🌐 국제기구 · "SPACE" · 총 25건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.0
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 5,638건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.0(균형)입니다. 긍정 0건(0.0%)·중립 5,638건(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.
Countries: Afghanistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan Source: UN Children's Fund Please refer to the attached file. Situation in Numbers 21.9 M People in need of humanitarian assistance (HNRP 2026) 11.6 M Children in need of humanitarian assistance (HNRP 2026) 942,000 Children under 5 expected to need treatment for severe acute malnutrition (HNRP 2026) 14.4 M People in need of humanitarian health assistance (HNRP 2026). Highlights UNICEF supported approximately 167,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) and returnees at Torkham, Spin Boldak, Islam Qala and Milak border points and surrounding reception areas with integrated emergency services, including health, nutrition, WASH, psychosocial support and immunization services. Approximately 60,000 children, including 60 per cent girls, were reached through community-based education and Temporary Learning Spaces established to support children affected by displacement and return movements. To strengthen emergency health system capacity, five emergency oxygen plants were installed in regional and provincial hospitals, helping sustain critical maternal and child health services. Community engagement and accountability mechanisms were strengthened, reaching 1.8 million people with lifesaving information and documenting more than 24,500 pieces of community feedback, with over 92 per cent of cases addressed or referred for follow-up.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development On 15 May 2026, the Ministry of Public Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued a warning about an Ebola virus disease outbreak in Ituri Province, in the east of the country. According to the World Health Organisation, within the space of a week, the number of suspected cases in Ituri province rose from 513 to 883. By 25 May, there had been 220 deaths. These figures could see a gradual increase in the coming days. The outbreak now spans more than three provinces and, due to fears of further spread, the borders around the area are gradually closing, making supplies increasingly difficult to obtain. This effectively traps humanitarian workers and increases the risk of supply shortages, both for local markets and for medical equipment. This health crisis is exacerbated by a fragile humanitarian context, large-scale population displacement, the fragility of health infrastructure, a lack of community information, as well as challenges related to patient care and the management of bodies. The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is also already marked by a volatile security and humanitarian situation linked to clashes between the M23 armed group and Congolese government forces. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing a catastrophic convergence of the Ebola outbreak and the armed conflict in the east of the country. WHO Present in the DRC since 2003, Acted has real field expertise and has been operating in 10 provinces of the country, including North Kivu and South Kivu, for over 20 years. Funded by the CDCS, the Humanitarian Fund and ECHO, Acted implements numerous emergency projects to improve access to water, hygiene and sanitation, combat food insecurity and provide decent housing for the most vulnerable. From the very first days following the crisis, Acted staff were mobilised to provide a rapid emergency response to communities affected by this outbreak. In coordination with local authorities, Acted aims to combat the spread of the epidemic by carrying out the following activities: Installing handwashing stations in public places Rehabilitating latrines and ensuring the chlorination of water points Distribute hygiene kits containing, in particular, chlorine and aquatabs Identify, revitalise and train community representatives who will be responsible for raising awareness of good hygiene practices and protective measures These areas of intervention are essential and can save lives. Every contribution is invaluable.
Countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Türkiye Source: UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Drone strike in Romania underscores growing risk of spillover of the war in Ukraine, Security Council hears Madam President, Excellencies, Only last week, the Secretary-General alerted this Council to the serious risk of further escalation of the war in Ukraine, including to the broader region. Last Friday, a dangerous incident crystallized our oft-stated warnings about potential spillover of the war. On the night of 28 to 29 May, an armed drone exploded on the top floor of a ten-story residential building in the eastern Romanian city of Galaţi, injuring two residents, a woman and a child. This was not the first reported breach of Romanian airspace by an armed drone since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, it was the first time such an incident resulted in casualties. The United Nations does not have any additional information on the strike in Galaţi. But Friday’s incident came on the heels of a worrying trend of drone incursions into the airspaces and territorial waters of countries bordering either Ukraine or the Russian Federation. Over the past 12 months, such incidents have been reported by the authorities in Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, as well as in countries in the wider region - Bulgaria, Greece and Türkiye. Madam President, The United Nations strongly condemns all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Such attacks, wherever they occur, violate international humanitarian law and must cease immediately. Civilians must be protected at all times. Madam President, The Galaţi incident comes amidst a sharp escalation of large-scale missile and drone attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on Ukrainian towns and cities, resulting in ever worsening toll of civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure. There has also been a marked increase in Ukrainian attacks on military, energy and industrial infrastructure in the Russian Federation, which have reportedly resulted in a growing number of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. As the Secretary-General stressed last week, the dangerous trajectory of escalation and intensification that we are witnessing today, risks getting out of control. The current course must change. Madam President, The risk of miscalculation is particularly dangerous for the safety of nuclear facilities. Such risk has only increased in recent days. On 30 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed by the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant that a drone struck a turbine building at the site, reportedly causing a hole in its wall. This was the first such attack within the Plant’s perimeter since April 2024. Yesterday, the IAEA team at the site observed damage to the exterior of a turbine building, noting that it appeared consistent with the impact of a drone. We echo the deep concern expressed by the IAEA Director-General over this serious incident that endangered key nuclear safety principles. Attacks on nuclear sites are reckless and unacceptable. They must stop immediately to prevent any risk of a nuclear accident. Madam President, Amidst heightened tensions, it is incumbent on all concerned to act responsibly and to refrain from any action that could destabilize the situation further. As the Secretary-General emphasized last week, we urgently need immediate steps towards de-escalation, leading to a full and unconditional ceasefire. To that end, we urge dialogue and negotiations to resume at once. Diplomacy needs to be given a meaningful chance to create conditions for achieving peace in Ukraine. A peace that is just, lasting and comprehensive - in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and relevant UN resolutions. A peace that contributes to a more stable regional and international environment. The United Nations will continue to fully support all meaningful efforts to that end. Thank you.
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.
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: occupied Palestinian territory Source: UN Children's Fund This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Communication Specialist Salim Oweis - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today’s press briefing at the Palais de Nations in Geneva GAZA/GENEVA, 29 May 2026 – “Failure to meet children’s basic needs in Gaza is trapping them in an endless cycle of suffering. “The experiences of the desperate parents I met this past week can illustrate this better than I could: “Hind hasn’t slept since her four-year-old daughter, Masa, was bitten by a rat during the night. “Like many families, they sheltered wherever they could – in their case, the second floor of a building block where sewage water leaks through the ceilings, and rodents crawl through the cracks in the building and climb the exposed pipes. “Amani’s daughter, Lemar, she’s 7, has developed deep lesions and sores on her head, back and legs due to a bacterial infection. Amani tries to clean her wounds each day with the little, hard-to-get, clean water she has, as her daughter screams in agony. “Abdallah’s mother told me that he has developed a skin infection as they live in a tent next to sand contaminated with faeces. His mother has spoken to doctors and desperately needs the medication and enough clean water and hygiene products to help him heal and protect him from exposure to more infections. “Abdel Aleem said that his 8 months old son, Ahmad, and his pregnant sister-in-law were both bitten a couple of weeks ago. They have layered sandbags around the outside of the tent to try to protect themselves, but the rats simply chew through it – stopping them is futile. “The common thread running through every one of these conversations is the sheer heartbreak of parents who no longer feel able to do the thing most innate to them – protect their children’s health and safety. “One look at the conditions that people are being forced to live in is enough to understand why. “We know that Gaza was already one of the most densely populated places in the world. Now, people have been crammed into around 40 per cent of the space left to them – sheltering among broken buildings, rubble and mounting solid waste. “Families across Gaza do not have enough clean water, they are forced to choose between drinking, washing and cooking with what little they have. “UNICEF is trying to reach as many people as possible with clean water– up to one and a half million people a month – but there are significant obstacles: “Firstly – deadly attacks on water operations, including recently at Al Mansoura filling point, where two UNICEF-contracted truck drivers were killed whilst trying to collect water. Now, this main water filling station – which more than a quarter of a million people rely on – is inaccessible. “Secondly, items needed to sustain water systems and repair damaged water infrastructure – including: lubricant oil, water treatment chemicals and spare parts – are not being allowed in at the scale needed, meaning we cannot repair systems as quickly as needed to reach more children with clean water, and existing systems risk failure due to lack of maintenance and overuse. If we cannot repair systems, then we have to rely solely on water trucking which is much more expensive and doesn’t reach populations as effectively. “Thirdly, solid waste is piling up by the day. This, alongside rubble, needs clearing at a scale that is currently impossible because there is no accessible space left to clear it to. “The effects of this are now widely apparent: children with respiratory infections, acute watery diarrhea, and more than half of all households reporting skin diseases. Fleas, lice, and scabies are commonplace. Increasing numbers of children are requiring hospitalization. All without a single fully functioning hospital across Gaza. “The picture is similarly stark when it comes to children’s nutrition. While we have managed to reverse the famine, the number of malnourished and vulnerable children remain extremely serious. More than two years of food insecurity, poor housing, limited water, terrible sanitary conditions and regular disease outbreaks has left the population extremely vulnerable. Without enough clean water and fuel to cook proper meals, even children who recover with treatment will quickly fall back in a cycle of malnutrition – the effects of which can last a lifetime. “No parent should be in a position where they cannot provide their child with the basic needs to keep them healthy. No parent should have to watch as their child writhes in pain from lesions or buckle from weakness because of entirely preventable diarrhoea. That this is happening should be – to everyone – entirely unconscionable. “Access to water, adequate nutritious food, and health care should not be conditional for any child, anywhere. “UNICEF is calling for safe unfettered access to deliver humanitarian operations, the lifting of restrictions on items needed to quickly repair and sustain water and sanitation systems, and for international humanitarian law to be upheld. “Only then will children in Gaza start to break free from the cycle of suffering they are trapped in.”
