Israel-Palestine, Ethiopia, Somalia.

Today's three stories you should know.

Jan 16, 2024

Israel-Palestine

Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh today left Gaza via its border crossing with Egypt before traveling on to Qatar where he will receive surgery for wounds he suffered in an Israeli airstrike. His wife, daughter, son and grandchild were killed in an Israeli airstrike in October. His colleague and friend Samer Abu Daqqa was killed in December in the strike that also wounded Wael. And his son Hamza, also a journalist, was killed in a targeted strike on a vehicle on January 7. Through it all - somehow - Wael kept reporting, saying it was important the world see what was happening. Forgive me for doing something I never do in Proximities and speaking personally: Wael reminded me what is important about journalism. It’s not about sitting behind a desk pontificating about the world, it’s not about pouring out your every opinion on social media, it’s not about TV spots and star columnists and awards. It’s about bearing witness. Nobody has embodied that like Wael and scores of other Palestinian journalists have over the last three months, all while enduring the most hellish of circumstances. He will forever be my hero in this business.

Ethiopia

More than 200 people have starved to death since July in just one town in Ethiopia, according to local officials. The town, Edaga Arbi, is in the northern Tigray region, which is struggling to recover from a brutal two-year war that ended in November 2022. Another 16 people starved to death in the nearby town of Adwa, authorities said. Officials in Tigray say the region is on the brink of famine, something the central government in Addis Ababa denies. Humanitarian agencies say aid is not coming fast enough. "As a doctor, I witness non-stop dying. Having my knowledge and skills but no means to help my people is futile," Desta Kahsay in the city of Shire told BBC.

Somalia

At least three people were killed and two injured today in a suicide bombing in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. The al-Shabab armed group - which has been battling the country’s government for more than 15 years - claimed responsibility. The military last year dramatically escalated its war with the group, forcing it out of territory it controlled. Shabab has stepped up its bombing campaign in response.