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	Lebanon: Despite ceasefire, civilians remain under fire by OHCHR, ICRC, UN News, agencies   18 June 2026   Lebanon Situation Report - (Reliefweb, agencies)   The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains severe and highly volatile, driven by continued hostilities, repeated violations of ceasefire arrangements, and expanding humanitarian needs across the country. While the announcement on 15 June of a United States–Iran peace deal has been followed by indications of reduced hostilities in Lebanon, the security environment remains fragile and conditions for large-scale returns are not yet in place, with most displaced populations remaining in areas of displacement due to ongoing risks and uncertainty.   Hostilities persisted, including renewed airstrikes and successive displacement orders across southern Lebanon and Nabatieh governorates, as well as strikes affecting Beirut’s southern suburbs. Between 12 and 14 June alone, multiple displacement orders covering dozens of localities triggered additional population movements, further compounding humanitarian needs and instability.   Displacement dynamics remain highly fluid, driven primarily by insecurity. While some limited and cautious return movements have been observed following recent developments, the majority of displaced populations remain unable to return due to ongoing hostilities, damage to infrastructure, and lack of safety guarantees.   Beyond collective sites, the majority of displaced populations continue to rely on host communities, informal arrangements, or open spaces, placing significant strain on local infrastructure and basic services. This is exacerbating overcrowding, protection risks, and socio-economic pressures in host areas already affected by pre-existing vulnerabilities.   The humanitarian situation is further compounded by continued attacks on civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities and personnel, contributing to reduced access to essential services and further stretching response capacities.   Since the onset of hostilities on 2 March, the Ministry of Public Health reported 4,230 people killed (including 390 women and 253 children) and 12,179 injured (including 1,449 women and 1,035 children). Attacks on healthcare have had a significant impact, with 135 health workers killed and 406 injured, further weakening access to critical services.   Humanitarian needs remain significant across displacement and return areas, with priority needs including food, medicines, and fuel, while funding gaps continue to constrain the response. The 2026 Lebanon Flash Appeal is significantly underfunded, limiting the capacity of humanitarian partners to sustain operations and scale up assistance in line with evolving needs.   UN agencies continue to emphasize key priorities for the response, including sustained de-escalation, respect for international humanitarian law, protection of civilians and infrastructure, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, support for voluntary and dignified returns, UXO clearance, restoration of essential services, and urgent, predictable funding.   http://reliefweb.int/country/lbn http://www.nrc.no/news/2026/lebanon-100000s-unable-to-return-amid-continued-military-activity-despite-agreements http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-situation-report-update-11-1-15-june-2026   26 May 2026 (UN News, agencies)   Intensified Israeli airstrikes overnight in Lebanon forced people to again flee their homes, while humanitarians in the Gaza Strip report continued restrictions in bringing aid into the enclave, the United Nations said on Tuesday.   Following the airstrikes in Lebanon, families were seen spending the night in their vehicles in the capital Beirut, where some shelters have taken in dozens of families in the past 24 to 48 hours.   Nearly one million people overall are still displaced across the country in the wake of the escalation of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants that began on 2 March.   UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said that for the first time, the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for the city of Nabatieh, located north of the Litani River. A renewed evacuation order was also issued for the town of Mashgara in Bekaa, where rescue operations are continuing following an Israeli airstrike on Monday night.   News agencies report the Israeli military has warned all residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area following days of air strikes on cities and towns, declaring the entire region a "combat zone" as it targets the militant group Hezbollah who have launched drone attacks against Israeli soldiers and communities in the north of Israel.   Hundreds of thousands of people who live in southern Lebanon, view the "evacuation warnings" as forced displacement orders and have nowhere obvious to go. The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Lebanon warned the situation in the country's south was "nearing a perilous tipping point".   "Ongoing hostilities create conditions that are untenable for civilians and risk long-term consequences," said Agnes Dhur.   The World Health Organization (WHO) said nine attacks on healthcare were recorded in four days, 21-24 May, resulting in eight health workers killed and 45 injured. On 23 May alone, 25 medical staff were injured at the Hiram Hospital in South governorate, following several airstrikes in the immediate area.   