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ํํฐ ๋ณด๊ธฐํ์ฌ ์ง์
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100 = ๊ธ์ ์ฐ์ธ
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As civic space shrinks across Africa, one film festival is betting that cinema can do what reports and protests sometimes cannot, hold power to account.
Country: India Source: International Water Management Institute Please refer to the attached file. 1. Context India is the largest democracy in the world and supports 16% and 17% of the worldโs human and livestock population, respectively, with just 4.25% and 2% of the worldโs freshwater and land resources, respectively. Although India has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, there is a growing concern that water scarcity will become a binding constraint on its development. A 3.5-fold increase in population during the last six decades has made India one of the most water-scarce countries globally. Water availability is down from 5300 m3 in 1951 to about 1400 m3/ capita/year at present, barely sufficient to sustain economic growth and support human well-being. Water availability is projected to decline to 1340 m3 by 2025 and further still to 1140 m3 by 2050. In 2013, the World Resources Institute declared India among the worldโs 50 most water-stressed countries (Luck et al. 2015). The increased water needs for drinking, domestic use, energy, and industrial sectors due to economic development and urbanization are contributing to this decline. However, the main use of freshwater in India is for irrigation, accounting for approximately 80% of the total (Figures 1 and 2). It is expected to further increase to meet the demands of a growing population, as assessed by the National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development. Tackling the issue of water security in India will entail tackling the following key challenges for the country.
Country: Myanmar Sources: Health Cluster, World Health Organization Highlights Ongoing surge in deadly attacks on health care with 73 incidents reported by Insecurity Insight between 1 January and 31 May 2026, as compared to 38 verified attacks on health care recorded by WHOโs Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA). Use of heavy weapons continues to be the highest reported type of incident, followed by obstruction, psychological violence and removal of assets. Health Cluster will conduct SSA awareness sessions to encourage partners to report any attack on health care directly in the online system. Intensification of airstrikes and drone attacks in Chin, Magway, Rakhine, and Sagaing as well as Kachin, Karenni and northern Shan, severely impeding access to health care and transport of medical supplies. Lack of vector control and bednets are triggering a malaria surge in Chin, Kachin, and Tanintharyi. Because of inadequate testing and treatment, malaria outbreaks are able to rapidly expand. Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) outbreaks resulting from poor hygiene practices in Karen, Karenni, Mon, Sagaing, and Southern Shan. Lack of testing and awareness is leading to rapid spread of the disease. Joint Health-Nutrition-WASH Cluster AWD Action Planning at sub-national level ongoing as part of monsoon preparedness - Measles preparedness in Rakhine stepped up after continuing largescale measles outbreak in neighbouring Bangladesh: ongoing training of health workers on diagnosis and treatment of measles cases, and continuing advocacy for urgent, large-scale immunization, after 5 years of zero vaccination.
Country: Sierra Leone Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date when the trigger was met 13-05-2026 What happened, where and when? On 13 May 2026, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), officially declared a measles outbreak in Sierra Leone following confirmation of sustained transmission across multiple districts. On the same day, 41 confirmed cases were reported across eight districts: Western Area Urban (Freetown), Western Area Rural, Port Loko, Bombali, Tonkolili, Bo, Kenema, and Kono. Between 14 and 19 May 2026, an additional 8 confirmed cases were identified, bringing the total to 49 confirmed cases. The outbreak is characterized by a laboratory positivity rate of 75 per cent, indicating active community transmission and likely underdetection of cases through routine surveillance systems. The spread across both urban and rural districts, including densely populated communities in Freetown, significantly increases the risk of rapid nationwide propagation. The outbreak is occurring within a context of persistent immunity gaps linked to suboptimal routine immunization coverage, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities. Children under five years of age remain the most vulnerable due to low vaccination uptake, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare services. High population mobility, overcrowded settlements, schools, and marketplaces continue to facilitate rapid transmission. Health systems in affected districts are under increasing pressure due to rising demands for surveillance, case investigation, laboratory testing, community engagement, and case management. Existing response efforts are further constrained by weak community-level surveillance, limited outreach capacity for rapid vaccination scale-up, inadequate risk communication coverage, and shortages of operational resources in high-risk districts. In response, the MoH and NPHA activated the Incident Command Centre (ICC) and initiated coordination with humanitarian and development partners to scale up containment measures, including reactive vaccination, surveillance strengthening, community engagement, and case management support. NPHA has specifically requested urgent partner support to reinforce outbreak response efforts, warning that the outbreak risks escalating further, particularly in densely populated districts, if immediate action is not taken. Despite ongoing response measures, transmission continues to expand, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian support to contain the outbreak, strengthen vaccination uptake, and reduce preventable morbidity and mortality among vulnerable populations.
