Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Mali

Zeinaba, a mother of 5 children attends a cooking and nutrition demonstration at the Bella Farandi Community Health Centre, run by the NGO, Action Against Hunger.

Zeinaba, a mother of 5 children attends a cooking and nutrition lessons at the Bella Farandi Community Health Centre, run by the NGO, Action Against Hunger in Mali. Photo: OCHA/Ramatoulaye Moussa Mazou

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Rafah crossing opens for fourth day, UN concerned over treatment of returnees

OCHA says that airstrikes, gunfire and shelling continue to be reported across civilian areas of the Gaza Strip, resulting in casualties and damages.

Also yesterday, Israeli forces demolished an UNRWA school - Jabalya Preparatory Boys’ School - which was the last in a compound of six schools; with its destruction, the entire compound has been destroyed.

OCHA reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected. They must never be targeted or used to shield military activities.

Meanwhile, a limited number of people crossed through Rafah crossing yesterday for the fourth day in a row. On Fridays, the crossing is closed.

Yesterday, the United Nations Development Programme provided transportation to another 21 returnees from the Israeli checkpoint to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where OCHA and its partners operate a reception area. This brings to 98 the number of returnees received by UN teams inside Gaza since Monday.

Also yesterday, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) warned of a pattern of ill-treatment, abuse and humiliation of returnees by Israeli forces and armed Palestinians allegedly backed by the Israeli military.

Accounts indicate that some of the armed Palestinians handcuffed and blindfolded returnees, threatened and intimidated them, conducted searched and stole personal belongings and money. Upon arrival at the Israeli checkpoint, returnees described violence, degrading interrogations, and invasive body searches.

OHCHR says that, taken together, these accounts point to a pattern of conduct that violates Palestinians’ rights to personal security, dignity, and freedom from torture and other ill-treatment.

The UN is following up on these reports to ensure that any future movement is safe and dignified. The UN and its partners provide all returnees with access to protection officers, psychologists, medical staff and other resources.

Humanitarian movements inside Gaza – to and from crossings and in or near other areas where Israeli forces remain deployed – continue to require coordination with Israeli authorities.

Yesterday and today, the UN attempted to coordinate 11 humanitarian missions, of which six were fully facilitated. Four other missions faced long delays at holding points along the designated routes. As a result, two of them were only partially accomplished, while the other two were accomplished despite the delays. A mission to monitor humanitarian cargo at the Kissufim crossing platform was denied yesterday as the crossing was closed.

The missions included the collection of water and sanitation supplies, fuel and other items, medical evacuation via Rafah Crossing and the transportation of returnees to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

#Sudan

Drone strike injures and kills civilians, destroys WFP food supplies

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Denise Brown, expressed deep concern over a drone attack earlier today on trucks contracted by the World Food Programme (WFP) in North Kordofan, the aftermath of which she encountered a few hours later as she was leaving the state capital, El Obeid.

The trucks were travelling from Kosti in White Nile State to deliver life-saving food assistance to displaced families near El Obeid when they were struck, killing at least one person, injuring many others, and destroying food supplies intended for humanitarian response.

This follows another drone strike earlier this week near a WFP facility in Yabus, Blue Nile State, in which a staff member was injured.

In a statement, Brown stressed that humanitarian personnel, assets and supplies must be protected at all times, and reiterated that safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access is essential to reach people facing hunger and displacement across Sudan.

#Mali

UN, humanitarian partners launch half a billion-dollar appeal for Mali

The UN and its humanitarian partners, along with the Government, yesterday launched a Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calling for $578 million to support 3.8 million people this year.

Violence, disease outbreaks and climate shocks have left more than 5 million people – or one in every five people – in need of humanitarian aid.

This year’s plan will focus on civilians living in the central and northern regions, where humanitarian needs are most acute.

Last year’s plan received just over 21 per cent of the $771 million required – the lowest funding rate of the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, OCHA reports that humanitarian access remains difficult in Mali.

In 2025, 814 incidents where access was hindered were recorded, up more than 40 per cent compared to 2024, when there were 574 such incidents. More than 70 incidents last year were linked to violence against humanitarian workers, property and infrastructure. Bridges, telecommunications antennas and other infrastructure were also sabotaged.