“” The fact that people are dying now every day trying to get food, I think it is the most striking illustration of the desperation of the situation“Said Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the United Nations agency, briefing journalists during his fourth visit to the enclave torn by the war.

Earlier this year, food security experts said famine is spreading to Gaza. The whole population, some two million people, is of food tremor and half a million is at the edge of the edge.

“If anything, it’s much worse now,” said Skau, who was in Gaza City, Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis last week.

Children are hungry

Malnutrition is also skyrocketed. Some 90,000 children have an urgent need for treatment, according to the United Nations Child Rights Agency Unicef.

Today, one in three people hungry for days. Mr. Skau said he had met many families who told him that there were days when their children did not eat at all.

“But the days they eat, it’s often a hot soup that they get us with only a few lenses or a few pieces of pasta, so Certainly not enough“, He said, adding that some mothers discourage their children from playing to keep energy.

The senior official also discussed the generalized movement of Gaza. In the past, he met families who had been forced to flee two or three times, but Now, “I meet families who have moved two or three times in the last 10 days”, and some who have been uprooted more than 20 times.

Help runoff

Meanwhile, apart from the recent blockade of 80 days, the humanitarian response “has Never been more forced. The amount of assistance that humanitarian workers are able to bring to Gaza is “a fraction of what is necessary”, at a time when a kilo of wheat flour costs $ 25.

He added that the operating environment “is simply impossible”. Active military operations occur in approximately 85% of the Gaza territory and the teams “are blocked while waiting for clearances and control points, often passing between 15 and 20 hours in a row in their armored vehicles trying to escort our convoys.”

Other obstacles include lack of fuel, spare parts for vehicles and basic communication equipment.

Commitment with Israel

Mr. Skau said Wfp Actively engaged with the Israeli authorities in recent weeks and “there have been commitments” concerning questions such as volumes of aid, faster humanitarian movements and not having the Israel Defense forces (FDI) when the convoys move.

“Now, of course, the proof is in pudding,” he said. “We must now see the delivery and implementation on these commitments, and so far, we have not seen enough progress.”

He noted that WFP had been authorized to provide help in the North Friday for the first time in several days, which was “a key problem”.

“It is not only a question of obtaining enough volumes, but also of being able to enter the North, because in the North, we can deliver more ordered more,” he said.

He told journalists that “There have been problems with armed elements interfering“In the region, which is unacceptable, but stressed the importance of being able to deliver to it” because we think it is the means to help reduce the levels of despair and price. “”

Ceasefire now

Skau said that minor progress concerning commitments “will not be enough to turn the trend of hunger”, stressing the urgent need of a ceasefire in Gaza.

During the ceasefire earlier this year, WFP has facilitated more than 8,000 trucks in the enclave, opened 25 bakeries and hundreds of popular soups and delivered food packages to more than 1.5 million people.

The agency was also able to store its warehouses, which means that operations could continue for about half of the 80 -day blockade.

“We are ready to start again,” said Skau. “” We have enough food on the borders to deliver to the entire population for about two months. But obviously, we need this ceasefire, and we need conditions in this ceasefire. »»

Here, he underlined the need for a humanitarian protocol with a provision that allows multiple routes and entry points into and inside Gaza – as well as a secure environment for delivery.

Later, Mr. Skau was asked about the talks with Israel.

“I feel the recognition that conditions must improve,” he said. “” It has also been recognized that the UN has a key role to play“, He added.

“It was very clear in my commitment that they want the UN to continue to be the main delivery track.

“And if there was certainly a ceasefire, the indications were that they would like us to be ready to evolve and do what we did the last time we on the first day was ready to bring 600 trucks to Gaza. »»

According to reports, the rebel group based in Yemen – which has been fighting against the government internationally recognized for control of the country since the early 2010s – attacked Liberian and exploited in Greek Eternity c Monday and again Tuesday, which caused him to flow on Wednesday morning.

Four crew members would have died.

Friday, with 15 crew members, the group would also have taken an unpertured number of sailors that the rebels described as a “safe location”.

Weekend assault

This came after the Houthis launched missiles and drones in another Greek cargo cargo cargo in the Red Sea on Sunday, Magic Seas. The crew was forced to abandon the ship, but the 22 members were rescued, according to reports.

Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted Israeli and commercial ships in the Red Sea considered to be on the way to Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinians in the enclave.

In May, following US air strikes on Houthi bastions and missile infrastructure, the group concluded an agreement with Washington to stop targeting American warships – however, they did not commit to ending attacks on other ships that were reportedly linked to Israel.

Strong conviction: guterres

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric Read a statement Since Secretary General António Guterres Friday at the UN headquarters, saying the UN chief ” strongly condemns the resumption of Houthi attacks against civilian ships Transifying the Red Sea, in particular the attacks which took place on July 6 to 8, 2025. ”

Guterres said that “unacceptable” attacks have endangered the safety of crew members, violated freedom of navigation, disrupted maritime transport and posed serious environmental, economic and humanitarian risks.

Mr. Guterres also stressed that international law must be respected by all parties, stressing that United Nations Security Council resolution 2768 Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial ships must be fully respected.

“” The United Nations remain determined to continue their efforts towards a wider de -escalation in the region As well as continuous commitment to Yemeni, regional and international actors to obtain a sustainable and peaceful resolution in the conflict in Yemen, “he concluded.

The agency calls for calm and cooperation to provide a worthy path for millions of displaced Afghans.

Over 1.6 million Afghans returned from the two neighboring countries in 2024 only, according to Hcr – A figure that has already exceeded previous forecasts throughout the year.

‘Of Afghanistan – not Afghanistan’

The scale and speed of these yields exert enormous pressure on the provinces of poorly equipped borders to absorb them, exacerbating poverty, insecurity and humanitarian needs in a country still in shock from economic collapse and general human rights violations.