That same day, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the Civil Defense Center in Nabatieh, including firefighting and rescue equipment, as well as heavy machinery, impacting the already overstretched emergency response capacity.   Two other hospitals, in South and Nabatieh governorates also sustained damage from nearby strikes in recent days. A total of 171 attacks on healthcare have been recorded by the WHO since 2 March.   “We reiterate that attacks on health workers and health facilities are unacceptable. All parties to conflicts must immediately stop them and ensure protection for healthcare,” said Mr. Haq.   Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Mr. Haq said UN humanitarians report that movement of supplies into Gaza continues to be restricted. Over the weekend, Israeli authorities informed that the Zikim Crossing will remain closed this week, leaving Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem as the only operational crossing for cargo.   “We continue to call for more crossings to open and for more critical supplies, such as back-up generators and fuel, to be let in, regularly, predictably and in sufficient volumes,” he said.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-country-representative-lebanon-marcoluigi-corsi-ongoing-suffering http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/deadly-violence-continues-claim-childrens-lives-across-gaza-and-west-bank http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167590 http://www.ifrc.org/press-release/silent-humanitarian-crises-deepen-across-lebanon-and-iran http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/statement-united-nations-resident-and-humanitarian-coordinator-lebanon-imran-riza-launch-revised-flash-appeal   18 May 2026   The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has reduced the scale of violence in the Gaza Strip but killings and destruction continue, while forced displacement in the occupied West Bank has reached a rate “unseen in decades”, a senior official with the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Monday in Geneva.   Ajith Sunghay, Head of UN Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), launched its latest report which covers the period between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2025 following Hamas-led attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza.   It documents large-scale violations of international law, including atrocity crimes, and points to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by Israeli and Palestinian parties.   “One year later, despite the ceasefire concluded in October 2025, the lasting consequences of the patterns we documented are apparent,” said Mr. Sunghay.   “The ceasefire diminished the immense scale of violence up that point and opened some modest humanitarian space. But killings and the destruction of infrastructure have continued on an almost daily basis, and the overall humanitarian situation remains dire. All while Hamas continues its own violations, including against the people of Gaza.”   The reporting period saw unprecedented levels of killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces, the tightening and escalation of Israeli control over Palestinians and their land, and “concerning conduct” by Palestinian authorities and armed groups such as indiscriminate rocket fire against Israel and the taking of hostages.   Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity when they attacked civilians in Israel on and after 7 October 2023, killing 1,124 and injuring over 5,000 people, seizing hostages and firing thousands of unguided missiles into Israeli territory for over a year. “Released hostages have provided credible accounts of torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence,” said Mr. Sunghay.   Meanwhile, “Israel unleashed devastating violence and dispossession in Gaza and the West Bank, committing war crimes and possible crimes against humanity,” he said.   He noted that the report found that the totality of Israeli conduct in Gaza raises serious concern about the country’s compliance with its obligation to prevent acts within the scope of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.   “The fact remains that Palestinians have no means to ensure their survival or to protect their loved ones, with hundreds killed since the announcement of a ceasefire,” Mr. Sunghay said.   UNICEF reports the conflict in Gaza has taken an unconscionable toll on children. More than 64,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured, and homes, hospitals and schools have been destroyed, depriving families of safety and essential services. More than 56,000 children have lost one or both parents, while widespread displacement, malnutrition and trauma continue to shape every aspect of childhood in Gaza.   Between 7 October 2023 and 21 June 2026, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as reported by Health Cluster, 73,035 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip and another 173,368 have been injured during the current conflict.