UN raises alarm over humanitarian disaster in Lake Chad region

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• The UN aid chief has raised the alarm over an imminent disaster in the Lake Chad region as a result of violence by the Boko Haram militant group. Speaking at the Security Council, Stephen O’Brien said more than nine million people in the region are in dire need of food aid.
• Several Palestinians have been wounded or arrested in fresh Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank. Four were injured and as many arrested when Israeli forces attacked the Duhayshah refugee camp in the city of Bethlehem. Twelve other Palestinians were also apprehended in overnight raids in other areas.
• Power outages have been the order of the day in Gaza since mid-July. A lack of fuel for the only power plant in the coastal strip has kept the power company from producing electricity. The ordeal is the fallout from the Israeli siege which has been in place since 2007.
• Whistle-blower website Wikileaks has released dozens of audio files which it claims have been pulled from emails of the Democratic National Committee. In one recording, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton can be heard complaining about Sanders’ influence in the party. 
• US president Barack Obama has endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton as his successor. Obama hailed her for being hardworking and strong, imploring voters to elect her. Obama defended his administration’s performance, saying America is stronger and more prosperous than when he took power. 
• Saudi warplanes have carried out fresh air strikes on civilian areas in Yemen. In their latest attacks, Saudi jets pounded the Razih and Dhahir districts in Sa’ada province twice. Warplanes also targeted the district of Kahlan in Hajjah province. There are no reports of casualties yet.
• Syrian forces have made fresh gains against militants outside the capital Damascus. The Syrian media say the government troops have retaken some strategic areas from militants near the town of Hosh al-Fara in Eastern Ghouta. Militants have recently been in retreat across Syria in the face of numerous offensives by the army. 
• The Syrian President has offered amnesty to militants who lay down their arms. Bashar al-Assad’s remarks come as the Syrian army called on armed groups in Aleppo to turn in their weapons and leave the northern city safely. This, after government forces cut off all supply routes into Aleppo's militant-held areas. 

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