September 27, 2025
UN/US
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UNGA Assault – An American staffer supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says she was attacked inside UN headquarters. A 62-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly following her into a bathroom and striking her. The White House blamed “dangerous UN security failures,” and the Secret Service is investigating how the attacker gained access. (ABC3340) (New York Post)
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Fox host’s bomb rhetoric draws backlash – Fox’s Jesse Watters privately apologized to U.N. officials after suggesting on air that the U.S. “bomb” or “gas” the UN headquarters. U.N. officials condemned the rhetoric, calling it unacceptable. (reuters.com)
Gaza/Israel
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WFP: Gaza food aid system collapsing – The World Food Programme says food distribution in Gaza is breaking down due to Israeli restrictions, damaged infrastructure, and insecurity. Dozens of distribution points have shut down, and civilians — especially children — are being cut off from lifesaving supplies. (trtworld.com)
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Israel launches early attacks in Gaza – Israeli strikes so far today (September 27) killed at least 91 Palestinians, including 45 in Gaza City. Since October 2023, the war has killed 65,549 Palestinians and wounded 167,518, according to Gaza’s health authorities. (aljazeera.com)
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Sumud Flotilla under fire – The Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian maritime convoy carrying aid to Gaza, says it is being mischaracterized as a threat despite its peaceful mission. Organizers report drone overflights, explosions near vessels, and interference in communications. Italy and Spain have dispatched naval escorts.
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UN blacklists 68 West Bank-tied firms – The UN added 68 companies to its list of firms linked to operations in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the total to 158. The firms span real estate, security, construction, and finance. Israel criticized the move as politicized. (fdd.org)
Sudan
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Cholera vaccination in Darfur – WHO has launched a campaign in Darfur to vaccinate 1.86 million people (aged one year and older) across six localities, with plans to expand into North Darfur. The effort responds to a rising cholera outbreak amid war-driven collapse of basic services. (emro.who.int)
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SGBV in North Darfur – MSF and other agencies report widespread sexual and gender-based violence against displaced women, children, and men. In the past five weeks alone, over 300 survivors have sought care at MSF-supported services in Tawila. Survivors describe rape, killings, and trafficking by armed groups. (eastleighvoice.co.ke)
Other
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Vatican & UNICEF denounce online abuse – In a Manila Times opinion column, the Vatican and UNICEF jointly condemned the rise of online violence and abuse, stressing that such attacks cause real harm and demand stronger global policies to counter them.
September 26, 2025 – Fragile Israel-Syria talks, child poverty shifts in ECA, humanitarian narratives at UNGA, Trump’s UN speech, Gaza aid debate, UN business blacklist, nonprofits pivot after aid cuts, and Sudan diplomacy
Syria-Israel – Efforts to reach a U.S.-brokered security pact between Israel and Syria have stalled after Israel reintroduced a demand for a “humanitarian corridor” to Sweida, previously rejected by Syria as a sovereignty breach. The snag derailed plans to announce a deal this week, with talks frozen since last week. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack now speaks of a downgraded “de-escalation agreement,” while Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa voiced fears that Israel is deliberately stalling.
Child Poverty – A UNICEF report on child poverty trends in Europe and Central Asia shows the overall rate nearly halved between 2014 and 2024, dropping from 18.8% to 10.2%. Progress varies widely: EU states report steep declines, while Central Asia and the Caucasus still face very high rates, with Georgia and Armenia showing persistent child poverty above 60%. UNICEF warns that “last mile” poverty reduction will require greater investment, social protection, and resilience against climate shocks.
UNGA Humanitarianism – In a podcast from The New Humanitarian, Tammam Aloudat reflects on the gap between high-level speeches at the UN General Assembly and grassroots humanitarian struggles. Speaking after joining a Gaza flotilla and then attending UNGA, he highlights the contradictions of humanitarianism caught between activism, aid delivery “at any cost,” and respect for state sovereignty. The episode argues that alternative narratives from affected communities must challenge the diplomatic pageantry in New York.