Country: Lebanon Source: World Food Programme BEIRUT, Lebanon โ The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is warning that nearly three months into the conflict, Lebanon faces a deepening humanitarian emergency with a critical combination of displacement and increased food insecurity. More than one million people remain displaced, while soaring prices, lost incomes and strained markets are pushing food further out of reach for vulnerable families. WFP has rapidly scaled up its response nationwide, but the situation remains highly fragile. Sustained humanitarian access, stable supply flows and predictable funding are critical to ensuring continued assistance for those most in need. Below are the latest updates on WFP operations and the food security situation in Lebanon: Since 2 March, WFP has reached a total of more than 700,000 conflict-affected people across Lebanon with emergency food and cash assistance. On average, WFP has supported close to 150,000 people per day since the escalation, providing hot meals, ready-to-eat rations, and food parcels to families sheltering in displacement sites. The ongoing conflict characterized by daily bombardments and displacement orders is challenging humanitarian access and resulting in continued displacement. These conditions are constraining the delivery of critical assistance, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. A total of 24 humanitarian convoys have been deployed to southern Lebanon, including border villages, Tyre and Hermel, to reach communities facing access constraints. More than 50 percent of the requested convoys have been delayed or cancelled due to movement and access risks. Current WFP assistance includes emergency cash support for close to half a million Lebanese through national systems, as well as cash support for more than 100,000 Syrian refugees. Since the onset of the emergency, WFP has distributed nearly five million hot meals, prioritizing newly displaced families arriving with limited belongings. WFP has supported more than 215,000 displaced people across over 500 shelters nationwide, alongside approximately 85,500 people in host communities and hard-to-reach areas. To help stabilize food availability, a shipment of 250 metric tons of wheat flour recently entered Lebanon through the corridor with Jordan, made possible through close coordination between Lebanese and Jordanian authorities. The shipment is supporting approximately 10,000 vulnerable households. The WFP-led Logistics Cluster has supported a total of 64 partners โ including UNFPA, UNRWA, IOM, UNICEF, UNHCR, and international and national NGOs โ of which 18 have utilized the logistics services to transport nearly 2,500 mยณ of cargo. The latest food security analysis confirms a sharp deterioration nationwide, with 1.24 million people โ nearly one in four โ facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse) between April and August 2026. Displacement, rising food and fuel prices, market disruptions, and broader economic shocks are driving the crisis. While food remains available in many areas, it is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Since the start of the escalation, vegetable prices have risen by more than 20 percent, while bread prices have increased by around 15 percent. Market conditions vary significantly: in southern Lebanon and Nabatieh, more than 80 percent of markets are no longer functioning, while in Beirut and other areas markets remain operational but under growing strain. To sustain life-saving assistance and respond to rising needs, WFP requires USD 112 million between May and August 2026 (USD 44.1 million per month). Without adequate and predictable funding, WFPโs ability to maintain emergency food and cash assistance for vulnerable families across Lebanon will be at risk. Contact For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Rasha Abou Dargham, WFP/Lebanon, +961 76 866 779 Abeer Etefa, WFP/Cairo, Mob +20 106 66 34 352 Julian Miglierini, WFP/ Rome, Mob. +39 348 2316793 Rene McGuffin, WFP/ Washington Mob. +1 771 245 4268
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 wasnโt 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. โThere was no safe placeโ, she recalled, as the conflict reached the camp where she had been living with other families displaced by the earthquake. โAircraft were flying overhead, and my children were extremely frightened; whenever they heard the sound, they would cry and scream.โ 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 โ who are already living under increasing restrictions on their freedoms and movement under the Taliban โ and those struggling to survive the aftermath of last yearโs 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 โ precious blankets, flour, and cooking oil โ 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 โ who had also been living in a camp with families displaced by the earthquake โ 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. โOur land was destroyed [in the earthquake] and there is no work hereโ, Fahima said. โWe give more food to our children and eat less ourselves.โ 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 โWe stay together and eat together โ we are like a mother and daughterโ, 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. โSome of the women have suffered a great dealโ, added Zaland. โSome have lost family members, some have lost their homes, some have lost livestock, and some have hungry children.โ After counselling, she says, some women leave to collect wild plants to eat. Her colleague, Mastoora,* 36, explains the impact of their work. โThe happiness I feel comes from knowing that, even if I cannot do much for a woman, I can at least say something that helps herโ, she said. โWhen I go home, I explain [to my daughters] that I am working for women โ they are happy when they see their mother going somewhere to serve other women.โ For 17-year-old Fahima, the service helps her cope better, despite the daily struggle she faces to feed her four children. โWhen we come [for counselling], we feel relieved and our mood improvesโ, she says. โWe would not come if they were male counsellors; the female counsellors are like our sisters, and we can speak openly with them.โ 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 womenโs civil society organizations can maintain vital women-only safe spaces and other community-based services, providing protection, mental health support, and dignity for those most at risk. * Names have been changed to protect identities.
Country: Colombia Source: UN Verification Mission in Colombia Bogota, 1st June 2026. I congratulate the people of Colombia for their inclusive and peaceful participation in the presidential elections on 31 May, a fundamental milestone for the countryโs democracy and future. Throughout election day, the Mission, through its field presence, was able to witness firsthand the efforts and commitment of Colombiaโs electoral authorities and public security forces to ensure the orderly conduct of the polls. I call for a calm electoral contest, free from any violence, and for redoubled efforts to ensure that the campaign for the second round takes place in a fully free environment, with security, and mutual respect. I encourage all parties to channel their differences through institutional mechanisms.
Countries: World, Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Panama City, 1 June 2026 โ Although forecasts point to a below-average hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) today recalled that high cyclonic activity is expected in the eastern Pacific. The organization called for sustained investment in preparedness, anticipatory action and early warning systems across more than 25 countries1 in Central America, North America and the Caribbean that are exposed to tropical cyclones. For the 2026 season in the Atlantic basin, which runs from 1 June to 30 November, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts, with a 55 per cent probability, below-average cyclonic activity relative to the historical average of 14 named storms and seven hurricanes. This year, NOAA notes, there would be between eight and 14 named storms. Of these, three to six would become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes โ that is, Category 3 or higher. By contrast, the agency forecasts, with a 70 per cent probability, a more active season in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where it predicts between 15 and 22 named storms, of which nine to 14 would become hurricanes and five to nine of those would reach major hurricane strength. "We will say it again and again: a single storm is enough to destroy communities, overwhelm public services, and displace and endanger hundreds of thousands of people," said Cristian Torres, Deputy Regional Director of the IFRC for the Americas. "Forecasts are critical so that we can act before disasters strike, but beyond knowing how many storms there will be, it is essential to reduce people's vulnerability, expand the coverage of early warning systems, and develop, fund and test inter-agency protocols that protect them from the multiple hazards they face," he added. As part of its commitment to preparedness, the IFRC has already prepositioned in Panama, Santo Domingo and other strategic locations across the region enough relief supplies to provide immediate assistance to up to 60,000 people affected by a large-scale emergency. The stock includes hygiene and kitchen kits, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, cleaning and construction tools, solar lamps, water treatment units and water purification supplies, among other items. Aware that mobilizing humanitarian aid in record time requires the participation, knowledge and collaboration of multiple actors, the IFRC also relies on simulation exercises as a critical tool to test crisis and disaster