World News in Brief: Ethiopians flee to Kenya amid new conflict, concludes new head of UN food program, UN mission in Somalia

That’s according to the UN migration agency, IOM.

Troops from the Somali and Oromia regions of southern Ethiopia have been fighting for more than two decades over border demarcation and resources, with escalation since last week triggering a new wave of displacement.

Among those who fled, nearly 11,000 people sought refuge at the large compound of the Oriental Mission Church (OMC), a prominent Korean-American Christian organization based in Los Angeles, which carries out missionary and humanitarian work in Kenya, the IOM said.

Community support

The remaining 25,600 people were accommodated by communities along the border.

IOM is working with the Kenyan government and the UN refugee agency, UNHCRto collect and manage displacement data, and assess humanitarian needs.

So far they have identified needs for water and sanitation, shelter and essential household items, food aid, health support and protection.

It also emphasizes the need to pay special attention to the needs of host communities, which host the majority of refugees, despite limited resources.

Lindberg led the WFP in a call to end hunger

Luke J. Lindberg serves as Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) on Monday, calling on donors, partners and supporters around the world to help sustain the agency’s life-saving efforts.

“Conflict makes people hungry, and extreme weather and maritime chokepoints exacerbate this reality,” Lindberg said.

“We can’t do this alone. Governments, institutions, businesses and individuals must support us, fund these efforts and help put food on the table before it’s too late. No more hunger.”

Millions of people need it

As many as 266 million people faced acute hunger worldwide last year, with conflict causing the most severe crises. WFP the team currently operates in 83 countries.

Mr. Lindberg replaces Cindy McCain, who led WFP from April 2023 to May 2026, and Carl Skau, who served as Acting Executive Director since June.

He previously served as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Somalia took the lead when the UN mission stalled after three decades

UN political mission in Somalia will be closed on Saturdayending more than three decades of UN missions in the country to support peace, nation-building and reconciliation.

The United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) completed its two-year mandate on 31 October.

That Security Council has decided not to renew it, at the request of the Somali Government, which wants to take greater ownership of its own peacebuilding and country-building.

The work of this mission will be transferred to Somali institutions and UN agencies, funds and programs already operating in the country.

Awards for those who serve

Secretary General Antonio Guterres praised the progress achieved over decades and thanked those who had made it possible, especially his Special Representative and mission staff.

He also paid tribute to UN personnel who lost their lives while serving in Somalia.

Guterres acknowledged that Somalia still faces serious political, security, humanitarian and development challenges, and called on the international community to continue providing its support so that the progress achieved is not lost.

This means promoting inclusive political dialogue and reconciliation, building stronger institutions, protecting human rights and confronting Al Shabaab, the terrorist group based in Somalia and affiliated with al-Qaeda.