Trump at the UN – Writing for the LSE blog, Michael Cox analyzes Donald Trump’s latest UN speech, which attacked both the institution and European allies while playing to his U.S. political base. Cox argues this reflects a deeper legitimacy crisis within the UN system, compounded by long-standing divisions over Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Ukraine. While the UN retains global support, especially in the Global South, its Security Council is increasingly seen as outdated. The article warns that U.S. hostility under Trump may accelerate the UN’s decline even as global challenges make its role indispensable.
Gaza Aid – In an opinion piece, Ken Isaacs defends the much-criticized Gaza Humanitarian Foundation after a recent visit. He describes aid delivery under dire conditions of collapsed governance and insecurity, noting that despite skepticism, the GHF has managed to provide critical food supplies. Isaacs argues that while imperfect, the foundation is making a real difference on the ground, even as debates continue over its legitimacy and role compared to UNRWA.
UN Blacklist – The UN has added 68 companies from 11 countries to its blacklist of firms accused of complicity in human rights violations through ties to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The updated database now contains 158 companies, including German, Portuguese, and Spanish firms, alongside U.S. travel giants such as Expedia, Booking Holdings, and Airbnb. While Israel condemns the list as biased, UN officials stress businesses have a duty to ensure they are not contributing to abuses in occupied territories.
Nonprofits & Aid Cuts – On the sidelines of UNGA, nonprofits and philanthropies sought new ways to fill gaps left by global aid cuts. Leaders from organizations including UNICEF USA, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the Rockefeller Foundation emphasized innovation, cross-sector partnerships, and alternative financing to sustain humanitarian efforts. The Gates Foundation pledged nearly $1 billion to the Global Fund, while Bloomberg launched a partnership with the African Development Bank. Yet executives, including IRC’s David Miliband, warned philanthropy cannot replace government funding. UNICEF’s Kitty van der Heijden underscored the urgency: “I have no time for depression… we cannot do it alone.”
Sudan – Behind the scenes at UNGA, world leaders have stepped up efforts to end Sudan’s war, which has killed at least 40,000 and displaced nearly 13 million. The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE recently agreed on a roadmap starting with a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a nine-month transition toward civilian-led government. Parallel talks led by the AU, EU, and other powers also urged a ceasefire and condemned foreign interference. UN Secretary-General Guterres appealed: “In Sudan, civilians are being slaughtered, starved, and silenced. Women and girls face unspeakable violence.”
Migration Policy – A commentary from Carnegie by Hiroshi Motomura examines the future of U.S. humanitarian protection. He traces the evolution of asylum, refugee programs, parole, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), arguing that asylum has become overburdened as the only pathway for many forced migrants. Alternatives like TPS and parole, he suggests, should play a larger role in a rebalanced system. Motomura stresses that sustainable protection must also address labor needs, root causes of migration, and local integration: “Humanitarian protection is ultimately local.”
September 25, 2025 – Genocide debates, child survival setbacks, UN security incidents, climate divides, and aid crises
Genocide debate – An NPR analysis examined legal and political arguments over whether Israel’s campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide. More than 64,000 Palestinians, including 18,000 children, have been killed. Scholars highlighted the challenge of proving genocidal intent, while some Israeli and U.S. voices dismissed the charge. Yet global discourse is shifting: major rights groups, academics, and even U.S. lawmakers like Bernie Sanders now use the term, with public opinion polls showing rising acceptance among Democrats and independents.
Child survival – A Semafor report warned that global child mortality, after decades of decline, may rise in 2025 for the first time this century. The Gates Foundation attributes this reversal to conflicts, climate shocks, and donor fatigue undermining health and nutrition gains, with setbacks in vaccinations and maternal care threatening long-term progress.
Lebanon peacekeepers – The UN force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that an Israeli drone crashed into its headquarters in Naqoura. No one was hurt, and the drone was unarmed, but UNIFIL called it a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701. Israel confirmed the crash was a technical malfunction and contacted UNIFIL.
