‘Deadly floods’ displace over 100,000 in South Sudan

‘Deadly floods’ displace over 100,000 in South Sudan

In recent weeks, widespread flooding has engulfed large parts of Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states in the north of the country. The agency’s representative in South Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney, said that “if the flooding continues, up to 400,000 people are likely to be displaced by the end of the year, exceeding flood displacement levels seen […]

Sudan: As children continue to suffer, school remains a distant hope

Sudan: As children continue to suffer, school remains a distant hope

After more than two years of civil war, more than 25 million people are now acutely hungry and at least 20 million require health services urgently. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) also warned that displaced families in some areas have not received any aid for three months, as it announced that for the first time, […]

World News in Brief: Afghan quake update, diplomacy continues to end Sudan war, UN honours victims of 9/11

World News in Brief: Afghan quake update, diplomacy continues to end Sudan war, UN honours victims of 9/11

Women and children face heightened risks, while operational challenges – including restrictions on female UN staff – threaten life-saving relief efforts. The twin quakes, measuring 6.0 and 6.2, struck on 31 August and 4 September, flattening entire villages in Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Nuristan provinces. Mountainous terrain and landslides blocked key roads, leaving air transport […]

Downpours stymy aid teams following deadly landslide in war-torn Sudan

Downpours stymy aid teams following deadly landslide in war-torn Sudan

The death toll has not yet been verified as ongoing downpours and rugged terrain are making it extremely difficult to reach the impacted communities, according to the UN migration agency, IOM. To date, an estimated 150 people were displaced from Tarseen and neighbouring villages, with families now sheltering in nearby communities. The UN humanitarian agency, […]

World News in Brief: Afghanistan quake update, Guterres in Papua New Guinea, Ebola returns to DR Congo, UN condemns attack on peacekeepers in South Sudan

World News in Brief: Afghanistan quake update, Guterres in Papua New Guinea, Ebola returns to DR Congo, UN condemns attack on peacekeepers in South Sudan

Since the initial earthquake on Sunday in eastern Nangarhar province, landslides and several strong aftershocks have disrupted the work of rescue teams. In an update, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said that access routes remain blocked in various locations including the districts of Chawkay and Nurgal, both in Kunar province, although the authorities have deployed earth-moving […]

Sudan: Hundreds feared dead in Darfur landslide

Sudan: Hundreds feared dead in Darfur landslide

Up to 1,000 people are feared dead in the tragedy, which occurred on Sunday in Tarsin village, located in the Jebel Marra range on the border of Central and South Darfur states. The landslide was triggered by days of heavy rain. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the […]

Sudan: Guterres calls for ceasefire in El Fasher, deplores ‘relentless’ militia attacks

Sudan: Guterres calls for ceasefire in El Fasher, deplores ‘relentless’ militia attacks

António Guterres said he was “appalled by the relentless attacks” by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia on the North Darfur state capital, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement. The paramilitary group and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been battling for control of devastated country since April 2023 and El Fasher has […]

Sudan: A staggering 30 million are in need, as war grinds on

Sudan: A staggering 30 million are in need, as war grinds on

Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy for the humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, briefed journalists on her recent visit to Sudan and neighbouring Chad – a critical entry point for aid and a haven for some 850,000 people who have fled fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.  The war […]

First Person: From aid worker to refugee and back in war-torn Sudan

First Person: From aid worker to refugee and back in war-torn Sudan

Sudan is one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crises, with more than 30.4 million people – over half the population – urgently needing humanitarian assistance, yet the 2025 Sudan humanitarian needs and response plan is severely underfunded, with only 13.3 per cent of the required resources received so far. Forced to flee […]

World News in Brief: Cholera strikes Sudan and beyond, humanitarian needs grown for returning Afghans, rising insecurity in DR Congo

World News in Brief: Cholera strikes Sudan and beyond, humanitarian needs grown for returning Afghans, rising insecurity in DR Congo

So far this year, cholera has killed more than 4,300 people across 31 countries. These figures are underestimates and there is particular concern for those impacted by war in Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Yemen.   In Sudan, the disease has already claimed over 1,000 lives since 1 January. It […]

Security Council rejects creation of rival government in Sudan

Security Council rejects creation of rival government in Sudan

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Council members said the step posed “a direct threat to Sudan’s territorial integrity” and could fragment the country, fuel the fighting, and deepen an already dire humanitarian crisis. Ambassadors reaffirmed “unwavering” support for Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and unity, stressing that unilateral actions that undermine these principles jeopardise not only […]

Sudan: UN ‘deeply alarmed’ by major attack on besieged El Fasher

Sudan: UN ‘deeply alarmed’ by major attack on besieged El Fasher

Monday’s attack left 40 civilians dead and 19 injured within Abu Shouk, according to humanitarian partners. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the renewed violence forced at least 500 residents of the camp to flee to other parts of North Darfur. Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Sheldon Yett, condemned “all deliberate and indiscriminate […]

UN officials warn of starvation amid ‘gender emergency’ in war-torn Sudan

UN officials warn of starvation amid ‘gender emergency’ in war-torn Sudan

Particularly hard hit is El Fasher, where hunger is growing, with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warning of a deteriorating situation that is putting even more civilians’ lives at risk. OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, Edem Wosornu, who is currently in the country, said the suffering is immense, with people […]

Children are ‘skin and bones’ as Sudan marks a grim milestone

Children are ‘skin and bones’ as Sudan marks a grim milestone

It is a grim milestone for Sudan, the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. But with insufficient funding, lack of access to key regions and intensifying violence, milestones like this have become the grim norm.   “This is not hypothetical. It is a looming catastrophe,” said Sheldon Yett, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Sudan. And […]

Mounting civilian casualties in Sudan as fighting intensifies

Mounting civilian casualties in Sudan as fighting intensifies

It has now been 842 days since conflict between troops from the military government and their former allies-turned-rivals in the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in Sudan, turning the country into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.   Heavy fighting continues in North Darfur State, with multiple civilian casualties reported in recent days – most notably […]

Sudan gripped by deadly crisis as hunger, disease and heat intensify

Sudan gripped by deadly crisis as hunger, disease and heat intensify

In El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur that has been under siege for 15 months, the catastrophic humanitarian situation is worsening. Food shortages and soaring prices have forced community-run kitchens to shut down. Widespread hunger and malnutrition have reportedly caused several deaths and driven some residents to eat animal feed. In the Tawila locality […]