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“Many of these attacks are linked to attempts by Palestinians to harvest their olives,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “Palestinians were killed and injured. Their homes and property were damaged. Their livestock were attacked.” Record damage levels Mr Fletcher said more trees were damaged and more communities affected this year than in the previous six years combined. “Failing to prevent or punish such attacks is incompatible with international law,” he warned. “Palestinians must be protected. Impunity cannot prevail. Perpetrators must be held accountable.” His remarks follow warnings from the UN spokesperson’s office last week that violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers has increased across the West Bank, often under the surveillance of Israeli security forces. The UN has repeatedly urged Israel, as the occupying power, to prevent further attacks and ensure accountability. The incidents coincide with the annual olive harvest season, a crucial source of income for thousands of Palestinian families, now increasingly disrupted by harassment and destruction of agricultural land. Madagascar’s food crisis worsens due to drought and disease, UN warns Madagascar faces a worsening humanitarian emergency as drought, cyclones and epidemics devastate communities in the country’s south, the United Nations warned Tuesday. Speaking in New York, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said the situation in the Deep South and Deep Southeast regions has become “increasingly dire” due to successive climate shocks and the lingering impact of El Niño. “The combination of drought, the recent cyclone season, a malaria outbreak and strained health systems has left many communities with little capacity to recover,” he told reporters. Hunger is increasing rapidly According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHAthe number of people facing emergency food insecurity in the Deep South is expected to quadruple to 110,000 by January 2026, while almost 160,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition. Mr Haq said aid operations have been crippled by funding cuts, forcing partners to end vital programs. A new national humanitarian response plan aims to raise $185 million to fight hunger, malnutrition and disease until April 2026, but is $125 million short. “The UN is appealing for $85 million to meet the most urgent needs of 1.5 million people,” he said. In this context, the country is also experiencing serious political upheaval. The UN condemned last month this it is described as an “unconstitutional change of government” in Madagascar, following protests led by young people and a takeover by the army. The escalation of unrest and instability further adds pressure on humanitarian efforts and underscores the urgency of the crisis. Only 5 percent of Europeans aged 7 to 9 eat enough fruit and vegetables Only five percent of children aged seven to nine in Europe eat enough fruit and vegetables, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is what the latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals. Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI), showing that obesity and overweight figures remain stubbornly high. This contributes to increasing rates of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and other life-threatening non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to the WHO, in participating countries, one in four children aged seven to nine was overweight, which includes cases of obesity. The study found that boys were more likely to be obese than girls. Online ordering – new obesity threat Unhealthy foods remain widespread, but for the first time, the WHO has reported an increasingly important dietary factor: online ordering. Across 18 countries surveyed, up to 39 percent reported ordering online at least once a month, suggesting a trend toward greater reliance on prepared or delivered meals. According to the WHO, maintaining a healthier diet – such as eating more fresh fruit, consuming fewer sweets and soft drinks – and engaging in regular physical activity is closely linked to socio-economic background. The report notes that healthier eating habits are more common among children whose parents have higher levels of education, while children from families whose parents have lower levels of education are more likely to walk or cycle. “Healthier food environments, better labeling and better taxation of sugary products can help make nutritious choices easy and help combat the obesity epidemic,” the UN health agency said.