response mechanisms and protocols. The most recent, held this past May, aimed to measure and improve mobilization times, customs procedures and the inter-agency response capacity of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in the face of potential flooding caused by hurricanes. The exercise involved mobilizing Red Cross water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) specialist teams and equipment across these three countries. The initiative brought together civil protection, customs and foreign affairs authorities, along with the National Red Cross Societies. It was supported by European Union humanitarian funding and the German Red Cross, and was carried out within the framework of the Regional Mechanism for International Humanitarian Assistance, the instrument of the Central American Integration System (SICA) for organizing, facilitating and coordinating humanitarian assistance among its member countries. Another of the preparedness measures driven by the IFRC ahead of the hurricane season is the adoption of early action protocols. These protocols bring together measures agreed in advance among communities, authorities, and the Red Cross, which are triggered when certain risk thresholds are reached. Depending on the context, these actions may include cash transfers ahead of an emergency to protect homes and livelihoods, the relocation of essential goods, the reinforcement of critical infrastructure, or the evacuation of people in situations of greater vulnerability. When these systems work, communities receive timely alerts, authorities have more time to coordinate evacuations, and humanitarian teams can mobilize aid before the impact occurs. In Central America alone, the IFRC currently has five early action protocols for floods and tropical storms, financially supported by its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF). "Prepositioning relief items, simulation exercises and early action protocols make it possible to protect lives, reduce economic losses and speed up recovery after a disaster," Torres explained. "But rules can also save lives and build community resilience, which is why we call on all countries in the region to advance the international treaty for the protection of persons in disaster situations, currently under consultation at the United Nations." This treaty seeks to ensure that the protection of people exposed to or affected by disasters does not depend on chance, but on clear commitments and coordinated action. Its adoption, expected in 2027, would facilitate international cooperation and reduce the obstacles that can delay the arrival of aid. It would also improve the conditions for Red Cross Societies, as auxiliary to the public powers, to continue assisting the most vulnerable people: women, girls, older people, people on the move or with disabilities, and communities affected by violence and poverty. This season, shaped by the influence of the coming El Niรฑo phenomenon, illustrates how risk can shift and take different forms across the continent. While Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic continue to recover from hurricanes Beryl, Oscar, Rafael and Melissa, other areas face different threats. The Central American Dry Corridor, parts of Chile and areas of the Andean region are bracing for possible droughts, while Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay anticipate heavy rains and flooding. In all of them, Red Cross teams are already working with communities to get ready. Against this backdrop, where climate, health and social risks accumulate and overlap with growing frequency, the IFRC calls for investing without delay in measures that enable States, communities and the Red Cross itself to better protect people in the face of multi-hazard scenarios. Because, as underscored at IFRC's recent XXXIII Pre-Hurricane and Recurrent Hazards Conference, when risks pile up, the difference between a hazard and a humanitarian crisis is usually decided before the impact โ in the level of preparedness already in place, and in the capacity to act before the disaster occurs. For more information: [email protected] In Panama: Susana Arroyo +50769993199 In Geneva: Paolo Cravero +41 79 894 83 96
Country: World Source: Pan American Health Organization Please refer to the attached file. Regional situation: In EW 19 of 2026, respiratory virus activity in the Region of the Americas deepens the pattern of inter-hemispheric seasonal transition observed in previous weeks, with an increasingly marked divergence between hemispheres. North America, the Caribbean, and Central America are consolidating the end of the 2025โ2026 season, with influenza positivity at low levels close to the interseasonal baseline. In contrast, Brazil and the Southern Cone establish themselves as the subregion of greatest epidemiological relevance for this reporting period, intensifying an accelerated upward trend of the start of the austral winter season, led by Argentina. The Andean Subregion maintains a mixed pattern, with an aggregate decline in influenza but divergent trajectories between countries and with RSV cases that continue to rise. The inter-hemispheric predominance of subtypes persists: influenza B, which has characterized the end of the Northern Hemisphere season, and influenza A, mainly A(H3N2), in the subregions of the Southern Hemisphere. Likewise, RSV shows opposite patterns according to hemisphere: declining in North America and rising in the Andean Region and in Brazil and the Southern Cone, consistent with the start of the austral season. SARS-CoV-2 maintains its generalized decline in all subregions, with no sign of resurgence. The burden of SARI and ILI is declining in the Northern Hemisphere, while the indicators are beginning to reflect an increase in the Southern Cone. Situaciรณn regional: En la SE 19 de 2026, la actividad de virus respiratorios en la Regiรณn de las Amรฉricas profundiza el patrรณn de transiciรณn estacional inter-hemisfรฉrica observado en las semanas previas, con una divergencia cada vez mรกs marcada entre hemisferios. Amรฉrica del Norte, el Caribe y Centroamรฉrica consolidan el fin de la temporada 2025โ2026, con positividades de influenza en niveles bajos prรณximos a la lรญnea de base interestacional. En contraste, Brasil y el Cono Sur se afirman como la subregiรณn de mayor relevancia epidemiolรณgica para este periodo de reporte, intensificando una tendencia ascendente y acelerada de inicio de temporada invernal austral, liderada por Argentina. La Subregiรณn Andina mantiene un patrรณn mixto, con descenso agregado de influenza, pero trayectorias divergentes entre paรญses y con casos de VRS que continรบan en ascenso. Persiste el predominio inter-hemisfรฉrico de subtipos: influenza B que ha caracterizado el cierre de temporada del hemisferio norte e influenza A, principalmente A(H3N2), en las subregiones del hemisferio sur. Igualmente, el VRS muestra patrones opuestos segรบn hemisferio: en descenso en Amรฉrica del Norte y en ascenso en la Regiรณn Andina y en Brasil y el Cono Sur, consistente con el inicio de la temporada austral. El SARS-CoV-2 mantiene su descenso generalizado en todas las subregiones, sin seรฑal de resurgimiento. La carga de IRAG y ETI desciende en el hemisferio norte, mientras los indicadores comienzan a reflejar un incremento en el Cono Sur.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: International Rescue Committee Delayed detection and slow contact tracing suggest virus has likely spread undetected for months Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 1, 2026 โ The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is likely significantly larger and more advanced than official figures suggest, as response efforts struggle with delayed detection and dangerously low levels of contact tracing, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned today. With only 20% of contacts currently being traced, health authorities are struggling to identify and isolate new chains of transmission. The virus may have been spreading undetected since before March, potentially as long as three months before the first official case was identified, allowing multiple chains of transmission to establish across communities and provinces. The combination of these factors dramatically increases the likelihood that the true scale of infections is far higher than reported, the IRC warned. Rachel Howard, Senior Technical Emergency Health advisor at the IRC, said: โThe true scale of this Ebola outbreak is likely far worse than official figures suggest. When four out of five contacts are not being traced, it becomes incredibly difficult to contain the outbreak or even understand its true scale. Weโre especially concerned about the virus spreading to other countries like Burundi or South Sudan.โ IRC teams warn that shortages of diagnostic cartridges and testing backlogs are slowing confirmation of cases, further obscuring the true spread of the outbreak. Seven confirmed Ebola patients have reportedly left treatment centers in the DRC, while more than six healthcare workers have died, including two doctors in recent days. The incidents underscore the deep fear and mistrust some communities continue to have toward Ebola prevention and treatment efforts. People are avoiding health facilities, raising fears that those affected are remaining within communities rather than seeking treatment. As a result, transmission is spreading across multiple areas, and communities are losing trust in the response. Strengthening local, community-based prevention and infection control should be the immediate priority to control the outbreak at the source. Without urgent funding, the situation could deteriorate rapidly. This outbreak is increasingly resembling the 2018โ2020 North Kivu Ebola crisis, which infected thousands of people and was complicated by insecurity, population movement, and community resistance. However, unlike previous outbreaks, there is currently no approved vaccine available for this Ebola strain. The IRC is calling for urgent international support to scale up contact tracing, surveillance, laboratory testing, treatment capacity, and community engagement efforts before the outbreak escalates further. It is also critical to build trust with affected communities, including through survivor-led awareness and risk awareness activities. In response to the current escalating outbreak, whilst working in close coordination with the government health authorities who are leading the response, IRC has launched prevention and control activities, including distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as awareness raising activities amidst communities at risk, rehabilitation of triage areas and rehabilitation/construction of showers, latrines and waste disposal areas. In Uganda, IRC is working with the Ministry of Health on the border to support infection, prevention and control activities including screening people coming across the border. IRC is also supporting response coordination in Uganda. Media contacts Madiha Raza International Rescue Committee madiha.raza@rescue.org Kim Winkler International Rescue Committee Kim.Winkler@rescue.org IRC Global Communications communications@rescue.org
