Aid

New Aid Convoy Enters South Syria Druze-Majority Province

A new humanitarian aid convoy reached southern Syria's Druze heartland on Monday, official media said, as the United Nations warned the humanitarian situation in Sweida province was critical after deadly violence. Clashes in Druze-majority Sweida province, which began on July 13 and ended with a ceasefire a week later, initially involved Druze ...

Israel Says Gaza Got 120 Trucks of Aid on Day One of Pause

Israel said Monday that more than 120 truckloads of food aid were distributed by the UN and aid agencies in the Gaza Strip on the first day of a promised limited break in fighting. On Sunday, Israel declared a "tactical pause" in military operations in part of Gaza and promised to open secure routes for aid, urging humanitarian groups to step up ...

Over 100 NGOs Urge Ceasefire as Gaza Faces Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

More than 100 aid organizations and human rights groups warned on Wednesday that "mass starvation" was spreading in Gaza, as the United States said its top envoy was heading to Europe for talks on a possible ceasefire and aid corridor. Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where ...

US Congress Approves $9 Bn in Trump Cuts to Foreign Aid, Public Media

US Republicans early Friday approved President Donald Trump's plan to cancel $9 billion in funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, vowing it was just the start of broader efforts by Congress to slash the federal budget. The cuts achieve only a tiny fraction of the $1 trillion in annual savings that tech billionaire and estranged Trump ...

European Union Reaffirms Strong Support for Lebanon and Encourages Key Reforms

The European Union and Member State Ambassadors met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday to confirm their strong support for Lebanon, especially in areas affected by conflict. According to a press release published by the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, the EU and its Member States have so far provided more than 600 ...

UN: Nearly 800 Killed Seeking Aid in Gaza, Most Near GHF Sites

Nearly 800 people have died trying to access aid in Gaza since late May, with most killed near the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's sites, the UN said Friday. An officially private effort, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operations on May 26 after Israel halted supplies into the Gaza Strip for more than ...

Aid Turns Deadly: Nearly 800 Killed Seeking Food in Gaza, Says UN

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces killed 18 people on Friday, including 10 who were waiting for aid in the south of the war-ravaged territory. The fresh deaths came as the United Nations said nearly 800 people had been killed trying to access food in Gaza since late May, when Israel began easing a more than two-month total ...

Gaza Rescuers say 25 Killed by Israeli Fire

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli fire killed at least 25 people on Thursday, including 15 who had gathered near an aid distribution site. Civil defense official Mohammad al-Mughayyir told AFP that 15 people were killed and 60 wounded, while waiting for aid in central Gaza's Netzarim corridor, where thousands of people have gathered daily ...

UN Scales Back Global Aid Plan due to 'Deepest Funding Cuts Ever'

The United Nations on Monday said it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans due to the "deepest funding cuts ever". The UN's humanitarian agency said in a statement that it was seeking $29 billion in funding compared to $44 billion requested in December, in a "hyper-prioritized" appeal. Under President Donald Trump, who ...

Israel Diverts Gaza-Bound aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg

Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat on Monday, preventing the activists on board -- including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg -- from reaching the blockaded Palestinian territory. The Madleen set sail from Italy on June 1 to raise awareness of food shortages in Gaza, which the United Nations has called the "hungriest place on ...

Francis's Popemobile Converted Into Clinic for Gazan Children

Before his death, Pope Francis donated one of his popemobiles to be converted into a children's clinic in war-torn Gaza, Catholic charity Caritas said on Monday. The iconic open-sided vehicle, designed to allow the pontiff to greet crowds of well-wishers, has been transferred to Caritas Jerusalem and will head to Gaza if and when Israel opens a ...

US Cuts Overseas Development Program Budgets by More than 90%

The United States has dramatically cut the budgets of overseas development and aid programs, with multi-year contracts pared down by 92 percent, or $54 billion, the State Department said Wednesday. On his first day in office, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order demanding a freeze on all US foreign aid for 90 days. The pause aimed ...