caught in polluted areas or that endangered species were illegally harvested. In a globalized world of trade and increasingly complex supply chains, identifying such fraud is becoming increasingly difficult.

Coordinated Research Project

To counter this threat, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in collaboration with the FAO, is launching a five-year coordinated research project (CRP). Its goal is to help countries strengthen food control systems and implement advanced analytical methods, including nuclear technology, to detect and prevent seafood fraud.

As part of the project, the IAEA proposes using a range of scientific approaches, starting with the analysis of stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen, which reflect the ecological conditions of the fish's habitat. This allows for the determination of the product's geographic origin and confirmation of its wild-caught origin. Combined with methods such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scientists can identify additives, differentiate species, and debunk attempts to pass off frozen fish as fresh.

Particular attention is being paid to proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics—techniques that allow the study of proteins, small molecules, and fats. This data helps not only with labeling verification but also in identifying food safety hazards. All collected characteristics will be included in reference databases, which will form the basis for digital traceability and control systems.

The CPI project builds on previous food authenticity verification initiatives and focuses on supporting low- and middle-income countries. It includes the development of standardized sampling and preparation protocols, the validation of analytical methods, and addressing knowledge gaps. A key part of the program will be training specialists, technology transfer, and the harmonization of national labeling regulations with international Codex Alimentarius standards.

Sustainable support for the industry

According to Debashish Mazumder, Project Manager for Food Origin Verification at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, this initiative offers a unique opportunity for countries to join forces to combat fraud and build trust in supply chains. Nuclear-derived seafood origin information can not only promote fair trade but also support the sustainable development of the industry.

Over the next five years, the IAEA plans to publish scientific reports and share the results with regulators and industry representatives. In the long term, the project aims not only to ensure the authenticity of seafood but also to support small-scale fisheries, combat illegal fishing, and strengthen fairness in global food chains.

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October 8, 2025 Refugees and migrants

"I saw people leaving, and I joined them," says 88-year-old Yuri, recalling the day he left Ukraine. "I came to Moldova alone, without family or children to turn to," he adds.

Yuri spends most of his time in the courtyard of the Mental Health Center in Chisinau, the largest in the country. The center receives support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency.

Here, the retiree participates in therapeutic sessions that help him cope with his feelings and maintain mental balance. Yuri feels very lonely, but socializing with others at the center brings him relief. "I feel good here, but everything in Moldova is new to me," he says. "Sometimes it's fun at the center. I socialize with people, but I don't have many friends. Maybe it's because I'm getting old."

One of Yuriy's neighbors in the center is 73-year-old Ana, who often sits next to her 79-year-old friend Alla. Ana is originally from Moldova, but before the war she lived in Odessa, where she worked as a cleaner at the university.

"I liked cleaning," she says. "When I was a kid, I always helped my mom because she needed help, and I had a younger brother."

When full-scale war broke out, Ana's family persuaded her to return to Chisinau. Despite being reunited with her relatives, she felt anxious and depressed. She reluctantly agreed to see a psychologist.

© IOM/R. Severi

Ana (center) in a therapy session.

“I was in a really bad place,” she says. “At first, I didn’t want to go to this center, but in the end, I’m here.”

Ana was hospitalized in July 2023 with severe anxiety and insomnia. In the first weeks, she attended individual and group counseling sessions, art therapy, went for outdoor walks, and played team games. Gradually, her strength returned. She became more sociable, her sleep improved, and her mood lifted.

“I found my home here,” Ana says. “Now I’m not afraid anymore.”

25-year-old Margarita, known to her friends as Margo, is also undergoing therapy at the center. Originally from Ukraine, she moved to Moldova about a year ago. She has struggled with eating disorders since the age of 15.

A few months ago, her condition worsened, she realized that she could no longer cope on her own and sought help.

Back home, Margot was a mathematics teacher and analyst. The war left her unemployed and living far from her family. Every day was filled with a sense of uncertainty and insecurity.

