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UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown has returned to the city with her core team, marking a new commitment to reach those in need.
This comes as more than 1.6 million people have recently returned to the capital, despite the threat of infrastructure damage and explosive remnants of war.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at a press conference Monday that the humanitarian situation remained dire, with “surging” needs and a lack of international support.
Lack of funds
“We need sufficient funds to provide humanitarian assistance in Sudan,” Dujarric stressed, noting that the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan is still critically underfunded, at only 16 percent.
The spokesperson also expressed deep concern over the recent drone attack on Al Jabalayn Teaching Hospital in White Nile State, which reportedly killed 10 health workers.
Since the start of the war, more than 200 attacks on healthcare targets have been verified.
“Medical personnel and facilities must be protected, as required by international humanitarian law,” Dujarric reiterated, warning that such attacks “continue to endanger civilians and deepen humanitarian needs across Sudan.”
On the diplomatic front, the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy, Pekka Haavisto, continued his regional tour, meeting with key stakeholders in Nairobi and Cairo to explore “practical avenues for de-escalation”.
Ukraine: Deadly attacks in Odesa and Nikopol leave civilians dead and injured
A series of devastating attacks in Ukraine have left several civilians dead, including a child, and dozens injured, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).
Last night, an attack in the port city of Odessa claimed the lives of several residents. OCHA reported that more than a dozen people were injured in the attack, which damaged homes, a kindergarten and a local substation.
Damage to energy infrastructure has “disrupted electricity supplies” in the region. In response, UN aid workers were “immediately mobilized to provide emergency assistance” to those affected by the destruction.
Deadly attack
This follows a deadly drone attack on a market in the town of Nikopol, in the Dnipro Region, on Saturday. The attack killed at least five civilians and injured 25 others, including a 14-year-old girl.
At least eight people were hospitalized after the attack in Nikopol, and several were reported to be in serious condition.
The UN continues to monitor the humanitarian impact as attacks on infrastructure and high-traffic civilian areas continue to claim lives across the country.
The UN humanitarian agency noted that more than 25,000 people have been displaced from the Donetsk region so far this year.
“Our partners continue to support Government-led evacuations, helping the most vulnerable in society, including those with limited mobility,” said a UN spokesperson.
Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, stressed that, under international humanitarian law, residents must be protected as they go about their daily lives.
Global water security requires an urgent increase in funding, a new report warns
The world faces a major shortfall in water investment, with at least $200 billion needed annually to secure food, energy and environmental resources, according to a new report from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
IWMI, a non-profit scientific research organization and member of the CGIAR global partnership, collaborates with the UN and provides regional support for NOT SPIDERS program.
UN-SPIDER is a platform that ensures all countries can access and use space-based data for disaster management and emergency response.
Fifteen-year-old Vandana carefully tests the quality of drinking water in her village, and confidently uses field testing equipment.
Underfunded ‘priorities’
The study highlights that despite water being a “top priority” for climate adaptation in most countries, it receives less than 10 percent of global climate finance.
Currently, a quarter of the world’s population lacks safe drinking water. The report notes that while public promises from recent climate summits remain limited, private sector contributions and “self-sourced” funding from local water users provide vital lifelines for irrigation and sanitation.
“Through this MoU, IWMI will work together closely WMO [the World Meteorological Organization] to strengthen preparedness for floods, drought and water scarcity by leveraging early warning systems, innovative technology, equipment and applied research,” said Mark Smith, Director General of IWMI, highlighting the importance of integrated action.
Experts warn that without systemic changes to water project funding, increasing water insecurity will continue to threaten global food systems and biodiversity.