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: Mali Source: United Nations Population Fund Please refer to the attached file. At the end of April 2026, Mali entered a critical phase of insecurity marked by a sudden and violent deterioration in the national security environment. On 25 April, large-scale coordinated attacks by non-state armed groups targeted strategic urban centres, including Bamako, Gao, Mopti, and Kidal. This escalation triggered widespread instability, the imposition of regional curfews, and a blockade of the capital, Bamako, severely restricting humanitarian access and disrupting the continuity of essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including night-time access to emergency obstetric care. The humanitarian situation has been further aggravated by the government-mandated relocation of approximately 4,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Sénou, Niamana, and Faladié sites. More than 75 per cent of the displaced population are women and children, and the lack of coordinated assistance has significantly increased their exposure to GBV, exploitation, and other protection risks. In response to the crisis, UNFPA rapidly deployed 29 midwives and two mobile teams to IDP sites to deliver life-saving SRH and GBV services. During April, these midwives provided essential reproductive health services—including antenatal and postnatal consultations, assisted deliveries, and family planning services—to 5,845 people. UNFPA also supplied 200 individual delivery kits and essential emergency obstetric and newborn care equipment to Gao Hospital and the district referral health centre to support the growing number of emergency cases. In addition, UNFPA and its implementing partners reached 2,781 people with GBV prevention, mitigation, and response services through one-stop centres, women and girls’ safe spaces, and mobile outreach teams.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: World Health Organization To the people of DRC, especially to the people of Ituri Jambo kwenu wakahaji wa Ituri Mbote na bino, bato ya Ituri My name is Tedros, and I am the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). But today, I am not writing to you as an official. I am writing to you as someone who knows your region, who has walked your streets, and who cares deeply about what happens to you and your families. I am writing because I want to be with you in these moments. And I want you to know that you are not alone. Ebola is not new to me personally. From 2018 to 2020, I came fourteen times to North Kivu, the epicentre of the outbreak at that time. Fourteen visits to Beni, Butembo, Katwa, Goma, and many other communities. During that outbreak, Ebola spread across North Kivu, South Kivu, and reached parts of Ituri as well. I was alongside families who had lost their loved ones. I met health workers risking their lives every day. I met community leaders, traditional healers, religious leaders and business leaders who refused to abandon their people. I saw men and women show extraordinary courage in the most difficult of circumstances. The people there, who saw me coming back again and again, wanted to give me a name that belonged to their community. They asked me whether I was the first, second, or third child of my parents. When I told them I was the firstborn, they gave me the name Dr. Paluku. I carry that name with pride. It is not just a name. It is a bond. It is a reminder that this work is not about titles or institutions. It is about people. It is about you. That outbreak was one of the most complex in history. It did not unfold in a stable, peaceful environment. It happened in the middle of armed conflict, with communities displaced, supply routes disrupted, and health workers operating under constant threat. People were fleeing violence while also trying to protect themselves and their families from a deadly disease. I remember being in Beni on more than one occasion while fighting was taking place on the outskirts of the city. We could hear it. And yet the health workers around me did not stop. They kept working. That kind of courage is something I will never forget. The challenges of that time are not so different from what you are facing today in Ituri. I understand that. I have seen it with my own eyes. Mistrust ran deep, and the security situation cost us precious time. Our health workers were attacked. Clinics were targeted. People who were only trying to save lives found themselves caught in the middle of a conflict they did not start. Lives were lost that we might have saved, and that weighs on me still. But I also witnessed something remarkable. When we listened, when communities felt respected and heard, things began to change. Trust grew slowly, then more quickly. People came forward. And together, we managed to contain the outbreak. We did it. The people of DRC did it. I will never forget that. Ebola is now back. This time, the outbreak is hitting Ituri province the hardest. More than 90% of all cases have been reported in Ituri province, with a small number of cases also reported in North Kivu and South Kivu. I know how frightening that is, and I know that the people of Ituri are bearing a burden that is not easy to carry. I know that many of you are exhausted. You are already carrying so much: malaria, hunger, insecurity, and the daily struggle to keep your families safe. And now Ebola. It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise. But I also want to say something else about Ituri, because this province deserves to be seen for more than its hardships. Ituri is a place of remarkable energy. It is a province of vibrant commerce, of entrepreneurial spirit, of communities that have refused to be defined by the conflicts around them. The markets of Bunia buzz with life. Traders, farmers, teachers, and young people building their futures against all odds. That spirit, that refusal to give up, is exactly what we need now. It is the foundation on which we will build our response. We do not come to Ituri with only medicine and expertise. We come to join a community that already knows how to fight for its survival. I want to say a special word to the young people of Ituri. You are growing up in circumstances that no young person should have to face. And yet what I see, again and again, is not despair but determination. You are the future of this province and this country. In this outbreak, you have a vital role to play. Talk to your friends and your families. Share what you know about Ebola. Help break the fear and the silence that allow this virus to spread. Your voice carries further than you know, and we need it now more than ever. And to the health workers of Ituri, I want to say this: you are seen, and you are not alone. Every day you go to work knowing the risks, and you go anyway. You do it for your patients, for your communities, for your families. You are the backbone of this response. Without you, none of this is possible. I know the conditions are hard. I know the resources are often not enough. I know that fear and exhaustion are real. Please know that WHO stands with you, that we are working to get you the support you need, and that your courage and dedication are known and deeply valued far beyond the borders of this province. I also know that the security situation in parts of this region remains very difficult. Conflict and displacement make everything harder, including reaching people who need care and keeping health workers safe. I want to be honest: this is one of our greatest challenges. We cannot do this work if those who are trying to help are prevented from doing so or put in danger. We are working closely with all relevant partners to ensure that the response can reach every community that needs it, and that no one is left behind because of where they live or what is happening around them. That is why today I am making a direct appeal to all warring parties in this region: please, declare a ceasefire. Even briefly. Even just enough to let health workers through. People are dying from Ebola who do not have to die. Children are sick. Families are suffering. No cause, no conflict, no grievance is worth condemning innocent people to death from a preventable disease. A ceasefire, even a temporary one, would save lives. I urge you, I implore you: give us the space to help the people who need it most. I also know that there is anger and mistrust in some communities, and I understand why. Trust must be earned, it cannot be assumed. We have not always done things correctly. But I promise you, we are here to learn as much as we are here to help. I need to be honest with you about something important. Most previous Ebola outbreaks in DRC were caused by a virus called Ebola Zaire, for which we have vaccines and treatments. This outbreak is caused by a different virus called Ebola Bundibugyo. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for it. This is serious, and you deserve to hear that plainly. But I also want you to know this: while there are no specific treatments for Bundibugyo, there is much we can do together to prevent the spread of this virus and save lives. Early supportive care in our treatment centers can make a real difference. If you or someone you know falls ill, please do not wait. Coming forward early can make the difference between life and death. And everything we do, we will do with you. We will listen to you, we will share information with you, and we are here to help. And for those we cannot save, we will mourn with you. We will help you grieve your lost loved ones with safe and dignified burials. We are working under the leadership of the Government of DRC, together with all relevant partners, united around one goal: to stop this outbreak and protect your communities. No one is working alone. No one is working at cross purposes. We are coordinated, we are committed, and we are here. That is why I am coming to Bunia. I will be there in person, alongside my colleagues, meeting your leaders, listening to your concerns, and doing everything in my power to help you. I will not be managing this from a comfortable office far away. This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC. Together, you have overcome every single one before. That is not a small thing. That is a testament to the strength and resilience of your communities. I have seen that strength with my own eyes. My brothers and sisters of Ituri, I want you to know that the world is watching your courage. You are not forgotten. Together, we will overcome this outbreak, as you have overcome every challenge before. Your resilience is the light that guides us all. We will get through this one too. Not because of anyone, but because of you. Our teams are already on the ground, and they will stay for as long as necessary. And when this outbreak is over, we will not quietly disappear. We will not forget you. We will stay, and we will keep working with you to build health systems that protect every person in every community. I look forward to seeing you in Bunia soon. Until then, please know that you are in my thoughts. With respect and solidarity, Paluku Tedros Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Director-General, World Health Organization