"I never wanted to ask my family for help because I thought I was strong," she says. "I was wrong. When I came here, I realized there are people ready to support me. Never be afraid to ask for help," Margot adds.

In the first days of the war in February 2022, thousands of people crossed the Ukrainian-Moldovan border in search of safety.

"The authorities have mobilized various sectors to coordinate the response, including preparing psychological support measures," said Arkady Astrakhan, director of the Chisinau Mental Health Center, in anticipation of World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10.

© IOM/R. Severi

IOM experts help elderly Ukrainians get the help they need.

Since 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, has been supporting the center, expanding its range of specialized mental health and psychosocial support services for refugees from Ukraine. These include mobile teams, psychiatric and psychological counseling, social activities, art therapy, housing for the elderly and people with disabilities, and a drug addiction rehabilitation program.

Currently, IOM provides nearly 90 percent of the center's services and helps train staff, including in managing complex cases. Patients with chronic or severe mental disorders still face significant challenges in accessing care.

"IOM has played a vital role in addressing these gaps," says Astrakhan. "Supporting people with such needs can be challenging, but at the same time, incredibly important."

Just an hour's drive from Chisinau, in Orhei, lies the Community Mental Health Center, renovated by IOM teams. There, the organization's experts work with people with severe mental disorders.

Since the beginning of the war, 1,080 Ukrainians have received specialized psychological support through IOM programs in Moldova. Peer-to-peer initiatives have become a key element of this support. Ukrainians with medical training or relevant life experience assist their compatriots.

In Moldova's community centers, support takes many forms. For Yuri, the most important thing is communication, which helps him feel less alone. For others, it's therapy sessions or even just the knowledge that help is nearby. Their stories remind us that even in the shadow of war, healing is possible.

*This article was prepared based on materials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

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October 7, 2025 Climate and environment

Amid rising clean energy trends, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his call for countries to accelerate the transition away from global warming-causing fossil fuels. His remarks came after the publication of two reports on Tuesday confirming that the "renewable energy revolution" is advancing at an unprecedented pace.

For the first time in history, renewable energy sources have generated more electricity than coal, according to a new report from Ember, a think tank that focuses on accelerating the transition to clean energy.

Energy Transition in Action

In the first half of this year, solar and wind power output outpaced global electricity demand growth, leading to a slight decline in coal and gas's share compared to the same period in 2024.

This was a "key turning point," said Ember senior energy analyst Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka.

"Solar and wind power are now growing fast enough to meet the growing global demand for electricity. This marks the beginning of a phase where clean energy is keeping pace with demand growth," she said.

Solar energy is the engine of growth

In another report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that installed renewable energy capacity continues to grow and will double by 2030.

The agency forecasts that global renewable energy capacity will increase by 4,600 gigawatts – “roughly the same as the combined installed capacity of China, the European Union, and Japan.”

The growth is driven primarily by rapid advances in solar photovoltaic technology, which converts sunlight into energy: it will account for about 80 percent of the increase, followed by wind, hydropower, bioenergy and geothermal energy.

"A better future for all"

Commenting on this news, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote on social media: “The future of clean energy is no longer a distant promise – it is already here.”

He called on the global community to “seize this historic opportunity and inject new momentum into the global transition to a better future for all.”

The reports echo the findings of the Secretary-General's report presented in July. "Moment of Opportunity".

They also reflect the statements of world leaders on Climate summit, which took place in September as part of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week ahead of the UN Climate Conference (COP30), which will be held in Brazil in November of this year.

However, the UN chief has repeatedly emphasized that, despite the progress achieved, the energy transition is not yet happening fast enough and is not proceeding under fair enough conditions.

Efforts must therefore be stepped up if the world is to achieve the goal of keeping global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

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October 7, 2025 Peace and security

Renewed fighting in Cabo Delgado Province in northern Mozambique has forced 22,000 people to flee their homes in just one week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday.

