🌐 국제기구 · "SOME" · 총 55건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.0
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 5,636건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.0(균형)입니다. 긍정 0건(0.0%)·중립 5,636건(100.0%)·부정 0건(0.0%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 0.0(중도 균형)입니다.
As civic space shrinks across Africa, one film festival is betting that cinema can do what reports and protests sometimes cannot, hold power to account.
Country: Ghana Source: World Bank Washington, 28th May 2026 - The World Bank today approved $500 million in financing for the Ghana Market Access and Connectivity Project (GMACP), a major initiative to improve rural road connectivity, strengthen agricultural value chains, expand economic opportunities, and create short-term direct jobs for rural communities across Ghana. Poor road conditions and inadequate maintenance have long constrained rural livelihoods in Ghana — limiting market access, driving up transport costs, and contributing to significant post-harvest losses. The project directly addresses these challenges by rehabilitating and maintaining critical feeder roads in selected regions, improving all-season connectivity between rural production areas and urban markets, and enabling farmers to reach buyers more efficiently, transition into higher-value agricultural activities, and unlock local job and income opportunities along agricultural value chains. "This project will improve access to markets and opportunities for rural communities while strengthening Ghana's agricultural competitiveness and resilience," said Robert Taliercio, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone*. “It will directly benefit more than 550,000 people — including approximately 350,000 farmers, 250,000 women, and 310,000 youth. It is also expected to generate some 25,000 short-term direct jobs through civil works and road maintenance activities.”* To be implemented over five years by the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the GMACP project will support the rehabilitation and maintenance of more than 1,000 kilometers of rural roads across four clusters spanning the Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, and Western regions. These areas are major producers of priority crops — including maize, rice, yam, and cassava — that are central to Ghana's food security but remain constrained by poor market connectivity. Improved all-season access aims to reduce transport costs, shorten travel times, increase supply reliability, and open larger markets to smallholder farmers, ultimately reducing post-harvest losses, strengthening agricultural value chains, and contributing to lower food prices and improved food security. The GMACP incorporates climate-resilient design to ensure roads and drainage systems can withstand climate risks over the long term. Sustainability is a central pillar of the project: it will operationalize the Road Maintenance Trust Fund (RMTF) and introduce Performance-Based Contracts for road maintenance, while providing technical assistance to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure that rehabilitated roads remain functional well beyond project completion. PRESS RELEASE NO: 2026/073/AFW Contacts In Accra: Kennedy Fosu, (233) 302-221 4142 kfosu@worldbank.org
Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan Source: UN Women Earthquake survivors in Afghanistan have been forced to flee again due to Pakistan-Afghanistan border conflict. It was during an air attack in eastern Afghanistan that 30-year-old Najeeba* felt her labour pains begin. Around her, families were already on the move, fleeing renewed hostilities along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. But her baby wasn’t going to wait. Just six months earlier, the ground had shaken beneath her feet when a massive earthquake devastated the region. Now, it was the skies that she feared. “There was no safe place”, she recalled, as the conflict reached the camp where she had been living with other families displaced by the earthquake. “Aircraft were flying overhead, and my children were extremely frightened; whenever they heard the sound, they would cry and scream.” With her husband, she packed up their tent and few remaining belongings. Najeeba gave birth in a Red Crescent clinic, then climbed into a rented mini truck with her newborn daughter, six other children aged two to 11, and her husband, and escaped to a new camp in the Maza Dara Valley, in Nurgal district. What is happening on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and how does the conflict affect displaced women? More than 100,000 people have been displaced by the latest cross-border air strikes, shelling, drone attacks, and ground clashes in eastern Afghanistan, following the escalation of renewed hostilities along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Women and girls – who are already living under increasing restrictions on their freedoms and movement under the Taliban – and those struggling to survive the aftermath of last year’s earthquake in eastern Afghanistan have been hit hardest by the increased insecurity. An estimated 50,000 people in the affected areas are at increased risk of gender-based violence. And women have further reduced access to health and essential services. For pregnant women, the risks are even higher, as many face hunger and limited healthcare. Women displaced by border fighting in eastern Afghanistan face growing health risks; pregnant women struggle to access care For Najeeba and her family, the journey was expensive, forcing them to sell already scarce resources – precious blankets, flour, and cooking oil – just to pay for the trip to the new camp in the Maza Dara Valley. About 40 minutes away, along a steep dirt road in the mountains, another new mother reflected on the impact of the ongoing hostilities along the border. Seventeen-year-old Fahima* had given birth to her son just before the latest escalation began in late February. When the fighting started, her three other children, aged five and under, were terrified by the sound of aircraft and missiles. She and her husband – who had also been living in a camp with families displaced by the earthquake – decided to leave, selling flour and borrowing money to pay for transport. Less than a year ago, they were farmers, growing sorghum, wheat, and kidney beans to feed their family or sell for income. Now, forced to move for the second time in six months, they are running out of food. “Our land was destroyed [in the earthquake] and there is no work here”, Fahima said. “We give more food to our children and eat less ourselves.” More than two-thirds of women in ten impacted provinces have lost income, according to the Afghanistan Gender Coordination Group. Three-quarters report finding it harder to find food and more than four-in-ten report greater difficulty accessing healthcare. Women are also more likely to experience psychological distress. What is UN Women doing to support women and girls in eastern Afghanistan? With funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and through a local partner, UN Women has been supporting women-only safe spaces in camps for families displaced by the earthquake. Counsellors provide much-needed mental health support, while the spaces also offer a rare opportunity for women to connect with each other in privacy, despite the crowded camp conditions. Two of the four safe spaces have now been relocated due to the conflict. Each tent is run by a team of two, a manager and a counsellor, who provide support to women during the day, and cook and sleep in the same space at night. Many have toddlers with them, and return home to their older children, one day a week. Supporting Afghan women affected by trauma and displacement “We stay together and eat together – we are like a mother and daughter”, said Zaland,* 25, a counsellor who moved to a new location with her colleague after the hostilities escalated. Inside their newly re-erected safe space, bright balloons hang from the roof and multicoloured cardboard signs carry messages of mental health support along the walls. “Some of the women have suffered a great deal”, added Zaland. “Some have lost family members, some have lost their homes, some have lost livestock, and some have hungry children.” After counselling, she says, some women leave to collect wild plants to eat. Her colleague, Mastoora,* 36, explains the impact of their work. “The happiness I feel comes from knowing that, even if I cannot do much for a woman, I can at least say something that helps her”, she said. “When I go home, I explain [to my daughters] that I am working for women – they are happy when they see their mother going somewhere to serve other women.” For 17-year-old Fahima, the service helps her cope better, despite the daily struggle she faces to feed her four children. “When we come [for counselling], we feel relieved and our mood improves”, she says. “We would not come if they were male counsellors; the female counsellors are like our sisters, and we can speak openly with them.” Sustained humanitarian support is critical for women and girls in Afghanistan As families continue to endure double displacement following the 2025 earthquake, and now the on-going hostilities, women and girls are affected distinctly and immensely. Sustained support is essential to ensure that women’s civil society organizations can maintain vital women-only safe spaces and other community-based services, providing protection, mental health support, and dignity for those most at risk. * Names have been changed to protect identities.