In the early hours of Sunday, at least 7 Palestinians lost their lives while several others, including children and women, sustained injuries following a targeted Israeli airstrike on a residential property within the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.
The Israeli military conducted multiple air raids, striking homes in the Al-Nusairat camp, resulting in numerous casualties among Palestinian civilians.
Reports from Palestinian sources confirmed that the airstrikes specifically targeted residences belonging to the Assar and Zaqout families in the camp. Tragically, the strikes led to the deaths of at least 13 Palestinians, including children and women, while leaving dozens more wounded. Many of the injured were rushed to Al-Awda Hospital, with concerns raised about individuals still trapped under the debris.
Beyond these strikes, Israeli forces also targeted a residential building in the Safatawi area and Jalaa Street in the city’s north, causing additional casualties. This escalation saw dozens injure
d, requiring immediate medical attention at Al-Muadhami Hospital.
The Israeli military’s series of airstrikes extended to various neighborhoods in Gaza City, including Al-Tuffah, Al-Daraj, Al-Shujaiya, and Al-Sabra. Furthermore, artillery fire from the occupation forces struck numerous shells east of Rafah, in the southern Strip.
Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted in the southern regions of Deir Al-Balah following the advancement of Israeli army vehicles. Reports suggested movements of military vehicles along Salah Al-Din Street, potentially hindering travel between central regions and the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah.
Confirming the intensity of the situation, sources reported ongoing clashes, the use of flares, anti-tank shells, and continued Israeli airstrikes, leading to significant challenges in movement due to the Israeli incursion.
This unfortunate escalation adds to the toll of a war that commenced on October 7th. Shockingly, the ongoing Israeli aggression has claimed the lives of more than 15,0
00 Palestinians, including over 6,150 children and 4,000 women, with more than 37,000 sustaining injuries, which is a harrowing and unofficial count that continues to rise.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, Minister of Environment and Climate Change in Sierra Leone, said that his country is committed to boosting its renewable energy share to nearly 60% within the next five years by implementing targeted programmes and policies that will mitigate the effects of climate change.
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during COP28, the minister underscored a two-pronged strategy for achieving his country’s renewable energy targets. Firstly, by harnessing its abundant water resources and sunshine, Sierra Leone will strive to generate additional megawatts of clean energy. Secondly, the hybrid systems programme will be operationalised to optimise energy production.
In addition, he continued, Sierra Leone is embarking on an ambitious initiative to expand its network of mini-grids from 100 to 300, with a strong emphasis on incorporating clean energy sources. This expansion will significantly enhance access to electricity in rural communities, fostering economic growth and improving liveliho
ods.
To achieve this goal, Sierra Leone is collaborating closely with various partners, including Masdar and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to explore and implement innovative strategies for integrating clean energy into mini-grid development. This collaborative approach will ensure that Sierra Leone’s mini-grid expansion is not only sustainable but also cost-effective and scalable.
He stressed that Sierra Leone’s commitment to clean energy aligns with its broader efforts to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development.
By expanding its mini-grids with a focus on clean energy, Sierra Leone is demonstrating its leadership in addressing global environmental challenges while empowering its citizens with access to reliable and sustainable electricity, he added.
Expressing his appreciation for the UAE’s organisation of COP28 and the long-standing partnership between the Emirates and his country, he emphasised the importance of tailoring COP28’s goals to Sierra Leone’s specifi
c climate action needs. “We aspire to emerge from COP28 as a beacon of tangible progress”, he noted.
Source: Emirates News Agency