To complicate the situation, is the fact that many repatriated – especially women and children – return to a country they barely know.

“” They come from Afghanistan [but] No Afghanistan – often born abroad with better education and different cultural standards. Their perspectives are different from and often in contradiction with current Afghanistan“Explains Arafat Jamal, UNHCR representative in the country.

Women and girls in particular face a quarter of a quarter: from the relative autonomy in the host countries to a context where their rights are seriously limited by the edicts of the Taliban authorities.

Disoriented and disorganized

He reported conditions he had seen by himself recently at Islam Qala, a key border crossing with Iran.

Daily arrivals increased to around 50,000 people, many of whom have disoriented themselves and exhausted after arduous trips. UN officials have described scenes of despair in the reception centers.

“” Many of these returnees have been abruptly uprooted and have suffered arduous, exhausting and degrading trips – they arrive tired, disoriented, brutalized and often in despair, and they spread out in a center crowded in a heat often of 40 ° C (104 ° F), heat, heat,“Said Mr. Jamal.

Although certain yields are voluntary, he added that many occur under stress or without appropriate protection in place. Those who return include both officially registered refugees and people in situations “similar to refugees” which can face serious risks when they arrive.

Funding crisis

The UN and the humanitarian partners have set up a broad response along the borders, providing food, water, health services, protection and transportation.

However, funding deficits are hindering operations critically. UNHCR’s response is financed just 28% in July, forcing the aid agencies for rationing supplies and makes painful choices.

“We live with funded funds,” said Mr. Jamal. “” Every day, we wonder-should we give coverage instead of four? A meal instead of three? These are heartbreaking and destructive decisions of souls.“”

The situation is just as disastrous for other agencies: the humanitarian plan and the broader humanitarian response plan and not directed by the unison for Afghanistan – which is looking for 2.4 billion dollars to help nearly 17 million people across the country – are only funded at 22%.

Poverty and drought

Recent UN assessments have also warned of deterioration conditions and deepening poverty in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (Fao) has issued alerts on the worsening of drought in a large part of the country, while the United Nations Development Program (Predict) reports that 70% of Afghans are already living in subsistence levels, because the collapse of public services and violations of rights in progress leaves millions of despair.

While returnees cross the border, often without notice or resources, local populations are stretched at the limit.

Mr. Jamal noted that this “superimposed precariousness on poverty” risks fueling frustration, competition on limited resources and new forms of social tension.

“” Afghanistan is perhaps welcoming, but it is entirely not prepared to receive this volume of repatriases“, He said.” The communities that take people do it with great generosity, but they are themselves in crisis. »»

Global attention

The growing emergency comes only a few days after the United Nations General Assembly massively adopted a resolution expressing a “deep concern” concerning the deterioration of the conditions facing the Afghans.

The resolution, adopted with 116 votes in favor and only two against, urged the Taliban to reverse repressive policies and called for renewed international cooperation to support Afghan civilians.

The resolution highlighted the need for “coherent approaches” which fill humanitarian, development and political efforts. He also called on donor countries to maintain or increase support.

Through the five states that make up the Darfur, Unicef The data revealed a 46% increase In the number of children treated for SAM in January until May 2025 compared to the same period last year.

The acute malnutrition rate has exceeded the emergency levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO) In 9 of the 13 localities in Darfur.

North of Darfur, more than 40,000 children were admitted for SAM treatment in the first five months of the year – double the number of the same period last year.

Besieged and hungry

This increase in malnutrition has occurred in the intensification of conflicts in the north of Darfur since April. Wonderful districts have been besieged, hospitals targeted by air strikes, the roads made impracticable while the convoys of aid have been faced with attacks of looting and violence.

The situation is particularly catastrophic in El Fasher, where humanitarian access was almost completely experienced since the RSF militia besieged the city – the last detainee by government forces in the region – and reduced aid in April 2023.

UNICEF has achieved a share of supplies in El Fasher earlier this year, but efforts to send additional aid were blocked.

“” The children of Darfur are hungry by conflicts and cut off from the very help that could save them“Said Sheldon Yett, representative of Unicef for Sudan.” It is a moment of truth; Children’s life depends on the fact that the world chooses to act or look away. »»

The crisis launched a mass movement in the region: in April, nearly 400,000 people fled the Zamzam camp near El Fasher. Many have walked up to 70 kilometers to reach Tawila, where more than 500,000 displaced people survive little access to food, water or adequate shelter.

National crisis

Sam is the deadliest form of malnutrition, and children who suffer from it are very vulnerable to potentially fatal complications and face a high risk of death without appropriate treatment.

And the crisis is not limited to the States of Darfur – SAM admissions have increased more than 70% in the north of Kordofan,, 174% in the state of Khartoum And an amazing 683% in the state of Al Jazirah.

However, the report noted that the increase in admissions to Al Jazirah and Khartoum is partly due to improving safety and humanitarian access, allowing more families to reach health centers.

The Sudan crisis is aggravated the lean season of Sudan – a period of food shortage between crops – which quickly increases the risk of mass infant mortality, in particular in areas already from famine thresholds.

Cholera epidemics, measles cases and collapsing health services further worsen the crisis, which puts vulnerable children at risk.

UNICEF response

Unicef and its partners save lives by treating the wounded and Mal Nourris, drilling wells and distributing food. But despite their best efforts, violence leads the needs faster than they can be met.

UNICEF asks all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations and urges renewed diplomatic pressure from all sides for a cessation of hostilities.

The agency also uses the international community for more rescue funds. Additional $ 200 million is necessary this year to maintain and extend essential nutrition services, including treatment of acute malnutrition.