November 29, 2025
Israel
UN Report on Torture – A UN committee found Israel has "a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture" of Palestinian detainees over the past two years. The report documented severe beatings, dog attacks, electrocution, waterboarding, stress positions, and sexual violence. As of September, 3,474 Palestinians were held in administrative detention without trial. Seventy-five Palestinians died in custody during the Gaza war, with no state officials held accountable. The committee noted children as young as 12 are detained, with some held in solitary confinement without access to education.
Aid Convoy Looting – French historian Jean-Pierre Filiu, who spent over a month in Gaza, reported seeing evidence that Israeli forces supported looters attacking aid convoys by killing security personnel protecting the deliveries. During one incident, Israeli quadcopters killed two local security guards protecting a UN convoy, allowing looters to seize 20 of 66 trucks. Filiu also reported Israeli forces bombed a new aid route to put it out of action. Israeli officials denied the allegations, claiming strikes targeted Hamas terrorists attempting to divert aid.
Ukraine
Schools Destroyed – More than 340 educational facilities in Ukraine were damaged or destroyed in 2025, bringing the total to 2,800 since February 2022. This year, 4.6 million children face educational barriers in their fourth academic year during the war, with nearly 1 million forced to study online.
Sudan
Children Arrive Alone in Tawila – At least 400 children fleeing Al Fasher arrived in Tawila without parents since October, according to Norwegian Refugee Council data. Children described hiding for hours, traveling at night to avoid attacks, and becoming separated from families in the chaos.
Global
Violence Against Children at Home – UNICEF reported 1 in 4 children globally—around 610 million—live with mothers experiencing intimate partner violence. Regional analysis shows over half of children in Oceania (3 million), 32% in Sub-Saharan Africa (187 million), and 29% in Central and Southern Asia (201 million) are exposed to violence against their mothers. Children in households where women experience violence are significantly more likely to be subjected to physical or psychological aggression themselves.
November 23, 2025
Malaria Vax Price Cut
Price cut protects millions more children— Gavi and UNICEF reduce R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine to $2.99 per dose, saving $90 million and enabling 30 million additional doses to protect 7 million more children by 2030 across 24 African countries.
Gaza
- Hospital supplies depleting amid continued strikes— Gaza hospitals critically low on gauze, antiseptics, thermometers and antibiotics as Israeli airstrikes kill over 50 people in recent days despite ceasefire.
Private contractors prepare expanded presence— Despite the announcement that the GHF operations in Gaza have been terminated, the major US security contractor, UG Solutions is recruiting for 12-15 new aid distribution sites opening December, offering $800-1000 daily pay for security duties following Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operations that saw 2,600 Palestinians killed.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Europe boosts Sub-Saharan Africa funding— European Commission allocates €143 million in humanitarian aid for Sub-Saharan Africa, including €35 million for South Sudan, €30 million each for Ethiopia and Somalia, and €38 million for Central Sahel countries.
Education in Emergencies
Children prioritize schooling amid crises— Save the Children officials argue that aid agencies often relegate education to second priority in emergencies, while what crisis-affected children consistently request is a high priority on a return to school.
Sudan
Sudan's top general, General Abdel-Fattah, Burhan calls US-led peace proposal "the worst yet," accusing mediators of bias as war enters 31st month with over 40,000 killed and 14 million displaced.
Australia
Mixed outcomes in national assessment— UNICEF Australia report shows 89.2% early education enrollment but only 52.9% of five-year-olds developmentally on track, with one in five young adults reporting high psychological distress.
UN Egypt
Consolidated UN building under construction— UN House Egypt bringing 31 UN entities under one roof in New Administrative Capital, completion expected 2026, housing 2,600 personnel on 100,000 square meters provided rent-free for 99 years.
November 23, 2025
Yemen
Houthis Sentence 18 UN Aid Workers to Death - A Houthi-run court in Sanaa sentenced 18 Yemeni UN humanitarian aid workers to death by firing squad for allegedly spying for Israel, with two others receiving 10-year prison terms. The court accused them of providing intelligence to Israel, the US, Britain and Saudi Arabia on Houthi leaders' locations and military sites, recruiting citizens, and installing surveillance cameras. The detentions followed August Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa that killed dozens of Houthi officials in response to Houthi missile attacks on Israel. (Siasat.com)
Nigeria
50 Children Escape After Mass Abduction, Pope Appeals for Release - Fifty of 303 schoolchildren abducted Friday from St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger state have escaped captivity, leaving 253 students and 12 teachers still held by kidnappers. The children, aged 10-18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday. Separately, 38 worshippers kidnapped during a deadly Tuesday church attack in Kwara state have been freed. The Niger state attack, one of Nigeria's worst mass kidnappings, came four days after 25 schoolchildren were seized in neighboring Kebbi state. President Tinubu vowed his government "will not relent until every hostage is freed," while security analyst Confidence McHarry noted "the absence of consequences is what is fuelling these attacks." At least 1,500 students have been kidnapped in Nigeria since the Chibok schoolgirls abduction over a decade ago. (AP News)
Gaza
Israel Violated Ceasefire 497 Times, Killed 342 - Gaza's Government Media Office reported Israel has violated the US-brokered ceasefire 497 times in 44 days since it took effect October 10, killing 342 civilians including majority women, children and elderly. Israel launched strikes Saturday killing at least 24 Palestinians after claiming a Hamas fighter attacked soldiers inside Gaza's "yellow line" boundary, which allows Israel to control over half the territory. Hamas accused Israel of moving westward beyond the agreed line under fabricated pretexts and called on US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene. (Al Jazeera)
Sudan
Army and RSF Clash in Kordofan as Suffering Worsens - Intense fighting raged in North and West Kordofan between Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF, with clashes west of El-Obeid and in besieged Babanusa where the army's 22nd Division faces repeated attacks. An earlier attack in El-Obeid killed at least 40 people according to UN humanitarian officials. UNICEF representative Sheldon Yett reported insufficient capacity to help those fleeing El-Fasher, which RSF captured last month, with many children witnessing atrocities. A medical group reported nearly two dozen children died from malnutrition in Kordofan within a month. Famine was declared in Kadugli in South Kordofan earlier this month. (Daily Sabah, AL24 News)
Afghanistan
Drought Threatens Clean Water Access, UNICEF Warns - UNICEF raised alarms about Afghanistan's prolonged drought threatening access to clean water for vulnerable families and children. With South Korean support, UNICEF is installing water systems in 20 communities in Ghor and Nangarhar provinces. The organization previously warned 8 out of 10 Afghans are forced to drink unsafe water, and Kabul's water sources could be entirely depleted by 2030. The crisis highlights urgent need for sustainable infrastructure and climate resilience solutions. (Khaama Press)
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