At the UN in Geneva
Don’t Be Neutral Toward Human Suffering:
A Holocaust Survivor’s Testimony
Holocaust survivor Ivan Lefkovits delivered a strong message during Holocaust Remembrance Day at UN Geneva: “Don’t be neutral, especially not towards human suffering.” His personal account of enduring Nazi atrocities and losing family members serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of indifference and hate.
Lefkovits recounted the murder of his father and brother during Hitler’s systematic extermination of Jews, emphasizing that antisemitism was widespread across Europe, not just in Germany.
He revealed how some countries financially supported the Nazis by paying them to deport Jewish citizens.
Reflecting on the origins of the Holocaust, Lefkovits pointed out that Hitler’s intentions were clear from his manifesto, Mein Kampf. Despite its warnings, the world dismissed the threat, allowing Hitler to rise to power with widespread support.
The 2025 Holocaust Remembrance Day marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a Nazi extermination camp where over one million lives were taken. Even as the Red Army liberated the camp, the suffering endured by many survivors, including Lefkovits, persisted for months.
In 1944, Lefkovits, then seven, was deported with his mother and older brother Paul (“Palko”) to Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany. His brother was separated from the family and sent to a men’s camp, where he perished, likely in a gas chamber.
Lefkovits only learned the details of his brother’s death 50 years later.
At Ravensbrück, his mother sacrificed her health to ensure his survival, volunteering for heavy labor to earn extra rations, which she gave to him. She also taught him reading and math, shielding him from the horrors around them through education.
Later, Lefkovits and his mother were transferred to Bergen-Belsen in the war’s final months. The camp was a scene of unimaginable horror, with piles of bodies and starvation rampant. Reflecting on this period, Lefkovits described the extreme suffering and recalled how his mother’s wisdom and determination kept him alive. He narrowly survived the ordeal, though he was close to death upon liberation.
Addressing younger generations, Lefkovits urged them to study history not just to learn but to understand its moral lessons. Quoting Dante, he emphasized that neutrality during moral crises is unacceptable. He called on the world to actively oppose human suffering and to remember the Holocaust as a timeless warning against indifference and hate.
Source: UNIS
Bloomberg Philanthropies Steps Up After Paris Agreement Withdrawal
Michael R. Bloomberg, the United Nations’ special envoy on climate ambition and solutions, announced that Bloomberg Philanthropies and other U.S. climate funders will ensure the United States honors its commitments to the Paris Agreement.
This is the second time that Bloomberg acted to uphold U.S. climate funding and reporting obligations following Trump’s decision to withdraw from the global accord.
In 2017 Bloomberg Philanthropies pledged up to $15 million to cover the funding gap left by the U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Bloomberg’s foundation has now renewed its commitment but has not disclosed specific financial contributions for this latest effort. The renewed support aims to close the U.S. funding gap to the UN Climate Change body and uphold the country’s climate reporting commitments.
Bloomberg highlighted the ongoing importance of subnational climate leadership in the absence of federal leadership. As part of this effort, he will continue to support the America Is All In coalition, which includes U.S. cities, states, businesses, and other non-federal entities dedicated to achieving the country’s climate goals.
The coalition aims to help the United States reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 61% below 2005 levels by 2035.
Bloomberg called attention to the rising costs of climate inaction, pointing to the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters, such as the devastating wildfires in California.
Source: Bloomberg Philanthropies
UPDATE
By midday on January 28, over 376,000 people had crossed back to their homes. Residents are finding neighborhoods unrecognizable and many areas remain dangerous due to unexploded ordnance. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other organizations are pointing to the urgent need for demining, debris removal, and reconstruction.
UN Humanitarian Agencies Delivering Services in Gaza
Humanitarian Relief and Ceasefire Agreement
January 28, 2025
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has seen a significant shift following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian armed groups on January 19. This agreement has not only halted ongoing hostilities but also created opportunities for the delivery of essential aid, the release of hostages, and a path to rebuilding devastated communities.
