Today’s top news: Somalia, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Solomon Islands/Micronesia

#Somalia

UN relief chief to donors: funding cuts force devastating choices

Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, continues his visit to Somalia, where today he met with the diplomatic community and humanitarian partners in the capital, Mogadishu.

Fletcher made a strong appeal to donors to support Somalia, warning that without urgent funding, more aid programmes will shut down, with devastating consequences.

Two million people in Somalia face emergency levels of food insecurity and survive on one meal a day. Without additional funding and increased access, many more people will face increased hardship.

The hyper-prioritised Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Somalia asks for US$852 million, but is only 13 per cent funded.

More than 300 health facilities have closed or become non-functional due to funding cuts. Mobile health teams have been disbanded, cutting off access to essential care for hundreds of thousands.

At the same time, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is driving up fuel prices, which in turn is pushing up food and water prices. This erodes people’s purchasing power and disrupts trade and markets.

Fletcher wraps up his visit to Somalia tomorrow.

#Lebanon

Casualties, destruction continue despite ceasefire

OCHA reports that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains fragile and volatile, despite the extended ceasefire, with hostilities continuing to cause casualties.

Lebanese authorities reported multiple airstrikes and military activity across towns in southern Lebanon today, resulting in at least nine people killed and 13 others injured.

Between 17 April and 28 April, 48 people were killed and 183 were injured, according to the Ministry of Public Health. This brings the total number of casualties to more than 2,500 people killed and over 7,800 injured since the start of the escalation on 2 March.

Humanitarian partners continue to support people in need despite major constraints and to facilitate humanitarian access where possible. Through the OCHA‑managed and voluntary Humanitarian Notification System, humanitarian organisations have carried out 100 facilitated movements between 2 March and today, so urgent assistance can reach communities in hard-to-access areas. 

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Harsh living conditions, overcrowded shelters increase risk of disease

OCHA reports that the UN and its partners today visited four displacement sites in eastern Gaza city, where about 600 families are exposed to harsh conditions and heightened risks.

They found that people are sheltering in overcrowded tents and heavily damaged buildings, with no alternative arrangements in sight. They have very limited access to clean water and sanitation services are virtually non‑existent, with solid waste remaining untreated. Rodents and insects are everywhere, increasing the risk of contracting skin diseases, among other health risks. 

The teams identified scaling up clean water, sanitation and hygiene support; providing shelter and other essential items; expanding food and health services; and strengthening education to support those families.

Humanitarian partners report that with few days to earn a living, children are venturing closer to high-risk areas where Israeli troops remain deployed to collect and sell materials.

OCHA and its humanitarian partners say that security incidents continue to restrict humanitarian access and the delivery of services in many areas, including the ones visited today, while emergency medical services remain largely unavailable.

Today’s visit brought together UN and NGO teams leading efforts in food security, health, shelter, protection, explosive ordnance management and humanitarian coordination. Their findings will shape how the humanitarian sector can better support families.

In the West Bank, humanitarians leading on water and sanitation say services are constrained by settler violence, movement restrictions, demolitions and infrastructure damage. These conditions continue to disrupt people’s access to water sources, damage networks and storage, and increase reliance on water trucking and other short-term measures.

So far in 2026, Israeli settlers have vandalized more than 60 structures used for water or sanitation – affecting more than 30 Palestinian communities.

In March, ten partners supported nearly 30,000 displaced and other people across more than 70 communities by delivering water by trucks, fixing cisterns and distributing hundreds of water tanks.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

Deadly violence deepens displacement

OCHA reported that tensions in Djugu in Ituri province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, remain high and the situation is volatile following the deadly attack that stretched from Tuesday to yesterday by an armed group on civilians. At least eight civilians were reportedly killed, with at least 16 others injured.

Nearly 200 people, mostly women and children, have sought shelter in makeshift structures and face urgent humanitarian needs, according to local authorities.

The UN reminds all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to ensure safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access.

OCHA is coordinating with partners to monitor the situation and facilitated a mission to Djugu today to assess humanitarian needs in areas affected by the attack.

The province of Ituri hosts more than 920,000 displaced people.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with urgent support.

#South Sudan 

UN prepositions emergency food aid ahead of rains

OCHA reports that conflict and flooding continue to drive displacement and food insecurity higher in South Sudan.

Since the start of the year, according to the International Organisation for Migration, more than 300,000 people have been forced from their homes, with repeated displacement making it harder for families to recover.

OCHA says the United Nations and its humanitarian partners are prioritising assistance to people in the worst-affected areas. The World Food Programme and its partners have distributed food to more than 300,000 people in the counties of Ayod, Duk, Nyirol and Uror in Jonglei state since the start of the year.

In addition, UNICEF and partners working in nutrition have resumed delivering life-saving supplies in remote locations. Thousands of cartons of high-energy biscuits and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food have also been delivered.

Meanwhile, efforts are also underway to pre-position food, health and nutrition supplies ahead of the rainy season, which runs from April to October and often cuts off access to communities.

Nearly 10 million people – more than three quarters of the population – will need humanitarian assistance in 2026. The $1.5 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for this year has so far received $351 million, or less than a quarter of what we need. The UN and humanitarian partners warn that without urgent, sustained response, many communities face an increasing risk of life-threatening food insecurity.

#Solomon Islands/Micronesia

Top UN aid official releases emergency funding after devastating storms

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $2.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in response to Tropical Cyclone Maila in the Solomon Islands.

This was one of the most severe storms to affect the country in recent history: nearly 150,000 people – or nearly one in six people – were affected by severe flooding and landslides. There has been widespread damage to homes, health facilities and schools, many of which are now used as evacuation centres.

The CERF funds will go towards supporting the Government-led response in the areas of shelter, hygiene, health, food, education and protection. The resources will also support aid organizations in helping people in hard-to-access areas and across dispersed communities, both of which remain difficult to reach due to damaged infrastructure, fuel shortages and limited transportation.

In nearby Micronesia, the country is recovering from catastrophic damage wrought by Typhoon Sinlaku. Fletcher has released $1 million from CERF to deliver immediate life-saving assistance.