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/geneva-palais-briefing-child-day-deadly-illusion-gazas-ceasefire http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/06/occupied-palestinian-territory-children-left-defenceless-rights-groups-are http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167793 http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167538 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/i-try-clean-her-wounds-my-daughter-screams-agony-dire-conditions-trap-children-gaza http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167604 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/humanitarian-scorecard-six-months-gaza-ceasefire-failing http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/humanitarian-scorecard-six-months-in-gaza-ceasefire-is-failing http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2026/04/more-than-38000-women-and-girls-were-killed-in-gaza-between-october-2023-and-december-2025-un-women http://www.rescue.org/press-release/six-months-ceasefire-irc-warns-gazas-deepening-humanitarian-catastrophe-cannot-be http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167336 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/palestinians-across-gaza-unsafe-six-months-ceasefire-announcement-says-turk   4 May 2026   Lebanon: Despite ceasefire, civilians remain under fire. (OCHA)   OCHA reports that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains volatile despite the announced extension of the ceasefire. As of today, the Ministry of Public Health reports 2,696 people killed and just over 8,200 injured since the escalation on 2 March, just over 2 months ago.   Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 13 people were killed, including at least one child and four women, and 32 were wounded as a result of strikes in several locations in the southern part of Lebanon.   People continue to be on the move, with reports of some people returning to shelters. Authorities estimate that more than 124,000 people are residing in 625 schools and other public buildings being used as collective shelters. On Sunday, displacement orders were renewed in 11 villages and towns in Nabatieh governorate, followed by airstrikes, causing new displacement according to local authorities.   The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with nearly a quarter of the population now facing acute food insecurity, with repeated displacements, loss of livelihoods and damage to infrastructure making the situation even more difficult.   Despite growing and deepening humanitarian needs, the Lebanon Flash Appeal remains significantly underfunded. The appeal has received only 38 per cent – or $117 million – of the $308 million needed, limiting humanitarians' ability to reach vulnerable people.   http://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/3114/lebanon-emergency-update-unhcr-ifrc http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/least-59-children-reportedly-killed-or-injured-lebanon-past-week-despite-ceasefire   16 Apr. 2026   UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel, which is due to begin in a few hours’ time.   UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN remains committed through its political and peacebuilding efforts to supporting a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict, in line with the mandate given by the Security Council in resolution 1701 – which laid out the cessation of hostilities in 2006 between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.   Mr. Dujarric stressed that the people of Lebanon and Israel deserve to live in peace and hoped all parties to the conflict will observe the truce.   The Secretary-General "urges all actors to fully respect the ceasefire and to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times," Dujarric added.   The International Organization for Migration has welcomed the announced ceasefire in Lebanon and urges all parties to uphold it. The protection of civilian lives must remain the absolute priority.   The scale of displacement has been staggering. Over one million people have been uprooted by this conflict, with more than 141,000 currently sheltering in over 700 collective sites across the country – many in overcrowded schools and government buildings where families share single classrooms without basic supplies. Thousands more remain without shelter, staying with host families, sleeping in cars, or on the streets.   The human cost has been devastating. Over 2,000 lives have been lost, healthcare facilities and workers have come under attack, and critical infrastructure – roads, bridges, homes – has been destroyed or severely damaged.   Even with a ceasefire, the crisis is far from over. The destruction remains. Families cannot return to homes that no longer exist. Rebuilding will require sustained funding and critical resources. Without these, displacement risks becoming prolonged, potentially for years.   IOM calls on the international community to maintain support for Lebanon’s recovery. Humanitarian needs remain acute: shelter, healthcare, protection services, water and sanitation need support. United Nations agencies stand ready to continue working alongside the Government of Lebanon and our partners to assist displaced populations, migrants, and host communities through this critical period.   A ceasefire is the first step. Sustaining it is essential to saving lives and enabling people to rebuild.   * The ceasefire has been extended for another 3 weeks, however the Israeli military and the militant group Hezbollah continue to engage in conflict.   