Hurricane Melissa leaves thousands displaced across the Caribbean

The hurricane caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and crops, leaving thousands displaced. However, extensive storm preparation by governments, assisted by UN agencies and other NGOs, appears to have helped lessen the impact and saved lives in many areas.  In Cuba, the hurricane struck the province of Santiago de Cuba with winds exceeding 200 km/h […]

Violence in northern Mozambique forces thousands to flee, straining aid efforts

Violence in northern Mozambique forces thousands to flee, straining aid efforts

The displacement is the latest consequence of a cascade of overlapping emergencies in the country – including armed violence, climate shocks, disease outbreaks and a severe funding shortfall. Since January, over 95,000 people have fled insecurity in Cabo Delgado and humanitarian access is becoming increasingly fragile. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of […]

UN urges restraint as Thailand-Cambodia clashes displace thousands; Security Council meets

UN urges restraint as Thailand-Cambodia clashes displace thousands; Security Council meets

The clashes, which began on 24 July, reportedly involved exchanges of gunfire, artillery shelling and rocket fire, with Thailand having conducted airstrikes inside Cambodian territory. UN humanitarian officials confirmed civilian casualties, including children. More than 131,000 people in Thailand and over 4,000 in Cambodia have been displaced, according to relief partners. Temporary shelters, including schools […]

Syria: Deadly sectarian violence displaces thousands in Sweida; healthcare attacked

Syria: Deadly sectarian violence displaces thousands in Sweida; healthcare attacked

Since 13 July, around 176,000 people have been displaced from Sweida,  according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Mostly migrating to neighbouring Dar’a and Rural Damascus governorates, civilians are fleeing violent clashes between Bedouin tribal fighters, Syrian caretaker government forces and Druze militias. Meanwhile in the north of the country, […]

Gaza: More misery as new evacuation orders impact tens of thousands

Gaza: More misery as new evacuation orders impact tens of thousands

Those impacted by the orders have been told to relocate to the “already overcrowded” coastal strip at Al Mawasi, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), late Tuesday. Al Mawasi near Khan Younis lacks “the basics for survival”, the UN agency insisted. It has also seen nearly two dozen strikes on […]

Deadly flooding in Nigeria displaces thousands

Deadly flooding in Nigeria displaces thousands

Nigerian officials estimate that over 500 people are still missing and presumed dead, according to news reports. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, a former Nigerian Government minister, said she was heartbroken at the extent of the loss and damage. “My deepest condolences to all those affected – especially the families who have lost loved ones. My prayers […]

Thousands flee homes in Mozambique as conflict and disasters fuel worsening crisis

Thousands flee homes in Mozambique as conflict and disasters fuel worsening crisis

The latest displacement brings the total number of people uprooted by violence, cyclones and social unrest in Mozambique to nearly 1.3 million, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. The situation is particularly dire in Cabo Delgado province, where attacks by non-state armed groups continue to drive displacement, destroy infrastructure and disrupt recovery efforts. “Thousands […]

Gaza: New displacement orders force thousands to flee as famine looms

Gaza: New displacement orders force thousands to flee as famine looms

In addition to ongoing bombardment, Israel issued another three displacement orders over the past two days, covering seven per cent of the total area of the territory.  Overall, some 71 per cent of the Gaza Strip is under displacement orders or in Israeli-militarized zones, where the Israeli authorities require humanitarian teams to coordinate their movements.  […]

DR Congo aid operation reaches Beni with food supplies for thousands

DR Congo aid operation reaches Beni with food supplies for thousands

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that trucks packed with cereals, beans and cooking oil reached the city of Beni in North Kivu province from neighbouring Uganda, amid clashes between Rwanda-backed M23 rebel fighters and Congolese forces. Aid for 140,000 WFP said that it intends to use the thousands of tonnes of relief supplies […]

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans forced back into danger, says UNHCR

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans forced back into danger, says UNHCR

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), over 250,000 Afghans returned in April alone – among them, 96,000 who were forcibly deported. The agency voiced particular alarm over the fate of women and girls, who face increasing repression under Taliban rule. The large-scale returns are putting even greater pressure on already stretched humanitarian resources and […]