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UN seeks $6 billion to ease ‘appalling’ suffering in Sudan

UN seeks $6 billion to ease ‘appalling’ suffering in Sudan
Displaced Sudanese, who fled the Zamzam camp, gather near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 14, 2025 (AFP)
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Updated 17 February 2025

UN seeks $6 billion to ease ‘appalling’ suffering in Sudan

UN seeks $6 billion to ease ‘appalling’ suffering in Sudan
  • Appeal represents 40 percent increase from 2024 amid tight budgets
  • UN plan is most ambitious globally, aiming to reach 21 mln people

GENEVA: The United Nations said on Monday it is seeking $6 billion for Sudan this year from international donors to help ease suffering in what it called one of the most devastating crises of our times, characterised by mass displacement and growing famine.
The UN appeal represents a rise of more than 40 percent from last year’s for Sudan at a time when aid budgets around the world are under increasing strain, partly due to a pause in funding announced by US President Donald Trump last month that has affected life-saving programs across the globe.
But the UN says the funds are necessary because the impact of the 22-month war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — that has already displaced a fifth of its population and stoked severe hunger among around half its population — looks set to worsen.
“Sudan is a humanitarian emergency of shocking proportions,” said UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher ahead of the launch. “Famine is taking hold. An epidemic of sexual violence rages. Children are being killed and injured. The suffering is appalling.”
Famine conditions have been reported in at least five locations in Sudan, including displacement camps in Darfur, the UN statement said, adding that this was set to worsen with continued fighting and the collapse of basic services.
One of the famine-stricken camps was attacked by the RSF last week as the paramilitary group tries to tighten its grip on its Darfur stronghold.
While some aid agencies say they have received waivers from Washington to provide aid in Sudan, uncertainty remains on the extent of coverage for providing famine relief.
The UN plan aims to reach nearly 21 million people within the country, making it the most ambitious humanitarian response so far for 2025, and requires $4.2 billion — the rest being for those displaced by the conflict.


Jordan partially reopens West Bank crossing after deadly attack

Jordan partially reopens West Bank crossing after deadly attack
Updated 12 min 16 sec ago

Jordan partially reopens West Bank crossing after deadly attack

Jordan partially reopens West Bank crossing after deadly attack
  • Jordan said it partially reopened its border crossing with the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, three days after closing it following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers

AMMAN: Jordan said it partially reopened its border crossing with the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, three days after closing it following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers.
“The crossing reopened Sunday for travelers only, while the movement of cargo trucks remains suspended until further notice,” an official statement said.
State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka reported heavy traffic in both directions from early in the morning.
The Allenby crossing is the only gateway Palestinians in the West Bank can use to travel abroad without passing through Israel, which has occupied the territory since 1967.
On Thursday, a Jordanian truck driver carrying aid for Gaza opened fire at the crossing, killing an Israeli soldier and a reserve officer with the civil administration before being “neutralized,” according to Israel.
Following the attack, the Israeli military asked Jordan to suspend the transfer of aid through the terminal.
Jordan said it had launched an investigation and identified the assailant as Abdel Mutaleb Al-Qaissi, 57.
It described him as “a civilian who had been working for three months as a driver delivering aid to Gaza,” which the UN says is suffering from a humanitarian crisis after nearly two years of devastating war.
Amman condemned the attack, calling it “a threat to the kingdom’s interests and to its ability to deliver humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.”


Pakistan says Sharif, Islamic leaders to meet Trump at UNGA sidelines next week

Pakistan says Sharif, Islamic leaders to meet Trump at UNGA sidelines next week
Updated 16 min 50 sec ago

Pakistan says Sharif, Islamic leaders to meet Trump at UNGA sidelines next week

Pakistan says Sharif, Islamic leaders to meet Trump at UNGA sidelines next week
  • Both sides will exchange views on regional, international peace and security, says foreign office
  • Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan delegation at United Nations General Assembly from Sept. 22-26

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will join “select” Islamic leaders in a meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next week, the Pakistani foreign office said on Sunday, elaborating that discussions will focus on regional and international peace and security. 

Sharif will lead the Pakistan delegation, comprising senior ministers and officials including Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, at the 80th UNGA session from Sept. 22-26 in New York. 

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Sharif will urge the international community to resolve the situation of “prolonged occupation” of the people of the disputed Kashmir territory and Palestine. 

