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

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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 May, providing a continuation of a key humanitarian lifeline as the war between rival militaries for control of Sudan continues, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed.

Targeting of civilian infrastructure has sparked panic and displacement. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported last week that 600 people were displaced within Port Sudan alone because of the attacks.

Catastrophic situation in North Darfur

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, warned on Sunday that the situation in the North Darfur camps of Abou Shouk “is catastrophic.”

Although the UN and its partners continue to scale up their humanitarian response, both camps remain, in effect, cut off from aid.

Ms Nkweta-Salami issued an urgent call for a ceasefire and humanitarian pauses to allow life-saving deliveries to resume.

Call for action after deaths of migrant children at sea

Two young children, aged 3 and 4, have died from dehydration aboard a rubber dinghy found adrift in the central Mediterranean, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.

The vessel, which departed Libya carrying 62 migrants including several children, had reportedly been stranded for days after its engine failed.

Refugees and migrants in a wooden boat are rescued near the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean Sea.

Refugees and migrants in a wooden boat are rescued near the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to survivors, the children had died nearly a day before rescuers arrived.

One additional passenger is believed to have drowned earlier in the journey. Many others onboard suffered severe chemical burns caused by contact with a mixture of seawater and spilled fuel – injuries which require urgent medical attention.

All surviving passengers were eventually rescued and transferred to Lampedusa by the Italian coast guard.

‘Devastating reminder’

Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, called the incident “another devastating reminder” of the deadly risks migrants face.

She stressed the need for coordinated search and rescue missions, and greater investment in support services for migrant families.

“The central Mediterranean remains one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world,” Ms. De Dominicis said. “Without immediate action, more lives will continue to be lost.”

UNICEF continues to call on governments to meet their obligations under international law and protect vulnerable children seeking safety.

Nursing workforce grows, but deep inequalities persist worldwide

The number of nurses around the world has increased in recent years, but a new UN report published on Monday shows that many countries and regions still face serious shortages, highlighting ongoing inequalities in access to nursing care.

Low-income countries are particularly affected, struggling with too few nurses to meet the needs of their growing populations, said the UN World Health Organization (WHO) which crunched the data.

Poor prospects at home

While these countries are training new nurses at a faster rate than wealthier nations, challenges such as rapid population growth and limited job opportunities are making it hard to close the gap, WHO added.

These imbalances in where nurses are working mean that millions still don’t have access to basic health services.

This is holding back efforts to achieve universal health coverage, protect global health, and meet international development goals linked to health.

“We cannot ignore the inequalities that mark the global nursing landscape,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO is urging governments to create more nursing jobs and ensure they are fairly distributed, especially in communities where healthcare services are lacking.

Plant pests continue to threaten global food supplies

Protecting crops from pests is key to ensuring everyone has enough to eat, said the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday, who stressed that access to food is a basic human right.

Each year, around 40 per cent of the world’s crops are lost to plant pests and diseases, causing over $220 billion in economic damage.

Invasive pests turn up the heat

Migratory pests like locusts and armyworms are among the biggest threats, especially in regions already hit hard by conflict and climate change.

Countries in the Near East and North Africa – including Algeria, Libya and Tunisia – are currently dealing with a serious outbreak of desert locusts that began in the Sahel.

These insects destroy crops and pastureland, putting food supplies for both people and animals at risk, and threatening the survival of farming communities.

“No country can face these challenges alone,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, at a high-level conference in Italy marking the International Day of Plant Health.

He called for greater international cooperation and more funding to tackle cross-border pests and diseases.

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World News in Brief: Guterres on India-Pakistan tensions, eastern DR Congo update, weather boost for locusts in Africa

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UN Secretary-General Guterres has spoken to leaders on both sides on India-Pakistan tensions.

“This morning, he spoke separately by telephone with Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and he also spoke earlier in the day with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York.

During the calls the UN chief reiterated his strong condemnation of the 22 April terrorist attack, noting “the importance of pursuing justice and accountability for these attacks through lawful means.”

He expressed major concern over “rising tensions between India and Pakistan and he also underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences,” added Mr. Dujarric.

The Secretary-General also offered to help mediate in support of any de-escalation efforts.

Escalating violence displaces thousands in eastern DR Congo

Ongoing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is uprooting families, crippling essential services, and placing civilians at growing risk, the UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) warned on Tuesday.

Fresh fighting in South Kivu province has forced communities to flee and left at least 10 civilians dead in Walungu territory alone, according to local authorities. “The violence is disrupting both economic life and the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid,” said OCHA.

Multiple rape cases

In nearby Kalehe, Minova hospital has reported multiple cases of rape and physical assault in recent days amid worsening insecurity. Meanwhile, clashes in Fizi territory last week led to health centres being looted and schools burned, threatening already fragile public services.

OCHA urged all combatants to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians. “Humanitarian access must be safe and unhindered,” the agency stressed.

The surge in displacement comes as eastern DRC remains gripped by fighting between the M23 rebel group and government forces, particularly in North Kivu. Since January, the violence has displaced hundreds of thousands.

In Walikale territory, civilians are trapped in a dangerous cycle of displacement and return, OCHA said, calling for strengthened protection and support for affected communities.

Locust swarms can devastate crops and pastures in many parts of Africa and elsewhere.

