Between 31 January and 10 February, tropical cyclones Fytia and Gezani struck Madagascar, causing widespread devastation. According to World Food Programme (WFP) assessments, 1.57 million people in the country are currently food insecure, including 84,000 in emergency conditions, with numbers expected to rise to 1.8 million in the coming months. Families have lost homes, possessions, and livelihoods, and many are sheltering in damaged structures or temporary sites, unsure how they will access their next meal. WFP faces an $18.3 million funding shortfall for emergency operations over the next six months, having already reduced planned assistance during the lean season to just 10 percent of originally targeted beneficiaries, leaving more than half a million people without aid at a critical time. The agency stressed that sustained support will be needed to help communities recover, rebuild, and strengthen resilience against future shocks.
In Colombia, humanitarian needs are deepening amid ongoing conflict, climate-related disasters, and migration pressures. The UN, in coordination with the government and partners, launched the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, anticipating that nearly seven million people—about one in eight Colombians—will require assistance this year. Conflict involving non-state armed groups now affects 60 percent of municipalities, primarily in rural areas, leading to forced displacement, confinement, and restricted movement. Violence against civilians has increased, with grave violations disproportionately impacting children, as well as Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. Climate-related emergencies, including floods in Córdoba department affecting over 150,000 people, have compounded these challenges. The 2026 plan seeks $287 million to assist 1.2 million people, although only 24 percent of requested funding was received in 2025.
In Africa, the intersection of climate change and displacement is creating new challenges. With global temperatures projected to rise more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels by century’s end, livelihoods are increasingly at risk, driving both sudden and gradual migration. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has developed a machine-learning model for East, Central, and West Africa to analyze refugee and asylum-seeker data and predict cross-border displacement linked to gradual climate impacts such as drought, rising temperatures, and sea-level rise. The initiative aims to improve proactive planning and responses to climate-driven migration, though internally displaced populations were not included due to data limitations.
In Cuba, recovery from Hurricane Melissa last year has been hindered by fuel shortages, exacerbating energy constraints and disrupting essential services including water delivery and healthcare. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted that the Secretary-General is closely monitoring the situation, expressing concern over unmet oil needs. The UN continues to work with the Cuban government to support humanitarian relief, while advocating for dialogue and adherence to international law regarding longstanding embargo restrictions.
