UN: Number of Civilians Killed in Global Conflicts Rose to 72% in 2023

Geneva: Civilian deaths due to armed conflicts around the world soared 72 percent last year, the UN rights chief, Volker Turk, said on Tuesday. In his inaugural remarks to the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Turk said: "In 2023, data gathered by my Office shows the number of civilian deaths in armed conflict soared by 72 percent. Horrifyingly, the data indicates that the proportion of women killed in 2023 doubled and that of children tripled, compared to the year prior". He warned that the situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem is dramatically worsening, adding that there are unconscionable death and suffering in Gaza. Turk highlighted that as of June 15, 528 Palestinians, including 133 children, had been killed by Israeli occupation forces or settlers since October, and that some cases raise serious concerns about unlawful killings. The deficit in funding humanitarian aid reached $40.8 billion at the end of May, indicating that calls to raise funds were only met by up to 16.1 p ercent of the requested amount, he pointed out. Source: Qatar News Agency