Intensified Israeli strikes across Gaza have killed over 90 people in the past 48 hours. Some of the strikes were in designated 'humanitarian zones'. Aid groups warn that relief efforts remain blocked or insufficient amid continued hostilities and destruction of critical infrastructure.
A new analysis critiques the limited impact of UN Security Council Resolution 2664, which was designed to protect humanitarian assistance from sanctions regimes. Despite improving legal clarity, the resolution’s narrow scope and lack of enforcement mechanisms leave many aid operations vulnerable.
What if we stopped aid altogether? In a provocative op-ed, a humanitarian worker in Uganda argues that halting traditional aid might force a reevaluation of dependency-driven models. He urges a shift toward more localized, dignified, and sustainable solutions in protracted refugee settings.
Career diplomat Dorothy Shea is serving as acting U.S. ambassador to the UN after President Trump withdrew Rep. Elise Stefanik's nomination to maintain the GOP's slim House majority. Shea now represents the U.S. at the UN during a significant shift in foreign policy, including a break from European allies on a recent Ukraine resolution.
The UN reports that over half of Haiti's population, approximately 5.7 million people, are expected to experience acute food insecurity through June 2025, with 8,400 individuals projected to suffer from starvation. The crisis is driven by escalating gang violence disrupting food distribution and transportation, compounded by a deepening economic collapse and inflation exceeding 30%.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned the Security Council that South Sudan's escalating political crisis, compounded by floods and violence, could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions.
Leaders of major aid organizations operating in Gaza have issued a joint statement warning that the humanitarian aid system is on the brink of collapse due to Israeli restrictions, urging global leaders to intervene and ensure the delivery of essential assistance.
17 April - Geneva takes a beating
U.S. funding cuts deeply impacted Geneva’s international institutions, leading to mass layoffs, reduced humanitarian operations, and a looming existential crisis for the city’s role as a hub for multilateral diplomacy. Agencies like the UNHCR, WHO, and UNAIDS are being forced to scale back due to a sharp drop in financial support, exposing the system’s heavy reliance on U.S. aid. Even the annual international motor show is leaving for elsewhere.
16 April – UAE accused of fueling Sudan war; WHO members reach deal on pandemic treaty; Israel says no to all humanitarian aid to Gaza; Israeli strike hits Gaza hospital
A leaked UN report alleges that the United Arab Emirates has continued supplying weapons to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces via Chad, exacerbating the conflict that has displaced over 12 million people.
Member states of the World Health Organization have agreed on a draft pandemic agreement aimed at improving global cooperation and ensuring equitable access to vaccines and treatments in future health emergencies, though the U.S. and Argentina have opted out.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that no humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza, using the blockade as leverage against Hamas. Since March 2, all aid has been halted, worsening the humanitarian crisis. Human rights groups warn the ongoing siege could constitute a crime against humanity.
An Israeli airstrike on the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in Gaza's Muwasi area killed one medic and injured nine others, including patients, further straining the territory's collapsing healthcare system amid ongoing hostilities.
The WHO Representative in Palestine reports on the situation of health care following the attack and closure of al Ahli Hospital leaving northern Gaza without any functioning medical facility. He estimates that some 12,000 patients need evacuation while Israel has so far allowed fewer than 150.
The United Nations General Assembly has requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel's decision to ban the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The UN asserts that this ban violates international law and has submitted the issue to the ICJ to assess the legality of Israel's actions and their implications for international humanitarian efforts.
UNICEF has reported that at least 3,500 children have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean over the past ten years. The agency highlights this route as one of the world's most dangerous migration paths for children, emphasizing the urgent need for safer migration channels and enhanced protection measures for vulnerable populations.
14 April – Children killed in Sumy attack; Israeli airstrike forces Gaza hospital closure, thousands flee Zamzam after RSF seizes refugee camp.
A Russian missile strike on a residential area in Ukraine’s northeast reportedly killed at least two children and injured 15 others, prompting UNICEF's Representative to condemn the targeting of civilians. The UN country team in Ukraine pointed to the 34 civilians killed in the strike, noting that Palm Sunday should be a day of peace for both Ukraine and Russia. The attack followed an attack on Kryvyi Rih on April 5th which also killed at least 9 children, adding to over 2,500 children have been killed so far in the war.An Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City destroyed its emergency department, rendering the facility non-operational and drawing condemnation from international organizations citing violations of humanitarian law.
12 April – Sudan clinic attack leaves health workers dead.
Armed men in North Darfur killed two doctors and a pharmacy assistant in a Zamzam camp clinic supported by Médecins Sans Frontières, forcing the closure of critical health services for displaced civilians in the region.
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