It’s been 365 days of war since the October 7 attacks unleashed a devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas. The war led to the Gaza Strip bearing the brunt of the war’s violence. Since then, the death toll has only increased while humanitarian conditions deteriorate. The fighting has spilled into Lebanon.
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist military and sociopolitical movement and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organisation (FTO). Hamas’s primary base of action and support is in the Gaza Strip, which it has controlled since 2007.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched the “Al-Aqsa Flood” offensive, firing around 5,000 rockets at southern Israel. This resulted in at least 1,189 deaths. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared that “the country is at war.”
On October 27, 2023, Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza. By December, the United Nations reported over 20,000 deaths in Gaza. The UN warned of imminent famine in Gaza, while the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported that as of October 6, 2024, at least 41,870 people have been killed in the nearly year-long war between Israel and Palestinian militants.
Prior to the war, 36 hospitals were functioning in Gaza, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
As of August this year, 19 hospitals have stopped functioning, and the remaining 17 are partially functioning, the WHO reported. There are currently no fully functioning hospitals, according to the Global Health Agency.
The Consulate of Belize in Florida, Janine Sylvestre, has issued an urgent advisory to Belizeans living in Florida. Category 5 Hurricane Milton is forecasted to make landfall on the West Coast of Florida this Wednesday.
In its statement this morning, the Consulate of Belize in Florida warned of Milton’s rapid intensification into a major hurricane. This same morning, Milton strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane, sustaining winds of 175 mph.
Sylvestre notified, “Most of the State of Florida has declared a state of emergency.” She added that “Regardless of where it makes landfall, the effects could be felt throughout the State of Florida.”
Belizeans in Florida are urged to prepare for the storm by assembling essential supplies, including first aid kits, medications, water, and important documents. “Review and revise your hurricane plan to include pets and senior citizens in your family. Most importantly, if you are in an evacuation zone, please heed the warnings and seek safety at the nearest designated shelter,” Sylvestre said.
The Consulate has provided a 24/7 contact number for urgent consular services: 305-300-7520.
Belizean Shadini Henry continues to prepare as Category 5 Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida. Henry, who has been living in Florida for the past eight years, says that she has stocked up on essential items. She lives in St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, another Belizean, Christine Jones, who lives in Ruskin Town south of Tampa, says that she too continues to make preparations as Milton nears.
Hurricane Milton surged into a Category 5 storm over the record-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. As it continues to grow in size, there is a chance its category could drop, but the storm’s impact is expected to cover a much broader area. Belizeans in the Yucatan Peninsula have prepared.
Milton is projected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, with its dangerous eye and eyewall potentially hitting anywhere from Cedar Key in the north to Naples in the south, including the Tampa and Fort Myers regions. Just 10 days after Hurricane Helene ravaged Florida’s Gulf Coast with a storm surge and struck the Big Bend as a Category 4 storm, officials are urging residents still in recovery to evacuate or brace for another life-threatening storm.
According to Henry, she had a challenge finding water. ‘Water…couldn’t even find water in the stores. Luckily, we found some afterwards. We have both of our vehicles full with gas, but it was hard. All the gas. I imagine today because we got our fill last night. It was hard to find gas to fill the cars, but I imagine by today they’re all gone. They’re all out. We have stacked up on non-perishable items.” Henry and her family still have items following Hurricane Helene. “We made sure we went out, and we got some rechargeable lights. We are going to make sure that we have all the lights, all the devices, and everything charged to keep the kids entertained.”
Henry explained that although her neighbourhood isn’t prone to flooding, her family has a plan in place if mandatory evacuations are issued. “We live in a zone that doesn’t typically flood, which is why we’ve decided to stay home. But with two younger kids, if an evacuation order comes, we will definitely listen and move to a hotel as our backup plan,” she shared. Discussing her mental state, Henry remained calm. “I have to be,” she said. “It’s not good to panic, because you can’t think clearly when you do. I have control over my mind that way, so I’m staying calm.” Her family back in Belize has been checking in frequently.
Meanwhile, back in Ruskin, Jones is not thrilled. She said that while her area has avoided direct hits in the past, the possibility of a major storm reaching Tampa is unsettling. “We haven’t had a direct hit in about 100 years, so this is very concerning.” Jones lives in Zone C, an area not currently under evacuation orders, but she remains cautious. “Zones A and B have been told to evacuate, so I’m waiting to see what will happen in my area,” she explained. In preparation, she has been helping neighbours put up shutters and plans to do the same for her home. She has also stocked up on gas and non-perishable food, ensuring she’s ready for at least a week.
Recalling damage from Hurricane Ian three years ago, where she lost part of her roof, Jones is hopeful that her new roof will hold up against the storm. “The main concern for me is avoiding flooding and hoping my roof doesn’t blow off again,” she said. Jones stays in constant contact with her family back in Belize, where she has eight siblings and her relatives in Florida. “We have a family page where we keep in touch and get regular updates,” she shared. She also praised the Belizean Association in Florida, which she discovered about a year ago. “They do great work, especially supporting underprivileged children in Belize.”
Janine Sylvestre, Honorary Consul of Belize in Florida, urged Belizeans to prepare for Hurricane Milton. She advised residents to gather essential supplies, update hurricane plans for pets and elderly family members, and heed evacuation orders if necessary. The Consulate is available for emergency services at 305-300-7520.
On Friday, Lynn Raymond Young, the Permanent Representative of Belize to the Organization of American States (OAS), officially took over as the chair of the Permanent Council.
Young, son of former Governor General of Belize, Sir Coleville Young, will hold the position until December 31, 2024.
