UN warns of deteriorating humanitarian situations in South Sudan, Sudan, Gaza, Yemen and Haiti

The United Nations described multiple worsening humanitarian crises on Friday, citing renewed hostilities and access constraints that are deepening needs across several regions.

In South Sudan, the UN peacekeeping mission reported renewed fighting in Unity State between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and opposition elements, including shelling in Pakur and Tong. Peacekeepers have intensified patrols around Bentiu's displacement camp and the mission called on parties to cease hostilities and protect civilians.

In Sudan, UN humanitarian colleagues reported a sharp increase in drone attacks across parts of Kordofan damaging critical infrastructure and disrupting humanitarian supply routes. The briefing said suspected strikes hit health facilities in South Kordofan's capital, Kadugli, with reported casualties and further displacement.

Regarding Gaza, the UN said teams attempted to coordinate eight humanitarian missions; five were fully facilitated while three, including one to a wastewater treatment plant in Khan Younis, were denied by Israeli authorities. The briefing said almost 1,500,000 people were sheltering in about 1,000 displacement sites across the Gaza Strip and that restrictions on the entry of construction materials are impeding durable solutions.

On Yemen, the World Food Programme is facilitating an exceptional one'off distribution of quality'assured pulses and cooking oil from warehouses in Sanaa and Hodeida to more than 2.6 million people in northern areas, totaling 7,836 metric tons, while its normal operations in some areas remain paused.

The briefing also relayed UNICEF's assessment in Haiti of a roughly 200% increase in child recruitment by armed groups in 2025, deepening protection concerns for more than 1.4 million internally displaced people, over half of whom are children.

"Rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access is essential," Steph said, urging parties to protect civilians and humanitarian infrastructure and calling for increased funding for OCHA and partners to scale responses where possible.