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Direct Relief The Jericho Road Wellness Clinic in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will receive $2.5 million in personal protective gear, medication, and supplies from Direct Relief. A significant number of these items will be used to protect staff and treat patients at a district Ebola containment center. By Talya Meyers Share Since an outbreak of Ebola was announced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Jericho Road Wellness Clinic in Goma, in the country’s east, has seen an influx of frightened patients. “They don’t come to test for Ebola” at this point, said director Chantal Mandro. “They come to be sure that they are doing well.” Hundreds of cases had been confirmed in the DRC, and seven in Uganda, as of last week. Historically, hospitals and clinics have become more dangerous during Ebola outbreaks, leading many patients to avoid them, as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic. Still, Mandro and her staff screen every patient for fever and other symptoms of Ebola before they can enter the facility. Anyone who has symptoms or has traveled to Ituri Province, the center of this new outbreak, has to be kept separate from other patients. Potential cases will be sent on to a nearby hospital. In North Kivu province, where Goma is located, government officials and healthcare providers are gearing up for a large-scale response. Putting together enough medicine, personal protective equipment, or PPE, and medical supplies to run an effective containment center is an urgent concern. “They don’t have enough PPE. They don’t have enough anything,” Mandro said of local responders. A shipment from Direct Relief, containing $2.5 million in personal protective equipment, medicine, diagnostics, and supportive care treatments, has been prepared for the Wellness Clinic, which is part of long-time Direct Relief partner Jericho Road. Included in the shipment are coveralls for biological protection, respirators, and goggles; antibiotics for coinfection; diagnostics; IV fluids, oral rehydration salts, and electrolytes; safety equipment; and chronic disease medications, because diseases like diabetes must be carefully managed in Ebola patients to prevent worse outcomes. When it arrives, Mandro said, much of the PPE and medicine will be distributed to the district government to be used in an Ebola containment center in Goma, which officials are currently working to set up. Dr. Myron Glick, a Buffalo, New York physician who founded Jericho Road, said that years of instability – civil war, an active volcano, a major Ebola outbreak in 2019, and widespread displacement – have made Goma especially vulnerable in the current health emergency. About 800,000 people internally displaced by conflict are currently sheltering in the area, and even the 1.1 million residents experience widespread poverty, instability, and lack of access to healthcare. “Goma’s a really tough place to run a hospital,” he said, noting that it’s often cited as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. “It’s already challenging, and now on top of it you put Ebola.” While current measures require anyone who’s come in contact with a possible Ebola patient to quarantine at home, Dr. Glick said poverty and crowding make that less effective. “I’ve seen families with eight or 10 kids [in Goma] live in spaces that are no bigger than my kitchen in Buffalo,” he told Direct Relief. Receiving a shipment of this size will be key to an effective response, Dr. Glick said. “There’s never enough of that stuff in stock,” he said. “The most important items right now are the PPE, the IV fluids, the soaps.” But he noted that unmanaged conditions and coinfections will also pose life-threatening danger. Dehydration is a deadly concern in Ebola cases, making patients more vulnerable to coinfections that, in turn, lessen their odds of survival. The Wellness Clinic’s most urgent priority is to remain a safe place for patients to come, Dr. Glick said. “The goal is to screen well, transfer the sick, and protect our team so we can keep doing primary care, the hospital, and maternal care,” he said. Patients who are afraid to go to the clinic to manage chronic diseases, deliver babies, and receive vaccines are at greater risk too. “That’s something we saw in the past, in West Africa in 2014,” during the most deadly Ebola outbreak yet seen, he recalled. Clinic visits and vaccinations “all fell pretty dramatically in that first year after Ebola.” Dr. Glick is hopeful that this outbreak will be more like that of 2019, which, though extremely deadly, was confined within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and resulted in about 2,200 deaths, a fraction of the 11,300 people who died in the 2014 West Africa outbreak. But he noted that there is no vaccine for this strain of Ebola, and that testing models don’t appear to be as effective. (Oxford University scientists have said they may be ready to begin clinical trials for a vaccine within two to three months.) “There’s some worry that this will end differently from the 2019 outbreak,” he said. Mandro said that years of instability have taken their toll on the community’s outlook. “People in Goma are very, very tired because there are many catastrophes,” she said. Still, she said, people are gearing up to meet this new threat. “We are all afraid, but we are resilient,” she told Direct Relief. “There’s nothing else to do.”
Country: World Source: UN Women Crises are not gender-neutral. Women and girls are disproportionately affected due to pre-existing gender inequalities and discriminatory social norms, which limit their access to humanitarian aid, services, resources, and decision-making power. It is not surprising that the 30-year review of progress on the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action found that progress for women and girls is slowest in conflict and crisis-affected countries. The review raised the alarm about how ongoing trends may further thwart progress. The data is stark: Women and girls in extremely fragile contexts are 7.7 times more likely to live in households below the poverty line of USD 2.15 per day than those in non-fragile contexts. Under a worst-case climate scenario, up to 158.3 million additional women and girls could be pushed into poverty by 2050 as a direct result of climate change, surpassing the number of men and boys by 16 million. The number of food-insecure women and girls could rise by as much as 236 million, compared with an additional 131 million men and boys. The average incidence of child marriage in conflict-affected countries is 14.4 percentage points higher than in non-conflict settings. More than a third of maternal deaths occurred in 48 fragile and conflict-affected countries. Sexual violence in conflict zones has risen sharply in recent years, while impunity for these violations has remained the norm. Girls’ educational attainment continues to lag in conflict-affected countries. Behind these numbers are women and girls who have lost their lives, had their safety and health shattered, their rights eroded, their dignity compromised, and their potential squandered. From Gaza and Sudan to Haiti, Lebanon, and elsewhere, the gendered impacts are both immediate and long term, affecting individuals and societies. They are also not contained within borders. For example, according to a UN Women gender alert on the military escalation in the Middle East, rising food and fuel prices and supply disruptions risk deepening food insecurity and livelihood erosion and increasing unpaid care burdens for women and girls across the Arab region, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and beyond. A humanitarian system under pressure The unfolding tragedy of escalating and protracted conflicts and crises and growing humanitarian needs is taking place against a backdrop of several important global trends. First, recent years have seen a rising backlash against gender equality taking place within the wider context of democratic erosion and shrinking civic space in various countries and regions. This is influencing government policies as well as mainstream opinions and attitudes – and threatening hard-won gains for women and girls. Second, the world is experiencing a severe contraction of international aid precisely when it is needed the most. Recent data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that international aid fell in 2025 by 23.1 per cent in real terms compared with 2024, representing the largest annual drop in the history of official development assistance. This brings aid back to 2015 levels – the year the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development began. As the Global Humanitarian Overview 2025 lays bare, the massive cuts to aid have forced the humanitarian system to do the “cruel math of doing less with less” and “hyper-prioritize” assistance toward those assessed to be in the direst need. The Humanitarian Reset, launched through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) in March 2025, aims to make the system faster, lighter, more accountable, and more impactful. Against this backdrop, the international community needs to take bold and urgent action based on ample evidence of what works and rooted in existing commitments to gender equality and women’s rights. Put gender equality at the center of the reset First, gender equality needs to be a cornerstone of the ongoing Humanitarian Reset and not seen as a peripheral issue. In the drive for efficiency, simplification, and focus on strictly defined and hyper-prioritized life-saving assistance, there is a risk that implementation of the IASC’s commitments to gender equality may fall short. As funding contracts and established universal norms are under attack, now is the time to double down and prioritize interventions led by women and in support of their lives, dignity, and rights. Under the reset, there is a commitment that the humanitarian system will “defend” norms and principles, including on gender equality. The reset’s outcomes will depend on how consistently and concretely this is done at different levels – globally and in countries. A critical pillar is to recognize women’s vital and rich contributions in crisis-affected settings and enable their full and equal participation and leadership in decision-making processes. Women and girls are not passive victims or mere recipients of aid – they are responders on the front lines and are shaping the outcomes of crises, as community leaders and organizers, primary caregivers, educators, economic contributors, and peacebuilders. There is plenty of evidence that their leadership is a precondition for effective humanitarian responses, as well as for addressing the root causes of conflicts and for building sustainable recovery and peace. And yet we are far from achieving longstanding commitments to women’s participation and leadership as per the Sustainable Development Goals and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. All too often, participation remains tokenistic and women may have seats but no real influence over decisions made. Whether in internationally led mediation processes, in country-level humanitarian teams and cluster coordination groups, in funding allocation advisory boards, or in other decision-making forums – women need to be equally present and heard, and their perspectives recognized and heeded. They need to be able to exercise this fundamental right safely and without negative repercussions. Fund women-led and women’s rights organizations Second, women-led and women’s rights organizations working in conflict and crisis-affected countries need urgent funding. They were already underfunded and overstretched prior to recent funding cuts. UN Women’s report, At a breaking point, warns that these cuts have placed enormous additional strain on their vital work and even their very existence. Both the quantity and the quality of funding matter. Funding needs to be flexible, multi-year, and reflective of the holistic and transformative nature of their work, which is not only life-saving and life-sustaining but also often encompasses longer-term development, peace, democracy building, human rights, and gender-equality objectives. Both funding and broader political support need to take into account the significant, often overlooked, risks faced in crisis settings by women, girls, gender-diverse leaders, and human rights defenders. Work across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus Finally, it is critical that humanitarian, development, and peace actors work more closely and effectively together to address the complex challenges of today’s protracted and multifaceted crises. Meeting immediate needs should go hand in hand with building community resilience to disasters, strengthening governance systems, and addressing the root causes of conflict. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls need to be embedded throughout this nexus and its various components – from defining collective gender outcomes, to conducting joint gender analysis and assessments, to harmonizing funding streams with gender markers and ambitious targets for funding projects and interventions that address women’s specific needs, advance gender equality, or empower women. The stakes could not be higher. As the international community navigates an era of shrinking resources, eroding norms, and multiplying crises, the choices made now will determine whether women and girls are left further behind or emerge as the architects of more just and resilient societies. Delivering on commitments to gender equality in crisis settings is not a matter of idealism – it is a prerequisite for effective, sustainable, and principled responses. The evidence is clear and the commitments exist. The world cannot afford the cost of inaction. This article is reprinted with permission from SDG Action. About the author Asya Varbanova has 20 years of experience advancing sustainable development and gender equality in complex political, post-conflict and crisis contexts, across Europe, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. Currently serving as Head of Humanitarian Section/Deputy Chief. She has led Country Offices of UN Women in Turkiye, Moldova, Serbia and North Macedonia. She has managed development programmes and humanitarian responses in diverse settings, translating normative commitments on women’s rights and empowerment into operational results and spearheading multi-stakeholder partnerships across the UN, government institutions, civil society and private sector to advance impact at scale and institutional and systemic change.
