Project Syndicate: The Tragedy of Gaza’s Children Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children U.K. “…The increasingly dire situation in Gaza — especially for children — is one of the world’s least reported humanitarian emergencies. … Basic services are disintegrating as fast as the economy. The health care system is…

Reuters: Ebola outbreak scuttles haj plans for Congo’s Muslims “Saudi Arabia has banned pilgrims from the Democratic Republic of Congo because of an Ebola outbreak, dashing the hopes of many Muslims there wanting to perform haj” (Chaudhry, 8/8). Xinhua News: WHO to continue support DRC in fighting against Ebola “Ali…

CNN: A quarter of world’s population are living with extreme water stress “A quarter of the world’s population is living in regions of extremely high water stress — with ‘once unthinkable’ water crises becoming common, researchers have said. With the climate crisis biting, 17 countries — home to one in…

Inter Press Service: U.S. Sanctions Imperil Aid to Iran’s Flood Victims “Two major humanitarian groups have warned that United States sanctions on Iran are stopping cash flows for vital humanitarian work in the country, adding another complication to the growing rift between Washington and Tehran. This week, the Norwegian Refugee…

Washington Post: Humanitarian aid in Syria is being politicized — and too many civilians in need aren’t getting it Jesse Marks, MPhil candidate at the University of Cambridge “In April, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) discussed centralizing aid operations for Syria to Damascus. … Humanitarian…

Associated Press: Groups: Yemen airport closure ‘death sentence’ for thousands “The Saudi-led coalition’s closure of the airport in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, has prevented thousands of sick civilians from traveling abroad for urgent medical treatment, two international aid groups said in a joint statement. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council and…

Associated Press: U.N. probes corruption in its own agencies in Yemen aid effort “…More than a dozen U.N. aid workers deployed to deal with the wartime humanitarian crisis have been accused of joining with combatants on all sides to enrich themselves from the billions of dollars in donated aid flowing…

Associated Press: Syria says it agrees to cease-fire in rebel stronghold “Syria’s government said it has agreed to a conditional cease-fire starting late Thursday in northwestern Syria, according to state media. Government troops and allied Russia warplanes have been carrying out a three-month offensive against the rebel’s last stronghold, which…

Devex: Opinion: 6 actions to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen Alexander Matheou, executive director for international at the British Red Cross “…Yemen is back in the news again, amid reported efforts to enforce a ceasefire. Even for Yemen experts, the consequences of those events on the humanitarian crisis…

Associated Press: U.N. official says war in Yemen knocked country back 20 years “A top U.N. official warned Monday that Yemen’s devastating five-year civil war has knocked the country back 20 years in terms of development and access to education. … The stalemated conflict has claimed tens of thousands of…