The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 43,799, with more than 103,600 injured, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement released on Saturday.
In the past 24 hours, Israeli military operations in Gaza caused 35 deaths and 111 injuries, the statement said.
The ongoing Israeli military operation and blockade have severely disrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza.
According to recent data from the World Food Program, three-quarters of Gazans depend on food aid to survive.
The United Nations and international aid agencies warned that aid is at a critical low, with essential supplies, especially in northern Gaza, unable to reach those in need.
A report from humanitarian groups reveals a severe shortage of food, water and medical supplies in the Palestinian enclave. In addition, refugee camp conditions are dire, with no sanitation facilities, and basic items like tents and blankets are always in short supply.
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 43,799
The commencement ceremony of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project was held in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan on Friday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the commencement ceremony of the cross-border railway project.
In his letter, Xi emphasized that the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is a strategic decision made by the governments of the three countries to enhance regional connectivity, prosperity, and stability.
He noted that the project represents a significant step forward in promoting cooperation and development across the region.
At the ceremony, representatives from the three countries unveiled the project's cornerstone.
President Xi's Special Envoy and director of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zheng Shanjie, attended the launch ceremony.
Zheng read out President Xi's congratulatory letter and delivered a speech at the event, emphasizing the project's significance as a milestone in trilateral cooperation.
He noted that the railway will establish a new land corridor connecting Asia and Europe, greatly contributing to regional prosperity.
He also underscored the importance of close collaboration among the three countries to ensure high standards and high-quality progress in the railway's construction.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attended the event, stating that the railway will serve as an important strategic bridge connecting the countries of the East and the West.
He expressed confidence that the three countries will complete the project with high quality, paving the way for new opportunities for common development in the region.
The railway is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, personally championed by the heads of state of China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It serves as a strategic connectivity project linking China with Central Asia.
Originating in Kashgar, located in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, it will cross the Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, proceed westward through the Kyrgyz border city of Jalalabad, and terminate in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan.
Based on the current progress, the project is set to officially begin construction in July 2025 and is projected to take six years to complete.
Commencement ceremony of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project held in Kyrgyzstan