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Sources: Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, World Health Organization The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirm their strong partnership and shared commitment to protect the health and well-being of the people of Ituri Province and the nation at large, following the joint mission to Bunia led by Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Health, Mr. Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, Minister of Communication and Medias, and the visit of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. This high-level visit comes at a challenging time, as the country responds to an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The Ministry of Health reports a rapidly evolving situation, with cases and deaths notified in several health zones of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The Government, with support from WHO and partners, is intensifying surveillance, laboratory testing and patient care to interrupt transmission as quickly as possible The Government of the DRC is firmly leading a comprehensive national response, working closely with provincial authorities in Ituri and neighbouring provinces. WHO, alongside the broader United Nations system and health and humanitarian partners, is fully committed to supporting these efforts. Together, DRC authorities, WHO and partners are working to strengthen coordination, mobilize additional resources, and ensure that life-saving interventions reach affected communities quickly and equitably Central to this response is the recognition that communities are at the heart of the solution. Success will depend on the trust, engagement and leadership of local communities. National and provincial authorities, with support from WHO and partners, are intensifying dialogue with community leaders, women's groups, youth representatives, religious leaders and the private sector to better understand local concerns and co-develop solutions that are culturally appropriate and effective. While the Bundibugyo strain presents additional challenges, including the absence of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment, proven public health measures remain effective in slowing transmission and potential full recovery. The Ministry of Health, WHO and partners are working to rapidly undertake randomized control trials on candidate vaccines and treatments. Persistent challenges include early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, robust infection prevention and control in health facilities, and strong community awareness. The Government and WHO call on all communities to continue adopting protective behaviours, including regular hand hygiene, early care seeking in health facilities, and sharing accurate information. The DRC brings unparalleled experience to this response, having successfully contained multiple previous Ebola outbreaks. This experience, combined with strong political leadership at the highest level of the State and renewed international solidarity, provides a firm foundation for bringing the current outbreak under control. Both parties emphasize that outbreak response must maintain primary health care and essential services and strengthen long-term health system resilience. Investments made today in laboratories, health workers, surveillance systems and essential services will leave a legacy for the people of Ituri and the DRC as a whole. We sincerely thank our international partners for the support already provided to response operations, and we encourage sustained solidarity to bring this outbreak under control. Cooperation between countries must also ensure that borders remain open, and that entry controls do not obstruct the flow of desperately needed medical supplies and personnel. Together, DRC authorities, WHO, Africa CDC and partners are working to strengthen coordination, mobilize additional resources, and ensure that life-saving interventions reach affected communities quickly and equitably. Media Contacts WHO Media Team World Health Organization Email: mediainquiries@who.int
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: Mรฉdecins Sans Frontiรจres Statement Of Dr Alan Gonzalez, Deputy Director Of Operations For Mรฉdecins Sans Frontiรจres (MSF) on the occasion of The High-Level Visit To Bunia, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic Of Congo, of the Director-General Of The World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus โTwo weeks after the declaration of the Ebola disease outbreak in Ituri Province, the situation is deeply alarming and a legitimate source of anxiety for communities and frontline health workers alike. Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration. Like everyone in the affected areas, Mรฉdecins Sans Frontiรจres (Doctors Without Borders / MSF) teams are witnessing a response that has not yet caught up to the rapid spread of the epidemic. Unlike most previous Ebola disease outbreaks, this one involves the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments, and which is particularly difficult to diagnose due to limited testing capacity. The reality today is that nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak. New suspected cases are being reported daily, yet hundreds of samples remain untested. At the same time, major constraints, including border and airport closures, continue to delay the arrival of critical medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and specialized personnel. We know from experience that these measures severely hinder outbreak response, and isolate countries that urgently need international support. This outbreak is making those consequences painfully clear. The number of expert medical organizations responding on the ground is still far too limited, and the level of support being provided - including our own - falls far short of what is needed. People urgently need a response that matches the scale of the crisis they are facing. To bring the situation under even partial control, there must be an immediate expansion of testing capacity. This must be accompanied by a rapid, coordinated and tailored scale-up of the overall response, supported by experienced medical and humanitarian organizations, alongside guaranteed and sustained access for the swift entry of medical supplies and humanitarian staff into affected areas. This outbreak is unfolding in a context where medical needs are already acute, and we are now at real risk of a silent escalation of other critical health problems people face every day. So many health facilities are overwhelmed, and access to regular, non-Ebola care is affected while many people remain at home, too afraid to seek care. The response cannot succeed if it is imposed on communities rather than built with them. Every aspect of the response must be rooted in continuous engagement with communities โ listening to concerns, addressing fear and misinformation, and building trust so that people feel safe seeking care. Trust and active community participation are essential to controlling the spread of the disease and saving lives. And the effectiveness of the response will ultimately depend on whether people believe in it.โ
Country: Ukraine Source: REACH Initiative Please refer to the attached file. KEY MESSAGES โข Air attacks and damage to energy infrastructure from 2022 to 2025 had a significant and multifaceted impact on the functioning of the economy, financial infrastructure, and local markets. In particular, they limited the operating hours of local shops and financial service providers. Damage to infrastructure also contributed to rising prices for agricultural products. โข Agricultural yields were among the most important longterm factors influencing inflationary processes in Ukraine. Poor weather conditions and the loss of agricultural territories led to lower harvests, creating substantial inflationary pressure which disproportionately affecting vulnerable population groups. โข Financial factors appeared to have a much stronger impact on access to goods than physical barriers. Older customers (i.e., persons 60 years old or older) were among the most vulnerable groups, with 80 to 90% typically reporting the impact of financial barriers on their access to goods. โข Local markets demonstrated a high level of resilience and adaptability, continuing to meet the needs of residents. The greatest difficulties in market functionality were observed in frontline hromadas, where conditions remained particularly severe and complex.