Country: Sudan Source: Data Friendly Space Please refer to the attached file. Sudan is facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crises as the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, enters its fourth year in 2026. The conflict has triggered widespread civilian suffering, economic collapse, mass displacement, and severe regional instability, with humanitarian conditions continuing to deteriorate across much of the country. An estimated 19.5 million people are currently experiencing acute food insecurity, making Sudan the world’s largest hunger crisis. Famine conditions have been confirmed in el-Fasher (North Darfur) and Kadugli (South Kordofan), while numerous areas across Darfur and Kordofan remain at high risk of famine amid ongoing conflict, siege tactics, disrupted markets, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access. Children continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the crisis, with millions exposed to acute malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and heightened mortality risks. Fatality estimates remain highly contested due to limited humanitarian access, communication blackouts, and verification constraints. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded nearly 30,000 reported deaths by late 2024, while several independent investigations and international media estimates suggest the true death toll may exceed 150,000 people. Civilians continue to face widespread violence, including indiscriminate shelling, aerial bombardments, drone attacks, and ethnically targeted killings, particularly in Darfur and parts of Kordofan. Sudan’s health system remains severely degraded, especially in active conflict zones where many facilities are non-operational or functioning only partially. Between 2024 and early 2026, Sudan experienced a nationwide cholera outbreak that spread across all 18 states, infecting more than 124,000 people and causing over 3,500 deaths before authorities declared the outbreak contained in March 2026. However, overcrowded displacement sites, poor sanitation conditions, and limited healthcare access continue to create significant risks of renewed outbreaks of cholera and other communicable diseases. Displacement continues to rise at an unprecedented scale. More than 14 million people have been displaced since the start of the conflict, including approximately 9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and more than 4 million refugees who have fled to neighboring countries, making Sudan the world’s largest displacement crisis. At the same time, limited returns to parts of Khartoum and Al Jazirah have increased since early 2026 as frontlines shifted, although returnees continue to face devastated infrastructure, insecurity, limited public services, and severe livelihood shortages. Militarily, the conflict has continued to expand and fragment since late 2025. The RSF has expanded its territorial influence across much of Darfur and intensified offensives in Kordofan, while the SAF has maintained control over key eastern and northern urban centers. Fighting around Kadugli, Dilling, and other strategic locations in Kordofan has trapped large civilian populations under increasingly dire humanitarian conditions. The conflict has also seen a growing use of drones, aerial strikes, and long-range attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, markets, and displacement sites. In December 2025, a drone strike on a kindergarten and hospital in Kalogi reportedly killed at least 114 people, including dozens of children, while separate attacks on peacekeeping personnel highlighted the increasing risks faced by humanitarian actors and civilians alike. Ethnic violence and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) continue to escalate, particularly in Darfur. Human rights organizations and women-led monitoring networks have documented widespread abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence, forced displacement, arbitrary detention, and attacks targeting ethnic communities. Despite sustained diplomatic pressure, including sanctions imposed by the United States and United Kingdom on RSF leaders and affiliated financial networks, regional and international mediation initiatives have thus far failed to secure a durable ceasefire or political settlement. The conflict is increasingly destabilizing neighboring countries through refugee flows, cross-border insecurity, arms trafficking, and growing pressure on already fragile humanitarian systems across the region. Meanwhile, humanitarian operations remain critically underfunded. The World Food Programme (WFP) warned in 2026 that severe funding shortfalls threaten additional ration cuts and disruptions to emergency food assistance pipelines, placing millions at further risk of hunger and malnutrition. As of mid-2026, Sudan remains trapped in a protracted and increasingly fragmented conflict characterized by territorial fragmentation, widespread civilian targeting, deepening food insecurity, and severe humanitarian access constraints. Without urgent, coordinated, and sustained international engagement—including increased humanitarian financing, civilian protection measures, and renewed diplomatic efforts toward a negotiated settlement—the crisis is likely to continue worsening, with profound implications for Sudan and the wider region.
Countries: Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Overview • Between 14 and 15 May, political-level talks between Lebanon and Israel were held in Washington under U.S. auspices, marking a further step in direct engagement. • On 15 May, Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the ceasefire for 45 days. The talks resulted in the launch of two parallel tracks: a security track on 29 May and a formal political track scheduled for 2-3 June 2026. Despite the extension, hostilities have remained intense over the past two weeks since the last UNHCR Flash Update, with continued airstrikes mainly targeting southern Lebanon. • Displacement patterns remain fluid, with many people repeatedly returning home temporarily before being displaced again, especially in southern areas. More people are relying on public spaces, unfinished buildings, host communities, and informal shelters, making vulnerable groups harder to identify and limiting their access to assistance and referral services • Displacement orders expanded beyond southern Lebanon to include Nabatiyeh city, prompting renewed population movements and raising concerns over the geographic expansion of hostilities. Returns continue to be constrained by insecurity, widespread housing damage, inadequate access to services, and risks posed by unexploded ordnance.
Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Please refer to the attached files. All information updated for 20 - 25 May 2026 [1] Days 955 - 960 since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip Highlights The Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip has seen a renewed military escalation over recent weeks, with increasing civilian casualties and displacement of people. Israeli forces have issued multiple evacuation orders as well as shelter-in-place orders in areas west of the Israeli-militarised “Yellow Line” zone, including in Gaza City, Der al Balah, Maghazi, Bureij, and Nuseirat. Shelter-in-place orders have also affected two UNRWA installations, including a school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat, hosting displaced people. UNRWA medical surveillance teams continue to report an increase in ectoparasitic infections, such as scabies, as well as rodent bites, chickenpox cases, and acute watery diarrhoea among both children under five years and individuals above five years. When briefing about her recent visit to Gaza, the WHO’s representative in the OPT, Dr. Renee Van de Weerdt stated that dire conditions in Gaza marked by continuing violence, rodent infestations and the spread of infectious disease are being made worse by blockages of essential medical supplies. Furthermore, she insisted that “nobody can replace what UNRWA is doing.” Nutrition partners observed a 21 per cent increase in malnutrition admissions between January – April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, despite the ceasefire. On 20 May, UNRWA began operating a new Temporary Learning Space (TLS) at a displacement site south of Khan Younis, marking the first TLS established in a location where there are no operational UNRWA installations. Within a week, 1,600 children registered in the new TLS, which is made up of multiple tents. This initiative is part of the Agency’s efforts to reach children where the needs are greatest, and it was made possible through strong community engagement and the support of education cluster partners. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem The Israeli Minister of Finance instructed the Israeli Civil Administration to advance the enforcement of demolition orders related to the Palestine Refugee Bedouin community of Khan al Ahmar. The community, located east of Jerusalem in the E1 corridor slated for Israeli settlement expansion, is home to more than 700 Palestine Refugees. The UN Secretary-General condemned the decision of Israeli authorities to establish Israeli military facilities on the premises of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, which was expropriated in January 2026, stating that he “urges the Government of Israel to rescind its decision and immediately return to the United Nations the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound.” From Ibrahim, 57 years old, a father in Gaza: “There is no life without water.”