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: International Rescue Committee Delayed detection and slow contact tracing suggest virus has likely spread undetected for months Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 1, 2026 — The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is likely significantly larger and more advanced than official figures suggest, as response efforts struggle with delayed detection and dangerously low levels of contact tracing, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned today. With only 20% of contacts currently being traced, health authorities are struggling to identify and isolate new chains of transmission. The virus may have been spreading undetected since before March, potentially as long as three months before the first official case was identified, allowing multiple chains of transmission to establish across communities and provinces. The combination of these factors dramatically increases the likelihood that the true scale of infections is far higher than reported, the IRC warned. Rachel Howard, Senior Technical Emergency Health advisor at the IRC, said: “The true scale of this Ebola outbreak is likely far worse than official figures suggest. When four out of five contacts are not being traced, it becomes incredibly difficult to contain the outbreak or even understand its true scale. We’re especially concerned about the virus spreading to other countries like Burundi or South Sudan.” IRC teams warn that shortages of diagnostic cartridges and testing backlogs are slowing confirmation of cases, further obscuring the true spread of the outbreak. Seven confirmed Ebola patients have reportedly left treatment centers in the DRC, while more than six healthcare workers have died, including two doctors in recent days. The incidents underscore the deep fear and mistrust some communities continue to have toward Ebola prevention and treatment efforts. People are avoiding health facilities, raising fears that those affected are remaining within communities rather than seeking treatment. As a result, transmission is spreading across multiple areas, and communities are losing trust in the response. Strengthening local, community-based prevention and infection control should be the immediate priority to control the outbreak at the source. Without urgent funding, the situation could deteriorate rapidly. This outbreak is increasingly resembling the 2018–2020 North Kivu Ebola crisis, which infected thousands of people and was complicated by insecurity, population movement, and community resistance. However, unlike previous outbreaks, there is currently no approved vaccine available for this Ebola strain. The IRC is calling for urgent international support to scale up contact tracing, surveillance, laboratory testing, treatment capacity, and community engagement efforts before the outbreak escalates further. It is also critical to build trust with affected communities, including through survivor-led awareness and risk awareness activities. In response to the current escalating outbreak, whilst working in close coordination with the government health authorities who are leading the response, IRC has launched prevention and control activities, including distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as awareness raising activities amidst communities at risk, rehabilitation of triage areas and rehabilitation/construction of showers, latrines and waste disposal areas. In Uganda, IRC is working with the Ministry of Health on the border to support infection, prevention and control activities including screening people coming across the border. IRC is also supporting response coordination in Uganda. Media contacts Madiha Raza International Rescue Committee madiha.raza@rescue.org Kim Winkler International Rescue Committee Kim.Winkler@rescue.org IRC Global Communications communications@rescue.org
Country: Philippines Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. A. SITUATION ANALYSIS Description of the crisis In late 2025, the Philippines faced a series of overlapping disasters that significantly escalated the humanitarian needs on the ground. A powerful earthquake in Cebu province marked the onset of the humanitarian crisis, followed by Typhoons Tino (Kalmaegi) and Uwan (Fung-wong) in quick succession. The compounding nature of these disasters left a trail of massive destruction across various regions displacing thousands of families, severely disrupting livelihoods, and access to essential services. As a result, the cumulative impacts of these disasters further intensified the vulnerabilities of affected communities, indicating that recovery will be a prolonged process. On 30 September 2025, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Bogo City in northern Cebu. The shallow depth of the quake resulted in intense ground shaking, leading to the collapse of homes, damage to roads and bridges, and widespread power outages. Several municipalities in the Cebu province, including Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, Borbon, and parts of Cebu City, were among the hardest hit. Based on Situational report no. 30 issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)2, more than 217,910 families were affected in Cebu Province alone houses either destroyed or partially damaged. Critical infrastructure such as schools, government buildings, health facilities, and transport networks also sustained significant damage, disrupting access to basic services. Many families were forced to seek temporary shelter in evacuation centres, while others remain in unsafe living conditions due to limited housing options. As communities were just beginning to mobilise relief following the aftermath of the earthquake, Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on 02 November 2025. The storm rapidly intensified and made multiple landfalls across Visayas region and Palawan, brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides. Multiple areas in Central Cebu, Mimaropa, the Negros Islands Region, and parts of Caraga experienced severe flooding, further damaging homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure. A total of 1,526,203 families were affected - 263,712 people were displaced, and agricultural lands were inundated, affecting food security and income sources for many households3. Shortly after, Super Typhoon Uwan swept through Luzon and nearby coastal provinces, unleashing destructive winds, torrential rains, and causing storm surges. This resulted in additional destruction in some of the repeatedly affected areas. The typhoon led to widespread flooding in low-lying and coastal areas, damaged hundreds of thousands of houses, and disrupted power, water, transport, and communication services. Pre-emptive evacuations helped reduce casualties, but prolonged displacement and slow restoration of essential services continued to place pressure on affected communities. According to the NDRRMC Sitrep no. 24, STY Uwan affected approximately 2,242,319 families across various regions, while 355,992 individuals remained displaced4. As a result of these compounded disasters, an estimated 13 million people were left in need of humanitarian assistance. The scale of the needs on the grounds remains immense, as affected communities continue to face urgent needs in shelter, water and sanitation, health care, food security, and livelihood recovery. The complexity of this humanitarian crisis underscores the importance of sustained and coordinated assistance to enable families recover safely, rebuild disrupted livelihoods, and strengthen community resilience. For a current overview or 6th month update of the current humanitarian situation, please refer to the needs analysis section. This section highlights the status of affected and displaced populations affected by typhoon and earthquake, alongside evolving needs identified through the PRC’s recent multi-sectoral assessments. These findings ensure that our shelter, livelihood, WASH and other recovery interventions remain targeted and relevant to the priority provinces under this appeal.
Country: Honduras Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes remain widespread across Honduras, with Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes emerging in the Dry Corridor between June and September as above-average prices, below-average labor demand, and previous harvest losses exacerbate seasonal trends. While many households continue to meet minimum food needs through market purchases, they are struggling to cover essential non-food expenditures amid below-average seasonal agricultural labor opportunities and are increasingly relying on coping strategies such as selling small livestock and borrowing. In the Dry Corridor, households negatively impacted by multiple poor agricultural seasons are likely to resort to more severe coping strategies at the height of the lean season. The rest of the country will experience Stressed (IPC Phase 2), while urban centers including Tegucigalpa (Francisco Morazán), La Esperanza (Intibucá), and the Bay Islands remain in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) due to more stable formal and informal income sources. Above-average fuel and fertilizer prices continue to drive high production and transportation costs for a second consecutive month. In April,diesel prices remained nearly 34 percent higher than March, 64 percent higher than last year, and 49 percent higher than the five-year average. Fertilizer prices have also remained elevated, with DAP (18-46-0) and urea rising to 7.2 and 50 percent higher than March, respectively, and 21.2 and 45.1 percent above the five-year average, respectively. These rising input costs contributed to inflation surpassing the 5 percent threshold in April. Staple food costs persist above last year and the five-year average despite relatively stable month-on-month prices, driven by weak domestic production. In April, wholesale white maize prices were 49.2 and 39.8 percent higher than last year and the five-year average, respectively, reflecting increased demand and lingering effects of below-average import volumes in 2025. Wholesale red bean prices are 10 percent above the five-year average but remained stable month-on-month and year-on-year, partly supported by increased bean availability due to crop substitution of maize for beans during primera 2025and improved import volumes. While increased remittance inflows in early 2026 are helping receiving households partially offset higher food costs, most poor households do not receive remittances and remain vulnerable to price increases. Recent rainfall estimates through mid-May indicate widespread below-average precipitation across Honduras, negatively impacting primera land preparation and planting in localized areas. While some localized rainfall has met thresholds for planting requirements, much of this precipitation has been concentrated within short periods (2-3 days), limiting soil moisture adequacy and leading many farmers to postpone planting until more consistent rainfall is established. As a result, smallholders are not expected to initiate primera planting until mid-May. At the same time, elevated input costs are constraining fertilizer use by smallholder farmers, likely contributing to expected below-average primera crop yields by August. The Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), in coordination with agroclimatology boards and with support from the Centro de Estudios Atmosféricos, Oceanográficos y Sísmicos (CENAOS)/Comisión Permanente de Contingencias (COPECO), is monitoring and guiding planting decisions across the country. The forecast transition to El Niño is expected to result in rainfall deficits and above-average temperatures through September, particularly in the Dry Corridor, reducing vegetation health and soil moisture and disrupting crop development throughout the primera season. While the magnitude of the El Niño event remains uncertain, CENAOS has issued region-specific guidance for farmers, recommending early planting (before May 10) in the Dry Corridor areas bordering El Salvador, and slightly later planting (after May 15) in central and eastern departments. Drought-prone areas, including southern Francisco Morazán, El Paraíso, Valle, Choluteca, and southern Comayagua, are likely to experience larger rainfall deficits. SAG is advising some farmers to prioritize planting red beans instead of white maize due to its short production cycle and lower water requirements, improving crop resilience under uncertain rainfall conditions.
