Chad: Africa’s refugee haven struggles with its own stark challenges

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Here’s what you need to know:

Fighting and dire humanitarian conditions triggered by the conflict that erupted among rival militaries in Sudan in April 2023 have so far displaced 14 million people, spilling over to the country’s seven bordering neighbour nations, according to the UN.

Few places are feeling the effects of the ongoing war as acutely as Chad, which is now Africa’s largest refugee host per capita, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

“Chad’s generous welcome of refugees is a powerful act of solidarity,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih.

But, as landlocked Chad has welcomed more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees across its eastern border since the start of the conflict, 40 per cent of its own population already needs humanitarian assistance.

Why it matters

Often called the “Babel Tower of the world”, reflecting its more than 200 ethnic groups and 100 languages, Chad’s challenges are multifaceted.

With over 42 per cent of the population living below poverty, the country is among the poorest in the world.

Now hosting over 1.5 million refugees, Chad continues to keep its borders with Sudan open while also battling climate and security shocks.

Floods and food insecurity

The word Chad translates in a local language as “large body of water,” and reflects the cultural importance of Lake Chad, which gives the country its name.

As the lake continues to shrink due to climate change and other issues, the country has endured large floods that have devasted its food security.

In 2024 alone, floods destroyed more than 432,000 hectares of crops, equivalent to over 600,000 football fields, affected nearly two million people and exposed gaps in water and sanitation infrastructure, with cholera outbreaks reported in July last year.

With a rapidly growing population, Chad far exceeds its resource capacity at a time when malnutrition rates are alarmingly high.

An estimated two million Chadian children aged six to 59 months are suffering or expected to suffer acute malnutrition between October 2025 and September 2026, including nearly 484,000 children expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition, according to the global hunger monitor – the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

Security pressures

The security landscape is equally concerning.

Violent extremist groups, including Boko Haram and its affiliates, have continued to drive insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin, displacing over 250,000 people.

Security forces patrol in Adré in Chad.

In the north, trafficking networks and illegal coal mining overlap with gender-based violence and exploitative child labour.

With 87 per cent of the total refugee population in Chad being women and children, these concerns continue to increase.

What the UN is doing

Since April 2023, Chad’s Government and UNHCR assisted 67 per cent of those fleeing war-torn Sudan to relocate to extended and newly established settlements, where refugees and host communities benefit from the services delivered by humanitarian teams.

UN agencies and partners continue to respond to provide humanitarian assistance, including in Chad and war-torn Sudan.

On 19 February, the UN Security Council will convene to discuss the ongoing crisis in Sudan, focusing on the need to end the fighting and alleviate suffering, particularly concerning the widespread violence against women and girls in the country.

As for needs, the UN emergency relief agency, OCHA, released its Humanitarian Action Plan 2026, which shows that the number of people in need in Chad decreased by 42 per cent, but continues to remain high.

The Action Plan calls for $986 million and aims to help 3.4 million people, including $540million dedicated to refugees alone. The UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday, “We and our partners will focus our efforts on the most impacted regions including in the east, the Lake Province and parts of the south.”

Radwa Abdelkarim, a 37-year-old mother of six, fled to Chad in June 2023 after “the war took everything.”

“We lost our money, our relatives and neighbours,” she said. “Some were killed, others disappeared and are still missing.”

Safely out of Sudan, Ms. Abdelkarim combined her entrepreneurial skills with cash assistance from UNHCR to start baking and selling bread from her home in Farchana refugee settlement, and has since opened two grocery stores, a restaurant, and employs 12 other refugees.

“I support [refugee women] so that we can grow together and no one is left behind,” she said. “It is important to stand with our brothers and sisters, to help them heal.”

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M23 rebels: UN sees progress in talks but warns violence persists

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Qatar is facilitating discussions between the Congolese government and the M23 armed group, which controls large areas of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

The latest developments follow months of intense fighting that has displaced civilians and destabilised the region.

However, the UN warns that despite diplomatic momentum, the security situation on the ground remains volatile.

M23, also known as the March 23 Movement, controls large areas of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. In January 2025, after a rapid offensive, the group seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu.

Weeks later, it captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Since then, the rebels have set up parallel administrations in areas under their control. The UN says the group is supported by the Rwandan armed forces, an allegation Kigali has repeatedly denied.

Uvira, a major city in South Kivu on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file)

Framework agreement

On 2 February, the Congolese authorities and M23 signed a document setting out the terms of reference for a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism under the Doha Framework Agreement, signed in November 2025. The Doha talks are being mediated by Qatar.

Separate discussions have also taken place between the DRC and Rwanda, with mediation by the United States.

In December, Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda signed the Washington Agreements, raising hopes of an end to the fighting. However, the UN says the security situation at the start of this year remains volatile and continues to deteriorate.

Immediate ceasefire call

Against this backdrop, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, has renewed its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

It recalled that a UN Security Council resolution adopted last year authorises the Mission to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, including through technical and logistical assistance to a regional verification mechanism.

“MONUSCO stands ready to support a credible ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism within the limits of its mandate as defined by the Security Council and in full respect of the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Vivian van de Perre, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Acting Head of MONUSCO.

“The Mission will continue to engage constructively with relevant stakeholders within the established ceasefire architecture and to communicate transparently on the scope and modalities of its support,” she added.

‘Positive signal’ from Doha

Speaking to UN News, MONUSCO spokesperson Ndeye Khady Lo described the progress in Doha as “a positive signal” that helps make “the ceasefire architecture more concrete and operational”.

She said an initial team of UN peacekeepers would be deployed to the town of Uvira, in South Kivu, to support the monitoring mechanism.

MONUSCO stressed, however, that this would not mark a permanent return to the province, which the Mission left in June 2024, but a limited and strictly defined role linked to the ceasefire process.

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Child malnutrition hits catastrophic levels in parts of Sudan

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

According to an alert from the IPC, a global food security monitoring system, thresholds for acute malnutrition were surpassed in two new areas of North Darfur – Um Baru and Kernoi – following the fall of the regional capital, El Fasher, in October 2025 and a massive exodus.

December assessments found acute malnutrition levels among children of 52.9 per cent in Um Baru – nearly twice the famine threshold – and about 34 per cent in Kernoi.

The IPC stressed that the alert does not constitute a formal famine classification but warned that conditions are deteriorating rapidly – and action is urgently needed.

“These alarming rates suggest an increased risk of excess mortality,” the experts said, adding that many other conflict-affected or inaccessible areas may be facing similarly catastrophic conditions.

