The UN on Thursday demanded an end to the bombing of Ukrainian schools and denounced their use for military purposes during a meeting of the Security Council.
“Hundreds of schools across the country are reported to have been hit by heavy artillery, air strikes and other explosive weapons in populated areas,” Omar Abdi, deputy executive director of the UN children's fund, told the council.
“These attacks must stop,” Mr Abdi said.
As of last week, of the 89 Unicef-supported schools in eastern Ukraine, one in six had been “damaged or destroyed” since the Russian invasion on February 24, he said.
“Other schools are being used as information centres, shelters, supply hubs or for military purposes — with long-term impact on children's return to education,” he added.
The Security Council meeting was convened at the request of Mexico and France, which stressed that attacks on schools were a flagrant breach of humanitarian law.
“The Russian army continues to kill civilians, including children,” charged France's UN ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere.
His Russian counterpart, Vasily Nebenzya, rejected what he called “absurd accusations” against Moscow's armed forces, saying Russia was providing humanitarian support to children in the eastern Donbas region, where he accused Ukraine of waging “civil war against its own people”.
Kyiv's ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya meanwhile urged the UN to step up efforts to reunite Ukrainian children and parents who have been separated during the fighting, as he reiterated the charge that Russia was “kidnapping” Ukrainian children caught up in the conflict.
“After forcible transfer to Russia, they are illegally adopted by Russian citizens,” he said.
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
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Power: 727hp
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
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