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Sources: Education Cluster, Save the Children, UN Children's Fund Please refer to the attached Infographic. Objectifs stratégiques OS1 : Sauver des vies et alléger les sourances des personnes touchées par des chocs récurrents liés notamment aux conflicts, aux catastrophes naturelles et épidémies, à travers une réponse multisectorielle sûre, équitable, inclusive et fondée sur des principes humanitaires. OS2 : Améliorer l’accès sûr, équitable et digne aux services de base de qualité des personnes aectées par les chocs récurrents, selon les droits fondamentaux et les standards, afin d'éviter une érosion accrue de leurs capacités d'adaptation. Objectifs sectoriels: Un accès inclusif et équitable dans des environnements d’apprentissages protecteurs qui allègent les traumatismes sera assuré pour 472 176 enfants (48% lles) dont 47 217 enfants en situation de handicap de 5 à 17 ans (10%) touchés par des chocs récurrents liés notamment aux conflicts, aux catastrophes naturelles et épidémies (déplacés, retournés, expulsés ou hôtes) 8 585 enseignants (hommes et femmes) seront formés sur les thématiques clés de l’éducation en urgence pour améliorer l’accès, la qualité et la protection dans les espaces d’apprentissage en 2026
Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. Highlights In just one week, more than 50 attacks by settlers across the West Bank resulted in casualties or property damage, including arson attacks that damaged a mosque, homes, farmland and vehicles. OCHA has documented an average of six such attacks per day in 2026. Concerns over the risk of forced displacement of hundreds of Palestinians in eastern Jerusalem governorate intensified after the Israeli Finance Minister called for the rapid implementation of long-standing demolition orders against Khan al Ahmar. In Gaza, humanitarian partners have launched a pest-control campaign in over 1,700 locations, while warning that their efforts are limited by shortages and restrictions. Only half of all aid trucks from Egypt could offload at the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom Crossing in the first 18 days of May, based on data tracked by the Logistics Cluster. Overview The Occupied Palestinian Territory remains heavily fragmented; with people not allowed to move between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and movement within each of those areas further restricted by military divisions, physical barriers, and closed zones. Combined with ongoing violence, which keeps claiming civilian lives, these conditions are further deepening people’s humanitarian needs while making it both difficult and unsafe for them to access support. This past week saw new waves of displacement before previous ones had even ended, as attacks and threats once again forced people from their homes or shelters. For humanitarian partners, getting staff and the whole range of critical supplies to where they are needed remains extremely difficult. West Bank Across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, escalating settler violence, Israeli forces’ operations, demolitions, displacement, and movement restrictions are increasingly heightening protection risks and disrupting Palestinians’ access to essential services. Hundreds of Palestinians living in Area C of eastern Jerusalem governorate are at risk of forced displacement, with concerns intensifying after the Israeli Finance Minister instructed Israeli authorities to rapidly implement long-standing demolition orders against Khan al Ahmar. Bedouin community leaders reported high levels of fear and uncertainty among residents following the announcement. Khan al Ahmar is among 18 Bedouin and herding communities, comprising about 4,000 people, directly affected by the E1 settlement plan between East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Humanitarian partners have long warned that the E1 settlement plan would further fragment the West Bank, sever East Jerusalem from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, heighten the risk of forced displacement of Bedouin communities, and have severe humanitarian consequences for Palestinians across the West Bank. Since 2009, OCHA has documented the demolition of about 550 structures in the 18 communities for lacking Israeli-issued building permits, which are difficult for Palestinians to obtain, including 175 donor-funded structures provided as humanitarian assistance. According to the Shelter Cluster, between 1 January and 30 April, partners reached over 9,300 households, comprising more than 40,300 people, across the West Bank with shelter assistance, targeting displaced families and others affected by conflict-related damage, escalating settler violence, the increasing risk of forcible displacement of entire communities, and deteriorating shelter conditions. Assistance included shelter repairs and rehabilitation; support to displaced families in meeting basic shelter needs; installation of protective measures such as fences, doors, and window mesh; cash assistance for rental support; and the provision of tents, plastic sheeting, bedding kits, kitchen sets, and clothing vouchers. To help Palestinian communities cope with displacement shocks and heightened insecurity, community-based psychosocial support remains the primary intervention modality, complemented by recreational and structured support activities as well as parenting sessions. On average every week, child protection partners provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to approximately 1,600 children, including about 80 children with disabilities, and more than 670 caregivers. Partners additionally reach a weekly average of about 380 children and 100 caregivers through awareness raising sessions, including explosive ordnance risk education. Over the past week, cash assistance as well as clothing and other in-kind assistance was provided to about 60 children and 12 caregivers to help address urgent needs and reduce exposure to negative coping mechanisms, while 35 children received case management support, including specialized referrals. Casualties and Escalating Settler Violence Between 12 and 18 May (the reporting period in this section), Israeli forces and settlers killed five Palestinians, including one child, while nearly 60 Palestinians, including six children, were injured across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. More than half of the injuries occurred during settler attacks, while the remainder were mainly recorded in the context of Israeli forces’ search operations and other raids. During the same period, OCHA documented more than 50 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in casualties, property damage, or both, bringing the number of such attacks documented since the beginning of 2026 to over 870 across more than 220 communities – an average of six attacks per day. Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian men while they were reportedly attempting to cross the Barrier. On 12 May, Israeli forces opened fire toward two Palestinians attempting to scale the Barrier near Dahiyat al Bareed, in Jerusalem governorate, killing a Palestinian man from Deir Qaddis village (Ramallah governorate) and injuring another. On 17 May, Israeli forces shot a Palestinian man near the Barrier in Beit Ula village, in Hebron governorate, under similar circumstances. He succumbed to his wounds the following day. Since 7 October 2023, when Israeli authorities revoked or suspended most permits issued to Palestinians to access East Jerusalem and Israel for work and other purposes, and as of 11 May, OCHA has documented the killing of 19 Palestinians and the injury of over 290 others who were reportedly attempting to cross the Barrier. On 14 May, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian child in Al Lubban ash Sharqiya village, in Nablus governorate and withheld his body. In a statement, the Israeli military said that soldiers had opened fire toward Palestinians near Road 60 after stones were thrown at Israeli vehicles traveling on the road. Elsewhere in the northern West Bank, on 16 May, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man at the entrance to Jenin Camp, which has remained a closed military zone since January 2025, reportedly while he was attempting to enter. In a large-scale attack across Sinjil, Jiljiliya and Abwein villages in Ramallah governorate on 13 May, Israeli forces and settlers shot and killed one Palestinian and injured 10 Palestinians. According to local sources and video footage, dozens of Israeli settlers raided the western area of Sinjil and nearby areas in Jiljiliya and Abwein villages, stealing Palestinian-owned livestock and other property. When residents attempted to retrieve stolen flocks, Israeli forces and settlers fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters. In a statement, the Israeli military said forces had entered the area following reports that Palestinians had stolen sheep from a settlement outpost, and that troops responded with crowd-control measures and live fire after stones were thrown at them while exiting the village. Subsequently, on 16 May, 22 Palestinian Bedouin families, comprising 137 people including 81 children, in the area were forcibly displaced from the area following recurrent settler attacks and intimidation. The families had previously been displaced from three other communities in 2023 due to settler violence. The reporting period saw a concerning escalation in arson attacks targeting Palestinian property, especially in Ramallah and Hebron governorate, including incidents involving anti-Palestinian graffiti. In one incident, Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in Jibiya village in Ramallah governorate. In Al Mughayyir and Burqa villages, also in Ramallah governorate, settlers set fire to agricultural land, burning olive trees and cultivated areas, with one fire spreading across about 10 dunums due to strong winds. In Wadi ar Rakhim community near Susiya, in southern Hebron governorate, Israeli settlers threw flammable materials toward a Palestinian home, setting fire to an external kitchen, damaging a parked vehicle, and causing damage to parts of the house. In addition to the arson attacks, Israeli settlers carried out multiple assaults on Palestinian homes and infrastructure across Ramallah, Nablus, Salfit and Hebron governorates. These included physical assaults against Palestinians, attacks on homes while families, including children, were inside, damage to water and electricity infrastructure, theft and vandalism of agricultural property, and the destruction of olive trees and fencing. In one incident in Hebron governorate on 17 May, a large group of settlers reportedly physically assaulted four Palestinians and damaged residential structures and personal property in Umm ad Daraj community near