The damaged facilities include nine schools and two health centers sheltering over 11,000 people. At least five displaced individuals were injured, and UNRWA’s field office also sustained damage. The agency reports that its operations in Gaza City have been severely reduced after the closure of its only functioning health center north of central Gaza due to intensified Israeli air and ground attacks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a surge in displacement alongside nearly 28,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children under five recorded in July and August. In the occupied West Bank, UNRWA notes increased restrictions on Palestinian movement by Israeli forces installing new road gates.
A new report by a UN Human Rights Council-mandated investigative body on Palestine claims Israel has shown a “clear and consistent intent” to establish permanent control over Gaza. The Commission examined developments regarding land and housing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, finding that Israeli authorities extensively demolished civilian infrastructure and expanded control over 75% of Gaza by July 2025. The expansion of the buffer zone has significantly reduced territory for Palestinians, impacting their right to self-determination.
The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed remarks by President Donald Trump regarding paracetamol use during pregnancy, suggesting it may cause autism. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic noted that while some studies raised questions, others showed no link, and overall evidence is inconsistent. He emphasized cautious medication use during pregnancy and rejected claims linking routine vaccines to autism, citing WHO’s immunization schedules saving over 150 million lives in 50 years.
WHO reports over 1.4 billion people live with hypertension, yet only one in five have it under control. A new WHO report highlights uncontrolled hypertension as a leading cause of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and dementia, killing over 10 million annually. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed countries could change this narrative with political will and investment. Only 28% of low-income countries have consistent access to WHO-recommended hypertension medicines, compared to 93% of high-income nations. However, progress is possible, as seen in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and South Korea integrating hypertension care into universal health coverage.
UN independent rights experts warn the Nicaraguan Government is extending repression beyond its borders. A new report presented to the Human Rights Council highlights opponents in exile being stripped of nationality, denied passports, and targeted through surveillance, property confiscation, and threats to relatives. Chairperson Jan-Michael Simon described this as a “cynical and calculated” strategy to avoid accountability. Panel member Reed Brody noted the climate of fear for exiled Nicaraguans, mentioning the June killing of government critic Roberto Samcam in Costa Rica. Rights investigator Ariela Peralta raised concerns about enforced disappearances and deaths in custody, urging States to consider taking action at the International Court of Justice and to protect exiled Nicaraguans.
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