Countries: Kenya, Ethiopia Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 15-11-2025 What happened, where and when? On 15 November 2025, the Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI) confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) following laboratory testing of samples collected from a cluster of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever cases in Jinka Town, located in the southwestern part of Ethiopia. This marked the first recorded occurrence of MVD in the country. Genetic analysis conducted by EPHI indicated that the virus strain was consistent with those reported in recent outbreaks in other countries within the East African region. A total of nine cases had been reported at the time. Jinka Town was located approximately 170 km and 203 km from the KenyaโEthiopia border points of Kibish and Todonyang, respectively (both in Turkana County), and approximately 230 km from Ileret and 465 km from Moyale Town (both in Marsabit County). Turkana and Marsabit counties were identified as being at high risk due to their shared border with Ethiopia. These areas, along with surrounding regions, have numerous informal and non-designated border crossing points that were not monitored by security or health officials. The geographical proximity of these entry points underscored the heightened risk of cross-border transmission driven by frequent social and economic interactions. In addition, frequent travel between Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport increased the vulnerability of Nairobi, the capital city. This situation necessitated the implementation of immediate preparedness and readiness measures to mitigate the risk of importation and potential spread of Marburg virus disease in Kenya.
Country: Ukraine Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2025 was the deadliest for civilians since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, particularly for people living at the frontlines. It marked a significant escalation in hostilities despite efforts to impose a ceasefire, with Ukraine recording the highest levels of deadly violence for every month compared to previous years. The escalation of the war continues to disrupt domestic production, trade routes, energy supply, and foreign investment, further restricting Ukraineโs economic outlook. Attacks on ports significantly reduced Ukraineโs agricultural export capacity, which translated into higher prices and inflation, directly increasing household vulnerability. The human impact of the war continues to deepen, particularly among households living closest to active hostilities, with those residing within 50 km of the frontline bearing the greatest burden. More than 90% of all conflict events recorded in 2025 occurred within this zone, and 67% of civilian casualties also occurred near the frontline. Approximately 2 million war-affected people in Ukraine are identified as high-priority cases for humanitarian food assistance. More than half of the high-priority cases, about 1.2 million people, live within 50km of the frontline. This number reflects a vulnerability-driven analysis centered on four key issue areas: vulnerable populations within 50km of the frontline, IDPs, evacuees, and people affected by strikes. However, a nationwide analysis show that the overall number of food insecure people in Ukraine continues to rise, with an additional 1.5 million people now requiring food assistance across the country, compared to 2024. Households living within 50 km of the frontline are older, poorer, more dependent, and more reliant on assistance than those living further away. The proportion of elderlyonly households rises to 36% in the 0โ50 km zone, compared to 27% beyond 50 km, while older persons living alone are significantly more common close to the frontline. Displacement and return dynamics are more pronounced close to the frontline with up to 30% of surveyed household within 50km of the frontline displaced and 20% returnees. Household-level analysis shows that at least one in four households at the frontlines are food insecure. This is more prevalence in the 20km zone in eastern and southern region where more than 30% of the households are food insecure. Rural households tend to experience higher levels of food insecurity than urban households, although the magnitude of this gap varies by proximity to the frontline. Within the 0โ 20 km zone, 27% of rural households are food insecure compared to 22% of urban households. In the 20โ50 km zone, food insecurity levels are nearly identical between rural and urban households (both around 21%). The higher share of food insecurity within frontline areas particularly among rural residents reflects both the direct effects of conflict and the concentration of vulnerable populations in these locations. Large families, households with elderly members living alone, and households with a member with a disability show food insecurity levels well above the overall average. Many food-insecure households continue to adopt unhealthy coping strategies including spending their savings, and more than half lack the economic capacity to meet their basic need without humanitarian assistance. consuming less preferred food or spending their savings, and more than half lack the economic capacity to meet their basic need without humanitarian assistance. Frontline households face compounded vulnerabilities. Limited economic opportunities, reduced agriculture production, deterioration in security, shelter and health lead to multidimensional deprivation. In fact, about half of food insecure households within 20km of the frontline are also multidimensionally deprived. While market generally functions, households living closest to the frontline continue to experience significant disruption in market access. About 20% of households within 20km of the frontline report lacking uninterrupted access to markets, and around 13%, particularly those living within 10 km of the frontline, report having no market access at all. Food assistance, provided both as inโkind and cash transfers, has been central to alleviating immediate food gaps for vulnerable households in the frontline. WFP assistance is targeted toward households with the lowest economic capacity, and analysis shows that it translates into a measurable and meaningful reduction in food insecurity, reducing the probability of low economic capacity among assisted households by close to 20 percentage points. But with humanitarian funding declining and needs continuing to rise, many vulnerable households may soon be unable to access the food assistance they depend on. Three actions are critical to prevent a reversal of hard-won progress: First, sustaining monthly food assistance for the 2 million priority cases is essential, alongside protecting the 0โ20 km frontline zone from coverage reductions, where the near-total collapse of local markets means that any cut would have immediate and severe consequences for household food security. Due to market disruption, the 0-20km zone is particularly suited for in-kind food distribution. Second, cash transfer values should be regularly adjusted to reflect documented food inflation, as maintaining outdated transfer levels results in a silent erosion of impact and undermines the purchasing power donors intend their contributions to deliver. Finally, robust impact evidence provides strong proof of effectiveness and should be actively leveraged in dialogue to justify sustained investment in Ukraine, particularly in contexts where assistance has successfully reduced visible needs without eliminating underlying vulnerability.
Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. Situation overview The outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO on 17 May 2026 under the International Health Regulations (2005), following confirmed cross-border transmission. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC. Latest epidemiological updates are available in WHOโs External Situation Report. WHO continues to advise general travel and trade restrictions. Border closures have been implemented at some border crossings between DRC and neighboring countries, while humanitarian, emergency, cargo and other authorized movements are approved to continue. Given the elevated regional risk, WHO has prioritized countries for readiness and response: DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda (Priority 1), and Angola, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of Congo, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia (Priority 2). IOMโS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS IOMโs response continues to focus on strengthening preparedness and response at borders and in areas of high population mobility, including health screening at priority points of entry, surveillance to monitor, detect and report new cases and risk communication and community engagement to help communities reduce risk and better protect themselves. Insecurity continued cross-border movement and strained conditions in displacement settings, particularly in eastern DRC, continue to increase the risk of regional spread and complicate surveillance and response. To reinforce surge capacity, during the reporting period, IOM deployed emergency health personnel and accelerated staffing, procurement, logistics and field coordination in high-risk locations. Regional displacement tracking matrix (DTM) and data teams continued to support mobility analysis, dashboards and weekly reporting to inform outbreak analysis and partner coordination. Population Mobility Monitoring IOM expanded population mobility mapping and analysis in affected and at-risk countries to support preparedness, surveillance, and cross-border response to BVD. Mobility and DTM data helped identify priority entry points, high-risk routes, and vulnerable locations, informing public health measures and operational planning across Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan. Point of Entry Response, Disease Surveillance and Infection Prevention and Control IOM supported preparedness and surveillance activities at points of entry across multiple countries, including screening, infrastructure strengthening, infection prevention and control, community-based surveillance, and cross-border coordination. Uganda: IOM carried out flow monitoring and screening support at several border and airport entry points, while strengthening community-based surveillance and reporting systems in four high-risk districts. South Sudan: IOM supported surveillance and IPC activities at five entry points, including assessments, screening, community-based surveillance, reporting, and donation of IPC supplies to Juba International Airport. Burundi: IOM conducted capacity assessments at border locations with DRC and planned training for frontline health personnel and community health workers. Rwanda: IOM upgraded PoE infrastructure and equipment, strengthened surveillance systems, and supported simulation exercises and IPC readiness activities with the Rwanda Biomedical Center. Resource Needs: Significant funding gaps are constraining the scale-up of operations. Priority needs include community-based surveillance, risk communication, mental health and psychosocial support, IPC and WASH, logistics, staffing, and mobility monitoring.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. Situation overview The outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO on 17 May 2026 under the International Health Regulations (2005), following confirmed cross-border transmission. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC. Latest epidemiological updates are available in WHOโs External Situation Report. WHO continues to advise general travel and trade restrictions. Border closures have been implemented at some border crossings between DRC and neighboring countries, while humanitarian, emergency, cargo and other authorized movements are approved to continue. Given the elevated regional risk, WHO has prioritized countries for readiness and response: DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and Rwanda (Priority 1), and Angola, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of Congo, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia (Priority 2). IOMโS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE EFFORTS IOMโs response continues to focus on strengthening preparedness and response at borders and in areas of high population mobility, including health screening at priority points of entry, surveillance to monitor, detect and report new cases and risk communication and community engagement to help communities reduce risk and better protect themselves. Insecurity continued cross-border movement and strained conditions in displacement settings, particularly in eastern DRC, continue to increase the risk of regional spread and complicate surveillance and response. To reinforce surge capacity, during the reporting period, IOM deployed emergency health personnel and accelerated staffing, procurement, logistics and field coordination in high-risk locations. Regional displacement tracking matrix (DTM) and data teams continued to support mobility analysis, dashboards and weekly reporting to inform outbreak analysis and partner coordination. Population Mobility Monitoring IOM expanded population mobility mapping and analysis in affected and at-risk countries to support preparedness, surveillance, and cross-border response to BVD. Mobility and DTM data helped identify priority entry points, high-risk routes, and vulnerable locations, informing public health measures and operational planning across Uganda, DRC, and South Sudan. Point of Entry Response, Disease Surveillance and Infection Prevention and Control IOM supported preparedness and surveillance activities at points of entry across multiple countries, including screening, infrastructure strengthening, infection prevention and control, community-based surveillance, and cross-border coordination. Uganda: IOM carried out flow monitoring and screening support at several border and airport entry points, while strengthening community-based surveillance and reporting systems in four high-risk districts. South Sudan: IOM supported surveillance and IPC activities at five entry points, including assessments, screening, community-based surveillance, reporting, and donation of IPC supplies to Juba International Airport. Burundi: IOM conducted capacity assessments at border locations with DRC and planned training for frontline health personnel and community health workers. Rwanda: IOM upgraded PoE infrastructure and equipment, strengthened surveillance systems, and supported simulation exercises and IPC readiness activities with the Rwanda Biomedical Center. Resource Needs: Significant funding gaps are constraining the scale-up of operations. Priority needs include community-based surveillance, risk communication, mental health and psychosocial support, IPC and WASH, logistics, staffing, and mobility monitoring.
Country: World Source: ELRHA What if the most powerful indicator in humanitarian response was also the most neglected? When crises unfold, we count displacement, malnutrition, and funding gaps. But months later, one question often remains unanswered - how many people died? That omission matters - because mortality data changes decisions. As the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH) and Elrha close Phase 2 of our Mortality Estimation in Humanitarian Crises Systems Innovation Partnership, this blog marks the beginning of a series exploring why mortality estimation matters, and how grantees are innovating so the humanitarian system can do it better. Mortality: the metric that changes the conversation Credible and timely mortality figures change conversations and decisions. As Chris Porter from FCDO put it during a 2025 panel discussion: "We often debate malnutrition rates, but deaths stop people in their tracks." Mortality metrics capture crisis severity, scale, and urgency in a way few other indicators can. Mortality data used to be central to humanitarian assessments. Over time, however, it slipped to the margins - seen as too sensitive, too political, too technically complex, or too slow to be useful. The result is a paradox: the metric that best reflects human cost in crises is often missing from decision-making altogether. Why mortality evidence is so hard - and essential Estimating mortality in crises is undeniably challenging. Data is incomplete. Access is constrained. Methods vary. Numbers can be contested or suppressed, particularly in politically charged settings. Different approaches can produce vastly different estimates, eroding trust and confidence. But the cost of not measuring mortality is higher. Without credible mortality evidence the true scale of crises is underestimated; resources are allocated reactively rather than strategically; accountability weakens and advocacy relies on anecdote instead of evidence. Mortality estimation is not just a technical exercise. It is a moral and operational necessity. From reactive funding toward systems change UKHIH-Elrhaโs current investments are built on a longer history of mortality-driven action. Funding