Country: Equatorial Guinea Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 02-08-2025 What happened, where and when? For several days, the island region of Equatorial Guinea has been hit by persistent rains, affecting several districts of the capital Malabo. However, the most worrying situation occurred in the city of Luba, capital of the province of Bioko Sur. On Saturday, August 2, 2025, heavy rainfall fell on the city for more than nine consecutive hours, causing significant flooding. At the same time, some neighborhoods in Malabo, including Pérez, Timbabe and Vicatana, were also affected, although less severely. Faced with this humanitarian emergency, the Equatorial Guinean Head of State has ordered the release of immediate aid for the victims, channelled by the Ministry of Public Works. The emergency aid shipment includes basic necessities such as drinking water, milk, mattresses and first aid kits, among others. A temporary accommodation site has also been set up to accommodate displaced persons. Additional measures are currently being studied in order to provide a response adapted to the seriousness of the situation. The Mayor of Luba, Mr. Bienvenido, appealed for calm and solidarity, inviting all residents as well as people of good will to mobilize to help the affected populations.
Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. Situation overview The outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO on 17 May 2026 under the International Health Regulations (2005), following confirmed cross-border transmission. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC. Latest epidemiological updates are available in WHO’s External Situation Report. WHO continues to advise general travel and trade restrictions. Border closures have been implemented at some border crossings between DRC and neighboring countries, while humanitarian, emergency, cargo and other authorized movements are approved to continue. Given the elevated regional risk, WHO has prioritized countries for readiness and response: DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda (Priority 1), and Angola, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of Congo, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia (Priority 2). IOM’S PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS IOM’s response continues to focus on strengthening preparedness and response at borders and in areas of high population mobility, including health screening at priority points of entry, surveillance to monitor, detect and report new cases and risk communication and community engagement to help communities reduce risk and better protect themselves. Insecurity continued cross-border movement and strained conditions in displacement settings, particularly in eastern DRC, continue to increase the risk of regional spread and complicate surveillance and response. To reinforce surge capacity, during the reporting period, IOM deployed emergency health personnel and accelerated staffing, procurement, logistics and field coordination in high-risk locations. Regional displacement tracking matrix (DTM) and data teams continued to support mobility analysis, dashboards and weekly reporting to inform outbreak analysis and partner coordination. Population Mobility Monitoring IOM expanded population mobility mapping and analysis in affected and at-risk countries to support preparedness, surveillance, and cross-border response to BVD. Mobility and DTM data helped identify priority entry points, high-risk routes, and vulnerable locations, informing public health measures and operational planning across Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan. Point of Entry Response, Disease Surveillance and Infection Prevention and Control IOM supported preparedness and surveillance activities at points of entry across multiple countries, including screening, infrastructure strengthening, infection prevention and control, community-based surveillance, and cross-border coordination. Uganda: IOM carried out flow monitoring and screening support at several border and airport entry points, while strengthening community-based surveillance and reporting systems in four high-risk districts. South Sudan: IOM supported surveillance and IPC activities at five entry points, including assessments, screening, community-based surveillance, reporting, and donation of IPC supplies to Juba International Airport. Burundi: IOM conducted capacity assessments at border locations with DRC and planned training for frontline health personnel and community health workers. Rwanda: IOM upgraded PoE infrastructure and equipment, strengthened surveillance systems, and supported simulation exercises and IPC readiness activities with the Rwanda Biomedical Center. Resource Needs: Significant funding gaps are constraining the scale-up of operations. Priority needs include community-based surveillance, risk communication, mental health and psychosocial support, IPC and WASH, logistics, staffing, and mobility monitoring.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. Situation overview The outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO on 17 May 2026 under the International Health Regulations (2005), following confirmed cross-border transmission. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC. Latest epidemiological updates are available in WHO’s External Situation Report. WHO continues to advise general travel and trade restrictions. Border closures have been implemented at some border crossings between DRC and neighboring countries, while humanitarian, emergency, cargo and other authorized movements are approved to continue. Given the elevated regional risk, WHO has prioritized countries for readiness and response: DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda (Priority 1), and Angola, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of Congo, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia (Priority 2). IOM’S PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS IOM’s response continues to focus on strengthening preparedness and response at borders and in areas of high population mobility, including health screening at priority points of entry, surveillance to monitor, detect and report new cases and risk communication and community engagement to help communities reduce risk and better protect themselves. Insecurity continued cross-border movement and strained conditions in displacement settings, particularly in eastern DRC, continue to increase the risk of regional spread and complicate surveillance and response. To reinforce surge capacity, during the reporting period, IOM deployed emergency health personnel and accelerated staffing, procurement, logistics and field coordination in high-risk locations. Regional displacement tracking matrix (DTM) and data teams continued to support mobility analysis, dashboards and weekly reporting to inform outbreak analysis and partner coordination. Population Mobility Monitoring IOM expanded population mobility mapping and analysis in affected and at-risk countries to support preparedness, surveillance, and cross-border response to BVD. Mobility and DTM data helped identify priority entry points, high-risk routes, and vulnerable locations, informing public health measures and operational planning across Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan. Point of Entry Response, Disease Surveillance and Infection Prevention and Control IOM supported preparedness and surveillance activities at points of entry across multiple countries, including screening, infrastructure strengthening, infection prevention and control, community-based surveillance, and cross-border coordination. Uganda: IOM carried out flow monitoring and screening support at several border and airport entry points, while strengthening community-based surveillance and reporting systems in four high-risk districts. South Sudan: IOM supported surveillance and IPC activities at five entry points, including assessments, screening, community-based surveillance, reporting, and donation of IPC supplies to Juba International Airport. Burundi: IOM conducted capacity assessments at border locations with DRC and planned training for frontline health personnel and community health workers. Rwanda: IOM upgraded PoE infrastructure and equipment, strengthened surveillance systems, and supported simulation exercises and IPC readiness activities with the Rwanda Biomedical Center. Resource Needs: Significant funding gaps are constraining the scale-up of operations. Priority needs include community-based surveillance, risk communication, mental health and psychosocial support, IPC and WASH, logistics, staffing, and mobility monitoring.
Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia Source: ELRHA In the first blog introducing this series, Adrienne Testa, from the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub and Elrha discussed how fundamental it is to measure excess mortality if response actors want to understand the severity of a humanitarian crisis and guide aid prioritisation. In our second blog we focus on the work of a consortium led by IMPACT Initiatives. This consortium is drawing attention to the roles that national and local actors play in mortality data collection and use by decision-makers and what is needed to design more localised mortality estimation systems in humanitarian contexts. The structural barriers we need to talk about Many of the challenges for local and national actors to collect mortality data and inform responses are well known, but poorly documented. They have fewer opportunities for technical training; face inequitable access to financial resources for activities; and structural barriers limit their representation in coordination forums where decision-making occurs about whether mortality data should be collected, who collects it, and what findings can mean. Meanwhile, international actors frequently have a seat at the table, and therefore control the narrative, deciding what data matters and how it will shape response priorities. Yet, local and national actors – including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), universities, and public health institutes – are often ideally placed to collect mortality estimates and inform response decisions. They have established connections and access to affected communities and contextual understanding of how to appropriately and effectively operate. They understand political sensitivities and how to navigate these so that mortality estimation findings will carry legitimacy with key stakeholders and decision-makers. Crucially, locally-led mortality estimation initiatives challenge long-standing power imbalances associated with colonial, top-down approaches to humanitarian assistance. Recognising this, three partners in our consortium, Evidence for Change, London School of Tropical Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and SIMAD University, were funded by the Humanitarian Innovation Hub in 2024-25 to imagine what an ideal mechanism might look like to systematically trigger mortality data collection for accountable decision-making in crises. Consultation with global humanitarian stakeholders confirmed: If we want better mortality data, we must widen the pool of people able to generate it. This starts with investing in and strengthening the capacities of local actors. Funding local actors’ priorities and strengthening capacities With follow-on funding from UKHIH-Elrha in 2025-26, our consortium expanded. We teamed up with IMPACT Initiatives along with their partners at Addis Ababa and Mekelle Universities in Ethiopia and World Needs and Help, an NGO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Together, we’re working to better understand real-world opportunities and obstacles faced by national actors when implementing mortality estimation activities. Our goal is to use this evidence to strengthen advocacy for approaches that support and prioritise local actors in this vital work. Rather than imposing a predefined research plan, each national partner has selected, tailored and implemented a mortality estimation activity to their context. Our consortium operates a ‘help desk’ to foster peer-learning and strengthen capacities across contexts. Activities include: Somalia: New approaches in a fragmented landscape Our previous work in Somalia demonstrated the effectiveness of well-designed data collection exercises to influence humanitarian decision-making - when findings were communicated - in a timely fashion and to the right people. However, we also saw how fragmented the current data landscape is, with mortality data not always collaboratively shared between institutions, and major gaps in mortality data coverage, particularly in areas outside government control. SIMAD University is therefore running a qualitative study with community burial attendants in hard-to-reach areas of Somalia, exploring what would be needed for this to become a feasible and acceptable mechanism of mortality reporting to bridge data gaps. Drawing on a nutrition and mortality surveillance system originally developed in the NGO sector, Evidence for Change is training female health workers to collect mortality data within a large-scale community-based government programme. Ethiopia: Regional partnerships for regional aid prioritisation Previously, universities across Ethiopia ran demographic surveillance sites in their local areas, with mortality and other data flowing to government authorities. Conflict dismantled many of these surveillance programmes. Addis Ababa and Mekelle Universities, which previously ran surveillance sites, are now partnering with regional health authorities in drought-affected Somali region and conflict-hit Tigray to conduct mortality surveys to help guide regional aid prioritisation. Mekelle University is also including a verbal autopsy component to describe the causes of death, something regional authorities found particularly valuable about the pre-war surveillance system because it helped them monitor the health of populations. Democratic Republic of Congo: Navigating insecurity and mistrust Engagements with both formal and informal authorities in eastern Congo can create tension or mistrust, complicating operational permissions and community access. Nevertheless, World Needs and Help is initiating a mortality survey in a conflict‑affected North Kivu region, to document the human toll of ongoing violence and displacement. While the organisation has no prior experience in mortality estimation, our consortium helped them expand their technical skillset. Their experience supporting needs assessments among various partners across the east means they are well positioned to navigate the complex challenges to ensure mortality estimation is possible. Alongside these activities, we are documenting how teams have approached the process, keeping a close eye on context. We are building on social science methodological approaches we developed in phase 1 to help us understand how politics, institutional identities and other evolving challenges shape the ways mortality actors work. Equitable and sustainable systems change None of these challenges have quick fixes. Building an equitable and sustainable approach to mortality estimation will require the concerted efforts of many stakeholders, working together to drive change. Our own consortium is part of that broader momentum. By documenting barriers and testing solutions today, our hope is to inform the strategy that will address these challenges tomorrow, supporting UKHIH’s drive for true systems innovation in humanitarian action.
Country: Burundi Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages The Eastern and Northern Lowlands, Eastern Dry Plateaus, and Imbo Plains are projected to remain in Stressed (IPC Phase 2) through September. While the arrival of Season B harvests in June will temporarily improve access to food and income, improvement will be hindered by expected localized below-average harvests, sustained high food prices, and market pressures from high demand in areas with large populations of refugees and returnees. Household income-earning opportunities continue to be limited by the continued closure of the Rwanda border since January 2024 and restricted access to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At the same time, competition for labor for labor opportunities within Burundi is atypically high due to the large recent influxes of refugees and returning Burundians. As a result, household purchasing power is weak, limiting food access, as households remain highly dependent on market purchases. Season B harvests are expected to be near-average in most areas, bolstered by production of tubers and bananas mostly offsetting notable bean crop losses caused by below-average rainfall from late March to mid-April. Beans account for about 25–30 percent of Season B national crop production and nearly 50 percent in the northern regions. The largest losses occurred in the semi-arid Northern Lowlands, where production is now anticipated to be around 40 percent below average. Losses are also estimated at 15–20 percent in the Eastern Lowlands and around 10 percent in the Eastern Dry Plateaus. Fertilizer shortages and high input prices, linked to limited foreign currency availability and the conflict in the Middle East, also weakened agricultural production. There has been a sharp decline in fuel imports to Burundi since March, attributable to the conflict in the Middle East, which is contributing to rising fuel and food prices. Imports of gasoline and diesel are expected to remain atypically low through at least September. The worsening fuel shortage is likely to further increase transportation costs and contribute to additional food price increases. It has also created atypical regional price disparities, with relatively lower prices in surplus-producing areas and significantly higher prices in urban and peri-urban deficit markets. Charcoal prices, in particular, have doubled or even tripled in urban areas. Food prices in April continued their seasonal upward trend and remained considerably higher than the five-year average. Most commodities increased by around 5 percent compared to March, and beans surged by 30 percent nationally and nearly 50 percent in urban areas. This was driven by the depletion of stocks from Season A, which saw below-average production, and price speculation from Season B bean crop losses. Compared to last year, prices for most commodities were 5 to 20 percent higher, except for maize, which was 10 percent lower, supported by average stocks from 2026 Seasons A and C. Compared to the five-year average, staple food prices remained markedly elevated, ranging from 20 to 70 percent above average. The sustained high prices are driven by increasing costs for agricultural inputs and transportation from production areas to markets. Cash assistance to refugees and returnees has also heightened inflation in localities with refugee and returnee populations, notably the Eastern Lowlands and Eastern Dry Plateaus. In April 2026, WFP assisted nearly 975,000 beneficiaries, amid continued funding shortages. Around 151,000 refugees received 75 percent of the minimum daily food requirements through hybrid assistance combining food and cash transfers, while returnees received cash equivalent to 50 percent of minimum food requirements for three months. The pace of repatriation of Burundian refugees from Tanzania slowed in April 2026, with 11,397 returnees assisted by WFP, compared to 26,194 in March and 24,944 in February. Around 40,000 returnees are still expected to exit Tanzania by July 2026. Reports indicate that some refugees expelled from Tanzania are seeking asylum in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, which could reduce the number of expected returnees arriving in Burundi. WFP also provided nutrition assistance to 9,105 beneficiaries in April, including 6,565 children and 2,540 pregnant and breastfeeding women, mainly in Busuma Refugee Camp, along with 914 individuals admitted to malnutrition treatment services.