http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/violations-international-humanitarian-law-lebanon-ngos-call-immediate-action-halt-escalating-harm-civilians-and-civilian-infrastructure http://www.nrc.no/news/2026/lebanon-ceasefire-a-moment-of-hope-that-must-hold http://www.ipsnews.net/2026/04/aid-groups-appeal-for-lasting-ceasefire-to-address-lebanons-catastrophic-humanitarian-crisis/   Apr. 2026   Deepening food crisis driven by conflict escalation. (IPC)   Lebanon has experienced a sharp deterioration in the food security situation since the last IPC analysis, with around 1.24 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and August 2026. This is a substantial increase compared with the 874,000 people who faced Crisis or worse between November 2025 and March 2026. The worsening food security situation is experienced among all population groups and reverses any improvements observed in the previous reporting period..   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1163301/?iso3=LBN   15 Apr 2026   Lebanon: Casualties rise as airstrikes continue. (UN News)   Ongoing airstrikes and hostilities continue to take a heavy toll in Lebanon, with the security situation remaining volatile, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) reports.   Since early March, more than 2,100 people have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured, with children and women among the victims. The deadliest day on 8 April alone saw hundreds killed and more than a thousand injured.   Displacement has surged, with over one million people forced from their homes, many now sheltering in overcrowded conditions that are placing additional strain on services.   WHO says vulnerable groups are particularly affected, including children experiencing trauma, women facing increased protection risks, and pregnant women exposed to poor conditions that heighten health risks.   Older people and persons with disabilities are also facing growing challenges in accessing care and essential services, as humanitarian needs continue to rise..   http://www.emro.who.int/images/stories/lebanon/Lebanon-Emergency-Sitrep-19-2026.pdf http://news.un.org/en/tags/lebanon   8 April 2026   Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon - Euan Ward and Christina Goldbaum for New York Times. (Extract)   "Shortly after lunchtime, Israeli fighter jets pummeled the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and other parts of the country, many of the strikes hitting densely populated areas without warning. Residents had no time to flee as missiles rained down on crowded neighborhoods that some once considered safe.   At least 300 people were killed and over 1100 wounded in the attacks, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, making it one of the deadliest days of this war.   Many people were still trapped under the rubble of apartment buildings as search-and-rescue teams clambered through the ruins. The sound of ambulances echoed across Beirut into the evening as plumes of thick, acrid smoke rose above the skyline.   “It’s like they started just striking everywhere, no warnings, nothing,” said Abir Majed, 40, who was cooking rice in her Beirut apartment when an Israeli strike hit several floors below"..   Reporting by correspondent Simona Foltyn for the PBS Newshour:   "There was no prior warning given by the IDF, which means that civilians didn't have the chance to get to safety, which is why we are seeing this high and still rising in death toll with more than 200 people killed, hundreds injured, and this sweeping bombardment of densely populated urban areas, not just here in the capital, Beirut, but also in the south and east of the country.   The IDF claims it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and fighters, which it said had moved outside of Hezbollah's typical areas of control. But what we have really seen are horrific scenes of people, including children, being pulled from the rubble of residential buildings, grocery stores, shops, pharmacies and bakeries.   So what this escalation has really done is inflict a very heavy civilian toll and sow panic and chaos among a traumatized population on a day when many had hoped that a cease-fire was on the horizon".   The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was “outraged by the devastating death and destruction” in densely populated areas across Lebanon.   "Heavy explosive weapons with wide-area effects struck densely populated urban areas, including the capital Beirut, without effective advance warnings. The daytime strikes on bustling neighbourhoods left more than one hundred killed and hundreds more wounded, including women, children and medical workers".   “Any comprehensive agreement for the region must consider the safety, protection and dignity of civilians in Lebanon,” said an ICRC statement. “After more than five weeks of hostilities, people urgently need respite from the violence,” it added.   The deputy spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Farhan Haq, said the UN “strongly condemns” Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.   “The United Nations strongly condemns the strikes by Israel across Lebanon that resulted in significant civilian casualties,” said Haq. “We continue to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels, cease hostilities”, and use the new US-Iran ceasefire as an opportunity to prevent further loss of life,” he added.   Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the Israeli Prime Minister’s “contempt for life and international law is intolerable” in light of the attacks. “It’s time to speak clearly: – Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire. – The international community must condemn this new violation of international law. There must be no impunity for these criminal acts,” Sanchez said.   