In southern Lebanon, UN peacekeepers continue to observe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) activities in its area of operations, including air strikes and ground military activities. In one such incident on 16 July, 20 IDF soldiers crossed north of the Blue Line and conducted military exercises near the village of Houla.
In progress at UNHQ
Lebanon
In Syria, UN humanitarian partners in Suweida report that medical services are overstretched, and that markets and basic services such as electricity, water and education have been disrupted. UN aid operations are suspended in the impacted areas, as movements along the main roads have been disrupted.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN peacekeepers have established two mobile operating bases in the villages of Ofaye and Bakunvutu in Djugu territory, in the Ituri territory. These mobile bases will help peacekeepers to respond quickly to local threats posed by armed groups in the areas.
In Yemen, the two local water authorities in Taiz governorate reached a technical agreement to jointly manage the water supply systems, restoring essential services disrupted for nearly a decade amid conflict and institutional fragmentation.
A report today by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) notes that there has been a sharp increase in the number of Afghans returning in adverse circumstances from Iran. Over 640,000 Afghans have returned from Iran since the implementation of a return deadline by Tehran on 20 March.
In Ukraine, food insecurity remains a concern in front-line and border regions. A recent assessment by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that the war has devastated livelihoods and quadrupled poverty levels, leaving those most vulnerable at greatest risk.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates 2.5 million refugees worldwide will need to be resettled in 2026, down from 2.9 million in 2025, even as the global number of refugees continues growing. This is mainly due to the changed situation in Syria, which has allowed for voluntary returns.
A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report notes that Asia is currently warming twice as fast as the global average. This is fuelling more extreme weather and taking a heavy toll on the region’s economies, ecosystems and societies.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns that the number of malnourished children in Gaza is rising at an alarming rate, with more than 5,100 children between 6 months and 5 years of age admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition in May alone.
In Burkina Faso, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator today has allocated $5.9 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to address the most urgent needs of displaced people in the country. The new funding will be used to scale up life-saving assistance including food and shelter.