This week, Druze leaders and Syrian government reach a ceasefire. Humanitarians speak out about impact of USAID cuts on Sudan. At least 20 killed at aid site stampede in Gaza.
Druze Leaders and Syrian Government Reach a Ceasefire
Druze leaders and the Syrian government reached a ceasefire on July 16 after days of fighting between Druze and Sunni Bedouin citizens killed at least 300 people in Sweida province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence began after members of a bedouin tribe set up a checkpoint, then attacked and robbed a Druze man in the area. There was then a series of clashes and kidnappings.
The ceasefire on July 16 came after a previous ceasefire announced just one day earlier had quickly fallen apart. Government forces began to leave Sweida despite not knowing if the new ceasefire would hold. Israel became involved in the conflict when it launched airstrikes in Damascus, saying that it aimed to defend the Druze and push Islamic militants away from its border.
This recent violence comes in the context of renewed attacks on Syria’s religious minorities, most recently Christians in Demascus. After the fall of Assad, a new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, came to power in Syria, promising to enforce minority rights and build an inclusive country. However, violent attacks have left doubts in the minds of many religious minorities, with some minorities even seeking to leave the country.
Humanitarians Speak Out About Impact of USAID Cuts on Sudan
Amidst rising malnutrition and disease in Sudan, humanitarians are speaking about the impact of cuts to USAID on the country. In a detailed report, ABC News spoke with several aid workers about the bleak outlook for Sudan after the cuts.
UN data says that USAID provided 44% of the world’s humanitarian funding in 2024 for Sudan. However, Dan Teng’o, a spokesperson for the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that “food aid, nutrition support and essential health services” have been cut as the U.N.’s annual fund for Sudan is funded at only 23 percent. Teng’o said, “Without urgent additional support, the risk of famine and further deterioration remains high.”
Andrea Tracy, a former USAID Sudan official, told ABC News that she had received an email saying that another 40 programs would be cut. “So we haven’t found the floor yet,” she noted.
This development comes as the UN is raising its voice about malnutrition and disease currently plaguing El Fasher, the capital city of Sudan’s North Darfur province. On July 7, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that the city was suffering “extreme shortages” of food and water. Almost 40 percent of the city’s children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, including 11 per cent with severe acute malnutrition. country has reported more than 32,000 suspected cholera cases so far this year.
At Least 20 Killed at Aid Site Stampede in Gaza
At least 20 people were killed during a stampede at an aid distribution site run by the Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The GHF and Gaza health ministry gave conflicting accounts of the events that led to the deaths.
The GHF said the victims died in a “chaotic and dangerous surge,” saying there was “credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd — armed and affiliated with Hamas — deliberately fomented the unrest,” as quoted in The New York Times. The GHF said that 19 people had been trampled, and one person was stabbed.
However, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said that tear gas had been fired into the crowd, causing the stampede. The ministry said that 21 people were killed, 15 of whom suffocated from the tear gas. The Hamas-run Government Media Office accused the GHF of trying to “cover up” a crime. The GHF spokesperson said that tear gas had not been used, although a “limited” amount of pepper spray had been used to “protect against additional loss of life.”
An eyewitness told CNN that he was “running to get aid” when “the Americans closed the gates in front of us.” Another eyewitness said that when “the Americans” saw people running towards them, they sprayed them with pepper spray.
Since October 7, 2023, the conflict between Hamas and Israel has killed over 1,200 people in Israel, and according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, over 55,000 people in Gaza, although some researchers say that the number of Gazans killed is higher.
Keywords: Syria, Druze, Bedouin, Sudan, USAID, aid cuts, USAID cuts, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, conflict, peace, conflict resolution
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
