Cinemas offer a platform for stories of resistance amid shrinking civic spaces in Africa
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.
🌐 국제기구 · "SPACES" · 총 15건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.0
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 5,976건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.0(균형)입니다. 긍정 0건(0.0%)·중립 5,976건(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.
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: 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: 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.”
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: 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: 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.
Countries: Ethiopia, South Sudan Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Highlights UNHCR and partners strengthened protection delivery through coordinated relocation efforts, ensuring safer living conditions and improved access to essential services for refugees in Luakdong. Community-based protection interventions remained active, with child-friendly spaces and awareness campaigns providing psychosocial support and promoting protection from gender-based violence and harmful practices. Engagement with refugee communities, including children and adolescents, enhanced participation in protection activities and social cohesion. Ongoing border monitoring and protection assessments provided insights into the needs and risks faced by newly arriving populations, informing timely and targeted responses across the operational areas.
Countries: Ethiopia, South Sudan Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Highlights UNHCR and partners strengthened protection delivery through coordinated relocation efforts, ensuring safer living conditions and improved access to essential services for refugees in Luakdong. Community-based protection interventions remained active, with child-friendly spaces and awareness campaigns providing psychosocial support and promoting protection from gender-based violence and harmful practices. Engagement with refugee communities, including children and adolescents, enhanced participation in protection activities and social cohesion. Ongoing border monitoring and protection assessments provided insights into the needs and risks faced by newly arriving populations, informing timely and targeted responses across the operational areas.
Country: Lebanon Source: United Nations Population Fund Please refer to the attached file. The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains highly volatile, with continued airstrikes, hostilities, and renewed displacement. Despite the 17 April ceasefire, which was extended for an additional 45 days on 15 May, the intensity of hostilities increased by nearly 40 per cent during the post-ceasefire period. Fluid population movements continue, with renewed displacement orders affecting 27 localities in southern Lebanon. Since 2 March 2026, 2,951 people are reported to have been killed and 8,988 injured. The situation remains fluid, with potential for rapid escalation, underscoring the urgent need for increased humanitarian and health sector support. UNFPA has reached more than 100,000 displaced people with sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence (GBV) services since the start of the crisis. This was achieved through support to 55 health facilities, nine mobile medical units, 22 mobile GBV teams, and 11 women and girls’ safe spaces serving 200 collective shelters and host communities. The UNFPA Flash Appeal for US $12 million remains severely underfunded, with only US $2.9 million mobilized to date. If more funding does not become available, nearly 90,000 women and girls will lose access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health and protection services within the next six months.
Country: Somalia Source: United Nations Population Fund Please refer to the attached file. Highlights In the first quarter of 2026, worsening drought conditions in Somalia continued to drive humanitarian needs, with 6.5 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Displacement increased across camps and hard-to-reach areas. Women and girls in affected communities face heightened protection risks including gender-based violence (GBV), harmful coping mechanisms, and reduced access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and protection services. The situation remains critical in parts of Jubaland, South-West, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Puntland, and Somaliland. Women and girls face increased protection risks, including exposure to GBV, as well as limited access to protection services due to displacement and the impact of reduced humanitarian funding. Maternal health risks are also increasing as drought-affected populations face difficulties accessing antenatal care, safe delivery services, emergency obstetric care, and referral services. Since January 2026, UNFPA’s humanitarian response has reached 44,424 people with life-saving reproductive health and protection services, awareness information, and emergency relief. This support was delivered through thirteen health facilities, five women and girls’ safe spaces, six GBV One-Stop Centres, two youth-friendly spaces, and four mobile maternity clinics. In 2026, UNFPA Somalia requires US $27 million to deliver life-saving SRH and GBV prevention and response services for affected women and girls. To date, only 19 per cent of this appeal has been secured, which is already affecting UNFPA’s ability to sustain essential services. Flexible and timely funding is urgently needed to maintain services and preserve the dignity, safety, and well-being of women and girls.