This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

Famine could happen ‘anytime’ in Gaza’s northern governorates

Amid reports that the Israeli military stormed Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Monday in search of Hamas fighters, new food insecurity data has indicated that famine could happen “anytime” in the enclave.

According to latest IPC Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report, the “entire population” of Gaza – some 2.3 million people – now endures high levels of “acute” food insecurity. The situation is even worse for 1.11 million who suffer from “catastrophic” food insecurity.

Responding to the findings, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described them as “an appalling indictment of conditions on the ground for civilians”, after more than five months of intense Israeli bombardment, in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October. 

Compared to the last IPC assessment in December, acute food insecurity in the Gaza Strip has deepened and widened, with  92 per cent more people expected to slide into hunger by July.

Iran: Repression continues two years after nationwide protests

Iranian security forces shot hundreds of people who took part in widespread protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while she was in the custody of the country’s so-called morality police, top right investigators said on Monday.

Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said that Ms. Amini’s death in September 2022 was “unlawful and caused by physical violence” for which the State is responsible.

Chairperson Sara Hossain told the forum’s 47 Member States that after Ms. Amini’s death, young women and schoolchildren “were at the forefront” of nationwide protests: 

“The entire State apparatus was mobilized with security forces using firearms including AK-47s and Uzis as we documented in some areas, resulting in injuries and deaths, credible figures that we found of up to 551 deaths, among them at least 49 women and 68 children and we found that those occurred in 26 out of the 31 provinces of Iran over multiple months.”

Ms. Hossain, who is an independent human rights expert, explained that many protesters “removed their hijab in public places as an act of defiance against long-standing discriminatory laws and practices”. 

“Men and boys” joined in the protests in solidarity too, the Council heard, along with minorities who demanded equality.

The human rights probe noted that 30 September 2022 had become known as “Bloody Friday” in Zahedan city, after credible sources indicated that security forces had killed 104 protesters and bystanders, mostly men and boys.

The probe also took note of the Iranian Government’s claim that 54 security officers had been killed and many others injured.

‘Pandemic treaty’ deal enters final round of negotiations

The head of the UN health agency issued an appeal on Monday to the international community not to miss the chance to agree on a so-called Pandemic Treaty.

“We cannot forget the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic and the painful lessons it taught all of us,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as he urged Member States not to forget “the seven million people” at least who died during the coronavirus emergency.

Countries gathered at World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva have begun a nine-day negotiating marathon to finalise a draft agreement.

Tedros told delegations that the “potential benefit” of the treaty “cannot be measured and will endure for generations”.

But media reports have indicated that potential obstacles to a deal include concerns among low and middle-income countries that they may not be compensated sufficiently for working with drug manufacturers, nor given enough technical know-how to make medicines themselves.

Daniel Johnson, UN News.