Sa’ir village. In Ramallah governorate, settlers from a recently established outpost near Ein ‘Arik village reportedly raided homes, physically assaulted four Palestinians, vandalized water tanks and construction materials, and seized electric cables. A Palestinian-owned car torched in Jibiya village, Ramallah governorate, where Israeli settlers also set fire to a mosque and spray-painted Hebrew graffiti on its walls during one of more than 50 settler attacks documented across the West Bank during the week of 12-18 May 2026. Photo by OCHA. On 14, 15 and 16 May, during the annual Israeli “Jerusalem Day” and accompanying “Flag March” events, Israeli settlers and other Israelis, including Israeli officials, marched through the Old City of Jerusalem and several Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem under protection by Israeli forces. Israeli forces erected barriers, restricted Palestinian movement and access, including to Al Aqsa Mosque, and facilitated the marches throughout the Old City and surrounding areas. During the events, settlers assaulted Palestinians and damaged Palestinian-owned property, including shops and homes, while chanting anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans. In Silwan neighbourhood, settlers physically assaulted and injured a 16-year-old Palestinian boy with a metal stick, causing facial fractures, while in the Old City two Palestinian shop owners were injured after settlers attacked their stores and sprayed them with pepper spray. According to local sources, Israeli forces also physically assaulted and arrested at least 20 Palestinians during the three-day events. Demolitions and Displacement During the reporting period, Israeli authorities demolished four homes and 20 agricultural and livelihood-related structures for lacking Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. Overall, 19 structures were demolished in Area C and five in East Jerusalem, resulting in the displacement of five households comprising 26 people, including nine children, of whom 15 people were displaced in East Jerusalem and 11 in Area C. Eighteen of the 19 structures demolished in Area C were agricultural or livelihood-related structures, including 12 structures demolished in a single incident on 13 May in Area C of Al Marwaha area of Beit Hanina, on the Jerusalem side of the Barrier. During the incident, the Israeli Civil Administration, accompanied by Israeli forces, demolished animal shelters, caravans, and storage and sales facilities for construction materials, in addition to surrounding fences, affecting seven Palestinian households comprising 41 people, including 23 children. The demolition resulted in significant financial losses, as affected families were unable to remove most materials and equipment prior to the operation. Since the beginning of 2026, about 71 per cent of the approximately 400 structures demolished in Area C for lacking Israeli-issued building permits have been agricultural, livelihood-related, or water and sanitation structures. Humanitarian Impacts of Raids and Movement Restrictions During the reporting period, OCHA documented more than 40 raids and other operations by Israeli forces across the West Bank, involving house searches, mass detentions, temporary home evacuations, and movement restrictions, disrupting access to livelihoods, education and essential services and heightening fear and distress among affected communities. In multiple governorates, including Tubas, Salfit, Jenin and Nablus, Israeli forces carried out prolonged raids involving large-scale house searches, temporary takeover of Palestinian homes for military use, detentions, and reported physical assaults. In one raid on 17 May in Burin village, home to about 3,000 Palestinians southwest of Nablus city, Israeli forces closed all entrances to the village for nearly 19 hours, reportedly after alleging that stones had been thrown at Israeli vehicles. The closure disrupted movement and access to work and education, forcing shops to close and leading some schools to postpone exams and suspend classes. Separately, Israeli settlers, reportedly from nearby settlement outposts and often accompanied by Israeli forces, carried out repeated attacks against homes in Burin village during the reporting period. At least two attacks included attempted break-ins, damage to property, and physical assaults against residents. In one of these attacks on 13 May, a 13-year-old Palestinian girl was reportedly struck on the head with a stick by an Israeli settler while her family attempted to protect their livestock during an attack on their home. She was treated at the scene by Palestine Red Crescent Society paramedics. Moreover, about 100 students attempting to reach a Palestinian school in the H2 area of Hebron city through As Salaymeh (160) checkpoint were reportedly subjected to repeated delays and restrictive measures imposed by Israeli forces, including demands to present birth certificates and, in some cases, be accompanied by a parent. On 11 May, 103 students were unable to reach the school altogether. Similar restrictions and delays were again reported on 14 and 18 May, disrupting students’ access to education. For key figures and additional breakdowns of casualties, displacement and settler violence between January 2005 and March 2026, please refer to the OCHA West Bank March 2026 Snapshot. Gaza Strip The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with many displaced families continuing to shelter in overcrowded tents, schools, or damaged structures due to the lack of safe alternatives. Access to essential services also remains severely constrained, including limited availability of clean water and inadequate waste management systems that are unable to effectively address growing public health risks, including the spread of pests and rodents. Many residential areas across Gaza remain unsafe and exposed to recurrent strikes, shelling, and shooting incidents in or near populated areas. Ongoing insecurity and access constraints are disrupting some humanitarian and community‑based activities, while aid workers continue to report significant access impediments in areas where Israeli authorities require humanitarian teams to coordinate their movements with them. Between 16 and 17 May, humanitarian partners recorded the displacement of more than 150 families from eastern Khan Younis and eastern Gaza city. Affected families said they fled because of tank movements or bombing. Forty of the newly displaced families have been identified by partners as requiring emergency assistance as they fled with only what they could carry, and a response by multiple partners has been initialized. Simultaneously, Israeli strikes continued to be reported during the reporting period, affecting residential areas and makeshift shelters. In one incident on 18 May, an airstrike hit Jabalya Camp, reportedly damaging 35 families’ tents and tarpaulins and displacing dozens of them. Data by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza indicates that between 12 and 20 May, 24 Palestinians were killed, five bodies were retrieved, two died of wounds, and 159 people were injured. This brings the overall reported casualty toll since the announcement of a ceasefire agreement on 10 October 2025 to 881 fatalities and 2,621 injuries, according to MoH. Severe shortages of engine oil continue to disrupt critical water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services across the Gaza Strip. The WASH Cluster estimates that approximately 7,000 litres are required every month and life‑saving activities are increasingly curtailed. Key infrastructure is already affected, as demonstrated by the shutdown of the Sheikh Radwan stormwater lagoon in Gaza city on 11 May to preserve generator lifespan after prolonged operation. Water and wastewater levels have since risen significantly, raising the risk of flooding in the coming weeks and posing serious public health threats, according to the WASH Cluster. At the same time, solid waste management continues to rely on temporary dump sites located near active displacement sites. Humanitarian partners report that displaced families are increasingly affected by skin infections and other illnesses, as rats and insects enter shelters and contaminate food. While efforts are ongoing to improve sanitation and pest control, more sustainable responses require restored access to Gaza’s sanitary landfills near the perimeter, where Israeli forces remain deployed, as well as the entry of debris removal machinery and other critical supplies such as trucks, compactors, loaders, containers or personal protective equipment. To address pest infestations, WASH Cluster partners and local organizations, in coordination with the United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP), have launched a response plan targeting over 1,700 locations across the Gaza Strip on 17 May. It involves spraying, rodent control, and awareness raising activities. The supplies for the campaign – 3 tonnes of rodenticides and 3,000 litres of pesticides – were brought into Gaza last week by UNDP. Partners indicate that a full response to rodents and pests requires the Israeli authorities to facilitate access to Gaza’s landfills where waste can be safely disposed of and approve requests to bring into Gaza items necessary for the removal of debris and the clearance of explosive ordnance – as well as inputs necessary to keep that equipment running. According to the Site Management Cluster (SMC), some 1,600 displacement sites across Gaza are currently hosting about 1.7 million people, or 354,480 households. This is based on non-exhaustive data collected through in-person visits or – in some cases – phone interviews, between 3 February and 10 May. Nearly 88 per cent them reside in makeshift sites, while others are accommodated in collective centres or scattered locations. Population movements over the preceding month indicate largely localized displacement patterns, with most sites reporting no significant change, though some continue to experience inflows and outflows. Incoming Supplies Kerem Shalom and Zikim remain the only operational entry points for humanitarian and commercial goods into Gaza. Between 11 and 17 May, offloading rates were 81 per cent across all corridors, with every other truck from Egypt still unable to offload at the Israeli crossings along Gaza’s perimeter, based on data tracked by the Logistics Cluster; this does not include bilateral humanitarian donations or the private sector. On the commercial front, according to the Chamber of Commerce and other humanitarian partner market assessments, prices remained elevated but generally stable with fresh products continue to show the greatest volatility. The Cash Working Group (CWG) continues to advocate for an increased number of commercial trucks entering Gaza to support market