A Save the Children analysis released on the International Day of the Girl reveals that approximately 167 million adolescent girls are among those worst affected by global aid cuts in 2025, particularly in countries with the widest gender equality gaps. Of the 20 countries most severely impacted, 17 are ranked as having ‘poor’ or ‘very… [Read More]
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Enhancing Mental Health Support During Crises Across Africa
Brazzaville – The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with African countries to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into every stage of emergency response, with the goal of having at least 80% of countries equipped with functional systems by 2030. This initiative addresses the growing mental health needs that arise from public health emergencies,… [Read More]
Africa Faces Mental Health Crisis: 150 Million Affected, Care Services Insufficient
Brazzaville — Nearly 150 million people in Africa live with mental health conditions, yet access to decentralized and integrated care remains extremely limited, underscoring the continent’s ongoing mental health challenges. A new mental health dashboard launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa highlights the prevalence of conditions such as depression, anxiety,… [Read More]
Uganda Scales Up Mental Health Support for Ebola Survivors
Aisha Nangobi, a 29-year-old midwife and mother of two in Uganda, faced immense adversity when her husband became the first confirmed case in the 2025 Ebola outbreak and died within ten days. Nangobi herself tested positive, and shortly after, her 18-month-old son also contracted the virus. She describes the experience as psychologically, physically, and mentally… [Read More]
Public Health Perspective Boosts Nigeria’s Mental Health Response
Over the past three years, Nigeria has made significant strides in mental health policy and programmes, guided by Dr. Tunde Massey-Ferguson Ojo, psychiatrist and National Mental Health Programme coordinator. His guiding principle, “There is no health without mental health,” underpins a renewed national effort to integrate mental health into public health strategies. Key achievements include… [Read More]
Thailand’s Rubber Industry to Benefit from New ILO-Canada Initiative
The International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding from the Government of Canada, has launched a project to support labour rights and enhance competitiveness in Thailand’s rubber sector and supply chain. Named “Strengthening Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and Trade Readiness in Thailand,” the three-year initiative was inaugurated on 10 October 2025, bringing together the… [Read More]
Mental Health Crisis Among Healthcare Workers Strains Europe’s Health Systems
A landmark survey conducted by WHO/Europe in collaboration with the European Commission, coinciding with World Mental Health Day, analyzed nearly 100,000 responses from healthcare workers across 29 countries between October 2024 and April 2025. The study found that doctors and nurses are working under conditions that severely harm their mental health, with implications not only… [Read More]
Millions Displaced in Africa’s Sahel Amid Escalating Conflict and Climate Crises
Displacement in Africa’s Sahel has surged dramatically over the past five years, with numbers rising by two-thirds, particularly affecting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. According to Abdouraouf Gnon-Kondé, UNHCR Regional Director for West and Central Africa, people in the central Sahel are being forced from their homes due to violence, insecurity, and the devastating impacts… [Read More]
Girls Leading Change: Voices of Boldness and Resilience in a World in Crisis
Senior UN officials and young advocates marked the International Day of the Girl Child with declarations, dialogue, and a show of solidarity for girls whose voices have been silenced, particularly in Afghanistan and other crisis-affected regions. Sixteen-year-old Nafisa from Ghana shared the story of a friend forced to leave school due to conflict but who… [Read More]
Haiti Food Crisis: 5.7 Million People at Risk of Hunger
The latest analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed index tracking hunger and malnutrition in crisis-affected regions, indicates that 5.7 million people in Haiti are facing worsening food insecurity. The study covers the period from September 2025 to February 2026, with projections extending to March through June 2026, highlighting a deteriorating… [Read More]
Sudan Displacement Camp Attack Leaves 17 Children Dead
UNICEF has reported that an attack on a facility hosting families displaced by ongoing conflict in Sudan has killed 17 children, with an additional 21 children injured. Media reports indicate that up to 60 people were killed during Saturday’s assault, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the Sudanese army… [Read More]
AI and Inclusion: Can Technology Build a Fairer Future for People with Disabilities?
