In Ukraine, another wave of attacks killed 12 civilians and injured nearly 80, according to local authorities, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. Homes, energy infrastructure and a Kyiv bridge were damaged, with power disrupted in six regions. Humanitarian access is also worsening, with 86 access incidents recorded in July and August, up 26 per cent.
Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message on World Food Day, observed on 16 October:
Nearly 8.3 million refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless people are on the brink of losing access to vital assistance as severe funding cuts force the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to scale back core programmes. UNHCR’s available funding fell from $5.2 billion to $3.9 billion between 2024 and 2025.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu announced today their appointment of Luke J. Lindberg of the United States as Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), to succeed Cindy H. McCain of the United States.
In Yemen, since 1 August, the UN and humanitarian partners significantly scaled up the response, reaching over 11,000 displaced households affected by ongoing fighting with rapid response kits and other urgently needed assistance. Yet funding shortfalls and access constraints continue to hamper relief efforts.
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)reports encouraging signs of a gradual return to normal life in Am-Dafock, near the border with Sudan, after an attack by armed groups killed 29 people and displaced over 17,000. MINUSCA has increased patrols to help protect civilians; over 5,000 have returned home.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is deeply concerned by news of a boat carrying migrants adrift off the Canary Islands for almost a month before it was found. Spanish authorities recovered 44 survivors. More than 80 people are believed to have died or gone missing. Monitoring and rescue capacity along the West Africa Atlantic route remain limited.
In Ukraine, nearly 60 civilians were killed and 240 injured in attacks over the weekend, according to authorities. Kyiv and its surrounding region, were the hardest hit, with drone strike on an ammunition depot triggering an explosion that killed 38 people, including residents of an elder care facility.
In Nepal, over 500 people have been confirmed dead due to mass flooding, hundreds remain missing and over 3,700 have so far been rescued. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said the UN and its aid partners are moving at speed, helping national authorities to deliver urgent, life-saving support.
In Djibouti, drier-than-normal, El Niño-driven conditions have left 256,000 people, a quarter of the population, acutely food insecure through December. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $2 million from the Central Emergency Response to support over 53,000 of the most vulnerable people.
