Global Issues

A sixth child has died in Gaza this month as the enclave’s people continue to endure dire living conditions linked to freezing rains and the Israel-Hamas war, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced. The development comes as aid agencies urged Israeli authorities to reconsider revoking the licences of dozens of humanitarian partners that provide assistance across the devastated enclave from 1 January.Read the full story, “Another child dies in extreme conditions in Gaza: UNICEF”, on globalissues.org →

Recent attacks across Ukraine have killed civilians, damaged critical infrastructure and cut heating and power supplies for millions, UN humanitarians report, as temperatures drop below freezing.Read the full story, “Ukraine: Attacks disrupt heating as temperatures plunge”, on globalissues.org →

Voting proceeded largely as planned in the Central African Republic’s first-ever combined presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections, and ballot counting is now complete, the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) said on Wednesday, with results expected to be announced on 5 January.Read the full story, “Results expected 5 January after landmark elections in Central African Republic”, on globalissues.org →

Up-to-date vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe COVID-19 illness, new research from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows, even as the pandemic has officially ended.Read the full story, “WHO research shows COVID vaccines still crucial in preventing severe illness”, on globalissues.org →

LONDON, December 30 (IPS) - Satellite images show corpses piled high in El Fasher, North Darfur, awaiting mass burial or cremation as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia tries to cover up the scale of its crimes. Up to 150,000 El Fasher residents remain missing from the city, seized by the RSF in November. The lowest estimate is that 60,000 are dead. The Arab militia has ethnically cleansed the city of its non-Arab residents. The slaughter is the latest horrific episode in the war between the RSF and the Sudan Armed Forces, sparked by a power battle between military leaders in April 2023. Read the full story, “Sudan’s Crisis: Mass Killings Continue While the World Looks Away”, on globalissues.org →

Follow our live coverage as the General Assembly and its Fifth Committee meet today to finalize negotiations and vote on the United Nations’ regular budget for 2026. The Fifth Committee is responsible for administrative and budgetary matters, including the Organization’s finances and staffing. UN News app users can click here and go here for all our in-depth meeting coverage.Read the full story, “LIVE: General Assembly decides on 2026 UN budget”, on globalissues.org →

Sudan’s deepening war is driving unprecedented levels of hunger, child malnutrition and displacement, UN agencies report, as new data from Darfur and a renewed refugee influx into Chad underscore the rapidly deteriorating situation.Read the full story, “Sudan: UN warns of unprecedented child hunger in Darfur as fighting fuels refugee exodus”, on globalissues.org →

Sexual violence against children has become entrenched, systemic and increasingly widespread across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with new data showing a sharp rise in cases since 2022, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).Read the full story, “Sexual violence against children ‘entrenched, systemic and widespread’ across DR Congo, UNICEF warns”, on globalissues.org →

Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, UN agencies and humanitarian partners warned on Tuesday, launching a $1.7 billion appeal to assist nearly 18 million people in urgent need.Read the full story, “Afghanistan to remain major crisis in 2026, UN, partners warn”, on globalissues.org →

The General Assembly has approved a $3.45 billion regular budget for the United Nations for 2026, following weeks of intensive negotiations and one of the Organization’s most important reform initiatives, UN80.Read the full story, “General Assembly approves $3.45 billion UN regular budget for 2026”, on globalissues.org →