Hello, this is Michelle. Discussions in Geneva on peacebuilding last week couldn’t have come at a stranger time for the community as calls for diplomacy and conflict resolution are drowned out by the sound of airstrikes and bullets in the Middle East.
While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was not on the official agenda, it was on the minds of many. It was certainly the case for one of the speakers, UN expert on the right to water Pedro Arrojo Agudo, for whom Gaza is just the latest example where water is being wielded as a weapon.
This last month in Gaza has also proven to be the deadliest period in history for UN workers. And a WHO regional appointment is mired in allegations of nepotism and corruption. |
UN special rapporteur Pedro Arrojo Agudo, speaking at an event during Geneva Peace Week on 31 October 2023, said water should be a tool for peace not war. (Geneva Solutions/Michelle Langrand)
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Here's what else is happening
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⚰️UN says Israel-Gaza war is deadliest ever for its personnel.
Secretary general, António Guterres, said that 89 employees of Unrwa, its agency aiding Palestinian refugees, had been killed since the war began.
New York Times (EN)
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🗳️Saima Wazed elected WHO south-east Asia regional director despite corruption claims.
The appointment of the daughter of Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been attributed to a relentless diplomatic campaign by her mother's government.
Health Policy Watch (EN)
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🛬UN rights chief travels to Middle East amid Gaza escalation.
Volker Türk's five-day trip, which started on Tuesday, includes visiting Cairo and the Rafah crossing, followed by Jordan. Gaza, the West Bank and Israel are not part of it despite his office saying it sought access to the three locations.
Reuters (EN)
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🫁Fight against tuberculosis bounces back after pandemic – but remains one of the world’s biggest killers.
In its annual TB report, the World Health Organization urged politicians to follow through on commitments and consign the disease to history books.
Forbes (EN)
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🤝World Bank to initially host loss and damage fund under draft deal.
After nearly a year of talks, negotiators from developing countries made a key compromise on Saturday on how the future fund will work, but their bosses still have to sign off on the tentative deal at Cop28.
Climate Change News (EN)
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