Israel’s New Displacement Order: Aid Organisations Warn of Escalation of Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza

By: Michael Mike

Aid organisations have warned of dramatic escalation of humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza following Israel issuance of new mass displacement orders to Palestinian occupying in part of the war-torn city.

A statement on Wednesday signed by a conglomerate of aid organisations including ActionAid, Action for Humanity, CARE International, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), DanChurchAid (DCA), Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS), HelpAge International, Humanity & Inclusion/ Handicap International (HI), Islamic Relief
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Médecins du Monde France, Spain and Switzerland, Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
Oxfam, Plan International, Premiere Urgence Internationale, Save the Children, Terre des Hommes Italia, The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and War Child warned that Israel’s new displacement orders in northern Gaza threaten to force civilians into ever-shrinking areas and endanger aid operations.

The statement read that: “On 6 October 2024, Israel issued new mass displacement orders targeting the remaining Palestinians of the northern Gaza Strip, ordering them to leave to the south. This move will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the north and has prevented international and national humanitarian organisations from carrying out already very limited life-saving aid operations. The new orders have obstructed humanitarian actors from providing necessities such as health services, clean water, food and nutrition services, taking away the remaining lifelines for the civilian population.”

It added that: “Nowhere in Gaza is safe for civilians. Given the severity of the needs, humanitarian actors must be able to distribute aid and continue their work, without threat of displacement or military operations. The undersigned aid organisations urge all parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations to protect civilians and facilitate unhindered humanitarian access at all times.”

The statement added that: “The UN estimates 400,000 people remain in the north. On Sunday, Israel ordered residents to flee through dangerous routes to already overcrowded areas such as Al-Mawasi in the south. These areas remain insecure with active fighting and routine airstrikes, despite being unilaterally designated by Israel as a “humanitarian zone”. Given the short notice to move and the large population in the affected area, many are likely to remain, increasing the risk of further civilian casualties.

“The undersigned aid organisations demand the protection of all civilians in line with international humanitarian law and are particularly concerned about children, pregnant women with complications or at advanced stages of pregnancy and other people who are sick, older people, persons with disabilities, or are otherwise unable to leave. The new orders impact Palestinians living close to the Netzarim corridor. Further reports indicate that Israel intends to expand the Netzarim corridor to reinforce the separation between the north and south, effectively preventing people from returning north and further restricting aid flow to a population already enduring catastrophic levels of hunger.

“Civilians who do not leave the area do not lose their right to protection. Under international humanitarian law, Israel is defined as the occupying power and a party to the conflict. Both roles carry obligations to guarantee the protection of the civilian population and facilitate their unhindered access to humanitarian aid.

According to the statement, Paula Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons has said that “Israel is seeking to permanently alter the composition of Gaza’s population with ever-expanding evacuation orders and widespread and systematic attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure”, in violation of IHL.

The aid organisations call for a permanent ceasefire, the protection of civilians and a scale up of humanitarian aid.

The aid organisations noted that the forcible transfer of Palestinian civilians in Gaza is a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and does not amount to a permissible evacuation, adding that relocation areas have not provided safety, adequate shelter or essential services, and there has also been no guarantee that displaced populations will be able to return once hostilities end.

Israel’s New Displacement Order: Aid Organisations Warn of Escalation of Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza

Botswana Ready to Learn Nigerian Entrepreneurial, Resilience Spirit, Says Envoy

By: Michael Mike

The Botswana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Miss Philda Nani Kereng has sought improved bilateral relations with Nigeria, stating that her country is ready to learn from Nigeria.

Kereng who spoke on Monday night in Abuja on the occasion of her country’s 58 Independence anniversary, said she would be working towards ensuring active projects between both countries.

The envoy said her people want to learn the entrepreneurial and resilience spirit that makes Nigerians excel wherever they find themselves.

She said:”Nigeria for us is a very, very critical partner. We have had relationship with Nigeria for a long time, but this time we want active projects, tangible projects, tangible business collaborations that will see our people trading together, that will see our government trading together, that will see us joining together to lead the rising of the African continent because of the strength that both countries have.”

The envoy said Botswana has special regards for Nigeria, saying “This is a country where we have seen a lot of progress in terms of enterprise, trade, the spirit of enterprise of Nigerians. These people, when they want to do business, they go all out.They hit all milestones and they go against every odds so that they can achieve their intentions.

