Israel plans to ban dozens of aid organizations from Gaza within 36 hours for not meeting new security and transparency requirements, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis exacerbated by storms and restricted aid access. Several major NGOs, including MSF and UNRWA, face suspension or revocation of permits, raising concerns about the impact on aid delivery as international ministers call for the easing of restrictions and increased humanitarian access. The situation remains tense with ongoing conflicts and political disagreements hindering progress toward peace and reconstruction.
Mongolia is facing its harshest winter in 50 years, with extreme conditions known as dzud killing over 4.7 million animals and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people, particularly nomadic herders who rely on their livestock for food and income. The severe winter has left many families without adequate food and has caused disruptions to travel, trade, and access to healthcare and education. The situation has been exacerbated by human-caused climate change, leading to more frequent and severe dzuds. Aid agencies are appealing for funds to alleviate the suffering and provide assistance to those affected.
In Gaza, children like six-year-old Fadi al-Zant are suffering from acute malnutrition and starvation as a result of widespread shortages of food, medicines, and clean water following Israel's ground and air campaign. More than 27 children have died of malnutrition and dehydration, with over 1 million Palestinians seeking refuge from the offensive. Aid agencies warn that without urgent action, famine will hit northern Gaza by May, and nearly 1 in 3 children under two years old in the region suffer from acute malnutrition. The dire lack of food, compounded by disease and lack of medical supplies, is leading to a devastating humanitarian crisis.
Millions of Sudanese are facing hunger as war disrupts food supply in the country, with almost five million people at emergency levels of hunger. The conflict, which erupted last April, has led to a communications blackout, making it difficult for aid agencies to deliver food to many areas. Residents are risking their lives to search for food, facing artillery and sniper fire, and drinking untreated water from the Nile, leading to health issues. The war has killed over 14,000 people and driven more than eight million from their homes, making Sudan the world’s largest displacement crisis. Aid agencies warn that without urgent intervention, the situation could lead to a catastrophic famine.
The Gaza Strip is in desperate need of aid as the population, particularly in the northern and southern regions, faces dire living conditions and a lack of essential supplies. Aid agencies are struggling to cope with the overwhelming demand for assistance, compounded by security challenges such as looting and violence during aid distribution. Israel claims to be facilitating humanitarian assistance, but the situation remains dire, with concerns of an impending all-out assault exacerbating the already critical humanitarian crisis.
Sudan is facing acute hunger and potential famine as a result of the civil war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, with an estimated 18 million people in emergency levels of hunger. Aid agencies are calling for $4.1bn in funding to avert a catastrophe, as malnourishment and water-borne diseases are already affecting millions, particularly in Darfur. The conflict has severely affected food availability and people's ability to buy it, with the RSF and army exacerbating the crisis by looting aid and restricting access to regions in need. Grassroots committees are supporting soup kitchens across the country, but are struggling to receive support from the global community.
Aid agencies have welcomed the two-day extension of the truce in Gaza but are concerned about the potential resumption of Israel's attack on Hamas, which could worsen the humanitarian crisis among Palestinians. The agencies fear that the crowded south of the strip, where approximately 2 million people are living, will be heavily impacted. There are concerns about population displacement and shortages of water, food, and other necessities. Aid organizations have been able to provide some relief aid during the truce but face challenges in operating effectively on short timeframes. The UN relief agency has stated that the amounts of cooking gas delivered to Gaza are insufficient to meet the population's needs.
Israel and Hamas are open to extending the four-day pause in fighting in Gaza to exchange more hostages taken by Hamas for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The pause could be extended by a day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes the extension but vows to continue the war to eradicate Hamas. Aid agencies are rushing to deliver supplies to Gaza ahead of the pause's scheduled end on Tuesday morning.
Aid agencies are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as doctors warn that a fuel shortage caused by an Israeli blockade is leading to the deaths of vulnerable babies and wounded people in hospitals. At least 2,000 children have been killed in Gaza in the past few weeks, according to one aid agency. The Israeli bombing campaign has intensified, and the country's defense minister has stated that they are preparing for a "multilateral operation" against Hamas. Hospitals in Gaza are facing collapse due to fuel depletion, with surgeries being conducted without anesthesia and under phone lights. The situation is dire, with outbreaks of diseases and a lack of access to healthcare for pregnant women. The release of two elderly hostages from Hamas custody has been welcomed, but hundreds of others remain captive.
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck western Afghanistan, just days after two large quakes in the same region killed over 1,000 people. More than 100 people were injured and sent to the hospital, while many were left homeless and sleeping in the open. Aid agencies have reported a shortage of blankets, food, and other supplies. Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes due to its location near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
Entire villages in Sudan's West Darfur region have been burned to the ground by marauding militias, with aid agencies now warning the region is on the brink of a "humanitarian catastrophe". Widespread looting and the destruction of vital infrastructure has left many with little to no access to food, clean water, and medicine. A ceasefire between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to a lull in the violence around the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. But fighting has continued in Darfur, and as the conflict there enters its seventh week, the region appears to have plunged into chaos.
Tens of thousands of people fleeing violence in Sudan are spilling into Chad, with aid agencies warning that larger flows of refugees are expected to arrive. Since fierce fighting broke out in Sudan on April 15, an estimated 20,000 people have entered Chad and at least 100,000 are set to arrive, the United Nations said on Tuesday, raising concerns about the stability of a fragile region. The conflict has pitted army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and al-Burhan’s deputy in the military’s Sovereignty Council that has been running the country since the October 2021 coup.
Aid agencies have raised alarm about the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan as the conflict continues despite a new three-day ceasefire brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia. Heavy clashes have been reported in the vicinity of the presidential palace and the general command of the army. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and dozens of hospitals have been forced to shut down. The UN refugee agency said it was gearing up for potentially tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighbouring countries.