Country: Zimbabwe Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes are expected through September 2026 in deficit-producing areas as the April to June main crop harvest progresses. Households in these areas are accessing food through their own-produced crop harvest, despite localized impacts to production from excessive rainfall and prolonged dry spells during the November 2025 to March 2026 rainy season. However, households still have limited cash incomes – in part due to below-average access to casual labor, livestock sales, wild produce such as Mopane worms, remittances and other sources – preventing them from meeting essential non-food needs. Minimal (IPC Phase 1) outcomes are ongoing and expected through September in typical surplus-producing areas in the Mashonaland Provinces and other parts of the country. Households can meet their food and non-food needs, despite localized impacts to production from excessive rainfall and dry spells. Households will have access to own-produced stocks and sufficient income from food and cash crop sales, casual labor, self-employment, and other typical sources. Increased availability of staple cereals at household and market levels is resulting in seasonal price declines in surplus-producing areas. Maize grain prices are between 0.23-0.29 USD/kilogram (kg) (or 4-5 USD/17.5 kg bucket), about 40-50 percent lower than prices during the January to March 2026 peak lean season. However, household and open market staple cereal stocks are limited in some deficit-producing southern and eastern areas where crop production was low. The movement of staple cereal from surplus- to deficit-producing areas is still low across most areas, as most farmers with surpluses have not yet finished harvesting and are not yet ready to sell their grain. As a result, staple cereal prices in deficit-producing areas remain elevated, around 0.46 USD/kg (8 USD/bucket). The demand for maize meal in these areas also remains unseasonally high. Above-average water availability following average to above-average cumulative rainfall received during the November 2025 to March 2026 rainy season is supporting winter crop production and seasonal livelihood activities such as casual labor, horticultural production, brick making, and construction labor. Other seasonal activities include the harvesting and sale of wild products such as thatch grass and wild fruits, crafts, and petty trade. Livestock conditions, prices, and income are expected to be above average through the outlook period, supported by fair to good pasture conditions and above-average hay, silage, and stover stocks. However, the prevalence of livestock diseases, such as January disease, lumpy skin disease, foot and mouth disease, and others in some areas will affect livestock conditions, reducing potential income from livestock sales. Fuel price and transport fare increases driven by the conflict in the Middle East continue to negatively impact poor households’ livelihoods, disposable income, and access to markets. Despite relative stability in the prices of some basic food and non-food commodities, increases in production and freight costs and some commodity supply disruptions will likely push price increases for some commodities in the near term. According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), the May local ZiG (0.5 percent) and USD (0.3 percent) monthly inflation decreased by 0.6 and 0.8 percent, respectively, from April.
Country: Yemen Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages In areas controlled by the Sana’a-Based authorities (SBA), Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are expected to persist through September in Al-Hudaydah, Hajjah, and Ta'izz governates, with Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes widespread elsewhere. The slow recovery of operational capabilities at Red Sea ports and a worsening business environment continue to severely constrain income-generating activities. Additionally, in the rural lowlands, high fodder costs and above-average temperatures, along with declining household purchasing power, are expected to limit the seasonal profits of pastoral households during Eid al-Adha, when demand for livestock increases. Intense competition for scarce opportunities, further intensified by the presence of large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs), is expected to result in extremely limited financial access to food, widespread food consumption gaps, and the persistent use of negative coping strategies. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to persist in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government (IRG) through September, with pockets of Emergency (IPC Phase 4), particularly among households with extremely limited sources of food and income. Prolonged economic disruptions, significantly below-average labor demand, and severely limited livelihood opportunities are resulting in income levels insufficient to meet food consumption needs. Demand for agricultural labor is expected to rise moderately throughout May due to the fruit harvesting season, especially for mangoes. However, from June to September, which is typically a dry period across most IRG areas, demand for all types of labor is expected to decline. For the poorest households, food consumption gaps or the use of unsustainable coping strategies to mitigate those gaps remain likely through September. Price fluctuations for basic food, and particularly non-food items, continued in May as demand increased with the approach of Eid al-Adha. Data for SBA-controlled areas are limited, but indicate reduced imports and higher shipping costs are driving increased prices for select food and non-food commodities, including cooking oil, which increased 13 percent between March and April. In IRG-controlled areas, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in Aden is regulating market prices through the enforcement of an administrative circular, mandating set prices for essential commodities. Additionally, the Supreme Authority for Medicines and Medical Supplies in Aden has issued a requirement that pharmaceutical companies print the official retail price on medicine packaging, aiming to regulate the market and curb price manipulation following sustained price increases since January 2026. Nonetheless, higher shipping costs and more limited enforcement of price controls are leading to price increases of 10-22 percent for cooking oil, diesel, and gasoline, and for cooking gas in reference markets outside of Aden. Extreme heat – with temperatures expected to reach as high as 42 degrees Celsius in coastal and desert areas – is placing additional burdens on poor households and limiting their income-earning capacity. Countrywide, the extreme heat has adversely affected the development of vegetable crops and livestock production: households have limited shelter to protect their animals from the heat, resulting in diminished productivity and reduced profits. In IRG-controlled areas, power outages have worsened in recent months, with outages lasting over 18 hours in Aden in May, further driving down casual labor demand as operational hours and profits for small businesses dwindle. Expenditures on energy and health typically begin to increase at this time of year; however, the intense heat has driven these expenditures to atypical levels. Demand for public water is soaring, and there are reports of increased malaria and Dengue fever incidence. Given extremely low income levels and strained budgets, reports of poor households turning to self-treatment with natural products and food items are increasing. The IRG continues to operate with a fiscal deficit, as revenues remain stagnant and local authorities continue to withhold the transfer of local revenues to the government’s account at the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden (CBY-Aden). The Ministry of Finance announced a 20 percent duty on wheat flour imports from May 1 to October 31 (renewable) in an effort to protect the local milling industry. While likely increasing government revenues, the new duty is unlikely to meaningfully decrease the deficit. Additional policy plans were also introduced in May, which are expected to have mixed effects on government revenues; however, detailed information on implementation is not yet available. A significant amount of currency, estimated at trillions of YER, remains outside the formal banking system, leading to local currency shortages. Many small companies and private-sector employers have had to withhold or delay salary payments due to liquidity issues. However, the severity of the shortage eased slightly in May as the approximately 3 billion YER injected to the Yemeni economy by CBY-Aden in March began to circulate more widely. As a result, the limit for hard currency exchange transactions increased from 100 SAR to 1,000 SAR, providing some relief to households, particularly as the Eid al-Adha holidays approach (a time when remittances from abroad traditionally increase).
Countries: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. The West and Central Africa (WCA) region faces some of the world's most complex displacement crises. Across the Lake Chad Basin, the Liptako Gourma tri-border area, and the coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, millions of people are affected by armed conflict, intercommunal violence, climate shocks, and governance challenges, driving large-scale population movements, straining services, and undermining community resilience. In response, IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has deployed the Solutions and Mobility Index (SMI) to measure perceived stability at the locality level and provide actionable evidence for humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding actors. This report presents a comparative analysis of SMI results for 2023-2024 across three crisis contexts: Lake Chad Basin: Nigeria (BAY States), Cameroon (Far North), Niger (Diffa), and Chad (Lac Province); Liptako Gourma: Burkina Faso (Est, Sahel), Mali (Gao, Kidal, Mopti, Ségou, Timbuktu), and Niger (Dosso, Tahoua, Tillabéri); Coastal Countries: Benin (Alibori, Atakora), Côte d'Ivoire (Bounkani), and Ghana (North East, Upper East, Upper West). Drawing on over 5,000 locality-level assessments, the report enables cross-crisis comparison and highlights differentiated priorities for each setting. While crisis-level averages provide a useful summary, they are aggregations of conditions that vary significantly across localities. Different areas face distinct challenges and require differentiated, context-specific support. A stable average can therefore coexist with significant subnational variation.
