Floods in Spain Kills Over 150
Major flash floods caused widespread destruction in Spain Thursday, leading to at least 158 confirmed deaths in the Valencia region alone. Rivers formed in urban areas, knocking down buildings, sweeping up vehicles, and uprooting trees. The Emergency Military Unit, Civil Guard, and police officers are searching for missing people in boats and helicopters. As the search continues the death toll is expected to rise. Additionally, thousands of Spaniards are without power and dozens of municipalities do not have clean drinking water. The flooding was caused by intense rainfall, likely the effect of climate change. According to World Weather Attribution, a group of international scientists, climate change has led to 12 percent more rainfall in Spain and doubled the likelihood of rainstorms like the one experienced this week. More rain is expected Friday, leading to concerns that flooding could continue.
Indigenous Protestors Call for Greater Land Rights in Brazil
Hundreds of Indigenous people marched in Brazil’s capital Wednesday to protest a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it impossible for Indigenous groups to make claims to land they did not occupy or were not legally fighting for during the creation of Brazil’s constitution in 1988. Indigenous rights groups see this amendment as unfair, as it ignores forced displacements that occurred earlier in the 20th century. The 1988 deadline for land claims was rejected by the Brazilian Supreme Court in 2023; however, last December the National Congress of Brazil passed a law establishing the deadline. Indigenous advocates have appealed the law, but lawmakers, led by the agribusiness caucus, are still working to create a constitutional amendment.
Typhoon Kong-rey Makes Landfall in Taiwan, Threatens Philippines
On Thursday, Typhoon Kong-rey became the third-most powerful storm to make landfall in Taiwan in three decades. As of Thursday evening, one person has died and 205 have been injured. Half a million people are without power according to the Taiwanese government. The storm also approaches the Philippines, where 300,000 are still displaced following Tropical Storm Trami, which hit the archipelago nation last week. Many remain in overcrowded shelters as Kong-rey nears.
U.N. Secretary-General Says Sudan Needs Protection, Refuses to Send Fighting Force
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the Security Council Monday to help protect Sudanese civilians amid the ongoing civil war and reports of human rights abuses and genocide. He echoed calls by Sudanese and human rights groups to help civilians, possibly through involvement of an impartial military force. However, he stopped short of calling for the deployment of U.N. troops, stating that “the conditions do not exist for the successful deployment of a United Nations force to protect civilians in Sudan.” Aid to relieve the almost 25 million Sudanese people suffering from famine was also a topic of discussion at Monday’s meeting. In mid-November, the three-month window for U.N. and other groups to bring aid into Sudan will end, according to an agreement with the Sudanese government. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield called for the extension of authorization to bring aid in the country.
