标签： Asia

The Israeli military has intensified its operations across the Gaza Strip, conducting aerial strikes, artillery fire, and building demolitions despite plummeting temperatures and a severe lack of shelter for displaced Palestinians. Since Sunday night, attacks have been concentrated in Khan Younis, south of the besieged enclave, and Gaza City, resulting in civilian casualties. On Monday morning, Israeli aircraft targeted eastern Khan Younis, while heavy artillery shelling struck al-Khansaa School and surrounding areas in Abasan al-Kabira. Simultaneously, Israeli forces launched attacks on Rafah, killing at least two Palestinians. Explosions echoed through Gaza City as Israeli troops continued demolitions, targeting residential neighborhoods and shelters where many Palestinians have sought refuge. Ismail al-Thawabta, Director General of the Gaza Government Media Office, reported that Israel has committed over 194 violations since the US-brokered ceasefire began on October 10. Since the onset of Israel’s military campaign in October 2023, more than 68,865 Palestinians have been killed, with 170,670 injured. Compounding the crisis, Israeli authorities have restricted the entry of essential aid, including materials for tents. Amjad al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza, highlighted the urgent need for 300,000 new tents before winter to avert a humanitarian and environmental disaster. Thawabta noted that Israel has failed to meet ceasefire stipulations, including the provision of shelters, food, medicine, and fuel. Between the ceasefire’s start and the end of October, only 3,203 of the required 13,200 aid trucks entered Gaza, far below the daily target of 600. The impending winter threatens to exacerbate the dire conditions in Gaza, where infrastructure, including homes, schools, and health centers, lies in ruins. The UN agency for Palestine refugees (Unrwa) has called for restored humanitarian access as colder temperatures approach, emphasizing the urgent need for shelter and warmth.

A tragic avalanche struck the Yalung Ri mountain in Nepal’s Dolakha district on Monday, claiming the lives of at least three climbers, including a French national. The incident occurred at 09:00 local time near the base camp, where a group of 12 trekkers and local guides had set out just over an hour before the disaster. Among the deceased were two Italians, a German, and a Canadian. Five Nepali guides who managed to return to the base camp sustained non-critical injuries. Rescue operations are ongoing, but efforts are being hindered by adverse weather conditions and logistical challenges. A rescue helicopter has been deployed to the Na Gaun area, approximately a five-hour walk from the base camp. Separately, search and rescue missions continue for two Italian climbers, Stefano Farronato and Alessandro Caputo, who went missing while attempting to scale Panbari mountain in western Nepal. The duo, along with three local guides, became stranded last week due to heavy rain and snowfall triggered by Cyclone Montha. While one member of their group, Velter Perlino, has been rescued, the fate of the others remains uncertain. The cyclone also left several trekkers and tourists stranded in the Himalayas, including two British and one Irish woman who were rescued after being trapped for days in the Mustang region.

Thousands of residents in the Philippines have been evacuated as Typhoon Kalmaegi approaches Leyte Island, bringing with it powerful winds and the threat of devastating storm surges. The typhoon, with sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 150 kph, is expected to make landfall in a region historically vulnerable to catastrophic storms. Evacuations have been ongoing for two days, particularly in coastal towns like Palo and Tanauan, which were severely impacted by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, a disaster that claimed over 6,000 lives. Neighboring Samar Island has also seen thousands evacuated, with predictions of three-meter storm surges. Local authorities in Guiuan town have even enforced mandatory evacuations to ensure safety. The Philippines, which faces an average of 20 storms annually, has already reached that number this year, with experts warning of three to five more storms before the end of December. In Dinagat Islands province, south of Leyte, preemptive evacuations have relocated 10,000 to 15,000 people to safer areas. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity of storms to human-driven climate change, while weather specialists note that higher cyclone activity often accompanies the La Nina climate pattern. The Philippines recently endured two major storms in September, including Super Typhoon Ragasa, which caused significant damage and fatalities in Taiwan.