Country: Lebanon Sources: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Please refer to the attached files. Beirut, 29 May 2026 This Eid al-Adha, normally a time of reflection and family celebrations, civilians across Lebanon faced an appalling escalation of violence, displacement, and human loss. I am deeply alarmed by the intensification of hostilities and by the impact of displacement orders affecting communities across Lebanon, including in Tyre, Nabatieh, and other locations south of the Zahrani River. The vast scale and unclarity of displacement orders are creating disproportionate panic and distress, pushing countless families to make impossible choices in their search for safety. There have been shocking reports that airstrikes have harmed civilians as they attempted to leave areas under displacement orders. Ongoing hostilities have reportedly hindered efforts by first responders to assist the injured, including people trapped under rubble in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes. The human costs are immense. According to the Ministry of Public Health, at least 31 people including women and children were killed and 40 injured in hostilities on 26 May alone. This includes 14 people who were reportedly killed in a single airstrike in Borj El Chmali near the city of Tyre. In the past week, 15 children have been killed and 62 injured. Health workers are facing death and injury on a horrific scale. Since 2 March, 182 attacks have resulted in 125 health care personnel killed and 311 injured, according to the WHO surveillance system for attacks on health care (SSA). International humanitarian law is clear. The protection of civilians, including health workers and first responders, must be ensured. The ceasefire announcement raised hopes for a return to normal life. However, instead of families going home, the displacement of civilians continues unabated. Men, women, and children continue to flee their homes for safety. Shelters are now overflowing. Schools continue to be displacement sites, robbing children from their right to education. It is distressing to see the unique historical heritage of Lebanon, including Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a site inscribed under enhanced protection, being threatened by the hostilities. One week ago, I was in Tyre meeting with displaced people in a collective shelter. Some families told me they had been forced to move five times in the last two years. Their wishes were crystal clear: de-escalation, a true stop to hostilities, the possibility of rebuilding their lives, and hope for the futures of their children.
Country: Lebanon Sources: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Please refer to the attached files. Beirut, 29 May 2026 This Eid al-Adha, normally a time of reflection and family celebrations, civilians across Lebanon faced an appalling escalation of violence, displacement, and human loss. I am deeply alarmed by the intensification of hostilities and by the impact of displacement orders affecting communities across Lebanon, including in Tyre, Nabatieh, and other locations south of the Zahrani River. The vast scale and unclarity of displacement orders are creating disproportionate panic and distress, pushing countless families to make impossible choices in their search for safety. There have been shocking reports that airstrikes have harmed civilians as they attempted to leave areas under displacement orders. Ongoing hostilities have reportedly hindered efforts by first responders to assist the injured, including people trapped under rubble in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes. The human costs are immense. According to the Ministry of Public Health, at least 31 people including women and children were killed and 40 injured in hostilities on 26 May alone. This includes 14 people who were reportedly killed in a single airstrike in Borj El Chmali near the city of Tyre. In the past week, 15 children have been killed and 62 injured. Health workers are facing death and injury on a horrific scale. Since 2 March, 182 attacks have resulted in 125 health care personnel killed and 311 injured, according to the WHO surveillance system for attacks on health care (SSA). International humanitarian law is clear. The protection of civilians, including health workers and first responders, must be ensured. The ceasefire announcement raised hopes for a return to normal life. However, instead of families going home, the displacement of civilians continues unabated. Men, women, and children continue to flee their homes for safety. Shelters are now overflowing. Schools continue to be displacement sites, robbing children from their right to education. It is distressing to see the unique historical heritage of Lebanon, including Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a site inscribed under enhanced protection, being threatened by the hostilities. One week ago, I was in Tyre meeting with displaced people in a collective shelter. Some families told me they had been forced to move five times in the last two years. Their wishes were crystal clear: de-escalation, a true stop to hostilities, the possibility of rebuilding their lives, and hope for the futures of their children.
Countries: World, United Republic of Tanzania Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies At a school on the Unguja Island, part of the Tanzanian archipelago known as Zanzibar, volunteers from the Tanzania Red Cross Society explain to a classroom full of students how to protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat. The volunteers’ efforts were part of a larger heatwave awareness campaign in early 2026, led by the Tanzanian Red Cross, that has reached more than 4,000 people in schools, madrasas, markets, and communities around the island. This is just one of many ways Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies around the world regularly work to protect people from the dangers of extreme heat – including the very particular dangers of indoor heat. Why focus on indoor heat? When thinking about or preparing for heatwaves, people often think of blistering days outside in the hot sun. But people living or working indoors, in uncooled or poorly ventilated spaces, can sometimes be at even greater risk of heat stroke, dehydration and other heat-related risks. Those most susceptible to rising body temperatures — children and the elderly — are particularly vulnerable and, often, they must spend long periods of the day inside. These are some of the reasons Heat Action Day 2026 focuses on ‘indoor heat’ — putting the spotlight on the health risks people face inside their homes, schools, workplaces, care facilities, transport hubs, prisons and even public vechiles such as busses and taxis. (Learn more about how to #BeatTheHeat and about how to take part in Heat Action Day 2026.) This threat is nothing new to Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers who often go door-to-door during heatwaves, visiting people who live in densely populated urban neighborhoods, work in poorly insulated industrial areas, or live in camps for people displaced by emergencies. Very often, such facilities or temporary shelters lack insulation or access to energy or water sources that can help keep people cool. Building materials, design characteristics, and urban heat island all play a role in determining indoor temperatures. Rising risks Without respite and access to cooling, high day- and night-time indoor temperatures pose significant health risks, particularly for older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Beyond heat stroke, high temperatures can have a wide range of health effects. According to a 2020 study, for example, high indoor temperatures affect multiple aspects of human health, with the strongest evidence for respiratory health, diabetes management and core schizophrenia and dementia symptoms, according to one 2020 study. Other studies show that prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures is also responsible for sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment of workers, reduced learning uptake in students, and domestic violence. More research needs to be done, however, so policy makers, urban planners and architects can better understand how to reduce extreme urban heat. At the same time, building standards and indoor heat policies need urgent updates. In many places, indoor heat standards do not exist, or they overlook vulnerable populations and climate projections. The good news is that it is possible to improve the way buildings and public spaces are designed and constructed to better protect people living and working indoors. Meanwhile, more governments, agencies and communities are taking action. For example: painting roofs white, keeping windows covered during the hottest times of day, and using passive cooling at night when temperatures outside cool down. There are also many low-cost actions one can take to cool the body: a cool shower, submerging feet in cool water, self-dousing with water, using an evaporative cooler or misting fan, ingesting cold water, wearing clothing made from natural fibres, and sleeping with a wet sheet, among other measures. As part of its 2026 Heat Action Day activation, the IFRC also encourages people to proactively reach out to support the elderly and chronically ill during times of extreme heat, especially those with limited mobility who may need help getting to a cooler space. How can you take part in Heat Action Day? As the organization that created Heat Action Day, the IFRC each year encourages more and more activities to raise awareness and encourage people to take concrete action to prevent heat related illness and death. Whether you're sharing life-saving tips on social media or organizing a community event, there are many ways to get involved and help #BeatTheHeat. Learn more here and register to participate and create your own Heat Action Day event or activity