followed mortality research in Somalia that helped trigger an unusual and early UN intervention in a subsequent developing famine in 2016. That response was not driven by malnutrition figures, but by mortality data. It was rare. And it worked. Recently completed research established that mortality in southern Chad was far higher than humanitarian actors had assumed, with large segments of the affected population missed entirely. This evidence forced uncomfortable reassessments, but also opened pathways to identify deaths that would otherwise have remained uncounted. Those efforts demonstrated what's possible when rigorous methods are applied under pressure. They informed response discussions, shaped advocacy, and challenged assumptions in decision-making. But they also highlight a deeper issue: Mortality estimation has been treated as an emergency add-on rather than a standing capability in crises contexts. UKHIHโs first investment in mortality estimation proved decisive in a politically charged context. Rigorous work helped establish the credibility of mortality estimates from Gaza when official figures were being publicly dismissed. This evidence made it far harder for governments and global institutions to ignore the scale of civilian death, cutting through political pressure and reaffirming the role of independent science. Building on this work, UKHIH launched the Systems Innovation Partnership in 2024 to move beyond isolated projects and towards a durable ecosystem for mortality estimation. One rooted in equitable partnerships, shared infrastructure, and long-term investment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. What progress looks like in practice UKHIH-Elrha is currently the only dedicated funder focused specifically on mortality estimation in humanitarian crises. Across Phases 1 and 2, we've seen tangible signs of change: Stronger methods, including improved modelling approaches and shared tools and resources like the Somalia Mortality Estimation Data Observatory (S-MED) Deeper learning, through case studies examining how mortality evidence has influenced - or failed to influence - responses in crises More equitable leadership, with LMIC-based partners SIMAD Institute for Global Health (Somalia) and Evidence for Change (Kenya) playing central roles in phases 1 and 2, scaling up partnering in phase 2 with Addis Ababa University, Mekelle University (Ethiopia) and Rebuild Hope for Africa (DRC) among others. Broader dialogue, bringing together researchers, humanitarians, policymakers, and funders to tackle the "last mile" problem of uptake and use Co-funding, for longer-term, strategic investment that builds synergies and amplifies impact across the system with European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO). What this blog series will cover This blog marks the start of a weekly series showcasing the Phase 2 consortia pushing this agenda forward. IMPACT Initiatives are exploring locally led mortality estimation in Somalia, Ethiopia, and the DRC, highlighting what it takes to shift ownership and trust. Johns Hopkins University is focusing on methodological innovation in DRC, alongside practical guidance for local decision-makers on when and how mortality estimates can be generated and used. Save the Children International is developing a governance mechanism among Strategic, Technical and National Stakeholders and building an online platform making guidance, tools, and technical support accessible and equitable across the sector. Together, these consortia address not just how to count deaths, but how to ensure mortality evidence shapes response. Counting deaths to save lives Mortality evidence can't be optional because uncounted deaths represent a failure of accountability, a gap in our understanding, and a missed opportunity to prevent more. When we donโt count deaths, we're not avoiding difficult conversations - we're having them anyway, just without evidence The UKHIH-Elrha partnerships show we can do better. What remains is a choice: to embed mortality estimation as a non-negotiable part of crisis response, or to continue operating in the dark about the very metric that matters most.
Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia Source: ELRHA In the first blog introducing this series, Adrienne Testa, from the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub and Elrha discussed how fundamental it is to measure excess mortality if response actors want to understand the severity of a humanitarian crisis and guide aid prioritisation. In our second blog we focus on the work of a consortium led by IMPACT Initiatives. This consortium is drawing attention to the roles that national and local actors play in mortality data collection and use by decision-makers and what is needed to design more localised mortality estimation systems in humanitarian contexts. The structural barriers we need to talk about Many of the challenges for local and national actors to collect mortality data and inform responses are well known, but poorly documented. They have fewer opportunities for technical training; face inequitable access to financial resources for activities; and structural barriers limit their representation in coordination forums where decision-making occurs about whether mortality data should be collected, who collects it, and what findings can mean. Meanwhile, international actors frequently have a seat at the table, and therefore control the narrative, deciding what data matters and how it will shape response priorities. Yet, local and national actors โ including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), universities, and public health institutes โ are often ideally placed to collect mortality estimates and inform response decisions. They have established connections and access to affected communities and contextual understanding of how to appropriately and effectively operate. They understand political sensitivities and how to navigate these so that mortality estimation findings will carry legitimacy with key stakeholders and decision-makers. Crucially, locally-led mortality estimation initiatives challenge long-standing power imbalances associated with colonial, top-down approaches to humanitarian assistance. Recognising this, three partners in our consortium, Evidence for Change, London School of Tropical Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and SIMAD University, were funded by the Humanitarian Innovation Hub in 2024-25 to imagine what an ideal mechanism might look like to systematically trigger mortality data collection for accountable decision-making in crises. Consultation with global humanitarian stakeholders confirmed: If we want better mortality data, we must widen the pool of people able to generate it. This starts with investing in and strengthening the capacities of local actors. Funding local actorsโ priorities and strengthening capacities With follow-on funding from UKHIH-Elrha in 2025-26, our consortium expanded. We teamed up with IMPACT Initiatives along with their partners at Addis Ababa and Mekelle Universities in Ethiopia and World Needs and Help, an NGO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Together, weโre working to better understand real-world opportunities and obstacles faced by national actors when implementing mortality estimation activities. Our goal is to use this evidence to strengthen advocacy for approaches that support and prioritise local actors in this vital work. Rather than imposing a predefined research plan, each national partner has selected, tailored and implemented a mortality estimation activity to their context. Our consortium operates a โhelp deskโ to foster peer-learning and strengthen capacities across contexts. Activities include: Somalia: New approaches in a fragmented landscape Our previous work in Somalia demonstrated the effectiveness of well-designed data collection exercises to influence humanitarian decision-making - when findings were communicated - in a timely fashion and to the right people. However, we also saw how fragmented the current data landscape is, with mortality data not always collaboratively shared between institutions, and major gaps in mortality data coverage, particularly in areas outside government control. SIMAD University is therefore running a qualitative study with community burial attendants in hard-to-reach areas of Somalia, exploring what would be needed for this to become a feasible and acceptable mechanism of mortality reporting to bridge data gaps. Drawing on a nutrition and mortality surveillance system originally developed in the NGO sector, Evidence for Change is training female health workers to collect mortality data within a large-scale community-based government programme. Ethiopia: Regional partnerships for regional aid prioritisation Previously, universities across Ethiopia ran demographic surveillance sites in their local areas, with mortality and other data flowing to government authorities. Conflict dismantled many of these surveillance programmes. Addis Ababa and Mekelle Universities, which previously ran surveillance sites, are now partnering with regional health authorities in drought-affected Somali region and conflict-hit Tigray to conduct mortality surveys to help guide regional aid prioritisation. Mekelle University is also including a verbal autopsy component to describe the causes of death, something regional authorities found particularly valuable about the pre-war surveillance system because it helped them monitor the health of populations. Democratic Republic of Congo: Navigating