The warning comes as rescue operations increasingly shift toward recovery efforts, with the number of survivors being pulled from the rubble falling sharply in recent days.

Government officials said rescue teams found only one survivor by Tuesday afternoon—a toddler rescued after spending six days trapped beneath a collapsed building. Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, announced the rescue while noting that official search operations had slowed significantly.

Authorities said rescue teams saved 5,380 people during the first two days after the earthquakes, compared with just four people rescued alive on Monday. Volunteer groups, however, carried out additional rescues independently before international emergency teams arrived.

Death Toll Continues to Rise

The Venezuelan government has placed the official death toll at more than 1,900 people.

Experts believe the actual number may be considerably higher as recovery crews continue retrieving bodies from collapsed buildings and morgues struggle to accommodate the increasing number of victims.

The United Nations estimated Tuesday that the earthquakes generated approximately 1.2 million tons of debris from destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure.

Aid agencies also warned that thousands of displaced residents remain exposed to harsh conditions after spending several days sleeping outdoors or inside overcrowded emergency shelters.

Hospitals Operating Beyond Capacity

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Venezuela’s healthcare system, already weakened by years of economic hardship and underinvestment, is now under extraordinary strain.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva that hospitals are operating beyond their capacity to manage the surge in trauma patients resulting from the disaster.

Government figures indicate that more than 15,800 people have been directly affected by the earthquakes, a number that primarily reflects officially registered displaced residents. According to UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Wolf, that figure is expected to continue rising as damage assessments continue.

Many newly displaced families are sheltering in parks, vehicles and temporary camps, particularly in La Guaira, where shortages of food and essential supplies remain widespread.

Disease Risks Grow in Crowded Shelters

Humanitarian organizations warned that inadequate sanitation is creating conditions for disease outbreaks.

Without reliable access to toilets, showers or hygiene supplies, displaced communities face elevated risks of preventable illnesses, including measles, particularly because vaccination coverage remains low.

Lindmeier also warned that conditions favor the spread of mosquito-borne and waterborne diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever and malaria.

According to government data, the earthquakes damaged or compromised 38 hospitals across Venezuela.

The WHO has assessed 21 of those facilities. Three hospitals are no longer operational, while six others sustained significant structural damage. The remaining hospitals continue functioning but are struggling under heavy patient loads.

The crisis has also been worsened by shortages of medical personnel. WHO officials said numerous specialist physicians remain missing following the earthquakes, including healthcare professionals responsible for maternity services in La Guaira.

Years of migration have further weakened Venezuela’s healthcare workforce, with approximately 8 million people—including many doctors and nurses—having left the country in recent years.

Lindmeier said assessments revealed overcrowded emergency departments, growing surgical backlogs and deteriorating infection-control procedures.

International Aid Expands Across Disaster Zone

International humanitarian organizations have increased their presence in La Guaira and neighboring communities.

The Red Cross, the World Food Programme, and other relief organizations established temporary aid stations along public spaces, distributing food, medicines, hygiene products and protective equipment.

Long lines formed throughout Tuesday as residents sought emergency assistance under intense heat.

Families Search for Missing Relatives

Many Venezuelans continue searching for missing relatives as authorities have not released an official number of people still unaccounted for.

Families have increasingly relied on WhatsApp groups and nongovernmental online registries to report missing loved ones. One independent database listed more than 43,000 missing individuals.

During his daily televised briefing, Jorge Rodríguez reported that 1,943 people had died and 10,571 had been injured as of Tuesday. He urged the public to rely solely on official government information regarding casualties.

His figures, however, leave many people unaccounted for.

Rodríguez said officials estimate approximately 30,000 people were present in the hardest-hit areas of La Guaira when the earthquakes struck and that roughly 20,000 either escaped independently or were later rescued.

Meanwhile, NASA estimates that nearly 59,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed nationwide, suggesting the number of people affected extends into the hundreds of thousands.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said Tuesday that approximately 680,000 children across Venezuela now require humanitarian assistance following the disaster.

Tags: Venezuela, La Guaira, Earthquake, World Health Organization, United Nations, UNICEF, UNHCR, Humanitarian Crisis, Healthcare, Red Cross, World Food Programme, Natural Disaster

The post Venezuela’s Healthcare System Near Breaking Point After Earthquakes, Aid Agencies Warn appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The post US Energy Restrictions Deepen Healthcare Strain in Cuba, State Media Reports appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

At least 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state, authorities confirmed Saturday. The attack, part of a growing pattern of school kidnappings in Nigeria, has prompted security operations and widespread concern among families.

