The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a new report on Thursday that about 2 billion tons of dust enters the atmosphere every year, “darkening the skies and negatively impacting air quality in areas thousands of kilometers away.” “
WMO Director-General Petteri Taalas said poor water and land management was partly to blame. This phenomenon has also been exacerbated by high temperatures and drought brought about by climate warming, leading to increased evaporation and drying of soils.
The WMO said exposure to dust is associated with heart attacks, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Sandstorms and dust storms also pose risks to aviation, land transportation, and agriculture.
According to the WMO in 2022, hotspots with significantly high dust concentrations were identified in Central and South America, most of Central Africa, Spain, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Peninsula, as well as Iran, South Asia, and northwestern China.
Professor Taras highlighted WMO’s efforts to help countries improve sandstorm prediction techniques and early warning services. He also stressed that more needs to be done in the face of continued environmental degradation and rapidly accelerating climate change.
Climate change is a ‘life-or-death issue’ for people with albinism
And beyond climate change, the impact on skin cancer in people with albinism is both deadly and largely overlooked, a United Nations-appointed independent human rights expert said Thursday.
In Africa alone, people with albinism are up to 1,000 times more likely to develop skin cancer, with many dying by the age of 40, said Mulka Anne Miti Drummond, Special Rapporteur on the issue of albinism. Stated.
She campaigned tirelessly for free sunscreen for people with albinism, calling it a “life-saving medical product that can extend and improve the quality of life for many who cannot afford it.” He emphasized what he had done.
Because people with albinism also have visual impairments, they are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters, experts said.
Ms Mitty Drummond called for the inclusion of people with albinism in all forums related to climate change and disaster management, arguing that for many, climate change is a “life-or-death issue”.
Peru needs ‘meaningful reforms’ to security during protests
Peruvian authorities must initiate meaningful reforms to ensure human rights are respected during protests and demonstrations following an alarming increase in the use of force.
Independent human rights experts on Thursday issued a warning in a new report calling for a “decentralized and inclusive national dialogue”.
The report focuses on the actions of security forces during nationwide protests from December 2022 to March 2023.
It concluded that Peruvian authorities had unduly restricted the human rights of the protesters.
The report states that security forces used unnecessary and unreasonable force, including deadly force, outside the circumstances permitted by international human rights standards.
It has also been documented that less-lethal weapons that do not comply with international standards have been used, resulting in severe, and in some cases fatal, injuries to protesters.
hundreds of people were killed or injured
Rights agency OHCHR recorded 50 people killed and 821 injured in protests between December 7 and March 31, allegedly by security forces. Approximately 208 members of the security forces were injured.
A criminal investigation has been launched against 241 people who took part in the demonstration. At least 221 of these cases have since been closed due to lack of evidence. This includes 192 people arrested at the University of San Marcos in Lima on January 21st.
In April 2023, authorities established a specialized team within the prosecutor’s office to investigate suspected crimes committed in connection with the protests.
“Those responsible for human rights violations must be held accountable through fair judicial procedures,” said UN human rights chief Volker Türk. “Accountability is paramount if we are to begin to heal the wounds and build trust in state institutions. Victims should be awarded full compensation.”
“Addressing grievances and concerns throughout Peruvian society is of paramount importance. A comprehensive national dialogue is needed. This is the only way forward. To prevent endless political and social crises, “Everyone needs to feel heard and represented,” Türk said.