Country: Somalia Source: Action Against Hunger Population: 19 million People in Need: 6 million People Facing Hunger: 9.8 million People Helped Last Year: 3,201,516 Our Team: 116 employees Program Start: 1992 In Somalia, birth is never a quiet, private thing. Grandmothers whisper blessings. Neighbors hold your hand. For as long as anyone can remember, mothers have brought babies into the world this way; guided by the women who came before them. That wisdom is real. It matters. But it is not always enough. In Somalia, fewer than one in three mothers give birth with a trained health worker by their side. Too many mothers and babies die from problems that good medical care can prevent. So, how do you keep the wisdom of grandmothers and add the safety of modern medicine? You build a place that families trust. That is exactly what happened at Makkah Hospital in Mogadishu, with support from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), World Health Organization Somalia, and Action Against Hunger. And that is where two young mothers—strangers to each other—walked through the same door and changed the future of their families. Dahiro was 24 years old. She traveled a long way from her village in Jilib, a small town far from the capital. She had already given birth twice before, both times at home, and both times without a doctor or a nurse. “I always feared hospitals for delivery,” she said, holding her newborn daughter close. “In Jilib, you trust what your grandmother told you.” Dahiro holds her newborn baby at the Makkah Hospital, supported by Action Against Hunger Dahiro was a careful, loving mother. She breastfed her older children because her aunt told her it was the right thing to do. The practice also helped space out her pregnancies in a natural way. She followed the traditions and believed she was doing everything right. “But I didn’t know,” she says quietly, “that I was only doing half the job to protect them.” She had recently realized through conversation with the hospital staff that, while breastfeeding built her babies’ immune systems, they needed vaccines as an additional shield. Her older children, still back in the village, had never been vaccinated because she simply didn’t know they needed to be. Down the hall, 25-year-old Nafisa sat with her children gathered around her. She was a single mother, and life had not been easy. A bad drought pushed her family from their home and into a displacement camp. Nafisa has a consultation at Makkah Hospital, supported by Action Against Hunger. Nafisa first came to Makkah Hospital in June 2025 because her two young children were dangerously thin. They were malnourished and needed special milk and therapeutic food to survive. While the medical team treated her children, they noticed Nafisa was pregnant and signed her up for check-ups right away. In September 2025, she returned to the hospital and delivered her baby safely. But even then, she could not stop worrying. A measles outbreak was spreading near her camp. “I feared my children might get sick from Jadeeco [the Somali word for measles],” she said . Her voice was steady, but her eyes showed fear. The team at Makkah Hospital did not treat Dahiro’s and Nafisa’s appointments as time to address isolated issues. They treated them as an opportunity for holistic care. This is the “one-stop-shop” approach: when a mother walks through the door for any reason—a birth, a sick child, or hunger—the team checks on everything. Every child. Every need. Dahiro is helped by a midwife in the postnatal room in Makkah Hospital, supported by Action Against Hunger. Action Against Hunger and WHO Somalia have built a healthcare system that sees the whole family. When Makkah Hospital brings vaccines, nutrition, and maternal care under one roof, they are turning Somalia’s National Transformation Plan (NTP) – the country’s roadmap for rebuilding and modernizing the country through 2029 – into a reality that mothers can actually feel. One ordinary morning at Makkah Hospital, something small and powerful happened. Dahiro and Nafisa were both in the ward at the same time. Dahiro’s newborn daughter received her very first vaccine. Nafisa’s children got their life-saving shots and were checked to make sure they were growing well. Two families, side by side, stepping into safety at the same time. Nafisa in the Makkah Hospital This is how big goals like Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being) stop being words on paper and start becoming real life. Every visit becomes a chance to catch what might otherwise be missed. Dahiro and Nafisa headed home, carrying their children and a new shield of knowledge. “I will go back home with what I know now,” Dahiro says with new confidence. “I will speak to other mothers. My aunts gave me their wisdom, and now I will give other mothers the wisdom I have found here.” She is not rejecting what her grandmother taught her; she is adding to it. Nafisa does not say much as she leaves. She just breathes with relief and holds her children a little tighter, knowing they are finally safe. These two women walked into Makkah Hospital as strangers, each carrying her own fears. They are walking out as proof of what becomes possible when the right support meets a mother’s love. When you give a mother the tools, she protects the family. And family by family, they are rewriting the future of a nation.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Direct Relief A clinical pharmacist and Direct Relief’s regional director for Africa, Dr. Samuel talks about the current Ebola outbreak, how it's different than past events, and how it can be contained. By Talya Meyers When the first cases of Ebola virus were announced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this month, Dr. Jeffrey Samuel, traveling in East Africa, read about it on the Direct Relief website. Dr. Samuel, a clinical pharmacist and Direct Relief’s regional director for Africa, was visiting hospital partners in Uganda at the time the country’s first cases were being identified and contained. “We were already engaging with and supporting partners in Uganda through routine medical shipments and other ongoing support,” he explained. “That work was not Ebola-specific, but it reflects the kind of sustained support health systems need before, during, and after an emergency.” Direct Relief also dispatched $2.5 million in emergency medical support to the DRC, the epicenter of the outbreak, to support Ebola containment and treatment. But Dr. Samuel stressed that routine support can’t be disentangled from emergency response. Both are vital to containing an Ebola outbreak or similar public health emergency, and to helping affected communities respond and recover. “Ebola response is about much more than Ebola alone,” he said. “Stronger health systems allow countries to continue delivering essential healthcare services even while responding to an emergency.” Direct Relief: So many people are unfamiliar with Ebola, and it’s frightening. Can you give us some background? How does Ebola spread, what are the symptoms, and how do people stay safe? Jeffrey Samuel: Yeah, absolutely. Ebola is a severe viral disease: It primarily spreads through direct contact with body fluids from someone who is either sick with the disease or has died from it. That includes blood, vomit, diarrhea, urine, saliva, sweat, and other types of bodily fluids like that. It can also spread through contaminated medical equipment, unsafe burial practices, or direct contact with the body of someone who has died from the disease. One important thing I always emphasize with Ebola is that it’s not airborne, like measles or Covid-19. You can’t get Ebola simply by walking past someone. That’s why healthcare workers, the families that take care of these patients, and the people involved in different burial practices are often at the highest risk. Ebola typically starts with non-specific symptoms: stuff like fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, and weakness. It can look like malaria, typhoid and other infectious diseases common in the region, so it’s hard to distinguish at the outset. It’s not until the disease starts to progress that many patients start developing vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Their organs start to fail, and in some cases, patients can experience hemorrhaging in the later stages of illness. The incubation period, which means the time between when a person is exposed to when the symptoms begin, is usually between 2 and 21 days. That’s a very large range, which does not help [with diagnosis and containment] either. Direct Relief: How dangerous is this outbreak? Jeffrey Samuel: Historically, Ebola has been extremely deadly. Fatality rates typically depend on the strain involved, how quickly the outbreak is detected, and the strength of the healthcare system responding to it. Most people are familiar with the Zaire virus, which caused the large Ebola outbreaks from 2014 to 2016 in West Africa. Those outbreaks often had fatality rates around 50 to 70 percent, which is extremely high. The Bundibugyo virus, which is the one that’s causing the current outbreak, has historically had somewhat lower fatality rates – generally around 25 to 50 percent. But that’s still a very serious and potentially fatal disease. Direct Relief: How is Ebola prevented and treated? Jeffrey Samuel: In terms of prevention, the most important measures are early identification of cases, isolation of those suspected cases, infection prevention and control – in other words, good hand hygiene and personal protective equipment – contact tracing of people those patients have been in contact with recently, and safe burial procedures. You need strong community engagement and trust. That’s a big [issue] specifically with this outbreak. There have been reports of Ebola treatment units being attacked and set on fire, which shows how difficult containment becomes when fear, grief, and mistrust are present. Right now, the treatment is supportive care. That includes IV fluids, electrolyte replacement, oxygen support, treatment of secondary infections, management of blood pressure, providing the right nutritional support, and very careful monitoring. These supportive care measures can really improve survival in a massive way. For us at Direct Relief, focusing on supporting these areas is top priority. Direct Relief: Can you talk about the difference between treating the Zaire and Bundibugyo strains? Jeffrey Samuel: Absolutely. The biggest practical difference is that this current outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, while the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak was caused by the Zaire Ebola virus. That distinction matters because all of the approved vaccines and monoclonal antibody treatments that were developed over the past decade were specifically designed for the Zaire Ebola virus. But it’s important to remember