Projection acute food insecurity in Sudan from February to May 2026.

▶ See our UN News explainer on the evidence-based IPC index here.

Um Baru and Kernoi

Um Baru and Kernoi are in remote areas of northwestern North Darfur, near key displacement corridors leading toward the Chadian border.

Both areas have absorbed large numbers of civilians fleeing fighting in and around El Fasher, where conflict has shattered markets, disrupted livelihoods and sharply curtailed humanitarian access.

Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the once-allied Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has devastated food systems nationwide, triggering mass displacement, market collapse and repeated disruptions to health, water and nutrition services.

Across the country, nearly 4.2 million cases of acute malnutrition are now expected in 2026, including more than 800,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition, representing a sharp increase from 2025 levels, according to IPC projections.

What the alert means

The IPC alert is intended to draw urgent attention to the worsening conditions and does not introduce any new formal classification.

It builds on earlier IPC analyses that confirmed famine (IPC Phase 5) in El Fasher, North Darfur in 2024, and Kadugli, South Kordofan, in September 2025 – and projected famine risk in at least 20 other areas across greater Darfur and greater Kordofan.

The new findings indicate that famine-like conditions are likely spreading beyond previously assessed locations, driven by continued fighting, displacement and the collapse of food, health and water systems, IPC analysts said.

Greater Kordofan at risk

The IPC also warned of rapidly deteriorating conditions across Greater Kordofan, where famine was already confirmed in Kadugli and severe conditions were projected in Dilling and the Western Nuba Mountains.

Renewed fighting since late October has displaced more than 88,000 people in the region, pushing total displacement above one million. Markets there are among the least functional in Sudan, with food prices far above national averages.

Without an immediate end to the fighting and large-scale humanitarian access, IPC experts said preventable deaths are likely to rise.

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Cuba: UN warns of possible humanitarian ‘collapse’, as oil supplies dwindle

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

The United States has threatened to impose tariffs on any country providing oil to Cuba, increasing pressure on the island nation following a decades-long trade embargo and the US seizure of Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro last month.

Venezuela had been the main supplier of oil to Havana but Washington has been ratcheting up pressure on Cuba in recent weeks, including an executive order last Thursday threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, including Mexico.

“I can tell you that the Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, and if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

The UN chief noted that the General Assembly has been calling for an end to the US embargo for more than three decades: “The Secretary-General urges all parties to pursue dialogue and respect for international law.”

Fuel crisis

The fuel crisis has pushed up food prices for Cubans, led to severe fuel shortages and major power cuts throughout the country.

“Clearly what we see now, especially after the recent events in Venezuela, is a combination of emotions,” said Francisco Pichon, the most senior United Nations official in Cuba, describing “a mix of resilience, but also grief, sorrow and indignation, and some concern about the regional developments.”

Thirty-two Cubans were killed in Venezuela on 3 January in the US operation to capture Mr. Maduro.

The UN’s humanitarian work in Cuba

Mr. Pichon spoke to UN News from Havana last month, where the power had just gone out in his office. The UN team said that the vast majority of Cubans are being hit by rolling blackouts, at a time when the number of people in vulnerable situations has increased significantly.

Even before the latest regional developments, the UN has been working with the Cuban Government to incubate ideas and support development, including ways to diversify the Cuban economy.

“The energy transition is a major priority due to reduced access to fuel and infrastructure challenges,” Mr. Pichon said, noting that investment needs remain a bottleneck.

Urgent changes needed

“The last two years have been quite tough,” he added, stressing that urgent changes are needed to sustain Cuba’s social model “in the midst of the severe economic, financial and trade sanctions”.

Cuba’s economy, which has historically relied on tourism as a key source of hard currency, was severely disrupted in the COVID pandemic and remains well under 2018 levels.

As the Cuban economy has deteriorated, the country’s social indicators – such as universal healthcare, universal education, and extensive social safety nets like subsidised healthcare and food rations – are under strain.

“All of this is happening in the context of the US embargo against Cuba,” said Mr. Pichon, noting that Cuba has also been relisted by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism.

“From the UN perspective, our guiding principles remain unchanged: To be present. To support. To act based on cooperation, respected for international law, and the UN values.”

Mr. Pichon, as UN Resident Coordinator, oversees the work of 23 UN agencies, funds and programmes. Here is a snapshot of some of the work underway.

Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa tore through Cuba as a Category 3 storm on 29 October. For the first time in the country, anticipatory action was taken through the release of funds from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), enabling supplies, such as water purification units, food, hygiene kits, generators, medicines, medical and shelter supplies to be pre‑positioned.

The UN launched a $74 million Plan of Action to support national recovery and assist more than 2.2 million people affected by the storm’s destruction. So far, about $23 million has been mobilised targeting the one million most vulnerable.

“No lives were lost directly due to the hurricane,” Mr. Pichon said, owing to the solid capabilities of Cuba’s civil defence, although recovery needs remain enormous, including rebuilding tens of thousands of homes.

Cooperation Framework

The UN’s long‑term engagement in Cuba is undergirded by a cooperation framework aligned with Cuba’s National Development Plan and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This framework has four key pillars:

Institutional: The UN supported the development of around 30 laws following the 2019 constitutional reform, advancing equity, inclusion and rights for women, children, LGBTQ+ persons, people of African descent and persons with disabilities.
Economic: Focuses on productive transformation and access to financing amid ongoing sanctions and the US listing of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Utilizing the Joint SDG Fund, which helps countries pay for projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Environmental: Disaster risk management and climate resilience are central, especially given Cuba’s exposure to hurricanes, such as Melissa. UN support in anticipation and response seeks to protect lives and livelihoods.
Social: Social protection systems and attention to differentiated needs with a focus on leaving no one behind, including vulnerable groups vulnerable groups such as people living with AIDS, the LGBTI community, children, adolescents, women, and the elderly, who are a very relevant sector in an aging society.

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UN lauds $6 billion US funding approval towards ending HIV/AIDS

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“This US investment will provide lifesaving support for millions of people in partner countries and help to ensure that the global HIV response remains efficient, data-driven and delivers results,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

“I thank President [Donald] Trump and the US Congress for their continued commitment to HIV and global health.”

The UN agency said the $5.88 billion spending package approved on Tuesday “reinforces the continued commitment and leadership of the United States in the global response to HIV”.

Where are the funds going?

For more than two decades, US investments have been the leading driver of the global HIV response, saving millions of lives and supporting countries’ efforts to end their AIDS epidemics, the UN agency said.