recovery, a reduction in fees applied to essential commodities, and a more appropriate balance between essential and non‑essential items being imported to better meet priority needs and stabilize markets. Between 7 and 20 May, the United Nation Office for Project Services (UNOPS) took into Gaza more than 2.1 million litres of diesel petrol into Gaza and distributed just over 2 million litres of diesel (including from stocks brought in before that period) in support of humanitarian operations. The UN is only able to confirm the entry of supplies tracked by UN 2720. For breakdowns of those, see the online UN 2720 Mechanism Dashboard. For a detailed account of the latest humanitarian operations in Gaza, see Annex 1 below. Funding Annexes Annex 1: Humanitarian Operations in the Gaza Strip by Cluster Read more This section covers 11 to 17 May unless otherwise specified. Food Security As of 18 May, partners provided general food assistance to 122,000 households (440,000 people) as part of the May monthly distribution. Each family receiving two parcels, one 25-kilogram flour bag and 2.5 kilograms of high energy biscuits, covering 75 per cent of the minimum caloric needs – the same as in April. Additional caloric needs are still covered through other modalities. As of 13 May, partners continued preparing and serving about 1 million meals every day through 103 kitchens and to almost 1,800 different locations. While these efforts remain critical, partners have scaled down cooked meal production due to funding constraints and rising operational costs. As the same time, responders are seeking to diversify assistance modalities, to include more cash and livelihood support. Humanitarian partners continue to support bread production through subsidized bakeries, community ovens, and partners’ own baking facilities, producing at least 300 metric tons of bread daily – about 36 per cent of the Strip’s estimated bread needs. More than 35 commercial bakeries are involved in these efforts, alongside flour distributions by partners and bilateral government actors to help families bake bread at home. As of 17 May, 28 subsidized bakeries were producing approximately 130,000 two-kilogram bread bundles per day, with about 80 per cent sold at a subsidized price of 3 NIS (US$0.85) through 168 contracted retailers and the remaining 20 per cent distributed free of charge to over 300 shelters and community sites. Meanwhile, under the “diesel-only” model, five private bakeries supported with free fuel by humanitarian partners resumed operations late April and have gradually increased production, despite ongoing challenges related to high fuel, spare parts, and engine oil costs. A few examples of what is still needed: Scaling up home gardening requires strengthened technical support, including real-time advisory channels, the use of organic compost, seed-saving practices, and the provision of seedlings to improve germination rates. Proper site assessments are also essential to ensure feasibility, taking into account water and soil quality, available space, and safe access for households. At a broader level, restoring local food production depends on the timely and unrestricted entry of agricultural inputs through commercial and humanitarian channels, alongside enabling local importers to directly source and import the materials needed to restart and sustain production at scale. Water, Health and Sanitation (WASH) Fifty-four partners provide approximately 24,000 cubic metres of water per day to people in more than 2,000 locations, as 74 per cent or all households in Gaza rely on such deliveries. Between 4 and 17 May, UNICEF distributed 15,343 hygiene kits, 2,448 dignity kits, and 7,350 jerry cans benefitting almost 116,000 people. A few examples of what is still needed: Generator and vehicle spare parts and consumables – including engine oil, air filters, and tires – are urgently needed, alongside emergency repair kits for the Israeli Mekorot and UAE water pipelines as well as water pipes of various sizes. Additional priorities include reverse osmosis units, spare parts and accessories for existing systems, and solid waste compactors, as well as access to landfills near Gaza’s perimeter to ease pressure on temporary dump sites in southern Gaza. Health Between 11-17 May, partners supported the medical evacuation of 59 patients, including six children, to Egypt via Rafah Crossing, alongside 87 caregivers. Partners provided medical consultations, with reportable diseases accounting for 21.4 per cent of the consultations across 181 reporting sites. Increasing trends were observed in skin diseases, acute watery diarrhea, and bloody diarrhea, while acute respiratory infections declined, likely reflecting seasonal variation. Environmental surveillance results for March and April 2026 confirmed all samples negative for Poliovirus, marking 12 consecutive months without detection; in line with WHO guidance, the outbreak may be considered over pending Poliovirus Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) desk review. A risk assessment for rodent-associated diseases remains ongoing. Partners completed a training on infection prevention and control (IPC) and isolation protocols for over 400 clinical staff across five major hospitals, as well as more than 100 environmental cleaners and emergency medical services personnel. A few examples of what is still needed: Water testing equipment and liquid chlorine supplies are lacking in hospitals, primary health-care centres, and medical points because of administrative impediments from Israeli authorities. For more information, see the online Heath Cluster Dashboard. Shelter Between 11 and 17 May, partners provided 14,429 households with shelter and non-food assistance through in-kind and cash-based modalities. Assistance included 14,936 bedding items, 3,173 bedding kits, 2,922 tarpaulins, 1,114 sealing-off kits, and 839 clothing kits. The Rapid Joint Distribution Mechanism supported 55 households with emergency shelter and essential household items, including 10 packages of tents and non-food items and 45 sealing-off kits. Partners installed 115 emergency shelters in Gaza and Khan Younis using Shelter Cluster Emergency Shelter Kit designs and specifications. A few examples of what is still needed: More essential household items are needed, as available stocks are merely enough to support fewer than 3,400 additional households. Administrative impediments imposed by Israeli authorities should be lifted along with restrictions on shelter items. For more information, see the Shelter Cluster website. Protection Between 11 and 17 May, 11 protection partners delivered lifesaving and protection-related services to almost 11,000 people: Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), including psychological first aid and individual and group counselling, was provided to 8,259 people; Legal aid and legal awareness support was provided to 219 people; Referrals and case follow-up were provided to 232 people; Other support was provided to 341 persons with disabilities; Group psychosocial support sessions were provided to 350 people; Mine action and explosive ordnance risk education were provided to 168 people; Relief was distributed to 1,265 people; Staff-care activities were conducted for 25 responders. During the same period, partners offered services to 146 returnees from Egypt; since the reopening of the Rafah border and as of 14 May, 2,429 returnees have been assisted, including 885 currently receiving follow-up protection services. Protection monitoring activities continued through eight focus group discussions and 130 key informant interviews across 16 neighbourhoods, reaching 1,155 people. A few examples of what is still needed: It is critical to address the psychological distress affecting staff members, alongside persistent fuel shortages, rising transportation costs, cash flow constraints, and the limited availability of essential materials and spare parts. For more information, see the online Protection Cluster dashboard. Child Protection Between 11 and 17 May, partners: provided MHPSS services to over 4,000 children and approximately 1,500 caregivers. Services included structured psychosocial support sessions, recreational and resilience-building activities, art and drama interventions, individual counselling, Psychological First Aid, parenting support, and community-based psychosocial programmes. conducted child protection awareness and community-based protection activities for another 4,700 children and caregivers through awareness sessions, risk mitigation activities, positive parenting sessions, safety mapping exercises, and community outreach across shelters, camps, schools, and displacement sites; provided individual case management support to 56 newly identified high-risk children, while continuing follow-up for more than 3,000 active child protection cases involving children without parental care, highly distressed children, and children exposed to violence, neglect, exploitation, family separation, and unsafe living conditions. conducted 135 follow-up contacts for unaccompanied and separated children to assess wellbeing, care arrangements, and protection concerns; A few examples of what is still needed: Additional funding and operational support are needed to sustain high-risk child protection case management, MHPSS services, outreach activities, and child-friendly spaces, many of which face disruptions. Partners also require increased fuel, transportation, and operational supplies to maintain home visits, referrals, and follow-up activities, particularly in underserved and newly displaced areas. Additional trained case workers, MHPSS specialists, accessible safe spaces, and psychosocial materials are also needed to respond to growing protection concerns among children and adolescents across Gaza. Mine Action UNMAS conducted 36 explosive hazard assessments in support of debris removal and other partner activities, and three inter-agency missions. Partners conducted explosive ordnance risk education activities, reaching almost 3,480 people between 10 and 14 May. Since the October 2025 ceasefire announcement, 109 accidents have been recorded, leading to 265 Palestinians injured and 49 killed. Emergency Telecommunications Between 11 and 17 May, ETC continued close collaboration with UNDSS on the Communications Plan, providing final technical inputs with completion expected by 31 May. Coordination also continued with PRCS and ICRC to support technical recovery of the damaged VHF network in Gaza, building on earlier VHF coverage assessments conducted along the Gaza city–Zikim route. A few examples of what is still needed: Despite progress, connectivity in Gaza remains severely constrained, limiting humanitarian coordination. The VHF network remains only partially functional due to security constraints and limited technical capacity.