Artificial Intelligence (AI), when developed with the lived experiences of persons with disabilities at its core, has the power to transform accessibility into true empowerment. Tools such as conversational screen readers, adaptive dashboards, and real-time captioning are not just removing barriers but creating opportunities for learning, leadership, and full participation in society. By centering inclusion… [Read More]
WFP Reduces Food Rations in Ethiopia, Deepening Hunger Crisis Among Refugees
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that refugees in Ethiopia are facing worsening hunger as severe funding shortages force major cuts in food assistance. In October, WFP reduced food rations for 780,000 refugees across 27 camps from 60 percent to just 40 percent of their daily requirements. This reduction means that each… [Read More]
World Food Programme Expands Emergency Aid Amid Emerging Ceasefire
The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a major scale-up of its humanitarian operations in Gaza following the implementation of a ceasefire, which has opened access for aid agencies to reach communities that have been cut off from essential assistance. After two years of devastating conflict, food systems in the territory are in ruins, and… [Read More]
AfDB and IOM Sign $62 Million Agreement to Restore Essential Social Infrastructure in Sudan
The African Development Bank Group and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed a $62 million grant agreement to support the rebuilding of vital social infrastructure and the restoration of essential services in conflict-affected regions of Sudan. The initiative, known as the Sudan Integrated Social Sector Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (SISSIRP), focuses on strengthening the… [Read More]
African Development Bank, WFP, and IFPRI Unveil Report on Innovative Food System Investments in Northern Nigeria
The African Development Bank, in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), has unveiled a comprehensive study advocating for innovative and coordinated investments to enhance food security and agricultural productivity in northern Nigeria. Released during the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, the report highlights… [Read More]
Celebrating World Mental Health Day 2025: Prioritizing Mental Health for All
Every year on 10 October, World Mental Health Day offers an important platform for raising awareness about mental health and mobilizing support to make mental health care accessible worldwide, recognizing it as a fundamental human right. The theme for 2025, “Providing mental health support and services during times of disaster and crisis,” highlights the impact… [Read More]
Fighting Maternal Death: Uganda Midwives Tackle Postpartum Bleeding
In Kampala, Uganda, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, the country’s busiest public birthing centre, is at the forefront of efforts to reduce maternal deaths caused by postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), or severe bleeding after childbirth. PPH remains the leading cause of maternal mortality globally, yet it is largely preventable and treatable when health workers are properly trained… [Read More]
Uzbekistan’s Just Energy Transition: Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Uzbekistan is advancing toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future through a new initiative focused on ensuring an inclusive and equitable energy transition. Backed by the UN Joint SDG Fund and implemented by UNDP, ILO, and UNECE, the Promoting a Just Energy Transition (JET) project aims to embed social dialogue, equity, and climate justice at the heart… [Read More]
UNDP Reports Rising Mental Health Challenges for Myanmar’s Youth Amid Conflict
New York, 10 October 2025 – UNDP’s latest report, “A Generation on Edge: Youth Safety and Well-being in Myanmar”, warns that prolonged insecurity, economic hardship, displacement, and fear are severely undermining both human security and the mental health of Myanmar’s young people. The report finds that nearly one in seven youth — about 2.5 million… [Read More]
Europe’s Civil Society at Risk: Rising Challenges for Human Rights Defenders
Last week, Commissioner O’Flaherty met with human rights defenders and civil society activists in Strasbourg and Brussels, including those in exile, on the brink of leaving their countries, or defending peers in detention. These meetings highlighted the increasingly difficult conditions faced by civil society organisations across Council of Europe member states, driven by three major… [Read More]
Brazil Launches Inclusive Refugee, Migrant, and Stateless Policy, Welcomed by UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has welcomed Brazil’s adoption of a new national policy aimed at advancing protection and support for vulnerable groups, including refugees. The policy, led by Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security, establishes a comprehensive framework that involves federal, state, and municipal governments, civil society, international organizations, private entities, and the… [Read More]
Criminal System Weaponized Against Human Rights Defenders in El Salvador
Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over the rule of law in El Salvador, warning that the state of exception and recent penal reforms have created a repressive apparatus used to criminalize human rights defenders and silence critical voices. The state of exception, now extended 42 consecutive times over more than three years, allows mass… [Read More]