The package allocates:

$4.6 billion to bilateral HIV support through the America First Global Health Strategy
$1.25 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
$45 million to UNAIDS

The law advances the America First Global Health Strategy, which emphasises the achievement of UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 targets as an integral part of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and accelerates the strategic shift towards country ownership and self-reliant HIV responses.

UNAIDS in the lead

The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) coordinates and drives the efforts of 11 UN organizations, including the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Since the establishment of UNAIDS in 1996, the US Government has been a leading partner of UNAIDS and recently renewed its membership in the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board through to 2028.

As for the new bipartisan law, UNAIDS said the agency is committed to leverage the funding to provide data and rigorous technical and strategic support to countries and communities most affected by HIV and for the implementation of the America First Global Health Strategy, working closely with the US Government, the Global Fund, partner governments and communities.

Learn more about UNAIDS work here.

‘Human rights cannot wait’: Türk launches $400 million appeal for 2026

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

He warned Member States that with crises mounting, the world cannot afford a human rights system in crisis.

“The cost of our work is low; the human cost of underinvestment is immeasurable,” he said.

“In times of conflict and in times of peace, we are a lifeline for the abused, a megaphone for the silenced, a steadfast ally to those who risk everything to defend the rights of others.”

Documenting violations, supporting survivors

Last year, UN human rights staff in 87 countries observed more than 1,300 trials, supported 67,000 survivors of torture, documented tens of thousands of human rights violations, and contributed to the release of more than 4,000 people from arbitrary detention.

They also documented civilian casualties and informed humanitarian responses through risk analysis and early warning in 21 armed conflicts around the world.

For example, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) is the only organization that has maintained a comprehensive record of civilian casualties since Russia first invaded the country in 2014.

“In Sudan, we are providing vital support to survivors of sexual violence and other horrific atrocities, paving the way for justice and accountability,” he said.

Aligning economic policies with human rights

The High Commissioner also stressed that addressing inequalities and respecting economic and social rights are vital to peace and stability.

“Human rights make economies work for everyone, rather than deepening exclusion and breeding instability,” he said.

His office worked with more than 35 governments in 2025, helping them to align all economic policies with human rights. He cited the example of Djibouti, where staff helped conduct a human rights analysis of the health budget, with a focus on people with disabilities.

‘Delivering under strain’

Mr. Türk thanked the 113 funding partners – including governments, multilateral donors and private entities – who contributed to OHCHR’s 2025 budget.

“But at the same time, I have to say – and you know it from our previous encounters – that we are currently in survival mode, we are delivering under strain,” he said.

He outlined several consequences of reduced funding. For example, the Office reduced presence in 17 countries, wiping out programmes critical for endangered, threatened, or marginalised communities such as Indigenous People. Roughly 300 staff out of 2,000 were laid off.

“At a time when truth is being eroded by disinformation and censorship, we had to curtail our support for its guardians – journalists and human rights defenders. Less support for civic space means more surveillance and more repression.”

‘Ambitious, agile and creative’

OHCHR “will need to be even more ambitious, agile, and creative” in 2026, he said.

The UN General Assembly has approved a regular budget of $224.3 million, which is based on assessed contributions from Member States. This amount is 10 per cent lower than in 2025.

Through the 2026 appeal, OHCHR is requesting an additional $400 million in voluntary contributions.

“Historically, human rights account for an extremely small portion of all UN spending. We need to step up support for this low-cost, high-impact work that helps stabilise communities, builds trust in institutions, and supports lasting peace,” said Mr. Türk.

“And we need more unearmarked and timely contributions so we can respond quickly, as human rights cannot wait.”

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UN chief warns of ‘grave moment’ as final US-Russia nuclear arms treaty expires

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

In a statement issued as the treaty expired at midnight GMT Thursday, he said the world was entering uncharted territory, with no remaining legally binding constraints on the nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Russia – the two countries that together hold the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons.

“For the first time in more than half a century, we face a world without any binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals” of the two countries, he said.

The New START treaty – formally known as the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms – was signed in 2010 and entered into force the following year.

It capped each side’s deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 and imposed limits on delivery systems such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and heavy bombers.

The agreement also included verification measures, including data exchanges, notifications and on-site inspections, designed to reduce mistrust and prevent miscalculation.

Tools for stability

Mr. Guterres said decades of nuclear arms control agreements – from the Cold War-era Strategic Arms Limitation Talks to New START – played a crucial role in preventing catastrophe and reducing global nuclear stockpiles.

“Throughout the Cold War and in its aftermath, nuclear arms control between these governments helped prevent catastrophe,” he said, adding that such frameworks “built stability” and “prevented devastating miscalculation.”

The Secretary-General warned that the collapse of this system of restraint comes at a particularly dangerous time, as geopolitical tensions rise and the risk of nuclear weapon use is “the highest in decades.”

Reimagine arms control

But he added that the watershed also provides an opportunity to reimagine arms control for a changing security environment, welcoming statements from both US and Russian presidents acknowledging the dangers of a renewed nuclear arms race.

“The world now looks to the Russian Federation and the United States to translate words into action,” Mr. Guterres said, urging both sides to return to negotiations “without delay” and to agree on a successor framework that restores verifiable limits, reduces risks and strengthens global security.

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AI ‘moving at the speed of light’ warns Guterres, unveiling recommendations for UN expert panel

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“AI is moving at the speed of light,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, underscoring the urgency of regulating the breakthrough technology. “We need shared understandings to build effective guardrails, unlock innovation for the common good, and foster cooperation. The Panel will help the world separate fact from fakes, and science from slop.”

The roots of the Panel stretch back to 2023, in the wake of the release of ChatGPT in the United States and other pioneering technology, heralding a new era in the field of artificial intelligence.

Mr. Guterres convened a group of leading technologists and academics and tasked them with advancing recommendations for safe governance.

After a series of in-depth discussions, the experts came back with a vision for an approach to AI governance that could benefit humanity. Amongst the ideas was the creation of the International Scientific Panel – independent but supported by the UN.

The Panel, says Mr. Guterres, will be the “first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies.”

Panellists will exchange ideas, run “deep dives” into priority areas such as health, energy and education, and share the latest leading-edge research.

Diverse candidates

On Wednesday, Mr. Guterres and Amandeep Gill, his Special Envoy on Technology, informed journalists that the names of 40 prospective members would be submitted to the General Assembly, which will have the ultimate say over the panel’s membership.

Mr. Gill said the experts on the list were chosen for their globally recognised expertise in AI. Geographical representation and gender balance also came into play.