In Italy, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he spoke to the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and expressed solidarity for the “unjustified and unacceptable attacks he is suffering from Israel.”   “We want to avoid there being a second Gaza. We will reiterate this concept to the Israeli Ambassador as well, whom I have summoned. We condemn the bombings on the Lebanese civilian population, including the gunfire incidents suffered by our UNIFIL [UN Interim Force in Lebanon] troops, for which we continue to demand guarantees of total safety. We must absolutely avoid any further expansion of the conflict that would jeopardise the recent ceasefire in Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” Tajani added.   UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk condemned the massive wave of Israeli strikes across Lebanon, saying reports that hundreds of civilians had been killed and injured are appalling.   “The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific,” said the High Commissioner. “Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians.”   Israel said it had carried out some 100 strikes across the country within 10 minutes. The southern suburbs of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley were all reportedly struck. Mass casualties have been reported, and hospitals overwhelmed. A UN Human Rights team at the site of one of the strikes in the capital described a scene of devastation, and seeing numerous dead bodies amid the rubble.   In the south, an overnight Israeli strike on a building in front of Hiram Hospital in Al-Aabbassiye, near Tyre, reportedly killed four people and damaged the hospital. Another attack hit an ambulance of the Islamic Health Authority in Qlaileh, reportedly killing three.   “International humanitarian law spells out clearly that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected,” he said.   “Each and every attack must comply with international humanitarian law fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions to protect civilians,” Türk added.   “These principles are non-negotiable, and must always be respected, whatever the circumstances of armed conflict.   “There must be prompt and independent investigations into all alleged violations, and those responsible brought to justice.”   Prior to Wednesday’s attacks, the Lebanese authorities had reported that over 1,500 people, including over 200 women and children, had been killed by Israeli attacks since 2 March 2026, and over a million people displaced.   Between 2 March and 7 April, missile and drone attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel resulted in two civilian deaths and damages to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure and property, as well as displacement from impacted areas. The High Commissioner condemns and deplores all such attacks, and urges both parties to end them immediately.   Israel has issued warnings and displacement orders covering approximately 14 percent of Lebanon, including the whole region south of the Zahrani river, most of Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of the Beqaa region. In recent weeks, the Israeli military has also demolished scores of homes and shops in Lebanese villages near the southern border.   “The scale of such actions, coupled with statements by Israeli officials indicating an intention to occupy or even annex parts of southern Lebanon, are deeply troubling,” said the High Commissioner.   “The international community must act quickly to help bring an end to this nightmare,” he said. “Efforts to bring peace to the wider region will remain incomplete as long as the Lebanese people are living under continuing fire, forcibly displaced, and in fear of further attacks.”   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/turk-condemns-deadly-wave-israeli-strikes-lebanon http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2026/04/un-report-deaths-and-displacement-lebanon http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/lebanon-icrc-outraged-deadly-strikes-densely-populated-areas http://www.msf.org/lebanon-testimony-night-mass-casualties-beirut http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167268 http://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/3084/un-geneva-press-briefing-10-april-2026 http://news.un.org/en/tags/lebanon http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/04/lebanon-urgent-call-to-protect-civilians-as-death-toll-mounts-following-brutal-escalation-in-israeli-attacks http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-statement-intensified-strikes-lebanon-and-devastating-impact-children http://www.careinternational.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/care-international-uk-responds-to-latest-escalation-in-lebanon/ http://www.hi-us.org/en/humanity-inclusion-appalled-by-israeli-military-operation-in-lebanon-calls-for-immediate-protection-of-civilians http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/atrocity-alert-no-477/ http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/un-experts-condemn-israels-unprecedented-bombing-lebanon-after-ceasefire http://www.icj.org/lebanon-israel-must-immediately-stop-using-unlawful-mass-displacement-orders-and-inflicting-terror-on-civilians-1/ http://www.nrc.no/news/2026/iran-ceasefire-must-hold-and-include-lebanon.-aid-is-underfunded http://www.savethechildren.net/news/ceasefire-first-step-children-lebanon-still-under-fire-save-children   * "On common Article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC has repeatedly stated that the obligation to “ensure respect for international humanitarian law” is not limited to behaviour by parties to a conflict, but includes the requirement that States do all in their power to ensure that international humanitarian law is respected universally":   http://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1/rule144