Updated Numbers and Verification

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the revised abduction figures following a thorough verification and final census. Initially, reports indicated 215 students had been taken.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of CAN’s Niger state chapter, who visited the school Friday, explained that an additional 88 children were captured while attempting to flee during the raid. Students affected range in age from 10 to 18, encompassing both boys and girls.

Context of the Attack

The incident occurred in the remote Papiri community, four days after 25 children were kidnapped in Maga town, Kebbi state, roughly 170 kilometers (106 miles) away. Authorities have yet to identify the perpetrators, but tactical squads and local hunters have been deployed to recover the abducted students.

Yohanna challenged claims from the Niger state government suggesting the school had reopened, calling such statements false and potentially intended to deflect responsibility. Families were urged to remain calm and maintain hope for the safe return of the children.

Security Challenges and School Targeting

School kidnappings have become a defining feature of insecurity in Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently target educational institutions for strategic leverage. According to UNICEF, only 37% of schools across ten conflict-affected states have early warning systems to detect potential threats.

Experts note that attacks do not discriminate by religion; recent abductions have affected both Christian- and Muslim-majority communities. The Kebbi state incident occurred in a predominantly Muslim town, underscoring the broader security crisis.

Broader Political and Security Implications

The abduction comes amid heightened international attention, including statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding targeted killings against Christians in Nigeria. Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu was in the U.S. this week and met Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, highlighting ongoing diplomatic engagement regarding the country’s security challenges.

These kidnappings underscore the persistent vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s northern and central regions and the urgent need for strengthened protective measures for schools and students.

Conclusion

The escalating number of school abductions in Niger state and neighboring regions emphasizes the pressing security threats facing Nigeria’s education sector. Families, communities, and authorities continue to navigate the delicate balance of safeguarding students while pursuing the perpetrators. The ongoing rescue efforts reflect both local and national commitment to addressing this humanitarian and security crisis.

Source: AP News – Number of children abducted in Nigerian school attack raised to more than 300

The post Nigerian School Abductions Rise to Over 300 Children appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

In Gaza, thousands of students are marking high school graduations under extraordinary circumstances. The class of 2025 has spent the past two years navigating conflict that disrupted education, displaced families, and left many young Palestinians mourning lost relatives and classmates.

Among them is 18-year-old Doaa Musallem, who scored 99.7% and received recognition from the Palestinian Minister of Education. Her joy, however, is tempered by her father’s absence. Critically wounded in an Israeli strike in November 2023, Bassam Musallem was evacuated to Egypt for treatment, missing key moments in his daughter’s life.

Celebrating Amid Hardship

Doaa shared graduation photos with her father, showing herself and her brother in caps and gowns in front of a bright yellow “Congratulations” sign. “You are a hero,” Minister Amjad Barham told her over the phone.

Similar celebrations spread across Gaza. Families marked the occasion with fireworks, music, and desserts despite the ongoing conflict.

Mahmoud Elyan, a graduate displaced from Rafah, recalled handing out sweets in his hometown. “I am happy beyond words,” he said. “People haven’t seen desserts in two years due to war and displacement.”

Losses Shadow the Celebrations

For many graduates, the day was bittersweet. Student Doha Nazmi Abu Dalal, displaced from Deir el-Balah, was killed in an Israeli strike on October 29, 2024, along with 17 family members, weeks after the ceasefire.

UNICEF and UN experts have warned that Gaza’s education system is near collapse, citing the widespread destruction of schools and universities. Some analysts describe this as a “scholasticide,” meaning a systematic disruption of education.

Schools and Universities in Ruins

Israeli attacks have damaged or destroyed more than 97% of Gaza’s schools, UNICEF reports. Hundreds of thousands of children now have limited access to in-person learning. At least 18,591 school-age students have been killed and 27,216 injured. The war also claimed 792 teachers and injured 3,251 staff, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Education.

Israel says Hamas uses schools and universities for military purposes, including weapons storage and command centers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintain they aim to minimize civilian harm while countering such threats.

Students Endure Online Learning and Trauma

Education continued under challenging conditions. Al-Hassan Ali Radwan, who lost a cousin during the war, described unreliable internet, electricity shortages, displacement, and food insecurity while studying online. “We had a hard time,” he said, celebrating graduation at a shelter in Khan Younis.

Dima, a central Gaza graduate, survived a minor injury during a math lesson disrupted by an Israeli strike. She stressed the importance of completing high school despite the danger. “We only get to be highschoolers once in a lifetime,” she said.

Facing Higher Education Challenges

Gaza’s 56,000 new graduates are preparing for university, though campuses remain mostly unusable. Over the past two years, 63 university buildings have been destroyed, and educational supplies are scarce. UNICEF reports that nearly 92% of educational facilities require major reconstruction.

