Today's top news: Sudan, Ukraine, Occupied Palestinian Territory
#Sudan
Two-thirds of people need aid as conflict reaches 1,000th day
Today marks 1,000 days since the start of the war in Sudan, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of a conflict they did not choose. Nearly 34 million people – or some two-thirds of the population – now need humanitarian assistance, making this the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
It is also the largest displacement crisis, with 9.3 million people displaced inside the country and more than 4.3 million refugees in neighbouring states.
Food security conditions are catastrophic. Famine has been confirmed in El Fasher in North Darfur and in Kadugli in South Kordofan, with at least 20 other areas at risk. More than 21 million people are estimated to be acutely food insecure nationwide. Sieges in Kordofan have cut off Kadugli and Dilling, limiting access to food, markets and farmland.
The health system is close to collapse. Fewer than half of health facilities are fully functional, with even lower coverage in areas of active fighting. Cholera has been reported in all 18 states, with more than 72,000 suspected cases recorded last year.
Nearly 12 million people, mostly women and girls, are at risk of gender-based violence. Households headed by women are three times more likely to be food insecure, and three-quarters report not having enough to eat.
OCHA also reports continued fighting in Darfur, drone attacks and long-range strikes on civilian infrastructure.
Despite the mounting challenges, humanitarian partners reached nearly 19 million people in 2025, with local and women-led organizations often serving as the first or only responders in high-risk areas. However, access remains dangerous and politically constrained, and more than 125 aid workers have been killed since April 2023.
In 2026, partners aim to assist 20 million people under a $2.9 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. OCHA calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, respect for international humanitarian law, safe access for aid, protection of civilians and aid workers, and renewed funding, especially for local and women-led partners.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.
#Ukraine
Overnight attacks claim civilian lives, sever essential services
OCHA reports that another large-scale overnight attack struck the country, causing civilian casualties and widespread disruption to electricity, heating and water supplies, as temperatures dropped to nearly –10°C.
In the capital Kyiv, authorities reported several civilian deaths and more than 20 people injured. One health worker was killed, while five rescuers and four health workers were injured while helping people affected by the attacks.
Since the start of the year, the World Health Organization has reported nine attacks on health care in Ukraine, resulting in two deaths and 11 injuries.
Also in the city of Kyiv, authorities and aid workers said that the strikes damaged energy infrastructure, nearly 50 multi-story residential buildings, four schools, ambulances, railway infrastructure and a diplomatic facility. Half a million households were left without electricity, heating or water. In the Kyiv region, five people were injured, including a child rescued from under rubble, while more than 370,000 consumers remain without power.
The regions of Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Lviv and Zaporizhzhia were among the hardest hit. Hostilities damaged residential housing and civilian infrastructure, including railways. In the past day, 115 people were evacuated from the Donetsk Region.
Ukraine’s largest private energy operator restored electricity to nearly 800,000 households in the Dnipro Region. However, parts of the city of Kryvyi Rih remain without power following the latest strikes.
Nationwide scheduled power outages continue due to damage to the energy system, according to the state energy company.
Amid the severe cold, rolling power outages and disrupted heating and water supply, the Government announced the possible extension of winter school holidays and a shift to remote learning, with decisions to be taken at the regional level.
Humanitarian organizations continue to support people in Kyiv and other impacted cities and towns, providing emergency assistance and monitoring urgent needs as conditions remain extremely challenging due to the cold.
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
UN, partners call for protection of Palestinian families in the West Bank
OCHA reports that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to provide critical assistance to families across the Strip.
Between Monday and Wednesday alone, partners reached more than 5,000 families with emergency cash assistance so they can purchase some items on the market. Last year, more than 340,000 families across the Strip received such assistance at least once.
In the West Bank, OCHA reports that at least 20 Palestinian families have been displaced from the Ras ‘Ein al ‘Auja herding community in Area C of Jericho governorate. This occurred after a series of settler attacks and intimidation – such as cutting off the water and electricity network – in recent months.
In a call for action issued today, partners in protection warned that several herding and Bedouin communities have been displaced under pressure from Israeli settlers.
In its statement, it called on Member States to support the remaining families, deter attacks and reduce the threat of forced displacement.
Meanwhile, in the northern West Bank, OCHA reports that, yesterday, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian property, including vehicles, a school and a nursery, causing injury and property damage in Deir Sharaf, Jalud and Bizzariya, in Nablus governorate.
Overall in 2025, OCHA has documented over 1,800 settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in casualties or property damage in about 280 communities across the West Bank. This is the highest daily average since OCHA began recording such incidents in 2006.
OCHA reiterates its call for the protection of civilians in the West Bank.