Country: occupied Palestinian territory Source: Data Friendly Space Please refer to the attached file. Overview The following overview has been generated using the information available up to May 4, 2026. It provides a synthesized summary and key insights into the crisis based on the most recent data accessible at that time. Summary The Occupied Palestinian Territory is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with both Gaza and the West Bank experiencing unprecedented levels of violence and deprivation. In Gaza, following the collapse of a brief pause in hostilities in March 2025, Israeli forces resumed intensive bombardment while maintaining a complete blockade that has now entered its eighth week, preventing all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies from entering. This has left Gaza's 2.2 million residents facing starvation as food stocks deplete, bakeries cease operations due to lack of flour and fuel, and nearly 90% of the population remains displaced with critical infrastructure almost entirely destroyed. A new U.S.-backed peace plan led to a pause in hostilities agreement coming into effect on 10 October 2025, raising cautious hopes for increased humanitarian access and a potential reduction in hostilities after months of relentless violence. However, despite the pause in hostilities, sporadic violations, limited aid entry, and continued displacement highlight the fragility of the pause in hostilities and the deep humanitarian strain that persists across Gaza. Meanwhile, the West Bank has seen a dramatic escalation in military operations, particularly since the launch of "Operation Iron Wall" in January 2025, which has resulted in mass displacement of Palestinians and widespread destruction across refugee camps. Israeli forces have displaced approximately 40,000 people, with officials stating that residents will not be allowed to return for at least a year, while expanded checkpoints and military presence severely restrict movement between Palestinian cities. International organisations and UN bodies have expressed increasing concern about systematic violations of international humanitarian law in the West Bank, including accelerating settlement expansion, land reclassification and forced displacement that multiple observers warn are driving de facto annexation dynamics. These concerns have intensified following the International Court of Justice's 2024 advisory opinion on the illegality of the prolonged occupation and the Israeli authorities' security cabinet decisions of 8 February 2026 expanding civil and administrative control over West Bank land and governance. Key Insights 1. Gaza has entered famine conditions, with projections suggesting the crisis could spread to central and southern areas by September, affecting up to 640,000 people. Between May and September 2025, 470,000 people (22% of the population) were in Catastrophe/IPC Phase 5, over 1 million in Emergency/Phase 4, and the rest in Crisis/Phase 3—meaning the entire population faces severe food insecurity. By the end of September, famine conditions were expected to extend beyond Gaza City into Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis. Humanitarian aid remains far below needs due to restrictions on access and delivery, driving acute malnutrition, especially among children, while health and nutrition services collapse under the strain. 2. Over the 2025 April–March period, ~71,000 children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition, with ~14,100 of these being severe cases. Similarly, nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are expected to require treatment for acute malnutrition. The rapid rise of malnutrition in children, especially in Gaza City is a red flag: it both signals and drives higher mortality risks. 3. In the West Bank, "Operation Iron Wall" launched in January 2025 has led to the largest forced displacement since 1967, with approximately 40,000 Palestinians displaced from refugee camps including Jenin, Tulkarem, Nur Shams, and El Far\'a, with Israeli officials stating residents cannot return for at least a year. 4. Israeli forces deployed tanks in the northern West Bank in February 2025 for the first time in 20 years, while establishing at least 20 new iron gates and numerous checkpoints throughout the territory, severely restricting movement between Palestinian cities and villages. 5. According to World Bank assessments (February 2025), reconstruction and recovery needs in Gaza require approximately US$53 billion, with housing accounting for 53% of damages, while commerce and industry represent 20%, and critical infrastructure including health, water, and transport comprising 15%. 6. The collapse of local food systems is near total , 98% of cropland in Gaza is reported as destroyed or inaccessible, and fishing has been banned or heavily restricted. Because of wartime blockades and displacement, the normal supply chains for food, fuel, water, and medical supplies have been disrupted or severed. In Gaza City and Khan Yunis, wheat flour prices have reportedly jumped ~3,000% compared to earlier months. Many households are resorting to extreme coping strategies: selling clothes, foraging or collecting trash, or going whole days without food.
Country: World Source: Global Polio Eradication Initiative At this year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, delegates debated some of the world’s most difficult and divisive issues. Discussions touched on conflict, humanitarian crises, geopolitical tensions and the growing pressures facing global health systems. At times, the debates reflected a world that feels increasingly fragmented. And yet, amid all these differences, one thing stood out with remarkable clarity: every Member State remained united behind one common goal — the eradication of polio. Countries that disagree profoundly on many political issues nevertheless continue to stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to protecting children from lifelong paralysis. Iran and Israel. Russia and Ukraine. Countries from every region, every political system and every level of development all reaffirmed their commitment to achieving and sustaining a polio-free world. One colleague observing the Assembly discussions described this as a “Lichtblick” — a German word meaning a “ray of hope”. It is a fitting description. Because in today’s world, polio eradication represents something much greater than a disease programme alone. It is one of the few remaining examples of a truly universal humanitarian cause — one capable of uniting governments, civil society, health workers and communities around a shared human objective. That unity matters. And perhaps there are lessons in it for the broader future of global cooperation. Throughout the Assembly, delegates also repeatedly returned to another important question: what should the future global health architecture look like in an increasingly complex and fragmented world? One message emerged particularly clearly from those discussions: global health cannot be driven by governments alone. Member States repeatedly emphasized that civil society, communities and local actors must remain central to both decision-making and implementation. In many ways, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) already represents one of the strongest examples of this model in practice. For more than three decades, governments, multilateral organizations, scientists, frontline health workers and civil society partners such as Rotary International have worked side by side toward a shared humanitarian goal. The result has been not only extraordinary progress toward eradication, but also the creation of one of the largest and most effective public-private partnerships in global health history. At a time when the world is actively reflecting on how to strengthen multilateral cooperation and global health systems, there may be important lessons to learn from the GPEI experience — particularly the recognition that lasting progress depends not only on institutions, but also on communities, trust and shared ownership. This spirit of cooperation was also reflected in broader Assembly discussions on climate change, air pollution and energy poverty, where Member States and partners emphasized the need for coordinated global action and stronger community-centred health systems. While these challenges differ in nature, they share an important lesson with polio eradication: no country can solve them alone, and lasting progress depends on trust, partnership and collective responsibility. Together, GPEI partners have reduced wild poliovirus cases globally by more than 99.9%. In doing so, they have also built something much larger: surveillance systems, laboratories, emergency operations centres, community trust networks and outbreak response capacities that today support broader health security efforts worldwide. But perhaps most importantly, they have built trust and common ground. History has shown repeatedly that polio eradication efforts can create space for dialogue even in the most difficult environments. During the civil conflict in Côte d’Ivoire in the early 2000s, local Rotary members helped bring together government and opposition forces to negotiate temporary ceasefires so vaccination teams could safely respond to a polio outbreak in the north of the country. Those humanitarian discussions later helped open channels for broader peace negotiations. More recently, synchronized vaccination campaigns have continued across parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan despite periods of heightened political tension. In Gaza, extraordinary humanitarian coordination helped enable vaccination campaigns that successfully interrupted outbreak transmission. Again and again, the effort to protect children from polio has demonstrated that even where politics divides, humanity can still unite. Of course, the world faces many urgent challenges. Financing pressures, conflicts, competing priorities and humanitarian crises all place strain on global health systems and international cooperation alike. But perhaps that is precisely why polio eradication matters so much today. Because it reminds us that multilateralism can still work. That collective action remains possible. And that even in a divided world, there are still causes capable of bringing humanity together around a shared purpose. The world is now closer than ever to eradicating polio forever. But the final phase matters precisely because every remaining case is not simply a statistic — it is a child whose life will be permanently affected by paralysis. That is why this effort continues to matter so deeply. If we succeed, the achievement will not belong to one country, one organization or one generation alone. It will belong to all of humanity.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: ActionAid Please refer to the attached file. After the declaration of Ebola outbreak, ActionAid DRC conducted a rapid needs assessment from 16th to 17th , May 2026 across three operational health zones in Ituri Province, Nyankunde, Nizi and Bunia, in response to the confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola virus (non-Zaire) outbreak declared as the 17th Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The assessment coincided with Situation Report No. 004 of the DPS Ituri, which as of 16th , May 2026 recorded 417 total alerts, 393 investigated, 8 laboratory-confirmed cases, 105 probable cases, and 72 persons currently in isolation across nine health zones. The assessment engaged key community stakeholders including COPA (Comité des Parents in Schools), women's groups, men's groups, child clubs and community health volunteers across all three target locations. Both Nyankunde and Bunia Health Zones have already recorded EVD cases, making the assessment timely and critical for informing ActionAid's humanitarian response programming. Key findings reveal significant gaps in community awareness, health system readiness, school safety preparedness, and protection of women and girls during the outbreak. Particular concern was raised about the psychosocial impact of the epidemic on conflict-displaced populations, denial and stigma fueled by cultural narratives, and the near-total absence of PPE in schools and community spaces.