A UN aid truck operated by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) carrying emergency shelter supplies was attacked by a drone while passing through Umm Drisaya in Sudan’s North Darfur state. Although the driver survived, the entire shipment was destroyed in the fire. The vehicle was en route to Tawila, where around 700,000 displaced people have taken refuge due to ongoing conflict. UNHCR said it will continue delivering humanitarian assistance despite growing risks, as millions remain displaced inside Sudan and hundreds of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries.
In a separate incident, a drone strike in El Obeid city in North Kordofan reportedly killed seven civilians and injured more than 20 people in residential areas. UN officials condemned the attacks, describing the victims as ordinary families caught in escalating violence affecting civilian neighbourhoods. Humanitarian conditions in other parts of Sudan, including displacement sites in Blue Nile state, are also deteriorating due to overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate shelter, and rising protection risks, including gender-based violence.
The UN continues to face operational challenges in Sudan, including insecurity, access restrictions, and funding gaps that are limiting the scale of humanitarian response. Despite these constraints, efforts are ongoing to support displaced communities and improve living conditions in affected regions.
In South Sudan, UN peacekeepers responded to deadly intercommunal violence in Warrap state’s greater Tonj area, deploying forces to stabilise the situation. Tensions remain high, with additional rapid response units placed on standby while UNMISS engages local leaders to help restore calm and prevent further escalation.
Peacekeeping operations are also continuing in other parts of South Sudan. In Central Equatoria, UN patrols assessed security conditions following reports of civilian attacks, while in Unity state, a mobile court supported by the mission concluded cases involving dozens of civil and criminal matters, contributing to improved access to justice and reduced wrongful detention.
In Ukraine, humanitarian operations have been increasingly affected by hostilities, with multiple drone strikes hitting aid vehicles in Kherson and injuring humanitarian workers. At least three aid workers have been killed and several others injured in recent months, while widespread attacks have caused civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure across several regions, including housing, schools, transport, and energy systems.
Humanitarian agencies are continuing to provide emergency assistance, including food, shelter support, and psychosocial care, while evacuations from frontline areas remain ongoing, with thousands of civilians relocated from conflict-affected communities in recent operations.
Separately, on South Africa’s Freedom Day, the UN Secretary-General condemned recent xenophobic violence and intimidation against foreign nationals, urging accountability and calling for inclusive and democratic values to be upheld. He reaffirmed support for South Africa’s efforts to address racism and xenophobia through national action plans and stressed that violence and hatred have n