The conflict in Cabo Delgado began in 2017. It is waged by armed groups known locally as al-Shabaab, which is unrelated to the Somali movement of the same name. The violence has led to a severe crisis, exacerbated by recurring cyclones, floods, and droughts.

For the first time since the fighting began, all 17 districts of Cabo Delgado were affected. In 2025, more than 100,000 local residents were forced to flee their homes. In total, according to UNHCR, more than 1.3 million people have been displaced, many of whom have fled their homes multiple times. Some of those who previously hosted displaced people are now forced to flee themselves.

Civilians continue to be targeted, with reports of killings, abductions and sexual violence, and children face the risk of forced recruitment to fight.

Women and girls at greatest risk

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, for example when collecting water or firewood, while people with disabilities and older people are often unable to escape danger. Many have experienced severe trauma and urgently need psychosocial support, UNHCR added.

Violence has increased sharply this year, with more than 500 incidents recorded by August – more than during peak periods in 2022. Violence has included assaults, kidnappings, and destruction of homes and infrastructure.

The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.

The humanitarian consequences of the crisis are compounded by the virtual collapse of the healthcare system in the north of the country. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 60 percent of healthcare facilities in the worst-hit areas are non-functional due to insecurity, looting, and the displacement of staff.

Vital services, including maternity care, HIV treatment and emergency services, have been critically disrupted.

In the city of Mocimboa da Praia, the only hospital has less than 10 percent of its staff – mostly volunteers trying to keep the emergency department and maternity ward open.

Humanitarian organizations are warning of a growing threat of disease spread, with the onset of the rainy season expected to see an increase in cases of malaria and cholera.

Acute lack of funding

This year's health sector response plan is only 11 percent funded, leading to critical shortages of essential medicines.

UNHCR also faces a significant funding shortfall: of the $352 million needed, the agency has received only $66 million. This severely limits its response capacity, while needs are only growing.

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October 7, 2025 Economic development

Economic growth in Europe and Central Asia has slowed, but the region remains resilient despite global and domestic challenges, according to a new World Bank report.

In 2025, the region's economic growth is likely to be 2.4 percent, down from 3.7 percent in 2024. The main reason is the slowdown in Russia, which accounts for approximately 40 percent of the region's output. Excluding Russia, growth will remain stable at approximately 3.3 percent this year and next.

According to Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, countries need to implement reforms to boost productivity, create more jobs, and adapt to population changes. To do this, it's important to develop private enterprise, improve education, and strengthen ties with other countries. It's also essential to attract more private investment and transform low-wage positions into full-time, sustainable jobs.

The report emphasizes that investments in infrastructure, education and training, and support for entrepreneurship are the foundation for accelerating economic growth. To create more and better jobs, countries need to invest in human development and improving working conditions. Unleashing the underutilized potential of women and youth is particularly important. This will help offset the expected decline in the labor force—projected to fall by 17 million in the coming decades, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe and the Western Balkans.

At the same time, the number of people of working age will grow in Central Asia and Turkey, creating other challenges—for example, the need to provide employment for everyone. However, development is hampered by issues such as weak competition, small businesses that rarely grow, a lack of funding, outdated education systems, and the large number of state-owned companies that hinder business development.

Ivaylo Izvorski, the World Bank's Chief Economist for the region, believes that each country can find its own path by leveraging its strengths—its people, infrastructure, and natural resources. Focusing on job creation and skills development will help countries achieve sustainable economic growth.

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October 7, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the second anniversary of the attacks on Israel, new detentions of UN staff in Yemen, a rise in climate change-related litigation, World Cotton Day.