“The Prime Minister will also participate in a meeting of select Islamic leaders with US President Trump to exchange views on issues pertaining to regional and international peace and security,” the foreign office said. 

The foreign office did not share further details of the meeting but said Sharif will draw the international community’s attention toward the Gaza crisis at the UNGA and call for a “decisive action” to end the suffering of the Palestinians. 

“He will also highlight Pakistan’s perspective on the regional security situation, as well as other issues of international concern, including climate change, terrorism, Islamophobia, and sustainable development,” the foreign office said. 

 It said the prime minister will attend several high-level events on the sidelines of the UNGA, including key meetings of the UN Security Council, a high-level meeting of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and a Special High-Level Event on Climate Action, among others.

The foreign ministry said Sharif will meet world leaders and UN officials for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. 

“He will also underline Pakistan’s resolve to work with all UN Member States to uphold the UN Charter, prevent conflict, foster peace and promote global prosperity in Pakistan’s current role as a member of the Security Council,” the statement said. 

The meeting with Trump next week will take place days after Pakistan and Ƶ entered into a defense pact, whereby the two countries pledged that any attack against one will be treated as an attack on both of them. 

Sharif’s meeting with Trump, along with other Islamic leaders, also reflects Pakistan’s improving ties with the US. Islamabad and Washington have grown close over the months since Pakistan praised Trump for intervening in its conflict with India and brokering a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbors in May. 


‘Leaving empty-handed’: Afghan refugees in Karachi sell off years of savings ahead of deportation

‘Leaving empty-handed’: Afghan refugees in Karachi sell off years of savings ahead of deportation
Updated 23 min 15 sec ago

‘Leaving empty-handed’: Afghan refugees in Karachi sell off years of savings ahead of deportation

‘Leaving empty-handed’: Afghan refugees in Karachi sell off years of savings ahead of deportation
  • These refugees have lived in Pakistan for decades, with many of them born here and reluctant to return
  • Some Afghans say they cannot sell immovable property and must let household goods go for low prices

KARACHI: On an ordinary double-carriage road on the outskirts of Karachi, the hum of traffic gives way each afternoon to the bustling chaos of a makeshift market. Refrigerators, washing machines, fans, wardrobes and other household items are offered at throwaway prices.

For their Afghan owners, the sale is a painful necessity — a distress liquidation forced by uncertainty over their future in Pakistan amid an ongoing deportation drive.

“All this household stuff is not just things,” Muhammad Khan, a 32-year-old Afghan refugee, said. “These were ... dreams we worked hard to fulfill. Now, we are being forced to sell them.”

Born to refugee parents in a neighborhood called Afghan Basti on the outskirts of the city, Khan, 32, is among nearly 30,000 residents set to leave for Afghanistan in the coming week.

Pakistan launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants, mostly Afghans, in 2023, when its administration ordered all foreign nationals without valid documents to leave or face deportation.

The decision followed a string of deadly militant attacks that killed hundreds of people, with officials blaming Afghan citizens for involvement in multiple cases without providing evidence.

The authorities in Kabul denied Afghan nationals were part of the militant attacks and objected to their forced repatriation. However, Pakistan not only continued the deportations but also expanded the drive to include people with officially recognized status as refugees.

According to the International Organization for Migration and UN agencies, more than 860,000 Afghan nationals have left Pakistan since the plan began.

Khan lamented the frantic, low-cost sale of his family’s possessions.

“We bought this fridge for Rs70,000 [$245], but right now it is only fetching Rs10,000 [$35],” he said. “We ask the government to give us enough time so buyers at least purchase our things for half the value.”

Maulana Rehmanullah, an elder in the Afghan settlement, described the difficulty of liquidating possessions under official restrictions.

“This freezer was bought for Rs105,000 [$368] by this brother, which he is now ready to sell for Rs75,000 [$263],” he said while pointing at an Afghan national. “No one is willing to buy it. It will probably be sold for a maximum of Rs40,000-45,000 [$140-158].”

He added most of the refugees were born in Pakistan and were now being forced to leave for a country they have never seen.

“My wife, my children are all born in Pakistan,” he added. “My sons and daughters are not ready to go. They call Pakistan their country.”

Residents like Noor Agha, whose family of 10 relied on a fries cart for daily income, said something his family lived with will be sold very cheaply.