that during that outbreak, these tools were not widely available. In fact, that outbreak is what accelerated [Ebola] vaccine and therapeutic development globally. Researchers are now working on similar tools for the Bundibugyo virus as well. In the meantime, the public health response principles remain largely the same. It’s really surveillance, monitoring, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, supportive care, and community engagement. Direct Relief: Why did this outbreak take so long to surface? Jeffrey Samuel: One of the biggest challenges is that early symptoms of Ebola look very similar to many other diseases common in the region. A patient with fever, vomiting, fatigue, or diarrhea may initially be suspected of having malaria, cholera, typhoid, or another common illness. In many outbreaks, the alarm bells only begin once healthcare workers become infected, or if there’s a cluster of unexplained deaths that appear, or if the laboratory testing confirms something unusual. This outbreak is also occurring in an incredibly complex environment. The eastern DRC has faced years of conflict, displacement, insecurity, and strain on the healthcare system. Insecurity can delay surveillance teams from reaching the affected areas. It can limit testing capacity, disrupt transport, and make it harder to trace contacts effectively. There are also trust issues that can emerge during outbreaks. In some communities, people may fear isolation centers or avoid seeking care because they worry about stigma or separation from family members. And because the Bundibugyo virus is relatively uncommon compared to the Zaire Ebola virus, it may not have been the first thing clinicians initially suspected when they were seeing these cases. Direct Relief: Is this going to spread much further? What happens if it does? Jeffrey Samuel: Yes, there’s certainly a risk of further regional spread, which is why neighboring countries have implemented stricter border controls, enhanced surveillance, and other preparedness measures. Rwanda, for example, temporarily closed key border crossings with the DRC. And in the U.S., travelers who have recently visited the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan are being routed through designated airports for enhanced public health screening. The biggest danger is that outbreaks can overwhelm fragile health systems and healthcare facilities. They can reduce routine care access. They can increase infections in healthcare workers, and interrupt normal services like maternal and child health or vaccination programs. Ebola really creates broader humanitarian impacts, and in settings already affected by conflict or displacement, the response becomes even more difficult. A lot of measures have been put in place to try to prevent it from spreading further regionally. But that doesn’t negate the impact that’s happening on the ground right now. Direct Relief: During the West Africa outbreak, Americans were diagnosed with Ebola – it’s happened during this event too – and they had much better survival rates than the West African people who got sick. Why is that? Jeffrey Samuel: It’s important to state clearly that the differences in outcomes were not biological. They were largely about access to care and the strength of the surrounding healthcare system. Patients treated in highly resourced settings like the U.S. often received earlier diagnosis, intensive monitoring around the clock, aggressive fluid and electrolyte replacement. That’s a real key. They also had access to oxygen support, advanced laboratory testing, PPE, and intensive care when needed. [Note: the federal administration has announced that Americans diagnosed with Ebola during this outbreak are being routed to Kenya, not the U.S., for treatment.] In many outbreak settings, especially in places affected by conflict or displacement, it can be much harder to provide that same level of care consistently because the infrastructure and resources are often much more limited. And that can have a real impact on patient outcomes. Honestly, this is one of the broader lessons Ebola keeps exposing globally: Outbreak preparedness and health system strengthening are deeply connected. Direct Relief: Direct Relief has shipped a significant range of medical support, including PPE, cardiovascular drugs, and IV fluids, to the DRC in response to this Ebola outbreak. How did the organization decide what to send, and what role will that support play? Jeffrey Samuel: All these items play a very practical and important role in the outbreak response. PPE helps protect healthcare workers and prevent transmission inside of healthcare facilities. During Ebola outbreaks, protecting healthcare workers is critical because health worker infections can quickly weaken the overall response capacity. IV fluids are absolutely key to supportive care. Ebola patients often experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and electrolyte loss. So a key part of treatment is being able to replace those fluids and electrolytes. Beyond Ebola-specific supplies, essential medicines like cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics, and other critical treatments help keep the broader health system functioning during an outbreak. Ebola response does not pause the rest of healthcare – patients still need care for chronic diseases, infections, pregnancy complications, and other urgent health needs. And our approach is very much partner-driven. We work directly with local partner organizations, hospitals, and in-country ministries of health to understand the actual operational and clinical needs on the ground. We also look at storage capacity, cold chain requirements, logistics, and feasibility for what we send. The strongest responses happen when that emergency support is layered onto resilient local systems. Emergency response plus long-term system strengthening go hand in hand. The goal is to support countries not only in responding to the current outbreak, but also to build stronger systems for whatever comes next.
Country: Kenya Source: REACH Initiative Please refer to the attached file. 2. Rationale 2.1 Background The arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) of northern Kenya, particularly the counties of Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Turkana, and Garissa, continue to experience multidimensional humanitarian needs driven by the intersection of climatic shocks, chronic vulnerability, and socio-economic marginalization. Over recent years, these counties have experienced climate variabilities that have severely disrupted livelihoods, reduced livestock productivity, damaged infrastructure, displaced households, and weakened already fragile coping capacities.1 While drought conditions have historically shaped humanitarian response planning in the ASAL regions, the increasing overlap between drought recovery periods and recurrent flooding events has created more multidimensional vulnerabilities affecting various populations. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, food insecurity remains a defining feature of vulnerability across ASAL counties. As of 2025, approximately 3.3 million people in Kenya were classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse, with around 400,000 in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).2 REACH Initiative revealed widespread needs across key sectors, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health, nutrition, shelter, and protection.3 In this context, the humanitarian situation in northern Kenya has become increasingly dynamic due to the overlapping impacts of drought and flooding. While early 2026 was characterized by worsening drought conditions across several ASAL counties, the onset of the March–May 2026 long rains led to flooding that reportedly affected tens of thousands of households, disrupting livelihoods, damaging infrastructure, contaminating water sources, and increasing displacement risks in multiple locations.4 However, rainfall distribution has remained uneven and erratic across the targeted counties. Mandera and Wajir counties continue to experience severe conditions and remain in the alarm phase, while Garissa, Marsabit, and Turkana are classified in the alert phase.5 This variability has created a complex humanitarian environment in which some communities are attempting to recover from prolonged drought while simultaneously facing emerging flood-related impacts. The refugee-hosting areas, such as Dadaab refugee camp in Garissa County, Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in Turkana County, where humanitarian conditions continue to evolve amid funding constraints and policy transitions. Recent reductions in humanitarian assistance, including food ration cuts and differentiated assistance approaches based on household vulnerability status, are likely to have significant implications for food consumption, indebtedness, coping strategies, social cohesion, and overall household well-being. In addition, accountability to affected populations (AAP) and equitable access to humanitarian assistance remain key operational concerns across the target counties.6 During the design phase, REACH consulted with a range of humanitarian and government stakeholders to contextualize the assessment and avoid duplicating existing data collection efforts. This involved discussions through the NGO Refugee Group (NRG), OCHA-led sector coordination meetings, engagements with sector focal points, the NDMA, and relevant county government counterparts. The input gathered through these consultations helped shape indicator selection, geographic prioritization, and alignment with ongoing humanitarian analysis and planning. Against this backdrop, the MSNA seeks to generate comprehensive household-level evidence on the severity, distribution, and drivers of humanitarian needs across food security, nutrition, health, WASH, livelihoods, shelter, education, and protection sectors in Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Turkana, and Garissa counties, including refugee camps and settlements. The assessment will support humanitarian actors, county governments, and development partners in identifying sectoral and geographic disparities, understanding differences between refugee and host community populations, and informing evidence-based targeting, resource allocation, and multisectoral response planning within Kenya’s evolving humanitarian landscape.