The nominees – 19 women and 21 men – include Sonia Livingstone (United Kingdom), a professor at the London School of Economics and an advisor on media literacy and rights in the digital environment; Balaraman Ravindran (India), head of the Department of Data Science and AI at the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras; and Maria Ressa (Philippines), the renowned journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Finding consensus

With its large and diverse membership, diverging attitudes towards regulation and growing geopolitical tensions, the ability to forge consensus could prove challenging.

But Mr. Gill pointed out that, even during the Cold War, scientists from across the world were able to work together on issues of international importance. “It’s one of the value-adds of the United Nations to provide those mechanisms where scientific understanding, common understanding can be advanced,” he said.

The General Assembly is expected to make the final decision on membership on 12 February, and the Panel’s first report is due to be delivered by July.

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Intensifying ISIL threat highlights need to step up counter-terrorism measures

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General at the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), presented its latest report which highlights the group’s intensifying presence in Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

He said the threat posed by ISIL, also known by its Arabic acronym, Da’esh, has “increased steadily” since the previous report issued in August, “remaining multipolar and increasingly complex.”

Instability in West Africa

ISIL and its affiliates have continued to recruit foreign fighters, enhance their use of new and emerging technologies, and maintain access to funding – including through measures such as unlawful taxation and kidnapping for ransom.

The terrorists have also continued to expand their presence in parts of Africa.

“Their efforts and demonstrated capacity to control territory are deepening regional instability and further weakening the capacity of national authorities to address interconnected security, human rights, and development challenges,” he said.

The situation in West Africa and the Sahel remains especially urgent, where the ISIL affiliate in the Lake Chad Basin region “has further expanded its prominence.”

Attacks in Iraq and Syria

Da’esh also remains active in Iraq and Syria “with continued attacks and renewed efforts to destabilise local authorities.”

Syria is undergoing political transition following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024. “The security situation remains fragile, with Da’esh continuing to exploit governance vacuums and incite sectarian tensions,” he said.

Mr. Zouev also highlighted the situation in the country’s northeast, where tens of thousands of people with alleged ties to the group – mainly women and children – remain in camps in dire conditions.

The withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces from notorious Al Hol last month “has also introduced new operational and humanitarian challenges,” he added.

Meanwhile, ISIL-Khorasan in Afghanistan “continues to pose one of the most serious threats to the region and beyond.”

The group was behind the “heinous terrorist attack” in the capital, Kabul, on 19 January which killed seven people and injured several others, including a child.

Use of AI in recruitment

Mr. Zouev said progress in countering terrorism financing has led Da’esh and other groups to further exploit digital platforms and new technologies, with expanded use of crypto-currencies, drones and other tools.

“Artificial Intelligence is increasingly used by terrorist groups particularly for the radicalisation and recruitment of people, with youth and children among those deliberately targeted,” he said.

In the face of the intensifying threat posed by Da’esh, the counter-terrorism chief underlined three central calls made by the UN SecretaryGeneral in the report.

Women and children walk through the Al Hol Camp in Syria, a displacement site housing over 30,000 people.

Areas for action

He urged countries to step up efforts to repatriate people from the camps and detention facilities in northeast Syria.

As the situation in parts of Africa – particularly the Sahel, West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin – remains deeply concerning, “Member States must exercise political ownership and forge unified, coherent, and joint responses.”

Mr. Zouev stressed that lasting progress requires comprehensive approaches by both the government and society that are firmly rooted in the rule of law and in full accordance with international human rights norms,

Therefore, “nationally owned and inclusive prevention” must remain at the heart of international counter-terrorism efforts.

“The intensification of the threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates, despite significant national and international efforts, underscores how imperative it is to sustain global cooperation on counter-terrorism,” he said.

Technical assistance to countries

Nathalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) – the secretariat for the Council’s own Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) – also briefed ambassadors.

She said the last six months have demonstrated that “Da’esh continues to perpetrate and inspire terrorist attacks globally,” with devastating impacts.  

CTED has conducted assessment visits to Austria, Cameroon, Chad, Hungary, Malta, Norway and Somalia over the past year,

“We work closely with each Member State that we visit to provide tailored recommendations and identify technical assistance needs,” she explained.

UN counter-terrorism efforts ‘critical’

Ms. Gherman gave the example of CTED’s support for a project to address the use of the internet, social media and video games by Da’esh and Al Shabaab in Somalia and the broader region.

The initiative brought together 70 representatives from national authorities in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, as well as participants from civil society, academia and the private sector.

“The efforts of the United Nations to address the Da’esh threat are critical,” she said,

“These efforts require adequate resources and the cooperation of all Member States to achieve our shared goal: a world free from terrorism.”

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‘Deepfake abuse is abuse,’ UNICEF warns

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“The harm from deepfake abuse is real and urgent,” the UN agency said in a statement. “Children cannot wait for the law to catch up.”

At least 1.2 million youngsters have disclosed having had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year, according to a study across 11 countries conducted by the UN agency, international police agency, INTERPOL and the ECPAT global network working to end the sexual exploitation of children worldwide.

In some countries, this represents one in 25 children or the equivalent of one child in a typical classroom, the study found.

‘Nudification’ tools

Deepfakes – images, videos, or audio generated or manipulated with AI and designed to look real – are increasingly being used to produce sexualised content involving children, including through so-called “nudification”, where AI tools are used to strip or alter clothing in photos to create fabricated nude or sexualised images.

“When a child’s image or identity is used, that child is directly victimised. Even without an identifiable victim, AI-generated child sexual abuse material normalises the sexual exploitation of children, fuels demand for abusive content and presents significant challenges for law enforcement in identifying and protecting children that need help,” UNICEF said.

“Deepfake abuse is abuse, and there is nothing fake about the harm it causes.”

Demand for robust safeguards

The UN agency said it strongly welcomed the efforts of those AI developers who are implementing “safety-by-design” approaches and robust guardrails to prevent misuse of their systems.

However, the response so far is patchy, and too many AI models are not being developed with adequate safeguards.

The risks can be compounded when generative AI tools are embedded directly into social media platforms where manipulated images spread rapidly.

“Children themselves are deeply aware of this risk,” UNICEF said, adding that in some of the study countries, up to two thirds of youngsters said they worry that AI could be used to create fake sexual images or videos.

A fast-growing threat

“Levels of concern vary widely between countries, underscoring the urgent need for stronger awareness, prevention and protection measures.”

To address this fast-growing threat, the UN agency issued Guidance on AI and Children 3.0 in December with recommendations for policies and systems that uphold child rights. Read the full report here.

