Ukrainians in Avdiivka are enduring one of the war's toughest moments on the Donbas front lines, facing ammunition shortages and lacking strong defensive lines as Russian troops attempt to advance. Civilians are compelled to decide whether to abandon their homes or stay amidst the escalating conflict.

Brazil is initiating a mass public vaccination campaign against dengue fever in response to a significant increase in cases, with nearly five times more reported in the first five weeks of the year compared to the same timeframe in 2023.

The Amazon region experienced its most severe drought in recorded history in 2023, with rivers and lakes reaching record low levels and thousands of people isolated due to lack of water in tributaries. This event is highlighted as a warning of the potential impacts of climate change.

Israel ordered civilians to evacuate four towns in southern Gaza, raising concerns about the spread of its conflict with Hamas. Israeli forces remain at Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, following a siege. Families of nearly 240 hostages held by Hamas have started a five-day march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinian farmers have intensified following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, leading to a potential reduction in olive oil production in the West Bank. The Palestinian Farmer's Union reports that these incidents are hindering the harvest of thousands of olive trees near the settlements.

Israeli Defense Forces reached Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital, causing thousands to flee. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that military operations in Gaza will continue until Hamas is defeated. VOA correspondents Esther Githui-Ewart and Yan Boechat are reporting from Jerusalem on the latest developments.

Hawara, a town in the West Bank surrounded by Jewish settlements, has become a hotspot for violence since early 2023, with both Palestinians and Israeli settlers being killed. Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli forces have decided to close off the town's central area, prohibiting Palestinians from working, driving, or even walking on the main street.

Israeli forces engaged in heavy shelling and combat with Hamas militants in the northern part of Gaza City, resulting in visible smoke and audible blasts. The conflict is part of ongoing tensions in the besieged Palestinian territory, with updates provided by VOA correspondents.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the Israeli government, led by Binyamin Netanyahu, suspending work permits for nearly 100,000 Palestinian construction workers from the West Bank and Gaza, as estimated by the Palestinian National Authority. This has caused significant unemployment and economic distress among Palestinians, with individuals like Isa Zeita left without work and income. The construction sector in Israel, represented by figures like Haim Feiglin, is facing a labor shortage and is pressuring the government to issue work visas for foreign workers. The suspension of Palestinian work permits is expected to have severe economic impacts on the West Bank, with predictions of a dramatic drop in consumption and a rise in unemployment to levels similar to Gaza before the war.

The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, reports over 9,000 Palestinian deaths in the war, while Israeli officials count more than 1,400 Israeli fatalities, mostly from Hamas's initial attacks on October 7. VOA's Esther Githui-Ewart discussed the situation with correspondent Yan Boechat in East Jerusalem.