” We have seen and learned from Nigerians that the mindset of business is something that Botswana wants to learn from. Our people, the government does so much to support small enterprises, micro enterprises, businesses, young people, women and so forth.

“But we want to connect more so that we can learn from you how you do this business, how you venture out in the global space, technology application in trade markets and venturing out into the globe.

” We are also looking up at Nigerian creative sector that is so vibrant. We have talented young people who are not working, but they want to be developed so that they can enter the film industry, fashion industry, food industry, culinary arts, acting, arts, music and everything because Nigeria lives in that space”.

The envoy, who is just four months in Nigeria, said her major task in Nigeria is to foster better trade and business relations between both countries.

According to her: “I’m here to make those connections. And as I celebrate, I know I’m celebrating some milestones because I have already started talking with critical stakeholders. Last week on Monday, we had a business breakfast meeting with the stakeholders in business, giving them information about Botswana investment opportunities. And together we joined one spirit to say we can work together as the two countries.

“At the end of it all, we are using tangible projects and business connections and progress for people of Nigeria and Botswana to make sure that business dealings and business facilitation is made easy for us because we want to both benefit.”

Speaking on areas of interest, the envoy said currently the trade between both countries are secondary and still very small, ” But, you know, we are looking at opportunities where we can get more products from here, especially the natural, you know, products, you know, how you do cosmetics and stuff like that, textiles and so forth.

“We also want to trade on skills and capacities. So there’s not much that we are doing together in terms of volumes of imports and exports, but we are here to cultivate what we have seen a big potential.”

On the other hand, she said Nigeria can learn from her country in the area of agriculture, especially aniimal husbandry.

“Those that are in the agricultural sector, Botswana beef production story, livestock rearing story is very powerful. We have been exporting to the European market the best beef for decades. So we want to teach you how to do animal husbandry, produce quality beef, because here, I’m sorry, I can’t eat the beef because I’ve tasted the best.

“So we want to collaborate for the beef development sector. But Nigeria can also invest in Botswana to do trainings and set academies for the creatives and also bring your products to Botswana. But most importantly also, or more importantly, travel to Botswana as tourists.”

She stressed that “We believe that cultural exchange is a powerful tool for building bridges between nations. By sharing our customs, traditions, and values, we can deepen our understanding and appreciation for one another.

“As we move forward, we’ll continue to promote people-to-people diplomacy, fostering greater understanding and cooperation. We believe that the ties between Botswana and Nigeria will grow stronger with each passing day.”

Botswana Ready to Learn Nigerian Entrepreneurial, Resilience Spirit, Says Envoy

China Calls on Developed Countries to Mop Up Their Climate Troubles

By: Michael Mike

The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yu Dunhai has called on developed countries to mop up climatic challenges they caused in developing countries, insisting that there is urgent need for them to take responsibility of international injustices especially regarding climate change.

He stated this in Abuja on Thursday at a “Seminar on Taking New Opportunities for China – Nigeria Cooperation in Deepening Reform in the New Era.”

Yu said it was unfair for developed nations to transfer the burden of developments on developing countries especially climate change and other challenges caused as a result of industrialisation.

The government envoy said China became among the top economies by adopting people centered approach and lifting 800 million people out of poverty over the past 70 years.

He further explained that his country achieved it development goals because it was open to all countries for exchange of ideas and that has been one of the major strengths the country had displayed to the world.

Yu said his country had adopted people centered approach to become relevant among the committee of nations by advocating stability among nations and in the last 70 years, it had never been to war with anyone.

He described China and Nigeria as strong partners that have been working towards the development of one another.

On his part, the head of department, political science and international relations, University of Abuja, Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, while giving a historical background on China’s development, recommended that Nigeria must be deliberate in its pursuit of development.

He noted that Nigeria has alot of good policies that require self decipline among leaders and followers to implement.

Another professor from the University of Abuja, Bibi Farouk decried that Nigeria has not grown to its commensurate capability because its leaders refused to develop the country’s infrastructure.

He said Nigeria and China need to look at technological development in its partnership agreement to help each other grow.

He advised that Nigeria should open its markets for China to enable it benefit from Chinese technology.

China Calls on Developed Countries to Mop Up Their Climate Troubles