Climate summit – At the UN climate summit, 121 countries pledged new emissions cuts, with China promising to reduce by up to 10% by 2035 and sextuple wind and solar. The U.S., absent under Trump, was diplomatically isolated as the president urged countries to buy more U.S. oil and gas. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called fossil fuels “a losing bet,” while EU leaders vowed to push forward with renewables despite trade pressures.
Gaza children – At a UN event, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher declared that in Gaza “the famine has been caused by cruelty, justified by revenge, enabled by indifference, sustained by complicity.” He said a child has been killed on average every hour for nearly two years, shelters are bombed, and over 700,000 children deprived of education. The event renewed support for a pledge to protect Palestinian children, with calls for a ceasefire, suspension of arms transfers, and unhindered humanitarian access.
Somalia hunger – New figures warn that nearly half of Somalia’s children under five could face acute malnutrition by mid-2026, with 1.85 million projected cases. Flooding, drought, high food prices, and conflict have driven hunger up 30%, while funding cuts have forced the closure of nutrition centers, leaving 55,000 children without treatment since June.
Iraq child marriage – A Guardian account by a survivor of early marriage described beatings, coercion, and trauma, warning that Iraq’s new law legalizing marriage from age nine will entrench violence and strip children of choice. Women’s rights groups say the law marks “the end of women and children’s rights,” legitimizing forced marriage under the cover of tradition and law.
Clinton Initiative – At the Clinton Global Initiative, former President Bill Clinton announced a major partnership to supply HIV prevention drugs at low cost in 120 low- and middle-income countries by 2027. Clinton and philanthropist Abigail Disney urged stronger commitments from global philanthropy to counter growing instability.
Trump aid cuts – A New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof documented how Trump’s dismantling of U.S. aid programs has left lifesaving equipment idle, medicines expiring, and maternal deaths rising. From unused operating theaters in Uganda to wasted vaccine stockpiles and food aid, the column argued that the attempt to fight “waste” has instead created chaos, inefficiency, and preventable deaths. Aid insiders warn that shifting funds away from UN agencies like WFP and UNICEF is compounding the harm.
September 24, 2025 – Studies highlight child health risks, vaccine hesitancy, and Trump controversies over autism and Gaza
Gaza/UN – According to Al Jazeera, Trump is set to present a Gaza plan to Arab and Muslim leaders at the UNGA, proposing regional troops to oversee Gaza after a possible Israeli withdrawal and transition to a Palestinian Authority role, excluding Hamas. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the UAE will attend. The meeting comes amid Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza, where more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed and famine conditions persist.
India – A Lancet study on the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) outbreak earlier this year found children, especially those aged 1–2, were the most affected. Fever and cough were the most common symptoms, with illness lasting an average of 11 days. The outbreak in India followed a seasonal surge in China, where HMPV caused over 6% of respiratory illnesses. Researchers stressed that stronger surveillance systems are vital to tracking such pathogens and guiding policy.
Japan – A study from the University of Fukui used advanced imaging to show how childhood neglect reshapes brain development, even in the absence of physical abuse. Neglected children showed abnormalities in brain regions linked to movement, attention, language, and emotional regulation. The findings provide early brain-based markers that could help teachers, doctors, and social workers detect neglect before severe behavioral problems arise, with implications for child protection policies and therapies.
Africa – The Africa CDC called for urgent global action on sickle cell disease, warning that most of the 300,000 babies born annually with the condition in Africa die before their fifth birthday despite affordable treatments. The agency’s “A New Day for Children with Sickle Cell Disease” initiative aims to integrate screening and care into primary health systems, expand access to medicines, and push governments to elevate the disease in health agendas. Officials stressed that coordinated efforts across governments, civil society, and partners are essential to save lives.
United States – A new poll by The Washington Post and KFF found that 1 in 6 American parents has delayed or skipped childhood vaccinations, excluding flu and COVID-19 shots. Nine percent reported skipping polio or MMR vaccines, raising fears of major outbreaks of preventable diseases. The findings come amid political upheaval over vaccine mandates, with Florida moving to abolish all childhood vaccine requirements and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismantling the federal immunization advisory panel. Experts warn these shifts could reverse decades of progress and lead to avoidable deaths.