Hostage Releases and Ceasefire Implementation
On January 25, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the second phase of hostage release operations under the 42-day ceasefire. Four Israeli hostages were handed over to Israeli authorities, while 200 Palestinian detainees were freed from Israeli custody. Among these, 128 Palestinians were released to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, and 72 to Egypt. Despite these efforts, approximately 90 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza, including individuals declared dead whose bodies are being withheld.
As of January 2025, data from Hamoked, an Israeli human rights organization, reveals that 10,221 Palestinians are in Israeli custody, including 2,025 sentenced prisoners, 2,934 remand detainees, and 3,376 administrative detainees held without trial. The ceasefire has provided a brief respite from the violence that has claimed at least 47,354 Palestinian lives and injured 111,563 since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health (MoH).
Humanitarian Aid and Infrastructure Repair
The ceasefire has enabled a dramatic increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Supplies have entered through Erez, Zikim, and Kerem Shalom crossings, allowing organizations to expand lifesaving assistance. Food distributions have surged, with the World Food Programme (WFP) delivering more supplies in four days than it typically managed in a month before the ceasefire. Bakeries across Gaza have resumed operations, with 13 now running at full capacity, providing bread to both community kitchens and retailers.
Fuel deliveries have also increased significantly. On January 22, over 274,000 liters of fuel were delivered to northern Gaza, powering critical humanitarian facilities and restoring services like water pumps and health centers. UNICEF has supported the Palestinian Water Authority in operating 13 wells in northern Gaza, while the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has delivered nearly three million liters of fuel to meet humanitarian needs.
In terms of health services, the World Health Organization (WHO) has supplied fuel and medical resources to sustain 20 partially functional health facilities. Additionally, UNRWA has dispatched essential medications, restored healthcare services in multiple areas, and provided over 13,000 health consultations in a single day on January 25.
Return of Displaced Families
One of the most notable developments has been the reopening of the Netzarim corridor, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. Tens of thousands have made the journey, many on foot, facing long and arduous conditions.
By midday on January 28, over 376,000 people had crossed back to their homes. Residents are finding neighborhoods unrecognizable and many areas remain dangerous due to unexploded ordnance. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other organizations are pointing to the urgent need for demining, debris removal, and reconstruction.
In Rafah, where infrastructure damage is severe, returning families face limited access to healthcare and basic services. According to UN-Habitat and UNEP, the conflict has generated over 50 million tonnes of debris, requiring decades and nearly $1 billion for proper disposal.
Delivering Essential Services
UNRWA has rapidly scaled up its operations, distributing food parcels to over 550,000 people in just nine days. Hygiene kits, shelter supplies, and potable water are also being provided to displaced families. Mental health services have expanded, with nearly 12,500 sessions and activities conducted between January 20 and 26, benefiting over 5,500 children.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has accelerated immunization campaigns, malnutrition screenings, and child protection services, focusing on areas previously inaccessible. “The ceasefire has provided some relief, but families are returning to areas that have been completely destroyed,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Municipal and Long-Term Reconstruction Needs
Restoration of municipal services is another priority. Efforts are underway to reopen roads, repair water and sewage networks, and support solid waste collection in affected areas. Preliminary assessments by the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) reveal that up to 70% of water and sanitation facilities in North Gaza are damaged, and water availability remains critically low.
The rehabilitation of North Gaza’s seawater desalination plant alone is expected to cost $5 million and take a year to complete. Addressing the region’s extensive infrastructure damage is essential to providing stability for returning families.
International Response and Outlook
The ceasefire agreement has significantly eased access for humanitarian organizations, with less coordination now required for aid missions. This has allowed agencies to reach previously inaccessible areas, including northern Gaza and parts of Khan Younis and Rafah.
“A generation has been traumatized,” stated UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, referring to the one million children in Gaza requiring mental health and psychosocial support.
Source: OCHA