	Risk of Famine persists as nearly 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity in Sudan by UN News, OHCHR, WFP, UNICEF, agencies   18 June 2026   UN Secretary-General, Rights chief warn of impending atrocities as RSF militia closes in on El Obeid, Sudan. (UN News, agencies)   The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed deep alarm at the escalation of fighting in and around El Obeid, North Kordofan state, including drone attacks impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure.   He is particularly alarmed by reports of the deployment, by the Rapid Support Forces, of substantial military reinforcements around El Obeid which may indicate an imminent ground offensive on the city, potentially placing yet another major population centre in Sudan at grave risk of large-scale violence. (El Obeid has a reported population of over 500,000 people)   The Secretary-General calls for restraint from all parties and urges them to take all necessary measures to respect and protect civilians. The Secretary-General urges all those with influence over the parties to exert it to prevent further bloodshed.   We must not allow the horrors of El Fasher to be repeated in El Obeid. The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.   The Secretary-General stresses that humanitarian workers and supplies must be able to move safely. Humanitarian operations must be protected and facilitated. El Obeid is a crucial hub for humanitarian response efforts across the broader Kordofan region.   Civilians who wish to leave must be allowed to do so safely. Those choosing to remain must be respected, protected and have access to the humanitarian relief they need.   The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their clear obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to facilitate rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.   UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk issued a stark warning that an imminent RSF offensive risked the fresh commission of serious international crimes and deepening the catastrophic impact on an already beleaguered civilian population.   El Obeid is the capital of North Kordofan state in Sudan, and its inhabitants have been strangled by siege-like conditions for more than 18 months.   “We have seen this playbook before. We know where it led then, and cannot now allow a repeat of the preventable atrocities we documented in El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp in North Darfur last year. Civilians are at grave risk in Kordofan, particularly in El Obeid, in the absence of action to halt the imminent offensive and further military escalation,” the High Commissioner said.   “Let this be a stark warning to the world of an impending human rights disaster and worsening humanitarian situation. The States with influence have the duty to exercise it now to stop this madness in its tracks.”   Given the patterns of serious violations of international law documented by the UN Human Rights Office during RSF offensives on El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp last year, the risk of summary executions, abduction, arbitrary detention and other violence against civilians is high, and must be prevented, the High Commissioner added.   The ever-increasing use of drones to conduct airstrikes is having a further devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Kordofan. Over the past two weeks, there have been dozens of drone strikes on El Obeid, leading to loss of civilian lives. This has had a serious impact on civilian access to basic services.   The High Commissioner also urged parties to the conflict to ensure the safe movement of civilians who have been repeatedly forced to flee violence, and in search of basic services.   The RSF’s takeover of El Fasher in October 2025 was marked by widespread atrocities, including targeted ethnic violence, extrajudicial killings and executions. The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan later concluded that the RSF committed crimes against humanity, war crimes and acts that may amount to genocide against non-Arab communities during its siege and subsequent takeover. Unconfirmed reports from December 2025 estimate that at least 60,000 people may have been killed since the RSF’s takeover.   http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167752 http://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2026-06-18/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-sudan http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/06/sudan-imminent-offensive-el-obeid-must-be-halted-turk-warns-catastrophic http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/atrocity-alert-no-487/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-deputy-executive-director-hannan-suliemans-remarks-united-nations-security http://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-warns-assault-sudans-el-obeid-area-threatens-deepen-countrys-hunger-crisis-0 http://www.hrw.org/news/2026/06/26/sudan-urgently-address-the-situation-in-and-around-el-obeid-take-bold-steps-towards http://www.hrw.org/news/2026/06/22/robust-global-action-is-key-to-curbing-sudan-atrocities http://www.globaldispatches.org/p/sudan-is-on-the-brink-of-another http://raoulwallenbergcentre.org/en/news/2026-06-26   15 May 2026   WFP/FAO/UNICEF: Risk of Famine persists as nearly 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity in Sudan   Conflict, displacement and restricted humanitarian access leave more than 825,000 children at risk of death from severe malnutrition in 2026   The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today that nearly 19.5 million people – two out of every five people in Sudan - are currently facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) across Sudan, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.   