All articles tagged with #conflict and humanitarian crisis
Israel has expanded its military control in Gaza beyond the agreed 'Yellow Line,' forcing Palestinians into a shrinking 35% of the territory. This expansion, marked by moving concrete barriers westward in Shujaiyya, has intensified overcrowding and displacement despite a ceasefire agreement.
Russian-occupied Oleshky faces a severe humanitarian catastrophe as roughly 2,000 residents, including 50 children, are cut off from food, water, and medicine. Since late 2025, relentless bombardment and mined roads have isolated the town, forcing civilians to walk 23 kilometers to Radensk for supplies or survive on grass. Ukrainian forces have conducted drone airdrops, delivering nearly four metric tons of aid in October, but distribution remains uneven. While Ukraine blames Moscow for a 'siege' and using civilians as human shields, the Kremlin accuses Kyiv of blocking evacuation routes. No official evacuation has occurred in four years, leaving residents trapped in a 'critical' situation acknowledged by both sides.
Ukrainian officials and international bodies have raised alarms regarding a critical humanitarian crisis in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Kherson Oblast. With no food deliveries since late May, approximately 6,000 residents, including 200 children, are facing severe starvation. Reports indicate civilians are consuming garden weeds and grass to survive, while access to clean water, electricity, and medical care has collapsed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called for immediate international intervention to secure humanitarian access and safe evacuations, holding Russia responsible for the blockade. The Kremlin has acknowledged supply issues but blamed Kyiv, while local residents describe a 'full blockade' that prevents access to basic necessities.
The UN warns Ukraine faces its most severe winter since the 2022 invasion due to systematic Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. While Kyiv claims improved readiness through decentralized systems, recent strikes on civilian sites have caused significant casualties, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis if power and water supplies fail.
The conflict in Sudan, which has been ongoing for a year, has resulted in over 8 million people being displaced and more than 14,000 deaths. The country is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with 25 million people in need of assistance and nearly 18 million experiencing acute hunger. The conflict involves a power struggle between the Sudanese military and rebel forces, with foreign powers backing different factions. The situation is reminiscent of the Darfur conflict, with fears of repeated atrocities and a growing risk of becoming a failed state. The international community is being urged to take action to prevent a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
Satellite imagery reveals the devastating impact of the year-long conflict in Sudan, with widespread destruction of infrastructure, including the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company Tower and the University of Khartoum. The conflict has led to the displacement of over 8 million people, causing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent memory. The disruption of agricultural activities has severely affected food security, with a "catastrophic" risk of hunger in the coming months. The conflict has also spilled over into neighboring Chad, exacerbating food insecurity in the region. The U.S. State Department has called for both warring parties to uphold commitments to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian relief.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have projected that an additional 6,550 to 11,580 lives could be lost in Gaza over the next six months, on top of the 29,000 deaths documented by the Gaza Ministry of Health. The projections, based on three conflict scenarios, indicate that even with a ceasefire, the humanitarian crisis could claim thousands of lives due to factors like restricted access to medical care and sanitation. The researchers caution that these are projections, not predictions, but emphasize the urgent need for humanitarian action to address the ongoing crisis.
Aid organizations have raised concerns over the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in North Kivu province, where clashes between M23 rebels and pro-government forces have intensified, leading to civilian casualties, massive displacement, and heightened vulnerability for those forced to flee. The renewed fighting has displaced at least 150,000 people, more than half of them children, since February 2, with reports of lost children and a large influx of war wounded. The situation requires urgent action to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access in a region that has been plagued by violence for nearly 30 years.
Thousands of people, including children, are seeking shelter in an overwhelmed hospital in North Kivu province, DRC, as fighting escalates between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army. Medical facilities are receiving an influx of war-wounded patients, and at least 150,000 people, including 78,000 children, have been forced to flee their homes in the past week. The United Nations has called on the M23 group to cease its offensive, while the UN peacekeeping mission is set to complete its withdrawal from the country this year. The conflict has caused a humanitarian disaster, forcing over one million people from their homes since March 2022.
One year after the peace deal in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region, the legacy of the two-year conflict is still evident, with infrastructure in ruins, displaced populations, and a worsening humanitarian situation. Many Tigrayans are struggling to rebuild their lives, facing challenges such as lost homes, livelihoods, and family members. The presence of Eritrean troops and the unresolved issue of disputed territory add to the uncertainty. Access to services has improved in some areas, but the majority of Tigray remains dependent on aid, exacerbating the suffering.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported a six-year high in civilians injured by explosives in Colombia, as violence between armed groups continues to displace and maim civilians. While violence between the Colombian military and armed groups has dropped, more than 180,000 civilians were displaced in 2022 as non-state organisations wrestle for control of territory and resources. Caught in the middle are civilians who suffer from the presence of landmines, the threat of violence from armed groups and attacks on healthcare workers. Colombia has had to contend with an ongoing internal conflict between government forces, right-wing paramilitary groups aligned with the state, drug traffickers, criminal organisations and left-wing rebel groups.