26 April – Trump DOJ says UNRWA can be sued; Mali launches malaria vaccine campaign; Trump’s UN review to finish by August; tackling global problems saves US money; HPV vaccination drive targets cervical cancer
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice announced that UNRWA can be sued in U.S. courts over alleged links to the Hamas October 7 attacks, reversing a Biden-era position that had shielded the UN agency under diplomatic immunity.
A UNICEF public health video highlights efforts to prevent cervical cancer in girls by promoting HPV vaccination programs, emphasizing early protection to save lives and reduce long-term health burdens.
UNICEF marked World Malaria Day by launching the rollout of a new malaria vaccine in Mali, aiming to protect millions of children under five in a region where malaria remains a leading cause of death.
Trump’s administration is conducting a sweeping review of the United Nations, targeting major staff and budget cuts, with findings expected by the end of August. Key UN agencies and peacekeeping operations could face significant reductions.
An opinion piece in U.S. News & World Report argues that supporting the UN and tackling global challenges collaboratively saves the United States money, enhances security, and avoids costlier interventions down the line.
25 April – WFP food stocks in Gaza exhausted; Over 300 civilians killed in Darfur camp attacks; UN rights chief condemns deportations of mothers and newborns from the Dominican Republic; South Africa's Gauteng launches HPV vaccination drive to combat cervical cancer
The World Food Programme has exhausted its food supplies in Gaza, halting distribution in the north and warning that no further aid can be delivered without guaranteed safe access. UN officials warn of imminent famine as border crossings remain largely closed amid continuing hostilities.
Over 300 civilians were killed in attacks on two displacement camps in North Darfur, including at least 20 children and nine aid workers, as the Rapid Support Forces shelled the Zamzam and Abu Shorouk camps. The UN condemned the assaults as a grave escalation in Sudan’s civil conflict.
The UN human rights chief denounced the Dominican Republic’s deportation of hundreds of Haitian mothers and their newborns, warning that the expulsions violate international norms and endanger lives. Many of the deported mothers had just given birth and were forced across the border without medical support.
South Africa's Gauteng Department of Health has launched a comprehensive HPV vaccination campaign targeting Grade 5 girls aged 9 and older in public and special schools. The initiative, part of the Integrated School Health Programme, aims to curb cervical cancer by administering the Cervarix vaccine, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18—responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases. The campaign also includes other health services such as deworming, nutritional assessments, and vision and hearing screenings.
WHO, UNICEF, and GAVI warn of a surge in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, including measles and yellow fever, driven by funding cuts, misinformation, and humanitarian crises—threatening years of public health progress globally.
The University of Cambridge Endowment Fund and the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund announced a $750 million commitment to a new decarbonization-focused bond index, aiming to shift capital away from fossil fuel-intensive firms and accelerate corporate climate action.
Vietnam’s Minister of Labour urged UNICEF to refocus efforts on children in remote and ethnic minority areas, while UNICEF proposed collaboration on digital education and poverty reduction strategies.
In a column on humanitarian journalism, Patrick Gathara calls for decolonizing narratives, urging the media to empower communities to tell their own stories rather than perpetuating extractive, outsider-driven reporting.
23 April – Israeli strikes devastate Gaza hospitals and schools; UN halts polio campaign; destruction of rescue equipment hampers recovery of bodies in Gaza, SG appoints envoy to review UNRWA; US conservatives call to hold international organizations financially accountable "for supporting terrorism"; WHO emphasizes ending child marriage;
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least ten people in a school sheltering displaced families and severely damaged the intensive care unit of a children's hospital, as healthcare infrastructure nears total collapse. A UN-backed polio vaccination campaign for over 600,000 children was suspended due to access restrictions caused by the blockade.UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Ian Martin to lead an independent review of UNRWA amid growing political and financial pressures, following Israeli accusations against staff and cuts from key donors.
The destruction of heavy earth-moving equipment in Gaza, essential for clearing rubble and recovering bodies, has severely hampered rescue efforts. The UN reports that the lack of such equipment is obstructing the retrieval of thousands of bodies buried under debris.
The World Health Organization emphasized that halting child marriage is essential for achieving global health and development goals, calling for urgent action to protect the rights and well-being of girls worldwide.
22 April – WFP halts aid in Ethiopia; Pakistan launches polio drive; USAID revises global health strategy
The World Food Programme has suspended nutrition support for 650,000 women and children in Ethiopia due to a funding crisis, warning that up to 3.6 million people may lose food assistance by June.
Pakistan has launched its second five-day polio vaccination campaign, targeting 45.8 million children under age 5, amid rising insecurity and vaccine hesitancy that threaten eradication efforts.
USAID is revising its global health programming to emphasize country-led solutions and pandemic preparedness, while cutting back on programs deemed less effective or not aligned with its localization agenda. It appears USAID funding for UNICEF's Ebola control will continue.
21 April – RSF offensive overwhelms aid groups as it displaces thousands in Sudan's North Darfur; Israeli army stops designating humanitarian zones in Gaza; ; Pope Francis calls for ceasefire in his final Easter message; UN Secretary-General pays tribute to Pope Francis
Heavy fighting and RSF offensives in Sudan’s North Darfur have displaced over 85,000 people in two weeks, overwhelming already-stretched humanitarian agencies and forcing a shutdown of MSF operations in El Fasher.The Israeli army has stopped designating humanitarian zones in Gaza since resuming operations, raising concerns among aid agencies and rights groups as civilians are left without clear areas of safety.
In Pope Francis’s frail appearance at Easter Mass he condemned Gaza’s “deplorable humanitarian situation and called for a ceasefir in Gaza and Ukraine and an end to global violence.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement on the passing of Pope Francis, praising his legacy as a global advocate for peace, human dignity, and social justice.
20 April – UN urges U.S. restraint in Yemen strikes; Pope condemns Gaza crisis, calls for peace
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged caution and restraint following escalating U.S. air and naval strikes in Yemen, warning that continued hostilities could worsen regional instability and the humanitarian crisis.
During his Easter message, Pope Francis condemned the “deplorable” humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and an end to rising antisemitism.
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