In a recent briefing to the United Nations Security Council, Mohammed Mohammed Hadi, the deputy special coordinator for the Middle East process, reported a deteriorating situation in the region, particularly highlighting ongoing Israeli military operations along the blue line with Lebanon and increased hostilities from Hezbollah. Hadi urged all parties to accept a ceasefire based on the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, while also condemning the violence in Gaza and the continued holding of hostages.

The meeting also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where Tom Fletcher, the new Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, emphasized the staggering scale of the crisis during his first field visit since taking office. Fletcher met with Sudanese authorities, including General Burhan, to discuss improving aid delivery and increasing humanitarian personnel in the most affected areas. He highlighted the urgent need to address the suffering of civilians and visited facilities for displaced children and camps for the displaced.

In related developments, the World Food Programme announced the launch of a new humanitarian air service in Sudan, facilitating quicker aid delivery to critical areas. Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission signed a memorandum with Angola to support a verification mechanism linked to a ceasefire in Eastern Congo.

The situation in Ukraine remains dire, with ongoing attacks resulting in significant casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, particularly in Kharkiv, Odessa, and Zaporizhzhia. Nearly 150,000 families are currently without heating as winter temperatures drop below freezing, prompting humanitarian organizations to mobilize emergency assistance.

In the Philippines, a $33 million appeal was launched to support communities affected by an unprecedented series of six typhoons in just one month, impacting over 5.9 million people and displacing 2.6 million.

Lastly, the UN appointed Elaine Ngar Minganga of Chad as the new resident coordinator in Côte d'Ivoire, bringing over 30 years of development experience to the role.