The appeal is contained in a statement jointly issued on Monday by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher; UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell; UNOPS Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva; Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini; Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain and; Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

In the statement, the UN officials stressed the need for urgent action to protect civilians, facilitate aid, release hostages and renew a ceasefire.

“For over a month, no commercial or humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza,” they regretted.

According to the rest of the statement, “More than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombed and starved again, while, at crossing points, food, medicine, fuel and shelter supplies are piling up, and vital equipment is stuck.

“Over 1,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured in just the first week after the breakdown of the ceasefire, the highest one-week death toll among children in Gaza in the past year.

‘Just a few days ago, the 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme during the ceasefire had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages.

“The partially functional health system is overwhelmed. Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out, threatening to reverse hard-won progress in keeping the health system operational.

“The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza.

“While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low.

“We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life.

“New Israeli displacement orders have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee yet again, with no safe place to go.

“No one is safe. At least 408 humanitarian workers, including over 280 from UNRWA, have been killed since October 2023.”

Nigeria can only commence a formal bid with the backing of the country’s government.

Nigeria lost a bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.

A statement released by NOC spokesman Tony Nezianya said that Nigeria’s bid for the 2030 Games in capital city Abuja will present a unique opportunity to showcase its development, enhance its global standing and invigorate its sports culture.

Nigeria last hosted a major multi-sport event — the African Games — in 2003 in Abuja.

“That experience will provide a solid foundation for Nigeria to host again, showcasing its ability to manage the logistics, hospitality, and infrastructure development required by such events,” the NOC statement read.

“This would also provide a compelling narrative for the nation’s progress and readiness.”

The next Commonwealths will again be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland, from March 17 to March 29, 2026.

Australian state Victoria had been scheduled to host the event, but the local government later pulled out due to spiralling costs.

The Gunners have never been crowned European champions and face the 15-time winners in a quarter-final at the Emirates on Tuesday with the return leg in Madrid next week.

The two sides have met only twice in European competition, in the last 16 of the 2005/06 Champions League, where Arsenal came out on top.

“It is 100 percent the biggest night of my career,” Arteta, in charge at the Emirates since 2019, told reporters on Monday.

“That’s why I came into football, and that’s why I came into management and especially to this football club.”

The Spaniard, who also captained Arsenal, added: “It’s been 20 years since we had this type of game and for us, it’s a great opportunity to build our own story and this is what we’re here for.

“The excitement around the club, the people, and the magnitude of this match. This is the stage we want to be at, and where Arsenal has to be consistently. We are very proud to be there, and now be very ready tomorrow to deliver.

“At 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) tomorrow night, 11 players, 60,000 fans, I am really super-convinced that we are ready to win and to beat them. That’s the mindset that I want.”

The Champions League represents Arsenal’s best chance of a trophy this season, with the Gunners 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool in the Premier League.

Arsenal were beaten at the same stage of the Champions League last season by Bayern Munich.

But Arteta, expected to start Bukayo Saka for the first time in more than three months on Tuesday, said it was time to write a new script.

“There is a massive gap there for so many years when nothing has happened in this football club in relation to European competitions,” he said.

“And we need to change that, and we need to change that quickly. It is just the first leg, but the intention of the team and what we want to achieve tomorrow is very clear. We’re going to go for it.”

Jurrien Timber and Ben White, who played an hour in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday, are both set to be available, with Jakub Kiwior a possibility to line up alongside William Saliba in the absence of the injured Gabriel.

AFP