“I bought this fries cart for Rs55,000 [$193],” he said. “The people in our area would purchase chips from me. It’s now lying here in the middle of the road and they are offering Rs17,000-18,000 [$60-63].”

Abdullah, another refugee born and raised in Karachi who goes by a single name, said he had invested heavily in property, vehicles and business ventures.

He spent Rs3.5 million [$12,280] to build a home. Yet, a board outside a nearby police check post prohibits refugees from selling immovable property. The few items they can sell fetch far less than half their value.

“If we go to Afghanistan now, there is no work, no employment,” he said.

For local buyers, the market offers an opportunity to acquire goods at discounted prices.

Zahihullah Khan, a painter from nearby Muslim Goth, purchased fans for Rs2,700 [$9], which would have cost him Rs7,000 [$25] in a retail shop.

“Our Afghan brothers who are leaving are selling their belongings at a low price because they are returning to their country. I came here so that I could buy some things and take them home,” he said.

For the sellers of these items, the economic and emotional toll is profound.

Families who have lived, worked and built communities in Pakistan for decades are now leaving under compulsion, with minimal compensation for years of effort and investment.

“Forty-five years of their hard work has gone to waste,” Rehmanullah said. “They came empty-handed from Afghanistan, and they will leave empty-handed.”


Ronaldo double as Al-Nassr maintain perfect start and stay top of Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo double as Al-Nassr maintain perfect start and stay top of Saudi Pro League
Updated 26 min 26 sec ago

Ronaldo double as Al-Nassr maintain perfect start and stay top of Saudi Pro League

Ronaldo double as Al-Nassr maintain perfect start and stay top of Saudi Pro League
  • The 5-1 win over Al-Riyadh means they lead on goal difference from Al-Ittihad, who pulled off a last-gasp win over Al-Najma

RIYADH: Al-Nassr maintained a perfect start to their Saudi Pro League campaign with a 5-1 win over Al-Riyadh at Al-Awwal Park in the 2025-2026 season’s third round of matches.

With a full haul of nine points from three matches so far, Al-Nassr lead the early season standings on goal difference for the second week running.

It took only six minutes for the home team to take the lead, Joao Felix converting from close range after some excellent wing play from Kingsley Coman.

The second goal came on the half-hour mark when Coman ran through on goal and confidently finished with his right foot past Riyadh goalkeeper Milan Borjan. The lead was extended only three minutes later when Cristiano Ronaldo got in on the act with a goal not dissimilar to Coman’s. This time, the assist came from the Nassr captain’s Portuguese international colleague Felix.

In the 44th minute, a goal by Felix was overturned by VAR for a foul earlier in the move by Sadio Mane, who received a yellow card for his infraction.

But it did not take long for Al-Nassr to notch up their fourth, man of the match Felix again at the heart of the action to score his second of the night just four minutes after the restart.

Mamadou Sylla pulled one back for Al-Riyadh on 51 minutes with a fine diving header but, even with the majority of the second half still to play, it never looked to be anything other than a consolation for the visitors.

Ronaldo rounded up the scoring in the 78th minute after latching on to Coman’s lay-off to give Al-Nassr a comprehensive 5-1 win over their city rivals. It was the second time in three SPL matches that the Riyadh giants have scored five goals.

Earlier in the day, Al-Ittihad were moments away from dropping their first points of the season at Al-Najma before N’Golo Kante’s superb first-time finish secured a last-gasp away win to maintain their perfect start to the season. With a maximum nine points, the reigning champions are second in the table behind Al-Nassr on goal difference.

Al-Qadsiah, who beat Al-Khaleej 2-1 on Friday night, are third with seven points.

In Saturday’s third match, Al-Hazem were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Al-Fateh.


Israel army says two projectiles fired from Gaza, intercepts one

Israel army says two projectiles fired from Gaza, intercepts one
Updated 34 min 51 sec ago

Israel army says two projectiles fired from Gaza, intercepts one

Israel army says two projectiles fired from Gaza, intercepts one
  • It added that the air force brought down one, while the second fell in an open area. No casualties were reported

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said two projectiles were launched from northern Gaza on Sunday, one of which was intercepted while the other landed in southern Israel.
“Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in the areas of Lakhish and Ashdod, two projectiles were launched from the northern Gaza Strip,” the military said.
It added that the air force brought down one, while the second fell in an open area. No casualties were reported.