In Central Asian countries, the problem of obstetric violence is discussed less frequently than in European countries. Top news of the day | Friday: Lebanon, Gaza, attacks on synagogues, obstetric violence UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: the head of the UN, who is visiting Beirut, called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, humanitarian aid supplies through the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza are almost completely blocked, the Secretary-General condemned attacks on synagogues in Canada, Belgium, the United States and the Netherlands, a report on obstetric violence was presented at the UN.
Secretary General in Lebanon
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on a visit to the Lebanese capital Beirut, called for an urgent release of more than $308 million to help people affected by the worsening crisis in Lebanon. He warned that the escalation of conflict in the region is having dire consequences for civilians. Already, more than 900 thousand people in Lebanon have fled their homes, of which more than 90 thousand have crossed the border with Syria. People live in tents and special accommodation centers; they are in dire need of food and medical assistance. Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Help for Gaza
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that yesterday and today almost all attempts to deliver humanitarian aid through the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza were blocked. We only let one convoy through. Kerem Shalom remains the only operational checkpoint on the border with Gaza, while Rafah and Zikim remain closed. The UN calls for opening border checkpoints and allowing the entry of humanitarian supplies into the sector, which will allow assistance to be provided to all those in need in the required volumes.
Attacks on synagogues
The Secretary-General strongly and unequivocally condemns the attacks on synagogues in Canada, Belgium, the United States and the Netherlands. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said this at a briefing in New York. Places of worship should serve as a refuge for all believers, and attacks on them undermine the principle of humanity, the UN chief emphasizes. Guterres called on the authorities of all countries where such incidents occurred to ensure the protection of religious sites, bring those responsible to justice and make every effort to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred.
Obstetric violence
Almost 70 percent of women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia report experiencing abuse during childbirth. Such data are provided in a new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Nearly half of the women surveyed reported medical interventions, including caesarean sections, for which they did not consent, about 24 percent reported being abused by medical staff, and 12 percent of respondents reported being restrained during labor, such as being tied to a bed or subjected to other forms of harsh physical force.