Middle East

New York: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has informed several of its staff members outside the Gaza Strip that their contracts have been terminated and others placed on exceptional leave for up to 12 months. The agency indicated that this step comes as a result of its worsening financial crisis and its inability to meet its obligations. In an official letter sent to staff, UNRWA stated that it had made every possible effort to provide and secure the necessary funds to support current programs and meet staff salary obligations, but the financial situation "continued to deteriorate," noting that this is what prompted it to take these "difficult decisions." This decision comes in the context of an unprecedented financial crisis that UNRWA has been suffering for months, which it says has worsened sharply since the outbreak of the Israeli offensive on Gaza on October 7, 2013, and the subsequent political and financial pressures on the agency, including the suspension or reduction of funding from several donor countries.

Africa

Mogadishu: Somalia on Tuesday strongly condemned the entry of the Israeli Foreign Minister into Hargeisa, a city that is an integral part of Somalia's sovereign territories. In a statement on Tuesday, the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered this action a blatant violation of the country's sovereignty, political unity, and territorial integrity, and an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of a UN member state. The Ministry affirmed that Hargeisa is an integral and inalienable part of internationally recognised Somali territories, and that any official presence, contact, or dealings within Somali territories without the explicit consent and authorisation of the Federal Government are illegal, null and void, and have no legal effect. The statement added that these practices contravene the principles of the UN Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU), and international norms governing relations between sovereign states, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs. The Somali government called on Israel to immediately cease all actions that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and to fully comply with international law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Somalia’s commitment to peaceful international engagement, constructive diplomacy, and adherence to international law, while reserving the right to take all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to protect the country’s sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity.

Africa

Algiers:Algerian Foreign Minister AhmedAttafmet on Tuesday with Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Amy Pope, who is visiting Algeria. The meeting discussed cooperation between Algeria and IOM and ways to strengthen bilateral relations as to ensure effective handling of the various challenges related to migration.