Favourable weather fuels desert locust surge in North Africa

Unusually high levels of desert locust infestations have been reported during the current breeding season, raising alarms across affected regions, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday.

“Desert locusts remain among the most devastating migratory pests on the planet,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, emphasising the threat they pose to food security and livelihoods.

A single swarm of locusts can cover anywhere from one to several hundred square kilometres and may contain up to 80 million adult locusts. In just 1 km², they can eat as much food in a day as 35,000 people.

Feeding on crops and pastureland, they pose a threat to crops grown for both people and livestock, risking starvation in communities that depend on agriculture for survival.

Clement weather for pests

According to the FAO, favourable weather conditions have created suitable breeding grounds for the flying pests. Winds and rainfall patterns have facilitated the movement of desert locusts from the Sahel to North Africa.

The FAO recommends conducting intensive ground surveys across key areas where locust breeding is likely to occur.

The area spanning from south of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, through the Sahara in Algeria, and extending to southern Tunisia and western Libya is particularly at risk.

“Surveys and control operations are particularly urgent in locations where winter and early spring rains have created suitable breeding conditions,” said Cyril Piou, the FAO’s Locust Monitoring and Forecasting Officer.

Early detection and rapid response are critical to preventing a wider crisis, the UN food agency underscores.

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

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“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. However, vital relief efforts have been suspended due to severe insecurity and ongoing violence.

Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war between the military government and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and driven over 12.6 million from their homes, including over 3.8 million as refugees into neighbouring countries.

‘Alarming reports’

“We continue to receive alarming reports of serious protection issues, such as arbitrary arrests, harassment and intimidation at checkpoints controlled by the RSF,” Mr. Dujarric said.

According to local sources, further intensification of attacks was reported in and around El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province. Fighting earlier this month had displaced tens of thousands of people from the region.

“We reiterate that international humanitarian law must be respected,” the UN Spokesperson said, reiterating his call on warring parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure production of civilians.

Elsewhere in the country, authorities in Northern State reported the arrival of thousands of people from Zamzam camp and Al Malha town in North Darfur, and from Omdurman, near the capital Khartoum.

Mr. Dujarric said that most of those displaced are seeking safety in poorly constructed shelters, while others are being hosted by family or friends. They are relying on just one meal a day and in dire need of food, in dire need of sanitation, water, nutrition, shelter, and every other possible support.

Myanmar: Millions remain in need one month after earthquakes

One month after devastating earthquakes struck Myanmar, more than six million people urgently need aid – with many still too afraid to return to their damaged homes – the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, has said.

At least 55,000 dwellings were destroyed or severely damaged in the worst affected regions, forcing families to live in makeshift shelters exposed to harsh weather and rising protection risks.

Ongoing aftershocks have deepened fears among communities, leaving many unwilling to risk re-entering their homes, OCHA said.

The humanitarian response has so far reached over 600,000 people with clean water, sanitation and hygiene support. In addition, nearly 500,000 people were provided food assistance and more than 115,000 with emergency shelter and critical supplies, said Mr. Dujarric.

“This is a critical moment for the response. Additional and quick disbursement of resources and sustained access to all communities are vital to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further,” he added, urging support from donors.

UN trust fund supports over 4,300 victims of sexual exploitation and abuse

The UN Spokesperson also reported on Monday that more than 4,300 victims and community members affected by sexual exploitation and abuse linked to UN personnel received vital support last year through a special Trust Fund.

The fund helps close critical gaps in assistance for victims – including psychological, medical and legal services.

It also supports income-generating activities for survivors and children fathered by UN peacekeepers.

The fund is raising awareness on the risks of misconduct among up to 89,000 community members in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Liberia, Guatemala and South Sudan.

Since its creation in 2016, the trust fund has mobilized more than $5 million through voluntary contributions from 25 Member States as well as payments withheld following substantiated allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel.

“We continue to appeal to Member States for additional funding for this important work,” said Mr. Dujarric.

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Chandrayaan-II update: Orbiter completes thermo-vacuum test

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Chandrayaan-2, India’s second mission to the Moon, is a totally indigenous mission comprising of an Orbiter, Lander and Rover. It envisages complex tasks like soft-landing, Rover separation and movement on the lunar surface, in addition to operations of Orbiter, informed Minister Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Several new technology elements have been developed indigenously and tests are being carried out for validation. Orbiter has completed Thermo-vacuum test which is one of the major milestones, he said.

Lander Sensors and Actuators are tested on ground to validate the performance and the results are satisfactory, while rover flight model is under assembly, said the minister. Payloads are in various stages of delivery for Spacecraft integration, he informed the House.

After reaching the 100 km lunar orbit, the Lander housing the Rover will separate from the Orbiter. After a controlled descent, the Lander will soft land on the lunar surface at a specified site and deploy a Rover, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The mission will carry a six-wheeled Rover which will move around the landing site in semi-autonomous mode as decided by the ground commands. The instruments on the rover will observe the lunar surface and send back data, which will be useful for analysis of the lunar soil.

The Chandrayaan-2 weighing around 3290 kg and would orbit around the moon and perform the objectives of remote sensing the moon. The payloads will collect scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice.

To be carried by GSLV-F10, Chandrayaan-2 Mission is planned during first half of 2018.