Today's top news: Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo
UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Sudan
Thousands flee hostilities in Kordofan region
OCHA warns that fighting continues to drive large-scale displacement in Sudan's Kordofan region.
Yesterday in South Kordofan State, more than 1,800 people were displaced across multiple localities, according to the International Organization for Migration. In North Kordofan, heightened insecurity has uprooted nearly 40,000 people from different parts of the state between 25 October and 18 November.
Despite the escalating hostilities and access challenges, humanitarians are supporting people in need across the Kordofan region. In North Kordofan, the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) - which is managed by OCHA - has released more than US$5 million to back four international NGOs providing critical services including health, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene - as well as food production, shelter, protection and mine clearance activities.
Throughout the Kordofan region this year, the SHF has allocated $33 million to support projects that reach some 1.6 million people in the hardest-hit areas.
Once again, OCHA calls for safe and unimpeded access to get life-saving assistance to people in need across Kordofan, Darfur and other parts of Sudan. OCHA also encourages donors to step up their contributions as needs deepen. The $4.2 billion humanitarian appeal for 2025 is just over a third funded, with some $1.4 billion received to date.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Humanitarians deliver critical shelter support in Gaza, despite ongoing challenges
OCHA says that despite the ceasefire, hostilities continue in parts of Gaza - resulting in reported casualties and disruptions to aid operations.
Humanitarians continue to deliver critical support, despite ongoing impediments to the aid scale-up in Gaza. On Monday, just before yesterday's heavy rains, partners distributed 500 tents across three displacement sites in Khan Younis. And on Sunday and Monday, they distributed more than 4,000 tarpaulin sheets to over 1,300 households in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, along with kitchen sets, ropes and blankets. However, given the scale of the needs, much more is required.
Once again, OCHA calls for unimpeded humanitarian access so that teams can reach everyone in need of support. The UN and its partners can do much more as soon as restrictions on relief items and aid groups, including non-governmental organizations, are lifted.
Yesterday, the UN and its partners coordinated eight humanitarian movements inside Gaza with the Israeli authorities. While one movement was facilitated, the seven others were either impeded, denied or cancelled.
Despite these challenges, humanitarians collected more than 200 pallets of medicine and five tankers of fuel from the Kerem Shalom crossing - as well as more tents from Kissufim.
On Monday, teams from the World Health Organization (WHO) facilitated the medical evacuation of 33 critical patients and over 100 companions. However, there are still more than 16,500 patients who need to receive medical care outside of Gaza. WHO calls for them to be able to do so through all evacuation routes, particularly to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - and for the movement of medical evacuation convoys to be expedited at crossings. The agency also urges more countries to receive patients and help ensure access to the specialized care they need.
OCHA notes that not a single hospital in Gaza is fully functional. Only half of the hospitals in Gaza - 18 out of 36 - are functional, and only partially.
UNRWA continues to provide learning activities. As of Sunday, the agency is running nearly 350 temporary learning spaces across 64 shelters, providing in-person learning for more than 47,000 boys and girls.
Meanwhile in the West Bank, Israeli forces have launched an operation in the Tubas governorate. OCHA says that a curfew has been imposed in the area, and forces are carrying out search-and-arrest operations. More than two dozen families were forced to evacuate as Israeli troops took over their homes. Today, thousands of residents could not reach essential services such as health and education.
OCHA reiterates that according to international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected, and their essential needs must be met.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fighting, restrictions undermine humanitarian access in South Kivu
OCHA is sounding the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in South Kivu province, particularly in Fizi and Mwenga territories, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The latest access report from OCHA shows that persistent fighting among armed groups and restrictions during the second and third quarters of 2025 have severely limited humanitarian access or made it impossible in some places. This includes the localities of Minembwe and Itombwe, as well as the Hauts Plateaux.
Since May, these areas have faced near-total isolation due to severe restrictions imposed by armed groups, including the closure of key roads linking the locality of Fizi to Minembwe and the denial of access for humanitarian organizations. Reported threats have also forced several NGOs to withdraw.
The impact on civilians is devastating. In the locality of Minembwe alone, more than 170,000 displaced people and returnees are cut off from essential assistance. The health system is struggling to cope with prolonged medicine shortages. At Minembwe Hospital, children accounted for 60 per cent of all deaths between July and September this year, and the mortality rate for severe acute malnutrition has reached nearly 30 per cent.
OCHA says that the food security situation is also deteriorating rapidly. Road blockages have caused the price of basic staples to skyrocket. Sugar prices have increased six-fold, and the cost of cassava flour has more than tripled since January.
Partners have prepositioned supplies - including medicine and nutrition kits - in neighbouring towns, but they cannot be delivered due to the insecurity.
It is urgent that all parties protect civilians and ensure safe, unhindered humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach those trapped by violence.*
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with urgent support
Posted on 26 November 2025
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