The handover ceremony took place at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Young said in his inaugural speech, “As Chair, I will prioritise efforts in eradicating poverty and fostering inclusive economic growth. We must focus on strategies that empower the most vulnerable, enhance access to education and health care, promote decent work, and foster resilient economies.”
Young reiterated Belize’s dedication to the core principles of the OAS, which include democracy, human rights, security, and integral development. “These principles are not only the foundations of our organisation but also the pillars upon which our collective future rests. As President, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our deliberations and actions are guided by these values,” he added.
The outgoing President, Victor Fernandes, Permanent Representative of Barbados, expressed confidence in his successor. “I am pleased to hand over the gavel to my colleague from Belize this morning. I am confident that he will do an admirable job during his term,” Fernandes remarked.
Thirty-year-old Windel Castillo has made preparations as category 5 hurricane Milton is expected to brush the Yucatan Peninsula.
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico, heading toward Florida. A hurricane warning has been issued for parts of Mexico’s Yucatan state, which is expected to be sideswiped by the storm.
Castillo has been living in Merida for quite some time. When he heard that Milton had intensified into a category 5 storm, Castillo told News 5, “To be honest with you, I was not in such a panic because we had had Beryl, and then it went up, and now Milton, which is a Category 5.”
He added, “So I didn’t go in a panic; I just did what I know, which is getting my canned food, making sure that I have enough water, and the basic preparations that you need for like any hurricane.”
Castillo, who has been living in Merida for about three years, shared that this is the first time that they are experiencing back-to-back hurricanes. “So I always make sure I’m prepared, and for the last three months it’s been raining almost every day… I live on the north side. So normally the north side doesn’t have much flooding. It’s normally more in the central area, or the south does have a lot of flooding. But again, you always need to make sure you’re on the safe side because we use like water pumps to like get water and everything is connected to the vat.”
Castillo says he will continue to monitor the storm and rely on information provided by local authorities.
The United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, part of the Office of Legal Affairs, is currently hosting a regional workshop aimed at enhancing the understanding of the BBNJ Agreement (the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) for small island developing states in the Caribbean.
This workshop is part of the Division’s ongoing efforts under General Assembly resolution 77/321 to promote awareness of the BBNJ Agreement and prepare for its implementation. Linked to a project funded by the European Union, titled “Promotion of a Better Understanding of the BBNJ Agreement,” the event seeks to build the capacity of developing states to join and implement the Agreement.
The workshop seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of the BBNJ Agreement, focussing on the rights and obligations it establishes. It is specifically designed to support states in their efforts to join the Agreement and prepare for its implementation. Attendees will explore a variety of modules, including the background and significance of the BBNJ Agreement, an overview of its key components, and the implications of becoming a party. Additionally, the workshop will cover the agreement’s substantive and cross-cutting elements, relevant legal frameworks, and the roles of global, regional, and sectoral organizations. Participants will also learn about the procedural steps required for states to become parties to the agreement.
A special focus will be placed on identifying technical needs and requirements for implementing the agreement, including legal and policy framework gaps, through needs identification and gap analysis exercises.
CEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amalia Mai, said, “The BBNJ agreement is extremely important for its own substantive reasons, but its adoption was an achievement for multilateralism at a time when that issue is in serious doubt. The agreement signals a strong interest of states in further strengthening the international legal regime in relation to oceans and, importantly, a commitment to protecting our ocean’s diversity.”
CEO Mai added, “Our oceans are in crisis. Pollution from plastics, overfishing, the explosion of sargassum, and climate change are dealing an all-out assault on our oceans. The rate of ocean warming has doubled in the last twenty years. The high seas are becoming more acidic. Estimates indicate that the ocean is polluted by a plastic smug made up of an estimated 171 trillion plastic particles.”
High Commissioner of the UK to Belize, Nicole Davison, said, “The UK is very supportive of the BBNJ agreement, recognising it as an important step towards coordinators global action to tackle the climate and nature crisis.
The workshop is being hosted by the Government of Belize from October 7 to 10, 2024, at the Umaya Resort in Placencia, Belize.
Members of Belize’s Firearms and Ammunition Control Board (FACB) recently visited the Jamaica Licensing Authority “to learn about best practices and strategies related to firearms control, public safety, and regulatory compliance.”
The visit was from September 25-27, 2024.
The delegation toured operational facilities and participated in workshops covering critical topics such as data management, licensing protocols, and measures to combat the illegal firearms trade.
Sharole Carr-Saldivar, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Chair of the FACB, stated, “Our visit to the Jamaica Licensing Authority has been instrumental in broadening our understanding of firearms management and control. We are committed to adopting best practices that will enhance Belize’s regulatory frameworks and contribute to improved public safety.”
This collaboration is part of the FACB’s broader strategy to comply with international commitments regarding firearms control, particularly under the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
“Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Milton has strengthened to a category 5 hurricane. The maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 160 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Data from the aircraft also indicate that the minimum pressure has fallen to 925 mb (27.31 inches).”
Milton is expected to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaching Florida’s west coast by Wednesday or early Thursday.
The forecast suggests Milton will maintain its strength as it moves inland. Areas that were recently battered by Hurricane Helene are bracing for another hurricane hit. However, the current path may spare some southeastern states that suffered significant devastation just days ago from Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Milton has intensified to a Category 4 hurricane. Milton’s winds reached 150 mph early Monday morning. According to the National Hurricane Centre, the storm is expected to make landfall on Florida’s western Gulf Coast, particularly targeting the Tampa Bay area.
Milton is expected to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaching Florida’s west coast by Wednesday or early Thursday.
The forecast suggests Milton will maintain its strength as it moves inland. Areas that were recently battered by Hurricane Helene are bracing for another hurricane hit. However, the current path may spare some southeastern states that suffered significant devastation just days ago from Hurricane Helene.