Cuba/US – CNN debunked Donald Trump’s false claim that Cuba has “virtually no autism” because of poverty and lack of Tylenol. In fact, Cuba has specialized autism treatment centers and therapies, with hundreds of trained professionals providing care since 2018. Cuban doctors say the lower prevalence reflects limited diagnostic resources, not absence of the condition. Trump had previously urged pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, wrongly linking it to autism despite no scientific evidence.
September 23, 2025 – Integrated health campaign in South Sudan, abuses and governance crisis in Sudan, Gates’ warning on health aid cuts, deadly drone strike in Haiti, custody victory in Denmark, Taliban push for religious schools in Afghanistan, and calls for a UN “Lifeline Rafah” in Gaza
South Sudan – The government, with UNICEF and WHO, has launched a landmark integrated health campaign to protect 2.1 million children from polio and 1.2 million people from schistosomiasis. The door-to-door campaign, running September 23–26, aims to maximize efficiency by addressing two diseases at once.
Sudan
Cholera outbreak – WHO reports Sudan’s cholera outbreak has now spread to all 18 states, with more than 113,600 cases and over 3,000 deaths. Fatality rates are dangerously high in some Darfur areas due to lack of clean water, destroyed health services, and severe access constraints. UNICEF warns children under five are disproportionately affected, with at least 380 deaths so far (UN News).
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A government minister told Sudan Tribune that children have faced widespread violations during the conflict, including sexual violence against 269 children, forced recruitment of 9,000 by the RSF, and the displacement of more than 10,000 school-aged children. UNICEF confirmed infants were among the victims as protection systems collapse.
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A New York Times guest essay by Suliman Baldo and Mai Hassan argues that international recognition of the Sudanese Armed Forces as the de facto government has obstructed aid and entrenched authoritarianism. They caution that U.S.-backed peace talks risk legitimizing both the army and RSF while sidelining civilian coalitions such as Somoud, even as 14 million people remain displaced and famine deepens.
Global Health – At the Goalkeepers event, Bill Gates warned that “humanity is at a crossroads” as child health funding collapses. Development assistance for health fell 21% from 2024 to 2025, threatening decades of progress. He pledged $912 million to the Global Fund’s 2026–2028 cycle and urged renewed global commitments.
Haiti – A drone strike in Port-au-Prince killed at least 11 people, including eight children. Human rights monitors said the explosions were caused by drones launched by Haitian police, raising alarm over government use of Canadian-supplied UAVs in densely populated areas.
Denmark/Greenland – A young Greenlandic woman has won back custody of her baby in a case that exposed systemic bias in parenting evaluations. The New York Times reports the appeals board overturned a local decision that had forced the newborn into foster care, triggering protests and calls for culturally sensitive reforms.
Afghanistan – A Guardian/Zan Times investigation reveals the Taliban are dismantling secular schools and making madrasas the only option for Afghan girls. Families are pressured with promises of aid or jobs to comply. With 21,000 religious schools now operating, girls who resist face isolation and hunger, while those who attend see professional futures vanish.
Gaza
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The UN reported that almost half of all malnutrition centres in and around Gaza City have shut down due to hostilities and Israeli restrictions on aid, crippling efforts to treat starving children. Over 160 people, including 32 children, have died from starvation since famine was declared, while civilians displaced by Israel’s offensive face dire conditions in the south, many sleeping in rubble or on crowded beaches (UN News).
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In a Guardian op-ed, Moazzam Malik, CEO of Save the Children UK, calls for a UN-mandated “Lifeline Rafah” to break Israel’s blockade and allow large-scale aid into Gaza. With Gaza’s health and education systems collapsed and over 20,000 children killed, he warns that failure to act makes the international community complicit in atrocities (The Guardian).
September 22, 2025 – UN support weakens among Republicans, global crises deepen in Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan, UNICEF warns on vaccines in Laos, and U.S. hunger report scrapped.