Anniversary of the attacks on Israel

October 7 marks two years since the attacks on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. On this occasion, the UN Secretary-General made a statement, in which he honored the memory of the victims, expressed solidarity with the victims and once again demanded the immediate release of all hostages and an end to the bloodshed. According to Antonio GuterresThe events of that day will forever remain etched in people's memories: the attackers brutally murdered more than 1,250 Israelis and foreign citizens. More than 250 people, including women, children, and the elderly, were taken hostage and taken to the Gaza Strip. These events were followed by military action, which led to a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave.

Detention of UN staff in Yemen

The UN reported new cases of arbitrary detention of UN staff in Yemen by Houthi forces, bringing the total number of detained UN personnel to 54. Some have been in detention since 2021. UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned these actions, as well as the illegal seizure of UN premises and property in Houthi-controlled areas. The statement noted that such actions hinder the work of humanitarian services and threaten the safety of staff. The whereabouts of the detainees are unknown, and the de facto Houthi authorities continue to deny access to them, despite repeated requests from the UN.

Climate litigation

Number climate-related litigation, is growing rapidly, and they are affecting an increasing number of countries. This trend is noted by the authors of a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. Among the most significant decisions highlighted in the document is the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which affirms the obligations of states to combat climate change. In total, as of June 30, 2025, according to the report, 3,099 climate-related cases were registered worldwide – in 55 countries and 24 international or regional judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. This is significantly more than in 2022 (2,180 cases) and in 2017 (884 cases).

Cotton Day

October 7th – World Cotton DayThis year, the Day focuses on the vast opportunities offered by the cotton sector, including its crucial contribution to international trade and inclusive economic growth. Cotton plays a vital role in the global economy, social sustainability, and international trade. It provides livelihoods for over 100 million families worldwide and helps address key sustainable development challenges. The cotton industry creates jobs, particularly in rural areas, empowers women and youth, and promotes local processing.

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October 7, 2025 Peace and security

On Monday, the UN Security Council held a meeting dedicated to strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). In their statements, UN representatives emphasized that the partnership between the two organizations remains a key tool for maintaining peace and security on the continent.

Under-Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobi updated the Council on the progress of implementation resolution 2719 (2023)This resolution aims to improve the effectiveness of the African Union's response to armed conflicts, with the support of the international community and the Security Council.

Pobi stressed that “as we rethink the future of peacekeeping operations and strive for greater effectiveness, it becomes even clearer that resolution 2719 meets the challenges of the times.”

According to her, the document's implementation is progressing along four areas defined by the Joint Roadmap, approved by the UN Secretary-General and the Chair of the AU Commission in October 2024. These include joint planning of operations, organizing mission support, setting financial standards, and ensuring respect for human rights, including the protection of civilians and taking into account gender aspects.

Common Challenges and the Way Forward

In turn, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, noted the strong nature of cooperation between the UN and the AU.

He stressed that security sector reform and strengthening governance remain central elements of the partnership, particularly in the context of addressing the root causes of conflict and consolidating peace.

In his speech, Onanga-Anyanga noted that despite successes, Africa continues to face serious challenges: rising conflicts, climate change, violent extremism, human rights violations and humanitarian crises.

The Special Representative also stated that “no military solution can address the root causes of conflicts – not in Sudan, not in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, not in other parts of Africa,” calling on the Security Council to continue to use its influence to advance a peaceful settlement.

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October 7, 2025 Climate and environment

Climate-related litigation is rapidly growing and is spreading to more countries, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Columbia University Climate Change Law Center.

The report, titled “Climate Change in the Courtroom: Trends, Impacts, and Emerging Lessons,” is the fourth in a series launched in 2017. Among the most significant decisions highlighted in the document are: advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, confirming the commitments of states to combat climate change.

According to the report, as of June 30, 2025, a total of 3,099 climate-related cases had been filed globally – in 55 countries and 24 international or regional judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. This is significantly higher than the 2,180 cases registered in 2022 and the 884 cases registered in 2017. While countries in the Global South account for less than 10 percent of all cases, their participation is gradually increasing.

