Today’s top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Ukraine

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Rising violence, restrictions across the West Bank endanger civilians

OCHA is deeply alarmed by the escalation of violence across the West Bank in recent days.

Since Thursday, at least eight Palestinians – including one child – as well as two Israelis have been killed. Many others have been injured. Homes, mosques, trees and agriculture structures have been set on fire or otherwise vandalized and, in some cases, destroyed. At least 10 Palestinian families have been displaced in the course of the latest violence.

In parallel, Israeli forces have tightened their restrictions on Palestinian movements and access across many areas of the West Bank, preventing thousands of people from reaching essential services, such as emergency medical care, and the sources of their livelihoods.

Since the beginning of this year, OCHA has documented more than 1,330 incidents involving Israeli settlers that resulted in casualties, property damage or both. As of Saturday, 77 Palestinians – including 18 children – have been killed by Israeli forces or Israeli settlers in 2026. During the same period, three Israelis have been killed by Palestinians.

The humanitarian community continues to call for the urgent protection of civilians and strict respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Perpetrators must be held to account.

#Sudan

Needs deepen as conflict, cholera spread

OCHA warns that ongoing conflict, displacement and disease outbreaks continue to drive humanitarian needs across Sudan.

In North Kordofan State, local sources report that 15 civilians were killed and seven others injured on Friday in an attack south of El Obeid.

Meanwhile, across the Darfur region, partners on the ground report that insecurity and intercommunal violence have recently displaced more than 20,000 people, with many in urgent need of support.

OCHA once again calls on all parties to protect civilians, and to facilitate rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.

Cholera is also spreading in Sudan, with more than 2,000 suspected cases and 170 reported deaths since May – mainly in the Kordofan region.

Despite the challenges, humanitarian organizations are delivering life-saving assistance wherever and whenever possible. The UN and its humanitarian partners continue scaling up the cholera response, supporting nearly 80 surveillance sites, 16 treatment centres, eight oral rehydration points, and prevention activities for more than 270,000 people in the affected areas.

However, funding shortfalls are limiting the response.* OCHA continues to urge donors to commit additional funding. This year’s humanitarian appeal for Sudan is about 40 per cent funded, with US$1.1 billion received against the nearly $2.9 billion required.

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

#Democratic Republic of the Congo 

Widening Ebola outbreak puts pressure on response      

OCHA reports that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to expand, with rising numbers of cases and deaths putting ever more pressure on health services and humanitarians’ efforts to respond.

As of 25 July, national health authorities had reported 3,200 confirmed Ebola cases across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo provinces. More than 100 new confirmed cases have been reported for the second consecutive day.

The UN and its partners continue to support the authorities on surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing and patient care. The World Food Programme has provided more than 140,000 hot meals and food to over 23,000 patients, contacts and vulnerable people affected by the outbreak in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

UNICEF and partners have also carried out more than 27,000 household visits to support the identification and follow-up of suspected cases in affected communities.

Meanwhile, preparedness efforts are under way beyond the provinces affected by Ebola. Today, the World Health Organization launched training for hygiene specialists at the General Reference Hospital in the province of Bas-Uele to reduce the risk of further spread.

The UN and its partners remain committed to supporting the authorities’ response. Continued international support is critical to expanding treatment capacity, sustaining response operations, and containing the outbreak.

#Rwanda

Humanitarians support Ebola readiness efforts

OCHA reports that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support Government-led efforts in Rwanda to strengthen preparedness to address Ebola.

This month, partners trained health workers on infection prevention, as well as on control, case detection and reporting.

Surveillance efforts continue, including the screening of travelers at key points of entry into the country, as well as the expansion of environmental and wastewater surveillance.

Partners have pre-positioned personal protective equipment, testing supplies, diagnostic tools, and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies in high-risk areas.

Risk communication and community engagement activities continue through radio campaigns and the distribution of information materials.

$2 million has been allocated from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to strengthen outbreak preparedness in high-risk districts.

#Ukraine

Acting UN deputy relief chief warns that ongoing attacks imperil civilians      

Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Indrika Ratwatte, told the Security Council this morning that civilians in Ukraine continue to be killed and injured as homes, energy and water systems, UN warehouses and humanitarian facilities come under attack.

He also expressed concern over reports of civilian harm in the Russian Federation, including reported attacks on logistics centres in the Moscow and Tambov regions that have claimed civilian lives, while noting that the UN cannot independently verify these reports.

Ratwatte said that communities in Ukraine are in a fourth summer under continued hostilities, with many already fearful of the winter ahead and humanitarian organizations adapting daily to reach people safely.

He underscored that practical humanitarian arrangements can save lives by enabling safe and voluntary evacuations and allowing life-saving aid to reach civilians in need.

Ratwatte reminded parties that their obligations under international humanitarian law remain “unchanged and unequivocal,” including the duty to protect civilians and humanitarians, spare civilian infrastructure, and allow relief to reach those in need.

“International law is not optional,” he stressed, adding that humanitarian determination “should not be confused with acceptance” of conditions that continue to endanger civilians.