标签： Asia

The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the dire economic and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, estimating that reconstruction efforts will require $70 billion over the coming decades. A report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlights the devastating impact of Israel’s bombardment, which has plunged Gaza into a ‘human-made abyss,’ with its economy contracting by 87% in 2023-2024. The per capita GDP has plummeted to $161, one of the lowest globally. The report also underscores the crisis in the occupied West Bank, where repeated attacks by Israeli soldiers and settlers have exacerbated economic instability. Decades of economic progress in Palestine have been erased, with the current crisis ranking among the ten worst globally since 1960. UN officials describe the situation as ‘bleak,’ with over 1.7 million people displaced, facing severe shortages of water, food, and medical care. The UN has called for urgent international intervention to address the humanitarian crisis, restore fiscal transfers, and ease trade and movement restrictions. The report emphasizes the need for a comprehensive recovery plan to stabilize the region and foster lasting peace and development.

The iconic popemobile, once used by the late Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem, has been repurposed into a mobile children’s clinic for the war-torn Gaza Strip. Dubbed the ‘Vehicle of Hope,’ this initiative fulfills the late pontiff’s final wish to serve the children of Gaza. The vehicle, originally a gift from Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, was unveiled in Bethlehem near the Church of the Nativity, where preparations for Christmas are underway. Cardinal Anders Arborelius, Bishop of Stockholm, blessed the vehicle and emphasized its mission to ensure every child feels ‘seen, heard, and protected.’ Staffed by medical professionals, the clinic is equipped to perform triage, examinations, diagnoses, and treatments, including vaccinations and wound care, with a capacity for up to 200 consultations daily. Children will sit in the pope’s former seat while receiving care. The transformation, led by Caritas, a Catholic humanitarian organization, cost $15,000 and was carried out by Palestinian mechanics. However, the clinic’s entry into Gaza awaits Israeli authorization, as the region continues to recover from a fragile truce after two years of devastating conflict. Caritas Secretary General Alistair Dutton stressed the urgency of gaining access to deliver this vital humanitarian aid.

In a scathing indictment of international inaction, Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta, a senior member of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and the military’s second-in-command, has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of orchestrating a race war in Sudan and silencing global criticism through financial influence. Speaking to journalists during a dinner near his Omdurman headquarters, Atta alleged that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed has been backing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group responsible for widespread atrocities across Sudan, including recent massacres in the Darfur city of el-Fasher. Atta claimed that the UAE’s financial power has bought the silence of Western politicians, enabling the RSF to commit crimes with impunity. He singled out Britain, Sudan’s former colonial power, for failing to leverage its historical ties to advocate for the Sudanese people. Atta also criticized British media for inadequate coverage of the conflict, which has claimed over 150,000 lives. He revealed that the RSF has recruited mercenaries from countries like Colombia, Ukraine, and Somalia, facilitated by UAE support. The general accused the UAE of pursuing a strategic plan to ethnically cleanse Sudan of its African tribes, relocating them to neighboring countries. Despite the RSF’s recent gains, Atta expressed confidence in the Sudanese Armed Forces’ ability to reclaim el-Fasher within three months. He called for justice for the victims and demanded that the UAE repatriate mercenaries and cease its interference in Sudan’s affairs.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated sharply after Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of conducting deadly air strikes in Khost province, resulting in the deaths of nine children and a woman. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated the attack targeted a civilian residence and vowed an appropriate response. Pakistan, however, denied involvement, with military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry asserting that Pakistan does not target civilian populations and that the allegations are baseless. The incident follows a suicide attack in Peshawar on Monday that killed three Pakistani paramilitary officers, which Pakistan attributes to Afghan nationals and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group operating from Afghan soil. The strained relations between the two nations have been exacerbated by border clashes in October, which killed around 70 people and led to a temporary ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey. Despite ongoing talks, security issues, particularly Pakistan’s demand for Kabul to curb TTP activities, remain unresolved. The border closure since the clashes has also severely impacted bilateral trade, with thousands of containers stranded and incurring significant daily costs. The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry has described the economic burden as unsustainable.