Graduates like Mohamed Bilal Abu Faraj call for international support and access to study abroad. “Open up the border,” he said, emphasizing the challenges of continuing education locally.

Doaa Musallem hopes to study nursing abroad. The opportunity would allow her to reunite with her father and contribute meaningfully to her community.

Resilience Amid Crisis

Despite losses and trauma, Gaza’s students and families are finding moments of joy. Graduation ceremonies, small as they are, symbolize hope for a generation facing war and disrupted schooling.

“Despite the pain in Gaza, we want to be happy and move past our wounds,” said Dima’s father. “Students need to be back in classrooms as soon as possible.”

These celebrations highlight the resilience of Gaza’s youth, who continue to pursue education and achievement amid conflict.

Source: CNN – Bittersweet moments of joy as Gaza celebrates high school graduations without schools

The post Gaza’s Graduates Celebrate Amid Devastation of Schools and Universities appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that the remains belonged to Command Sergeant Major Lior Rudaeff, 61, who was killed during the Hamas-led assault on Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7, 2023. Rudaeff served as the deputy security coordinator for his community’s rapid response team and was among those abducted during the attack. His remains were held in Gaza for more than a year before being transferred to Israel via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The return leaves the bodies of five deceased hostages still believed to be in Gaza, according to Israeli officials.

Fourth Remains Transfer in a Week

The transfer of hostages’ remains is part of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which includes the exchange of captives and the return of the deceased to their families. However, Israeli intelligence officials have warned that Hamas may not be able to locate all remaining bodies due to ongoing conflict and tunnel collapses.

Earlier in the week, Israel received the remains of several other hostages, including Israeli-American soldiers Omer Neutra and Itay Chen, as well as Asaf Hamami, Oz Daniel, and Tanzanian agricultural student Joshua Loitu Mollel, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during the October 7 attacks.

At Neutra’s funeral on Friday, U.S. Central Command Chief Adm. Brad Cooper paid tribute to the 22-year-old dual citizen.
“Omer made the ultimate sacrifice we hope no soldier ever has to make, but many have made it nonetheless, in service to a higher cause,” Cooper said. “We express our deepest condolences for the loss of Omer.”

Calls for Return of All Hostages

Across Israel, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum continues to organize rallies demanding the return of all hostages — living and deceased.
At a gathering in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday, Eitan Horn, recently freed after 738 days in captivity, said he could not begin to heal while others remained unreturned.
“We have no future without the return of all the hostages,” he told the crowd.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials told CNN they had received new intelligence on the location of the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed during the 2014 Gaza war. His body is believed to be in Rafah, near tunnels where roughly 200 Hamas fighters are thought to be hiding within Israeli-controlled territory.

Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

As Israel works to recover its deceased citizens, Gaza continues to face a dire humanitarian situation, with the United Nations launching an emergency immunization campaign for children who missed routine vaccines amid the ongoing conflict.

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced on Friday that, in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), it will deliver life-saving vaccines and malnutrition screening to 44,000 children across the enclave.
“UNRWA, together with UNICEF, WHO, and partners, is launching a catch-up immunization campaign to reach 44,000 children with life-saving vaccines,” the agency said.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll since October 7, 2023, has surpassed 69,000 people. Although a ceasefire took effect in October, the ministry reported that 241 Palestinians have been killed since then, and 522 bodies have been recovered from under rubble.

Dire Conditions Despite Ceasefire

While humanitarian aid has resumed entering Gaza following the ceasefire, the scale of need remains enormous after months of limited access.
At least 460 people, including 154 children, have reportedly died of starvation since the war began, the ministry said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that more than one million children in Gaza now require urgent mental health and psychosocial support.
OCHA added that hundreds of thousands of families face the risk of a harsh winter without adequate shelter. “The UN-coordinated entry of essential shelter materials and tents faces major limitations,” the agency said, noting that last winter several people, including children, died of hypothermia due to a lack of supplies.

A War With No Easy Resolution

The ongoing hostage recoveries and humanitarian operations highlight the complex realities of a war that has devastated both sides.
For Israel, the return of remains underscores the human toll of the October 7 Hamas attacks, which killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. For Gaza, the cumulative effects of bombardment, displacement, and shortages continue to threaten survival, with entire communities dependent on international aid.

As diplomatic efforts continue, both Israel and international mediators face the difficult task of balancing security concerns, humanitarian imperatives, and the moral urgency of recovering the living and the dead from one of the world’s most entrenched conflicts.

Source: CNN – Israel identifies deceased hostage from Gaza following fourth such transfer this week

The post Israel Identifies Another Deceased Hostage as Gaza Conflict’s Human Toll Deepens appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.