Habib Siddiqui

 

  An  Israeli   air strike has hit a humanitarian aid convoy laden with medical supplies and fuel for an   Emirati -run hospital in Rafah, killing several workers. Israeli forces claimed the attack targeted “armed assailants” who were attempting to hijack the convoy, which was organised by the US charity, Anera. But Anera said that several employees of the transportation company it had worked with had been killed in the attack.  All the fatalities were in the vehicle leading the convoy, which was the target of the attack. According to unconfirmed reports, five people were killed in the strike. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on  Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Anera reported that the convoy had been approved by Israeli authorities.  In a statement Israeli forces confirmed the authorisation but claimed in a statement that “during the convoy’s movement, a number of armed assailants seized control

  UNICEF USA BRANDVOICE | Paid Program Aug 29, 2024,11:46am EDT Updated Aug 29, 2024, 11:47am EDT As refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, struggle to withstand major threats to their health and well-being, conflict and crises continue back home in Myanmar. UNICEF teams are on the ground in both countries doing what they can to make sure children and families are supported and protected. Donor support is needed to help sustain and scale these efforts. Two of roughly 500,000 Rohingya refugee children growing up in camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Many child refugees were born there. “Over the past 12 months, we have been increasingly concerned about the security situation in the camps and reports of child rights violations," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in an Aug. 25 statement marking the seventh anniversary of the crisis. "We stand ready to support the new interim government of Bangladesh to ensure that these children are protected and hav

  Mokammel Shuvo Thu Aug 29, 2024 07:16 PM Last update on: Thu Aug 29, 2024 07:26 PM Intense fighting in Maungdaw raises fresh Rohingya influx fears Caption-spiral smoke was seen across the border fron Sabrang union of Teknaf. The photo was taken on Tuesday .  Photo: Mokammel Shuvo  Intense fighting in Maungdaw raises fresh Rohingya influx fears Fear of a new influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar grew as fighting intensified around Maungdaw Township in Rakhine state opposite Subrang union of Teknaf. Residents said, for the last 3 days, they are hearing loud sounds of explosions, and the sounds of fighter jets and helicopter gunships flying across the border. The fighting was going on till filling this report at 4:00pm. This area is populated predominantly by the Rohingya community, who are recently facing brutal crackdown by the Arakan Army, said Rohingyas in the Bangladeshi refugee camps. A recent incident that killed around 200 Rohingyas in a drone attack drew attenti

  Pinky Akter Asiya (not her real name) and her eight family members moved to Bangladesh in 2017 following persecution by the Myanmar military in Rakhine state. She moved into Muchuni Camp in Cox’s Bazar with her grandparents and siblings after losing her parents. After five years, Sanjida (45), a Rohingya refugee who lives in Camp-4 Kutupalong, assured her that she would be given work as a cleaner at a hotel. But in the end, she was compelled to work as a sex slave. "Sanjida sold me here for Tk 40,000. I couldn’t do anything when I came to know that later," Asiya said, adding that she could not leave this work later because she received death threats from sex trade owner. Asiya is now sixteen years old, yet she appears like an adult. Asiya claims that this is because of Oradexon, a steroid drug, known as red pill among the locals.   Like Asiya, many other Rohingya refugee women find themselves at different cottages at Kolatoli in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh’s southern

  On Wednesday, Israel launched a major military assault on the occupied West Bank. The Israeli army deployed hundreds of soldiers, armoured vehicles, bulldozers, drones and fighter jets to try to destroy the armed resistance in the regions of Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas. At least 18 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, and scores have been injured. Keep reading .  Polio vaccination to begin on Sunday amid limited pause in fighting: WHO .  Houthis release footage of fighters boarding Greek oil tanker in Red Sea .  UN says Israel agrees to pauses in Gaza fighting for polio vaccinations .  Houthis release video of attack on Red Sea oil tanker Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called on the Israeli army to force Palestinians to evacuate from the northern West Bank. The military has announced a “voluntary evacuation”. This Israeli talk of forced expulsion masked under the humanitarian term “evacuation” is raising fears that the West Bank will follow the fate of Gaza i