Right now, UNICEF is calling for immediate action to confront the escalating threat:

Governments need to expand definitions of child sexual abuse material to include AI-generated content and criminalise its creation, procurement, possession and distribution
AI developers should implement safety-by-design approaches and robust guardrails to prevent misuse of AI models
Digital companies should prevent the circulation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, not merely remove it, and strengthen content moderation with investment in detection technologies

Read UNICEF’s latest brief on AI and child sexual abuse and exploitation here.

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South Sudan: UN forced to suspend food aid after ‘unacceptable’ attacks on convoy

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

As fighting intensifies there between opposition forces and national troops, there are reports of airstrikes and daily civilian casualties.

UN agencies warn that worsening insecurity is blocking lifesaving aid, while hunger projections deteriorate and cholera treatment centres struggle to cope with an influx of newly displaced people.

The renewed violence comes as South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement continue to fall apart amid stalled reforms, rising political tensions ahead of planned elections in 2026, and mounting pressure from more than one million refugees fleeing the brutal war in neighbouring Sudan.

Click here to read a summary of threats to South Sudan’s peace process and the converging political, security and humanitarian crises, and their impact on civilians.

Humanitarian statistics for South Sudan as of December 2025.

WFP convoy attacked, activities suspended

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday suspended all activities in Baliet County, Upper Nile state, following repeated attacks on a convoy carrying humanitarian assistance down river.

Between last Friday and Sunday, a 12-boat convoy transporting more than 1,500 metric tonnes of food and other relief items was attacked several times by armed youth.

The cargo was later looted in multiple locations, despite receiving prior security assurances for the safe passage of aid.

WFP said the suspension would remain in place until the safety of its staff, partners and contractors is assured and authorities take immediate steps to recover the stolen supplies.

“Attacks on humanitarians are never acceptable,” WFP said, urging all parties to respect humanitarian workers and safeguard the facilities and resources essential for delivering aid.

Aid access under threat

The convoy attack reflects a broader collapse in humanitarian access, particularly in Jonglei state, where renewed fighting since late December has intensified clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and the South Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition across multiple counties.

According to the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, fighting and airstrikes have displaced around 280,000 people since late December, including more than 235,000 across Jonglei alone. Many have fled to areas with minimal water, sanitation and health services, sharply increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

Humanitarian partners report that at least seven aid facilities have been looted or damaged in Jonglei, with assets confiscated and aid workers intimidated, forcing the suspension of operations in several locations.

South Sudan: Humanitarian snapshot (December 2025).

Hospitals hit, services halted

The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that Government forces bombarded its hospital in Lankien, Jonglei State, overnight on 3 February, destroying the main warehouse and most critical medical supplies. One MSF staff member suffered minor injuries.

In a separate incident the same day, MSF’s health facility in Pieri was looted by unknown assailants, forcing staff to flee. The NGO said the violence had left around 250,000 people without healthcare, as the organization had been the only provider in the area.

Hunger and disease risks rising

UN agencies warn that escalating conflict is expected to significantly worsen food insecurity, particularly in northern Jonglei and Upper Nile states.

Projections indicate that the number of counties facing emergency-level hunger (IPC Phase 4) between February and May will more than double, with some households at risk of slipping into catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5).

Insecurity has already forced WFP to pause plans to pre-position 12,000 metric tons of food ahead of the rainy season in Jonglei, raising concerns that access will further deteriorate once roads become impassable.

Since September 2024, South Sudan has recorded nearly 98,000 cholera cases and more than 1,600 deaths, with Jonglei among the worst affected, overwhelming treatment centres.

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‘We are dying’: Gaza’s cancer patients plead for a way out

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“We are dying. Every day, between two and three patients die inside this hospital,” says Munther Abu Foul, a cancer patient lying on his bed in Gaza’s largest hospital. “I can’t get out of bed because of the pain. We want a solution – open the crossings.”

His words capture the reality facing thousands of cancer patients across the Strip, where access to specialist care has collapsed and evacuation for treatment abroad remains out of reach for many.

Local health organisations warn that around 11,000 patients are currently deprived of specialised or diagnostic cancer treatment inside Gaza.

Some 4,000 patients who received medical referrals to hospitals outside the Strip have been waiting for more than two years to travel.

UN News visited Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, documenting the dire conditions inside its oncology department. Patients crowd corridors and wards, waiting for consultations or treatments that are no longer available.

Essential medicines and equipment are in short supply, while many patients endure chronic pain that leaves them barely able to move.

A man takes care of his brother, a cancer patient at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

‘Every day, two or three patients die’

Mr. Abu Foul flips through his medical transfer papers, issued long ago for treatment outside Gaza. He has not been able to travel for more than two years.

“The health situation in the Gaza Strip is dilapidated,” he says. “There is no treatment or medicines, and we are dying. Every day, two to three patients die here inside this hospital. I can’t get out of bed because of the pain.”

He appeals directly for help. “We want a solution. Open the crossings properly so that God will release us from this suffering. Everyone will be held accountable.”

Nearby, Mohamed Hammou tends to his elderly mother, who is also battling cancer. He says families are forced to watch loved ones deteriorate without care.

We want a solution. Open the crossings properly so that God will release us from this suffering – Abu Foul

“This is how we stand in front of a patient who is dying, without treatment or any medical facilities that help them recover,” he says. “This does not please God and it does not satisfy people. We call on Islamic, Arab and international nations to look at the sick with mercy.”

A brother in pain

In another ward, Raed Abu Warda cares for his brother Hamid, whose cancer has worsened after long delays in treatment. What began as a small, benign illness has become a life-threatening condition.

“He has been suffering from cancer for two years,” Raed explains. “He waited all this time for the crossing to open so he could be treated outside. His pain has increased, as you can see.”

He gestures towards a wound that has opened beneath his brother’s chin. “The disease has created this wound, and his condition is getting worse every day. I stand watching my brother and mourning his condition because of the pain.”

The health situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating for those suffering from life-threatening cancers, despite the limited opening of the Rafah crossing.

The number of patients seeking care at Gaza’s oncology departments continues to rise, even as hospitals face severe shortages of medicines, equipment and specialised staff. For newly diagnosed patients, the future is increasingly uncertain.

Evacuations far short of needs

With the limited reopening of the Rafah crossing, the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the evacuation of patients and their companions from Gaza, focusing on ensuring safe transport. Yet the scale of need far outstrips what is currently possible.

