Today’s top news: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Haiti

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

UN official urges scaled-up response to Ebola outbreak

Senior Ebola Coordinator Julien Harneis warned today that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is outpacing efforts to respond to it, as case numbers increase exponentially and double every 20 days.

“This is far faster growth than the growth in our response, and so the gap between the epidemic and our response is widening,” he said while briefing journalists at UN Headquarters remotely from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province and one of the epicentres of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC.

Harneis paid tribute to the extraordinary work of medical workers and community members so far, yet he called for a stepped-up response in support of the Government – including through specialized supplies and medical staff. He also urged Member States to keep the borders open so that responders can enter and bring supplies into the DRC quickly and departing staff can return home.

The Senior Ebola Coordinator noted that the Ebola epidemic is worsening an already difficult humanitarian situation in eastern areas of the country, with food security worsening and medical services degraded.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

UN, partners step up efforts to reduce health risks in Gaza

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that civilians in the Gaza Strip face major public health risks, adding to the insecurity and displacement.

Widespread rodent and ectoparasite infestations were reported in 83 per cent of displacement sites assessed earlier this month – alongside sewage in streets, stagnant water and poor sanitation conditions.

In response, humanitarian partners are scaling up rodent control this week. The UN Development Programme and other partners are distributing nine metric tons of rodenticides brought into Gaza by the United Arab Emirates, alongside previously secured stocks.

To reduce public health risks, sustained access to critical equipment and supplies such as spare parts and engine oil is urgently needed. It is also critical that partners managing solid waste in Gaza are permitted to reach landfills in areas where access is restricted by Israeli forces – about 65 per cent of the Strip.

Access to water also remains a daily challenge for families. The UN and its partners are doing what they can to support hundreds of thousands of children and their families with access to essential water, sanitation and hygiene services.

In Khan Younis, UNICEF is supporting the construction of a central water well that is expected to benefit some 7,000 people. In Gaza city, the agency is joining efforts to clean up the Sheikh Ajleen wastewater treatment plant, which served some 700,000 people before it was damaged in the hostilities.

Meanwhile, UNOSAT and partners estimated this week that about 430,000 kindergarten and school-aged children – about 56 per cent of the estimated student population – were enrolled in more than 600 temporary learning spaces across Gaza. In some of these learning spaces, programmes are underway to help children catch up ahead of the new school year.

However, nearly half of school-aged children still lack adequate access to learning opportunities.

#Haiti

Gender-based violence surges as insecurity fuels further displacement

OCHA warns that there has been an alarming surge in gender-based violence in Haiti, particularly against women and girls, driven by ongoing insecurity and displacement.

Partners recorded more than 3,000 incidents of gender-based violence between April and June this year, with more than 1,000 incidents reported in June alone. This brings to 5,500 the total number of these incidents in the first half of the year. Nearly 70 per cent of the cases involved rape, with many of them gang rapes, reportedly perpetrated by armed groups. Most survivors were women and girls, while more than half of survivors were displaced.

This follows a sharp rise in gender-based violence last year, when partners recorded just over 8,000 incidents.

Partners on the ground report that available resources have enabled some survivors to access medical, psychosocial and protection services, such as safe spaces for women and girls. But needs continue to far exceed current capacity.

The situation is unfolding against a backdrop of large-scale displacement and forced returns. According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 1.5 million people are displaced within Haiti. At the same time, more than 140,000 Haitians were forcibly returned to the country between January and June 2026 – an 11 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Many return without identity documents or resources.

Despite extremely challenging operational conditions, the UN and its partners continue to provide essential protection services, including support to obtain civil documentation, information on rights and available services, and psychosocial support.

However, insecurity, access restrictions and funding shortfalls* continue to limit the reach of humanitarian assistance.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Haiti with urgent support.