Sudan war exacerbates risk of cholera and malaria: UNICEF

Sudan war exacerbates risk of cholera and malaria: UNICEF

In a report released Wednesday, UNICEF highlighted the growing threat of cholera in the war-torn country, with more than 7,700 cases and 185 associated deaths reported in Khartoum State alone since January 2025. Alarmingly, over 1,000 cases have affected children under the age of five. Since the onset of conflict in April 2023, three million people […]

Sudan conflict triggers regional health crisis, warns WHO

Sudan conflict triggers regional health crisis, warns WHO

“The ongoing conflict and displacement, in addition to fragile health infrastructure and limited access to affected populations, pose a risk of mass disease transmission,” the UN health agency said in a report issued Tuesday, urging immediate support to sustain surveillance, bolster outbreak response and preserve lifesaving health services. Since civil war erupted in April 2023, 14.5 […]

World News in Brief: UK cedes sovereignty over Chagos Islands, suffering in Sudan deepens, UN releases new emergency relief funds

World News in Brief: UK cedes sovereignty over Chagos Islands, suffering in Sudan deepens, UN releases new emergency relief funds

Before granting Mauritius independence in 1968, Britain unlawfully separated the Chagos archipelago to create the British Indian Ocean Territory. In doing so, it expelled 1,500–2,000 islanders to lease Diego Garcia, the largest island, to the United States for joint military use. Under the agreement, the UK will lease the island of Diego Garcia for the […]

Drone strikes on civilian infrastructure in Port Sudan must end: UN expert

Drone strikes on civilian infrastructure in Port Sudan must end: UN expert

“These ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure are putting lives at risk, worsening the humanitarian crisis, and violating basic human rights,” said Radhouane Nouicer, the designated expert on the human rights situation in Sudan, appointed by UN rights office OHCHR. Targeted sites include the city’s main electricity substation and fuel and gas storage facilities, leading to […]

World News in Brief: Russia-Ukraine talks, Sudan exodus worsens, Colombia displacement rises

World News in Brief: Russia-Ukraine talks, Sudan exodus worsens, Colombia displacement rises

Delegations met in Istanbul for the first direct negotiations in three years, including on a potential ceasefire and large-scale prisoner exchange. The UN acknowledged the important role of Türkiye and the United States in facilitating the talks, said Stephanie Tremblay, a spokesperson for the global body in New York. “We hope this process will lead […]

World News in Brief: Sudan refugees, aid for Syrian returnees, MERS alert in Saudi Arabia, Venezuela urged to end secret detentions

World News in Brief: Sudan refugees, aid for Syrian returnees, MERS alert in Saudi Arabia, Venezuela urged to end secret detentions

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Wednesday that most of the new arrivals are women and children. Many have come from Zamzam camp and the city of El Fasher, locations targeted by paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who’ve been fighting forces of the military government for more than two years. In Chad, the high numbers […]

World News in Brief: Sudan aid update, child migrant deaths at sea, nursing shortages, invasive pest scourge

World News in Brief: Sudan aid update, child migrant deaths at sea, nursing shortages, invasive pest scourge

Port Sudan – the main entry point for humanitarian supplies and personnel into the country – came under attack for the ninth consecutive day. As the UN’s main humanitarian hub in Sudan, drone strikes on the coastal city have gravely impacted aid delivery. Nonetheless, UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights were able to resume on 8 […]

World News in Brief: ‘Massive’ needs in Sudan, DR Congo aid shortfall, support for Congolese refugees and Angola cholera relief

World News in Brief: ‘Massive’ needs in Sudan, DR Congo aid shortfall, support for Congolese refugees and Angola cholera relief

The UN estimates that in the past few weeks, over 330,000 people have fled into Tawila after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched violent attacks in the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps and in El Fasher, the regional capital.  Over 100,000 people also remain trapped in El Fasher.  ‘Massive’ humanitarian needs Since the beginning […]

UN Security Council extends South Sudan mission amid rising instability

UN Security Council extends South Sudan mission amid rising instability

Introduced by the United States and supported by 11 other Council members, the resolution extended the mandate of UNMISS until 30 April next year. This action follows a short nine-day “technical rollover” approved by the Council on 30 April to allow more time for negotiations. Through the text – adopted on Thursday – the Security […]

World News in Brief: South Sudan urged to avoid slide to war, Türk calls on EU not to weaken landmark law, Ukraine and Mali updates

World News in Brief: South Sudan urged to avoid slide to war, Türk calls on EU not to weaken landmark law, Ukraine and Mali updates

The Quartet is calling on the country’s leaders to end hostilities and return to dialogue to fully implement the 2018 peace agreement known as the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence in 2011 but soon descended into a […]

Port Sudan: No let-up in drone attacks as UN chief urges peace

Port Sudan: No let-up in drone attacks as UN chief urges peace

The UN chief warned that any further escalation of the conflict could result in massive civilian casualties and worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation across the country. “The expansion of the conflict into an area that has served as a place of refuge for a large number of displaced people is alarming,” he said in […]

Port Sudan: Aid officials call for greater protection as drone attacks continue

Port Sudan: Aid officials call for greater protection as drone attacks continue

The escalation is occurring as war grinds on between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who appear to be targeting airports in each other’s areas of control. “Very concerned by ongoing drone strikes on Port Sudan,” UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tweeted on Wednesday.  “International humanitarian law must […]

World News in Brief: Deadly attacks in South Sudan and Ukraine, World Court rejects Sudan case, lifesaving aid in Yemen

World News in Brief: Deadly attacks in South Sudan and Ukraine, World Court rejects Sudan case, lifesaving aid in Yemen

According to the UN relief coordination office (OCHA), the hospital in Old Fangak was struck early Saturday, killing seven civilians and injuring at least 20 more. The attack also destroyed vital supplies and forced the withdrawal of aid workers, leaving the town’s population without access to critical care. “People in these areas are already battling […]

Sudan drone attacks raise fears for civilian safety and aid efforts

Sudan drone attacks raise fears for civilian safety and aid efforts

“These attacks appear to be the latest in a series of retaliatory military operations, conducted by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, targeting airports in each other’s areas of control,” UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters in New York on Monday. The fighting between troops of the military Government and former […]

UN alert over deepening crisis in Sudan as famine spreads and violence escalates

UN alert over deepening crisis in Sudan as famine spreads and violence escalates

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “appalled” by the deteriorating situation in North Darfur, where the regional capital, El Fasher, is under intense and sustained attack. The onslaught comes just two weeks after deadly assaults on the nearby Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps, where […]

World News in Brief: Sudan aid challenges, Myanmar quake update, UN support for victims of sexual abuse

World News in Brief: Sudan aid challenges, Myanmar quake update, UN support for victims of sexual abuse

“The UN is gravely concerned about the plight of civilians fleeing Zamzam camp, as well as the dire situation in and around El Fasher, which is in North Darfur,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at a regular news briefing in New York. Famine conditions have already been identified in several displacement camps, including Zamzam. […]

Sudan situation ‘absolutely devastating’ as UN ramps up food aid

Sudan situation ‘absolutely devastating’ as UN ramps up food aid

Speaking in Port Sudan after a visit to Khartoum, Samantha Chattaraj, Emergency Coordinator for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan, said that “vast parts of the city are destroyed. Levels of hunger and desperation are extremely high,” but she added “people remain hopeful.” Sudan is currently the only country in the world where […]