"Climate jurisprudence has emerged as a powerful tool for advancing climate action and accountability," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. "The transformation of energy, transport, housing, and food systems must be achieved through collaborative efforts, based on ambitious and science-based policies. An independent judiciary plays a key role in ensuring that this transition is fair and effective."

Since the first climate change-related case was filed nearly forty years ago, the field has expanded and matured significantly. Litigation covers an increasingly broad range of issues, from greenwashing (false environmental claims) and carbon offset disputes to the regulation of energy-intensive data centers.

Today, courts are considering virtually all aspects of climate governance—from emission reduction and climate change adaptation to human rights protection and corporate financial responsibility. Cases related to biodiversity loss and environmental pollution are increasingly being heard in court.

Judicial bodies increasingly rely on scientific evidence, including studies linking specific extreme weather events to greenhouse gas emissions. Such decisions help shape international legal norms and liability standards.

At the same time, there has been a rise in the number of "anti-climate" cases aimed at weakening environmental regulations or restricting investments based on environmental and social criteria. Particularly alarming is the increase in lawsuits against environmental activists, journalists, and civil society organizations opposing high-emission projects.

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October 7, 2025 Economic development

In a project implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Azerbaijani scientists and farmers, by introducing climate-smart agriculture (CSAA) methods using nuclear and related technologies, were able to more than double cotton yields.

Thanks to the use of the new Cotton Super variety and the careful implementation of COA practices that can increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner, yields in the pilot project increased from the national average of three tons per hectare to eight.

A pilot project, launched in 2021, aimed to develop recommendations for CSA practices applicable to cotton production, train Azerbaijani scientists and progressive farmers in CSA practices, and conduct on-farm pilot field trials. In 2022, another project began, aimed at improving best practices for nutrient application and soil and water management in cotton production. It also aims to increase cotton productivity, as Azerbaijan's lands are particularly vulnerable to climate change and soil degradation. Since 1991, the country's average annual temperature has increased by 0.4 degrees Celsius, while precipitation has decreased, and extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves have become more frequent.

"Overall, soil nutrient application and water management strategies account for 60 percent of crop productivity gains," says Mohammad Zaman, a soil scientist at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and the project's lead specialist. "It's important to accurately determine the volume, mode, and stage of growth."

KSAH methods involve the use of isotopic techniques to obtain important data that allows for the optimization of fertilizer use and the improvement of agricultural production efficiency while maintaining soil health.

"When we first started, Azerbaijan's soils were severely degraded, fertility was very low, and the soil lacked a range of essential nutrients necessary for cotton growth," says Zaman. To address this problem, IAEA specialists developed and provided cotton growers with a full range of nuclear and related techniques covering a wide range of crop production aspects, including soil preparation, selection of the best cotton varieties, nutrient application, irrigation of cotton fields, and control of weeds, pests, and diseases.

"Using improved nutrient application, soil, and water management techniques, along with the Cotton Super variety, has allowed us to improve productivity, enhance quality, and increase profits," says Sakhavat Mammadov, a farmer from Azerbaijan who participated in the pilot project and has been implementing COSH practices on his farm for the past two years.

Read also:

Cotton: The "White Gold" That Feeds Millions

Nuclear and related methods help improve not only agricultural productivity but also the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change. In Azerbaijan, scientists used a method using the stable isotope nitrogen-15 (N-15). Nitrogen plays a vital role in plant growth and photosynthesis—the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into food. Zaman explained that a deficiency of nutrients such as nitrogen in the soil negatively impacts crop yield and nutritional value. Conversely, excessive or improper application of nitrogen fertilizers leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions and pollution of surface and groundwater.

"Cotton is expected to be one of the crops in Azerbaijan with the greatest decline in yield due to climate change and rapid soil degradation," says Zaman. "The use of isotopic techniques, including N-15, can help adapt to new conditions and make the cotton industry more competitive, as well as provide employment and improve the well-being of the rural population."