United Nations – A new Gallup poll found that 60% of Americans believe the UN is necessary, but 63% say it is doing a poor job solving global problems. Support for U.S. membership remains strong at 79%, though 17% favor withdrawal — tying the record set in 1996. Among Republicans, support for withdrawal has nearly doubled in recent years, with 36% now backing an exit, up from 19% two decades ago.
Palestine – A summit hosted by France and Saudi Arabia rallied international support for Palestinian statehood following recognition by the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal. The U.S. and Israel boycotted, with Israeli leaders vowing there would “be no Palestinian state.” Advocates stressed that while recognition matters, halting the Gaza war is the more urgent priority.
Laos – A UNICEF-supported study revealed nearly 15% of children in Lao PDR miss their first Pentavalent vaccine dose due to distance, poor roads, cultural barriers, and supply gaps. The Ministry of Health pledged to act on recommendations that emphasize outreach, consistent supply, and better health worker support to reach the national 95% immunization goal.
Sudan – UNICEF condemned a drone attack on a mosque near Al Fasher that killed at least 11 children and struck a UNICEF water truck serving 8,500 displaced families and patients. It called the attacks “unconscionable” and warned they are cutting families off from safe water amid worsening malnutrition and disease.
Lebanon – An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed five people, including three children and their father, who held U.S. citizenship. Israel said it was targeting a Hezbollah militant but admitted civilian deaths. Lebanese leaders warned the strikes threatened fragile ceasefire stability.
Afghanistan – A BBC report highlighted Afghanistan’s hunger crisis, where parents bury malnourished children and some sedate babies to quiet cries of hunger. WFP warned that more than 3 million children are at risk, with funding set to run out in November. Aid cuts by the U.S. and other donors, Taliban restrictions, drought, and mass refugee returns are compounding the emergency.
Humanitarian Aid – Michelle Brown argued in IPS that the aid system is at a breaking point with only 9% of required funding received this year. She called for a “humanitarian reset,” with UN agencies focusing on diplomacy, NGOs on delivery, and local groups on frontline services, alongside reforms in funding flows, cash transfers, and protection priorities.
United States – The Trump administration ended the government’s annual hunger report, calling it politicized, after legislation cut food stamps for 3 million people. Critics said the move suppresses data that would reveal rising hunger under the new aid reductions.
UN – a France- and Saudi-led conference at the UNGA will see at least ten countries, including Portugal, Canada, and Belgium, move to recognize a Palestinian state. This would bring the total to 157 of the UN’s 193 member states, or just over 81% of the membership. The push, accelerated by Israel’s war in Gaza and a UN finding of genocide, marks a major moment in diplomatic support for Palestine. Israel condemned the moves as “a reward for terrorism.”
Chad – In The New York Times, Ruth Maclean describes a maternity ward in Chad’s Aboutengué refugee camp buckling under U.S. aid cuts. With midwives laid off and medical supplies dwindling, thousands of Sudanese refugee women face dangerous pregnancies, many due to widespread sexual violence. The Trump administration’s elimination of USAID funding has left frontline health workers unable to cope, putting mothers and babies at heightened risk.
Syria – UNICEF announced the launch of a nationwide “Back-to-Learning” campaign, the first unified education effort in Syria in over a decade. More than 2.4 million children remain out of school, but the program aims to reopen schools, provide materials and psychosocial support, and reach displaced and at-risk children. UNICEF called education a “lifeline and a shield” for Syria’s youth.
Yemen Asharq Al-Awsat reports that the UN has warned Yemen faces its worst humanitarian catastrophe since 2022, with 18 million people projected to suffer acute hunger this month and 166 districts sliding into emergency levels. Nearly half of all young children are malnourished, and aid funding has reached only 10% of the 2025 requirement.
UK – The Guardian reports that parents are furious after Meta used back-to-school photos of schoolgirls as promotional ads targeting a 37-year-old man. The images, drawn from parents’ Instagram posts, appeared in Threads recommendations without consent, raising accusations of exploitation and sexualization. Critics, including children’s rights campaigners, called Meta “wilfully careless,” while the company defended the practice as consistent with its policies.
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