All we ask for is a way to live

More than 18,000 patients – including around 4,000 children – are waiting to be evacuated abroad for medical treatment, according to WHO.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported last week that Gaza’s Ministry of Health had recorded more than 1,200 patient deaths while people were waiting for medical evacuation. Around 4,000 cancer patients remain on critical waiting lists, trapped between closed crossings and a health system pushed beyond its limits.

For patients like Munther Abu Foul, time is running out. “We are dying,” he repeats. “All we ask for is a way to live.”

In Washington, Fletcher presses for action as Sudan war grinds on

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Speaking at a donor conference in Washington, DC, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that the brutal conflict, famine and mass displacement are pushing millions of civilians deeper into crisis, while aid access remains severely constrained.

Fighting erupted between the once-allied Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in mid-April 2023, spreading quickly through a country already undergoing political turmoil, increased ethnic tensions, and climate extremes.

Move from words to action

There have been “too many days of famine, of brutal atrocities, of lives uprooted and destroyed,” Mr. Fletcher said, while women and girls have been forced to endure “terrifying sexual violence.”

He stressed that the international community must move beyond expressions of concern to deliver more support and political pressure on combatants for a ceasefire. With that must come extensive humanitarian access.

Mr. Fletcher said the United Nations fully supports diplomatic efforts led by the “Quad” – the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – aimed at securing a humanitarian truce, including the demilitarization of key areas to allow life-saving aid to reach civilians.

“The guns must fall silent and a path to peace must be charted,” he said.

UN ready to deliver

Under its comprehensive 2026 humanitarian response plan, UN agencies aim to reach more than 20 million people across Sudan with emergency assistance. To achieve that target, the Organization requires about $2.9 billion.

Alongside funding, safe and unhindered access for humanitarians and civilians are critical to ensure aid reaches those in need.

Civilians and aid workers must be protected, Mr. Fletcher stressed, urging donors to respond quickly and decisively.

“Let today be at last the signal that the world is uniting in solidarity for practical impact,” he said.

Crisis deepens on the ground

Meanwhile, fighting rages on the ground in Sudan.

According to media reports, Government forces on Tuesday entered South Kordofan’s capital, Kadugli, which was under a months-long siege by the RSF. The army had also recently broken the blockade of Dilling, a major town about 110 kilometres north of Kadugli.

The fighting continues to drive thousands from their homes into IDP camps and makeshift settlements, facing critical shortages of food, healthcare, water, sanitation, shelter and education.

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 11.7 million people have been forcibly displaced by the conflict, including seven million internally displaced and 4.5 million who have fled to neighbouring countries.

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Welcome to the ‘agrihood’ – the neighbourhood of the future?

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Towns and cities are home to more than half of the world’s population and responsible for around 70 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions driving the climate crisis, which is why urban planners in Brazil are leading a design revolution that could point the way to creating built-up areas with a dramatically smaller carbon footprint.

Nearly 40 per cent of cancer cases could be prevented, UN study finds

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

The study by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) looks at 30 preventable causes, including tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution and ultraviolet radiation.

Nine cancer-causing infections – such as human papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause cervical cancer – also are included for the first time.

Examining patterns for prevention

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity, responsible for nearly 10 million deaths worldwide in 2020, or nearly one in six.

Projections point to a 50 per cent increase in new cases by 2040 if current trends continue, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention strategies.

The study was released ahead of World Cancer Day, observed annually on 4 February.

The findings draw on data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types. Estimates show that 37 per cent of all new cancer cases in 2022, around 7.1 million, were linked to preventable causes.

“By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more specific information to help prevent many cancer cases before they start,” said Dr. André Ilbawi, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control and author of the study.

Tobacco top cause

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of cancer, responsible for 15 per cent of all new cases, followed by infections (10 per cent) and alcohol consumption (3 per cent).

Lung, stomach and cervical cancer represented nearly half of all preventable cases in both men and women.

Lung cancer was primarily linked to smoking and air pollution, while stomach cancer was largely attributable to Helicobacter pylori infection. Cervical cancer was overwhelmingly caused by HPV.

Differences among men and women

The burden of preventable cancer was substantially higher in men than in women. Among new cancer cases, 45 per cent occur in men compared with 30 per cent in women.

In men, smoking accounted for an estimated 23 per cent of all new cancer cases, followed by infections (9 per cent) and alcohol (4 per cent).

Among women, infections accounted for 11 per cent of all new cancer cases, followed by smoking at 6 per cent and high body mass index at 3 per cent.

Regional picture, risk factors

Preventable cancers also varied widely between the world’s regions.

Among women, they ranged from 24 per cent in North Africa and West Asia, to 38 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.

Among men, East Asia accounted for the highest burden at 57 per cent, while the lowest incidence was found in Latin America and the Caribbean at 28 per cent.

These differences are largely due to varying exposure to behavioral, environmental, occupational and infectious risk factors, as well as differences in socioeconomic development, national prevention policies, and health system capacity.

Prevention strategies

The report emphasised the need for “context-specific prevention strategies” such as strong tobacco control measures, alcohol regulation, and vaccination against HPV and other cancer-causing infections such as hepatitis B.

Improved air quality, safer workplaces, healthier food and promoting physical activity are also important.

Furthermore, “coordinated action across sectors, from health and education to energy, transport and labour, can prevent millions of families from experiencing the burden of a cancer diagnosis,” WHO said.

The UN agency stressed that addressing preventable risk factors not only reduces cancer incidence but also lowers long-term healthcare costs and improves population health and well-being.

Listen to an interview with WHO Kenya about the national action plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030:

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World News in Brief: Children at risk in South Sudan, Balochistan attacks, summit backs boost for undersea cable security

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Clashes in Jonglei state since the start of 2026 have displaced at least 250,000 people, mainly in the north and centre of the state, cutting families off from lifesaving care in areas already suffering some of the highest malnutrition rates in the country.

Deadly risks

“We are extremely concerned for women and children impacted by these violent clashes,” said UNICEF Country Representative Noala Skinner. “A malnourished child without treatment is 12 times more likely to die.”

Access for aid agencies remains severely constrained, with restrictions on river, road and air travel. Six counties in Jonglei are already at, or close to, running out of therapeutic food, while 17 health facilities nationwide have closed due to conflict.

UNICEF has also recorded 10 incidents of looting of health and nutrition supplies.

Despite the challenges, UNICEF said it is responding, delivering water purification equipment amid cholera concerns and sending malaria treatments, emergency health kits and therapeutic food to reach more than 10,000 people.

UNICEF condemns killing and injury of children in Balochistan attacks

UNICEF has expressed grave concern over reports that children were among those killed and injured during a wave of violent attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan last weekend.

