Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
In the West Bank, six schools established by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have been inaccessible for over a year, and another six have been closed, reportedly due to settler attacks and access restrictions. Ten schools in Area C of the West Bank were recently abandoned under these circumstances, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Additionally, a former UN school in Gaza is now sheltering 18 displaced families living under difficult conditions, worsened by limited humanitarian aid, as noted by the UN’s deputy humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Suzanna Tkalec, during a joint mission. The UN and its partners continue to provide aid, distributing over 378,000 items such as tarpaulins and cleaning kits in Gaza, while the UN World Food Programme supplied food vouchers and cash assistance to about 286,000 people in the West Bank in June. However, the UN warned that without additional funding, stockpiles may not be sufficient for the coming winter, putting vulnerable families at increased risk.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries to establish health-specific AI governance frameworks to ensure the technology reduces inequities in healthcare access and treatment. A recent report found that 74 percent of European Union Member States use AI for diagnostics, but only 11 percent have specific AI strategies for health, and just 8 percent have liability standards for AI-related issues. To address these challenges, a conference organized by WHO and the Government of Portugal gathered representatives from 37 countries in Lisbon to share strategies for responsible AI use in healthcare.