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UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized the imperative of establishing “basic conditions” to facilitate safe and full-scale aid delivery to civilians in Gaza while stressing that only a ceasefire will prevent the crisis from escalating.

Addressing reporters at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday, the UN chief expressed deep concern about the “unprecedented” level of civilian casualties and the “catastrophic” humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

The UN Security Council met on Friday for briefings on the worsening situation across the Middle East, looking first at threats of forced displacement from Gaza and then the escalating conflict in and around the Red Sea – all as the war in Gaza approaches the 100-day mark.

As the war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militants reaches the 100 day mark, the UN is working flat out to meet the dire needs of hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians “through one door” at the Rafah crossing, a restriction imposed by Israel that has to change, said the UN newly-appointed Resident Coordinator on Saturday.

Israel strongly rejected accusations by South Africa of genocidal intent against Palestinians on Friday at the United Nations’ highest court, insisting that it was engaged “in a war it did not start and did not want” in Gaza.

Western Asia’s economic outlook is deteriorating amid escalating conflicts, declining oil production, and limited macroeconomic policy space, according to the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024.

Amid reports of continued Israeli airstrikes overnight in southern and central Gaza and more rocket fire into Israel from the enclave, UN teams said on Thursday they have been unable to deliver urgently needed aid to civilians beyond central areas and further north for the past three days.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack in Iran which has reportedly killed more than 100 people taking part in a commemoration for a former top military general in the eastern city of Kerman.

More than 170 people have also been wounded according to Iranian officials at the scene.

Continuing airstrikes were reported across Gaza on Wednesday and “intense ground battles” between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters in refugee camps in central areas that have reportedly left many dead.

Airstrikes and missiles struck dwellings and public buildings on Tuesday including Al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis killing five, among them a five-day-old baby, reports indicate.

The year 2023 has presented more challenges for Syria, marked by devastating earthquakes, escalating humanitarian needs and the most severe fighting in years, the UN’s envoy for the country said on Thursday.

Briefing ambassadors at the Security Council, Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria, noted that though there have been some diplomatic breakthroughs none led to tangible changes on the ground for civilians.

After intense negotiations all week behind closed doors at the 15-member Security Council, ambassadors continued consultations into Thursday evening over the latest version of a draft resolution penned by the United Arab Emirates which reportedly calls for urgent steps to allow safe and unhindered delivery of aid to stricken civilians in the Gaza Strip. The United States said it would support the latest draft if the text remained the same, with a vote now anticipated on Friday. 

8:30 PM