Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Al-Bureij claim 16 innocent lives, including childrenSierra Leone committed to boosting its share of renewable energy sources: Minister

At least 16 Palestinian civilians were brutally murdered and several others were injured in the early hours of this morning, as Israeli airstrikes targeted residential squares in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, in the center of the territory, according to local and medical reports. The first attack occurred in Al-Bureij refugee camp, located in the central Gaza Strip, where an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building. Seven civilians were confirmed murdered, with additional injuries reported. Among the victims were innocent children and women. The strike left the targeted house in ruins, and rescue teams are working tirelessly to recover any survivors trapped under the debris. Shortly thereafter, another Israeli airstrike hit a house in the Al-Jenena neighborhood, east of Rafah in southern Gaza. The strike resulted in the murder of at least nine Palestinians, with more casualties expected as rescue efforts are ongoing. Reports indicate that the nine victims were from a neighboring house that also suffered severe damage. Meanwhile, in eastern Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, Israeli artillery shelling bombed several homes, claiming the lives of many civilians and injuring others. In yet another attack, Israeli warplanes targeted a house in the Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, resulting in additional casualties and injuries among Palestinian civilians. The persisting Israeli airstrikes have plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, with rescue teams facing challenges in accessing affected areas due to the intensity of the attacks. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA Jiwoh Emmanuel Abdulai, Minister of Environment and Climate Change in Sierra Leone, said that his country is committed to boosting its renewable energy share to nearly 60% within the next five years by implementing targeted programmes and policies that will mitigate the effects of climate change. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during COP28, the minister underscored a two-pronged strategy for achieving his country's renewable energy targets. Firstly, by harnessing its abundant water resources and sunshine, Sierra Leone will strive to generate additional megawatts of clean energy. Secondly, the hybrid systems programme will be operationalised to optimise energy production. In addition, he continued, Sierra Leone is embarking on an ambitious initiative to expand its network of mini-grids from 100 to 300, with a strong emphasis on incorporating clean energy sources. This expansion will significantly enhance access to electricity in rural communities, fostering economic growth and improving liveliho ods. To achieve this goal, Sierra Leone is collaborating closely with various partners, including Masdar and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to explore and implement innovative strategies for integrating clean energy into mini-grid development. This collaborative approach will ensure that Sierra Leone's mini-grid expansion is not only sustainable but also cost-effective and scalable. He stressed that Sierra Leone's commitment to clean energy aligns with its broader efforts to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable development. By expanding its mini-grids with a focus on clean energy, Sierra Leone is demonstrating its leadership in addressing global environmental challenges while empowering its citizens with access to reliable and sustainable electricity, he added. Expressing his appreciation for the UAE's organisation of COP28 and the long-standing partnership between the Emirates and his country, he emphasised the importance of tailoring COP28's goals to Sierra Leone's specifi c climate action needs. "We aspire to emerge from COP28 as a beacon of tangible progress", he noted. Source: Emirates News Agency