Today's top news: South Sudan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan, Haiti

#South Sudan

South Sudan "stands at a dangerous crossroads,” UN Relief Chief warns Security Council

 Addressing the Security Council today on South Sudan, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, described a nation in despair.

Renewed fighting has forced a quarter of a million people to flee, including hundreds of thousands into Ethiopia. Mr. Fletcher pointed to the escalating violence in Akobo, a town he visited in February, where he said that within just a few weeks, the town’s vital hospital had been stripped bare. He stressed that attacks on healthcare facilities continue to deprive vulnerable communities of lifesaving services.

 He also cautioned that humanitarian operations are being slowed by bureaucracy and restrictions, even as hunger tightens its grip across the country. Large numbers of people are now facing emergency-level food insecurity, raising fears that South Sudan could slide further towards famine.

Fletcher urged the Security Council to act quickly to prevent a full-scale humanitarian collapse by ensuring aid agencies can reach those in need, increasing flexible funding, and demanding that all parties to the conflict respect international humanitarian law.

#Lebanon

 Returnees begin journey home after ceasefire

OCHA says that following the announcement of the ceasefire, humanitarians report some displaced families are starting to return to Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, including parts of Nabatieh governorate and the district of Tyre.

 According to partners and local authorities, thousands of people were seen travelling south early this morning, with major roads congested, particularly near the villages of Qasmiyeh and Zefta in southern Lebanon, despite extensive damage to bridges and infrastructure.

Reinforced pipes and other temporary fixes have been installed at river crossings in the South governorate and the coastal route of Qasmieh to make it easier for people to return to their communities.

But OCHA warns that risks to people’s safety remain, including unexploded ordnance in many residential areas of the South and Nabatieh governorates.

As of 5pm in Lebanon today, 113,000 people were in collective shelters – this is down from 141,000 yesterday. As a reminder, some 1.2 million people were displaced during the escalation.

Partners continue to support the humanitarian response in close coordination with the local authorities. For example, partners in mine action are working to raise awareness at the major checkpoints leading to southern Lebanon of the dangers of unexploded ordnance.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Safety out of reach for civilians, UN aid wing cautions

In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, OCHA says that attacks on residential areas continue to be reported across all parts of the Strip every day. Safety for civilians is guaranteed nowhere in Gaza.

Yesterday, attacks were reported across all five governorates with airstrikes, shelling, navy fire and shooting, causing casualties. In Deir al Balah area, bullets hit the UNRWA Maghazi Health Centre, reportedly causing damage and injuries. 

OCHA stresses that civilians and civilian facilities must always be protected. 

Despite the risks, humanitarian support continues, including through a joint UN-run response mechanism that secures quick support to families affected by weather events and other sudden developments. Last week, the UN and partners provided assistance to more than 300 households through this mechanism; dozens of them received tents, and hundreds received tarpaulins, blankets, and other essential household items.

Today, the UN Population Fund warned of economic hardship leading to reduced income, limited access to essential services and increased exposure to exploitation and abuse among an estimated 57,000 women who head their households. They also reported high levels of child marriage being used as a harmful way to cope with hardship. 

In the first three months of 2026, safe spaces and women’s shelters supported over 23,300 women and girls with case management and services that respond to gender-based violence. 

#Afghanistan 

Cross-border clashes displace thousands

 OCHA warns that cross-border hostilities – including shelling, airstrikes and clashes – between Afghanistan and Pakistan since late February have driven humanitarian needs higher in Afghanistan.

Civilian infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, including hundreds of homes, dozens of health facilities and schools have been damaged or destroyed. Humanitarian aid is hindered and explosive hazards remain a threat. Hundreds of civilian casualties – including children and one aid worker have been reported.

Last night, a woman was killed due to shelling in Dangam district, in the province of Kunar. In addition, three people were killed on Wednesday in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as a result of shelling from Afghanistan.

Humanitarian partners leading on education said that another school in Kunar province was struck on Wednesday. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the school was severely damaged.

Although the main supply road between the district of Nari in Kunar and Kamdesh in the province of Nuristan reopened on Monday after having been closed for two months, UN road missions remain suspended due to security concerns, and border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan largely remain closed.

The violence has so far displaced more than 94,000 people across the provinces of Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Paktika and Nuristan. Partners are assessing humanitarian needs in hard-to-reach areas.

Some 160,000 people are facing food insecurity and around 90,000 people have reduced access to health services, while some 12,000 students have had their educations curtailed.

Partners warn that safety concerns remain high, including explosive hazards and gender-based violence.

Since the escalation began, partners have reached tens of thousands of people in need with food, shelter, cash, and medical support, but significant gaps remain.

OCHA reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and safe and sustained humanitarian access must be facilitated to reach people in need.

#Haiti

Clashes force more than 1,000 to flee

OCHA says more than 1,000 people are newly displaced following armed attacks earlier this week in the South-East department of Haiti.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), violence on 13 April in the municipality of Marigot displaced more than 1,300 people. Most of them are currently sheltering with host families. 

IOM notes that this is the first time that displacement of this scale, directly linked to armed attacks, has been recorded in the South-East department. This is an area that has previously served as a reception zone for people displaced by violence elsewhere in the country. More than 165,000 people are currently hosted privately across the department.

OCHA is coordinating the humanitarian response where conditions allow, in close collaboration with authorities and partners.

However, ongoing insecurity and access constraints, combined with the scale of needs and limited funding, continue to affect the reach and pace of humanitarian assistance in affected areas.

The $880 million Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is just under 20 per cent funded with $172 million received.