Palestinian issues

In South Sudan, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that they have begun airdropping emergency food assistance to thousands of people in the Upper Nile State, where surging conflict since March has pushed some communities to the brink of famine.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

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.

In its quarterly report released today, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) documented a surge in violence with a horrific impact especially on women and children. Between January and March, 1,600 people were either killed, injured, abducted or subjected to conflict-related sexual violence.

In Sudan, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the country is intensifying his good offices efforts to support the de-escalation of the conflict and advance a political solution. He continues to underscore the criticality of scaled-up and more unified diplomatic efforts by the international community to end the war.

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.

“The devastating human toll is mounting” in Gaza, a senior United Nations official informed the Security Council today, while speakers for Israel and the State of Palestine traded barbs about issues ranging from Palestinian statehood to attacks on Palestinians seeking aid.

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 for Disarmament Affairs and the UN Development Programme today launched the second phase of the Saving-Lives Entity trust fund, SALIENT 2.0. Established in 2020, the fund integrates small arms control and armed violence reduction into national development strategies as part of wider conflict prevention efforts.

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.