Although the latest IPC analysis did not identify areas currently experiencing Famine (IPC Phase 5), conditions remain extremely concerning. The analysis shows that nearly 135,000 people are facing Catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5) across 14 hotspots in Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan are at risk of famine in the coming months.   More than five million people are classified under IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and a further 14 million people are in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). Conditions are expected to deteriorate further during the lean season between June and September.   As the civil conflict enters its fourth year, the protracted hunger crisis in Sudan shows little sign of abating as violence, displacement and severe humanitarian access constraints are impacting children, families and communities across the country.   Sudan is also facing a severe nutrition crisis. An estimated 825,000 children under five are expected to suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in 2026, a seven percent increase compared to 2025 and 25 percent higher than pre-conflict levels recorded between 2021 and 2023. Between January and March this year alone, almost 100,000 children were admitted for treatment for severe acute malnutrition – which can lead to deaths if not treated urgently.   Um Baru and Kernoi localities recorded critical levels of malnutrition in December 2025. Acute malnutrition is expected to remain at extremely high levels in these localities with additional areas at risk of deteriorating, particularly in besieged areas and among internally displaced populations.   Conflict-driven displacement remains at extremely high levels, with close to nine million people uprooted within Sudan as of the end of March 2026. Many families remain trapped in active conflict zones or have sought refuge in remote areas with little or no access to humanitarian assistance or basic services.   The destruction of civilian infrastructure – including markets, health facilities, water systems, and agricultural assets – has severely constrained food production and access to essential services. Around 40 per cent of health facilities are non-functional, while an estimated 17 million people lack access to safe drinking water, and 24 million people lack access to adequate sanitation.   Repeated outbreaks of cholera, measles, malaria, dengue, hepatitis, diphtheria, and diarrheal diseases are further accelerating nutritional deterioration, especially among young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women.   Humanitarian access constraints remain among the most severe in the world. Insecurity, bureaucratic impediments, attacks along supply routes, destruction of markets and means of production as well as restrictions on the movement of people and goods continue to prevent humanitarian actors from delivering assistance at the scale required.   Only 20 percent of Sudan’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had been funded as of April 2026. Humanitarian assistance remains critically inadequate compared to the scale of needs. Between February and May, humanitarian partners aimed to reach 4.8 million people per month. However, only an estimated 3.13 million people received assistance in February.   FAO, WFP, and UNICEF call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, for parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and provide safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access across conflict-affected areas.   The agencies also urge the international community to urgently scale up funding for food, emergency food production, nutrition, health, and water and sanitation services, as well as support for actions to rebuild livelihoods.   “To prevent further loss of life and starvation, we must urgently scale up emergency agricultural assistance to boost local food production,” said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General. “Supporting vulnerable farming families with seeds, tools, and inputs is a highly effective way to restore access to nutritious food. Humanitarian access and funding for these life-saving agricultural interventions must improve immediately and at scale.”   “Famine continues to threaten the people of Sudan, as hunger and malnutrition are threatening millions of lives right now,” said WFP Acting Executive Director, Carl Skau. “WFP has been on the ground responding and is ready to do more, but humanitarian agencies cannot solve this alone. The international community must move now with funding, access and the political will to stop this crisis from becoming an even greater tragedy.”   “Across Sudan, children are trapped in a crisis of relentless violence, hunger and disease,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Many families have been displaced multiple times. Children suffering from severe acute malnutrition arrive at overstretched facilities too weak to cry. Without urgent action and sustained humanitarian access, more children will die.”   http://www.wfp.org/news/joint-news-release-wfpfaounicef-risk-famine-persists-nearly-195-million-people-face-acute-food http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/risk-famine-persists-nearly-195-million-people-face-acute-food-insecurity-sudan   April 2026   Three years of war: Sudan's people abandoned and hungry. (World Food Programme)   On the eve of three years of devastating war, the Sudanese people are still being left to cope with intense fighting and widespread suffering. Conflict is killing and injuring countless civilians, and leaving millions without access to food, shelter or sanitation, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today.   The international community has failed to prevent and end this conflict and to protect the Sudanese people from atrocities,” said Carl Skau, WFP’s Deputy Executive Director, who just returned from Darfur.   “The people I met in camps have been through hell. They have fled their homes leaving everything behind and now live in appalling conditions. They deserve so much better. We need to make sure they are not let down again and provide the basic support they need.”   More than 19 million people still face acute hunger in Sudan, and famine continues to haunt parts of the country as violence, displacement and economic collapse grind on. Communities have been cut off from food, markets, and aid, and children have been forced to miss three years of education, with their future hanging in the balance. Sudan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with almost two‑thirds of the population now in urgent need of assistance to survive.   Sudan’s hunger crisis now risks being compounded by the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. Disruptions in the Red Sea are delaying critical imports, driving up the cost of food, fuel and fertilizer. Fuel prices in Sudan have increased by over 24 percent, driving up food prices and leaving millions unable to afford the most basic staples.   These same disruptions are also directly impacting humanitarian operations, with delayed shipments and higher transport costs. The combined impact could push families across the country deeper into food insecurity.   “The women I spoke to across Sudan told me they don’t have enough to feed their children and have no access to the most basic services,” warned Skau. “WFP and the humanitarian community have the experience and capacity to step up our support. But to do so, we need humanitarian aid to be allowed to move freely, safely and at scale – and we need far more funding.”   WFP food assistance has dropped by 14 percent since January, as compared to last year, due to a lack of resources; the agency urgently requires more than USD 600 million to sustain life-saving operations in Sudan for the next six months.   http://www.wfp.org/news/three-years-war-sudans-people-abandoned-and-hungry http://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-palais-briefing-sudan-three-years-war-sudan-three-years-too-many http://www.unicef.org/child-alert/children-under-threat-darfur http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/twenty-years-after-global-outcry-children-darfur-face-deeper-crisis-and-far-less http://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-three-years-sudan-remains-test-world-failing http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/three-years-war-weary-sudanese-remain-move http://www.unocha.org/news/sudan-three-years-crisis-world-cannot-ignore http://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167301 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/05/statement-un-experts-deploring-widespread-attacks-healthcare-sudan-10-years http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/un-human-rights-expert-sudan-renews-calls-dialogue-accountability-conflicts http://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2026/04/high-commissioner-turk-calls-urgent-joint-action-sudan http://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/3086/un-geneva-press-briefing-14-april-2026   http://www.nrc.no/news/2026/what-it-takes-to-eat-new-report-reveals-how-war-is-cutting-off-access-to-food-as-hunger-deepens-in-sudan http://care.ca/2026/04/13/new-report-reveals-how-war-is-cutting-off-access-to-food-in-sudan-as-hunger-deepens/ http://www.who.int/news/item/14-04-2026-after-three-years-of-conflict--sudan-faces-a-deeper-health-crisis http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/three-years-war-have-shattered-sudans-lifelines http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/three-years-agony-sudans-children-trapped-and-carry-deepest-scars http://unocha.exposure.co/darfurs-survivors http://www.icrc.org/en/statement/icrc-president-patterns-warfare-disregard-human-life-and-dignity-cannot-continue-sudan http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/sudan-human-cost-three-years-war http://www.ifrc.org/press-release/crisis-motion-ifrc-sounds-alarm-sudans-humanitarian-needs-escalate http://www.nrc.no/news/2026/sudan-war-refugees-pushed-into-hunger-as-livelihoods-collapse-across-the-region http://en.emergency.it/blog/from-the-field/updates-from-sudan/
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