“Children cannot be targets nor collateral damage, and their lives must always be protected,” said UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside, extending condolences to the families and communities affected.

She warned that the escalation of violence is spreading fear, with children and families “bearing the heaviest burden”.

The attacks, which took place on 31 January, were also strongly condemned by the UN Security Council.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, Council members described the incidents as “heinous and cowardly” acts of terrorism that left 48 people dead, including 31 civilians.

Council expresses ‘deepest sympathy’

Civilian casualties reportedly included five women and three children. The so-called Balochistan Liberation Army separatist group has claimed responsibility.

A senior local official told reporters that 145 members of the banned group had subsequently been killed by security forces.

The Council expressed its deepest sympathy to the victims’ families and to the Government and people of Pakistan, wishing the injured a full recovery.

Global summit backs stronger protection for submarine cables

Governments and industry leaders from more than 70 countries have reaffirmed the need to protect submarine cables that carry the vast majority of the world’s digital traffic.

Meeting in Porto, Portugal, at the International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit 2026, participants adopted a declaration and recommendations aimed at strengthening cooperation to safeguard the global network of around 500 cables stretching more than 1.7 million kilometres.

Read our explainer on the summit and what’s at stake, here.

“When it comes to critical digital infrastructure like submarine cables, resilience is both an end-to-end imperative and a shared responsibility,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, welcoming commitments to improve repair times, readiness and investment.

‘Meaningful impact’

The summit highlighted the importance of protecting connectivity for remote and underserved regions, which are particularly vulnerable to cable disruptions.

“I firmly believe [the advisory body] is already delivering concrete and meaningful impact,” said ANACOM Chairwoman Prof. Sandra Maximiano, noting the risks faced by countries and island communities with limited capacity to respond to outages.

The Porto meeting followed the inaugural summit in Abuja, Nigeria, as momentum builds for global action to protect what many experts see as the backbone of the digital economy.

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Ukraine: Civilians injured, miners killed, in separate Russian attacks

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Matthias Schmale was “appalled” by the attacks in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kyiv, noting that many more people in several regions – including Dnipro, Odesa and Vinnitsya – are facing power outages.

“Systematic attacks by the Russian Federation Armed Forces on critical infrastructure affect the daily lives of millions and cause life-threatening conditions for the most vulnerable, including older people and children,” he said in a statement posted on social media.

He recalled that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Keeping families warm

In the face of the “incessant attacks” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) is scaling up efforts to help keep critical services running amid freezing temperatures.

Since November, UNICEF has delivered 106 mid- and large-capacity generators across the country to support water utilities and district heating companies.

An additional 149 generators will be released over the coming weeks to further boost operations and strengthen back-up power solutions.

“Across the country, vital services for children and families are strained and parents are struggling to keep their children warm, prepare hot food, and access regular running water,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.

“These generators will help the brave technicians on the ground to keep systems running to keep the heating on, hospitals open and water flowing.”

Miners killed in drone attack

Meanwhile, UN human rights monitors confirmed that a Russian drone attack on Sunday in the Dnipropetrovsk region near the frontline in eastern Ukraine killed and injured coal mine workers commuting home after completing their shift.

The attack occurred in the city of Ternivka, and 12 civilians were killed and 16 wounded, according to local authorities.

“This incident highlights the dangers civilians face when hostilities extend into areas of everyday life, even well beyond the active fighting zone,” said Danielle Bell, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).

Deadly explosion

The mine employees were travelling by bus on a regular commuter route through Ternivka, approximately 65 kilometres from the frontline, when multiple Russian drones struck the road near the vehicle over several minutes.

The bus windows were blown out in the explosion, killing and injuring passengers. Other civilians driving nearby, as well as people who rushed to help, were also reportedly among the casualties.

Simply trying to return home

UN rights monitors visited the scene on Monday and interviewed witnesses. They observed two craters, in front of and behind the destroyed bus, along with remnants of the drones used in the attack.

One of the injured coal miners described climbing out of a bus window after the first explosion. He heard screams from inside the bus, and then a second explosion shortly afterwards.

He told the UN team that “this is all wrong” adding that “we are ordinary coal mine workers. People were simply returning to their homes, to their families.”

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Building healthy bridges towards peace: WHO launches $1 billion appeal

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“This appeal is a call to stand with people living through conflict, displacement and disaster to give them not just services, but the confidence that the world has not turned its back on them,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

The 2026 appeal seeks to respond to 36 emergencies worldwide, including 14 “grade 3” crises requiring the highest level of organizational response at a time of stinging funding cuts as humanitarian and health financing is experiencing its sharpest decline in a decade, the agency said.

“Around one quarter of a billion people are living through humanitarian crises that have stripped away safety, shelter and access to healthcare [while] global defence spending now exceeds $2.5 trillion a year,” Tedros said at the launch in Geneva.

‘Not charity’

With the requested resources, WHO can sustain lifesaving care in the world’s most severe emergencies while “building a bridge towards peace”, said the lead agency for health response in humanitarian settings, which coordinates more than 1,500 partners across 24 crisis settings globally, ensuring that national authorities and local partners remain at the centre of emergency efforts.

“It is not charity,” the WHO chief said.

“It is a strategic investment in health and security. Access to healthcare restores dignity, stabilises communities and offers a pathway toward recovery.”

Priority response areas

As global humanitarian financing continues to contract, the 2026 appeal comes at a time of converging global pressures as protracted conflicts, escalating climate change impacts and recurrent infectious disease outbreaks drive increasing demand for health emergency support.

WHO’s priority emergency response areas will include Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen.

Efforts will also address ongoing outbreaks of cholera and mpox.

‘Forced to make difficult choices’

“Renewed commitments and solidarity are urgently needed to protect and support the people living in the most fragile and vulnerable settings,” WHO said.

With shrinking funding, WHO and other humanitarian partners have been “forced to make difficult choices” to prioritise the most critical interventions, the UN agency said, adding that what remains are the most impactful activities, including:

keeping essential health facilities operational
delivering emergency medical supplies and trauma care
preventing and responding to outbreaks
restoring routine immunisation
ensuring access to sexual and reproductive, maternal and child health services in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Emergency services reach millions

Early, predictable investment enables WHO and partners to respond immediately when crises develop, reducing death and disease, containing outbreaks and preventing health risks from escalating into wider humanitarian and health security emergencies with far greater human and financial costs, the agency said.