Azerbaijan was once a major cotton producer and exporter: in the 1980s, harvests reached 830,000 tons and provided up to a quarter of state budget revenue. However, the transition to a market economy and the rapid growth of other industries in the 1990s led to cotton losing its key role in the Azerbaijani economy, and in 2009, its production fell to a record low of 31,000 tons.

The project results demonstrate the high potential of climate-smart practices to increase agricultural productivity.

"Considering that the total area of cotton plantations in Azerbaijan is 105,000 hectares, implementing the IAEA-proposed CSA methods on 10 percent of this area will yield 84,000 tons of cotton, a 166 percent increase over traditional cultivation methods," explains Zaman. "The application of climate-smart agriculture methods in this project has yielded excellent results; this is very encouraging and opens up exciting prospects for Azerbaijan, which will be able to significantly increase cotton production and, as a result, significantly improve its economic performance."

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October 7, 2025 Peace and security

Two years after Hamas and other armed groups attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the suffering of civilians on both sides of the conflict has reached unbearable levels and demands immediate action to end the violence and ensure free access for aid. Representatives from several leading UN agencies stated this at a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

Call for the protection of civilians and the release of hostages

Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), read a statement from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher.

"We reiterate our call for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages. Until then, they must be held in humane conditions," the document emphasizes. "Civilians must be protected under all circumstances."

As of October 1, 48 people remain held hostage, including those known or presumed dead, Laerke said.

Casualty figures and humanitarian catastrophe

Since the beginning of the conflict, the death toll in Gaza has reached 66,288, including 18,430 children. Around 400 Palestinians have died of malnutrition.

According to the UN, more than 8,000 applications for humanitarian missions and movements have been submitted since October 2023, but only 45 percent of them were approved by Israeli authorities. More than a quarter of the applications were rejected or remained unanswered for a long time.

Read also:

Anniversary of attacks on Israel: UN Secretary-General calls for immediate release of hostages and end to hostilities

UNICEF: "Every 17 minutes, one child suffers."

UNICEF Deputy Spokesperson Ricardo Pires recalled that many women and children were killed and wounded on that fateful day, and reiterated his demand for the release of those taken hostage.

A UNICEF representative also condemned violence against children in Gaza, stating that 61,000 children have been killed or injured as a result of Israel's ongoing "disproportionate" attacks. "That's one child every 17 minutes," he warned. "Children are experiencing unimaginable suffering—orphaned, displaced, and exposed to disease and violence. The violence must stop; there must be a ceasefire."

He added that dozens of newborns in northern Gaza are being forced to share oxygen masks and incubators because UNICEF is not receiving permission to deliver vital equipment.

UNRWA: 'Two years of destruction and fear'

Alexandra Vellucci read a statement from Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Relief Agency for Palestinians in the Near East, published on the social media platform X. "Grief, suffering, and immeasurable pain—this is the reality for too many people since October 7, 2023," the statement reads. "For two long years, people in Gaza have seen nothing but destruction, fear, hunger, and death."

Lazzarini reiterated his demand for the release of all hostages and Palestinian detainees, an immediate ceasefire, the unimpeded delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid, including through UNRWA, and for all those responsible for the atrocities committed on both sides to be held accountable.

WHO: Spread of hunger and collapse of health system

According to the World Health Organization, more than 640,000 people are on the brink of starvation. 1,050 children have been admitted to WHO centers for treatment for the effects of malnutrition, half of them this year alone.

Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, only 14 are functioning, and in the northern part of the Strip, all hospitals are closed.

Call for a truce and hope for diplomatic efforts

The UN welcomed the American initiative as a chance for a ceasefire and stressed the need for immediate access of humanitarian supplies and ensuring the safety of civilians.

"There is a glimmer of hope for an end to the suffering that must be preserved," Fletcher said in a statement.

The organization reiterated that respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians are the responsibility of all parties.

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