insecurity and mistrust Engagements with both formal and informal authorities in eastern Congo can create tension or mistrust, complicating operational permissions and community access. Nevertheless, World Needs and Help is initiating a mortality survey in a conflictโaffected North Kivu region, to document the human toll of ongoing violence and displacement. While the organisation has no prior experience in mortality estimation, our consortium helped them expand their technical skillset. Their experience supporting needs assessments among various partners across the east means they are well positioned to navigate the complex challenges to ensure mortality estimation is possible. Alongside these activities, we are documenting how teams have approached the process, keeping a close eye on context. We are building on social science methodological approaches we developed in phase 1 to help us understand how politics, institutional identities and other evolving challenges shape the ways mortality actors work. Equitable and sustainable systems change None of these challenges have quick fixes. Building an equitable and sustainable approach to mortality estimation will require the concerted efforts of many stakeholders, working together to drive change. Our own consortium is part of that broader momentum. By documenting barriers and testing solutions today, our hope is to inform the strategy that will address these challenges tomorrow, supporting UKHIHโs drive for true systems innovation in humanitarian action.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: ELRHA Author Jennifer OโKeeffe, Augustin Gang Karume and Paul Spiegel This blog series accompanies the Mortality Estimation Systems Innovation Partnership (SIP), supported by UKHIH-Elrha, which brings together diverse partners to strengthen how mortality data is collected, interpreted, and used across humanitarian crises. Earlier blogs in this series highlighted why excess mortality measurement is critical for understanding crisis severity, as well as exploring how to maximise local and national actors' leadership in the mortality estimation ecosystem. In this third blog, we turn to Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Rebuild Hope for Africa and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health share how their work is making mortality estimation more accurate, accessible, and feasible for national actors best placed to do this work, even in the most challenging settings. โAs an indicator, a mortality rate tries to evaluate the size and scale of a crisis in a single metric.โ The Public Health Aspects of Complex Emergencies and Refugee Situations, 1997, Michael Toole, Ronald Waldman In 2023, the Humanitarian Congress in Vienna released a statement saying, "The humanitarian imperative is an absolute moral obligation to save lives and alleviate human suffering on the basis of need, without discriminationโ. Yet**,** when resources are constrained, allocation is often based on geopolitical interests, media coverage, or how relatable a population may be to high-income donor countries. In short, human lives are valued differentially. The disconnect is not theoretical. In 2022, Rebuild Hope for Africa (RHA) led a nationwide mortality survey in the Central African Republic which estimated up to 5% of the population had died during the previous year. Despite the scale of these findings, the study received little media attention and did not lead to meaningful changes in donor policy. In conflict-affected settings, various, often compounding, factors make primary data collection difficult or impossible. These include forced displacement, insecurity, system failures, poor infrastructure, limited capacity, and restricted access. In practice, mortality is often not measured at all. And as threats to healthcare workers grow, international agencies have become understandably risk averse, collecting data only safer, accessible areas, where death rates are usually lowest. Without reliable data, decision makers and responders depend on fragmented sources and non-robust estimates. The result is a biased and misleading picture of crisis severity, that often portrays crises as less severe than they are. The magnitude of these biases and their effects on decisions by humanitarian actors, governments, and donors who rely on such data, remain largely unexamined. Our partnership between Rebuild Hope for Africa (RHA) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health (CHH) is working to change this. Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo - An Unquantified Crisis Few places demonstrate the challenges of mortality estimation more than the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the worldโs most enduring humanitarian crises. The crisis worsened drastically in January 2025 when the country suffered a devastating double shock: the abrupt withdrawal of USAID funding and a violent military offensive by the Rwandan-backed rebel group M23. The M23 seized large swathes of territory, killing and displacing an unknown number of people in the process. With the departure of many international agencies and a vacuum in humanitarian response, the population has been left vulnerable to the worst effects of the conflict. A year later, the true human cost remains unknown. We recognise that without reliable data, it becomes even harder to mobilise the support that people living in Eastern DRC urgently need. Placing Data and Decision-Making in Congolese hands Augustin Gang Karume, one of the authors of this blog, was born and raised in Eastern DRC, where he still lives and works today. In 2008, he founded RHA to place data and decision-making back in Congolese hands. He understood then that national actors are the future of sustainable humanitarian response. Rooted in the community and living with the long-term consequences of decision-making, national actors have a strong incentive to prioritise community needs over institutional agendas. Using local networks and knowledge, they are the best equipped to conduct primary data collection in insecure settings. While international actors have scaled back amid funding austerity, national organisations like RHA have remained in place, continuing to work for and within their communities. These actors are also proving to be far more cost-effective and efficient. Without international overhead, they can often deliver results at a fraction of the cost of international organisations. As an example, RHAโs 2022 nationwide mortality survey in the Central African Republic, cost a total of 50,000 USD, whereas a single district SMART survey may cost upwards of 15,000 USD*. National actors are the first responders in nearly all crises and remain present long after international attention and funding fade. Bridging Local Leadership with Technical Expertise With funding from the UK Humanitarian Innovation Hubโs Systems Innovation Partnership, we are bridging RHAโs local leadership with technical expertise from the CHH, combining community trust with advanced epidemiological and statistical training. Together RHA and CHH are collaborating on a study to assess potential biases in mortality estimation through both primary data collection and innovative use of statistical approaches. Weโre working to make mortality estimation more accurate, credible, and efficient, with the intent to apply the findings across humanitarian settings. In the primary data collection component, our study is comparing three different methods of mortality estimation: a retrospective household survey, rapid key informant listing, and a full census. Using a common reference population and recall period, the study aims to identify where biases arise, quantify which deaths are missed, and assess relative performance of a light-, medium- and resource-intensive approach to mortality measurement. In the statistical component, we are applying innovative use of established causal and design-based methods to assess biases. We are testing the utility and feasibility of these methods to answer questions like: to what extent are hard to capture deaths, such as neonatal and violent deaths, systematically missed; can fewer survey clusters still provide estimates precise enough for decision making; and can analytical adjustments be used to address known biases? We are also supporting localisation by building field-ready guidance tools designed to make mortality estimation more accessible to operational actors. These tools include an algorithm to help teams choose a method, an operational readiness checklist, and a guide to data validation, triangulation, interpretation. Our aim is to make mortality estimation practicable in even the most challenging settings, without compromising quality. As the best-placed actors to assess mortality, we hope to pilot the guidance with national actors in the DRC and elsewhere to ensure it is user-friendly, actionable, and scalable for use in any crisis. Looking Ahead: Making Mortality Count Without credible mortality data, humanitarian response risks being inefficient, inequitable, and disconnected from reality. We cannot respond appropriately to crises we do not understand. When those with the greatest capacity to measure mortality have the least stake in the results, the system fails. The best way to ensure efficiency and effectiveness is to place local organisations at the centre. Connecting local expertise with technical knowledge offers a path toward a fairer humanitarian sector, where the reality of a crisis is described by those living through it. *2017 estimate adjusted for inflation.