In 2025, WHO and partners supported 30 million people funded through its annual emergency appeal. These resources helped to:

deliver lifesaving vaccination to 5.3 million children
enable 53 million health consultations
support more than 8,000 health facilities
facilitate the deployment of 1,370 mobile clinics

Last year, humanitarian funding fell below 2016 levels, leaving WHO and partners able to reach only one third of the 81 million people originally targeted to receive humanitarian health assistance.

Find out more about WHO’s efforts here.

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Sensex Jumps Over 2,000 Points After India-US Deal; Rupee Logs Best Day Since 2018

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Sridhar P

Indian equity markets closed sharply higher on Tuesday, extending a powerful rally as investors welcomed the finalisation of the long-awaited India–US trade deal, which is expected to improve trade prospects and revive foreign investor interest.

Benchmark indices posted broad-based gains through the session. The Sensex rose 2,072.67 points, or 2.54 per cent, to end at 83,739.13, while the Nifty climbed 639.15 points, or 2.55 per cent, to close at 25,727.55.

Market sentiment turned decisively positive after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods would be reduced to 18 per cent, easing a major source of uncertainty that had weighed on equities in recent months.

Technical analysts said momentum remains favourable in the near term. “The key support zone remains at 25,500–25,600 (gap support), while 25,900–26,000 acts as a major psychological and supply resistance area,” an analyst said.

Heavyweight stocks led the rally on the Sensex. Shares of Adani Ports, Bajaj Finance, InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) and Power Grid Corporation posted strong gains, reflecting renewed confidence across infrastructure, financials and transport-related counters. Tech Mahindra and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) were the only stocks to close in negative territory.

Gains Broad-based

Gains were broad-based across sectors. All sectoral indices ended higher, with the Nifty Realty index emerging as the top performer, rising more than 4 per cent. Chemical, pharmaceutical and consumer durables stocks also saw strong buying interest, with their respective indices advancing over 3 per cent each.

The rally extended beyond frontline stocks into the broader market. The Nifty MidCap 100 index gained 2.84 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap 100 index rose 2.82 per cent, underscoring improving risk appetite among investors.

Analysts said the market performance reflected growing optimism around the trade outlook and expectations of improved economic prospects. “Indian equities experienced a significant rally today, driven by the long-anticipated India–US trade deal and a strengthening rupee, which boosted expectations of renewed FII inflows,” an expert said.

The currency market mirrored the positive sentiment. The rupee strengthened sharply, appreciating by Rs 1.28, or nearly 1.40 per cent, following the trade deal announcement. The move marked the rupee’s best single-day gain since December 2018.

Market participants said the combination of tariff relief, a firmer currency and expectations of capital inflows could continue to support equities in the near term, even as investors watch global cues and domestic macro developments closely.

Sensex Soars Over 2,400 Points as Markets Cheer India–US Trade Deal

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Sridhar P

Indian equity markets staged a powerful rally on Tuesday morning, surging nearly 3 per cent in early trade, as investors reacted enthusiastically to the announcement of the India–US trade deal that promises immediate tariff relief for Indian exports.

By 9.25 a.m., the Sensex had jumped 2,421 points, or 2.97 per cent, to 84,088, while the Nifty climbed 741 points, or 2.96 per cent, to 25,829, marking one of the strongest single-session opening rallies in recent months.

The sharp upmove followed confirmation that India and the United States have agreed to a trade arrangement under which reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods will be cut to 18 per cent from 25 per cent. In addition, the extra 25 per cent duty imposed on India over its purchases of Russian crude oil will be scrapped. U.S. President Donald Trump said the agreement would be “effective immediately” after a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Monday, delivering instant relief to exporters and markets.

The rally was broad-based, extending well beyond frontline stocks. The Nifty Midcap 100 index surged 3.10 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 3.25 per cent, signalling renewed risk appetite across market segments that had remained under pressure amid trade uncertainty.

All sectoral indices traded firmly in the green, led by realty, auto, consumer durables and information technology. The realty index jumped 4.47 per cent, auto rose 3.78 per cent, consumer durables gained 3.69 per cent, and IT stocks advanced 3.04 per cent, reflecting expectations of stronger demand, improved export competitiveness and higher earnings visibility.

At 18 per cent, India’s new U.S. tariff rate now undercuts that of several key export-oriented Asian economies. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam face tariffs of 20 per cent, while Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Pakistan are subject to tariffs of 19 per cent. Market participants said this relative advantage could help Indian exporters gain market share in labour-intensive and manufacturing segments.

Technically, analysts said immediate support for the Nifty lies in the 25,600–25,800 zone, while resistance is seen at 26,200–26,350. A sustained move above these levels could open the door to further upside, they added.

“The dramatic announcement of the long-awaited US–India trade deal and the US decision to cut tariffs on India from 50 per cent to 18 per cent is a game changer for the Indian economy and stock markets as its delay was the single important factor weighing on the markets,” an analyst said, underscoring how prolonged uncertainty had capped valuations.

Market watchers said the deal could lift India’s growth trajectory, with GDP growth seen rising to around 7.5 per cent in FY27, supported by stronger exports to the U.S. Corporate earnings, which are already showing signs of revival, could accelerate to 16–18 per cent growth in FY27, aided by improved demand conditions and operating leverage.

Rupee Rebounds

Analysts also expect the rupee to rebound sharply in the near term. They said the combined impact of the US–India trade deal, the recently concluded EU–India trade agreement, and the growth-focused Union Budget has materially improved India’s macro outlook. The positive sentiment could trigger renewed foreign capital inflows, potentially strengthening India’s Balance of Payments position.

Large-cap stocks in banking, non-banking financials, telecom, capital goods and IT — sectors traditionally favoured by foreign institutional investors — are expected to attract significant inflows if risk-on sentiment sustains, market participants said.

Global cues were largely supportive. In Asia, China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.38 per cent and Shenzhen gained 0.93 per cent. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 3.23 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi surged 5.04 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged up 0.11 per cent.

U.S. markets had ended the previous session mostly higher, with the Nasdaq gaining 0.56 per cent, the S&P 500 advancing 0.54 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 1.05 per cent.

Despite the sharp rally, data showed that foreign institutional investors remained net sellers on February 2, offloading equities worth ₹1,832 crore. Domestic institutional investors, however, continued to provide strong support, with net purchases of ₹2,446 crore, cushioning the market ahead of the trade deal announcement.

The scale and breadth of Tuesday’s rally suggest that investors are now repositioning for a post-tariff-reset environment, with expectations of stronger growth, improved earnings visibility and renewed foreign interest shaping near-term market sentiment.