Today's top news: United States, Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory
#United States
UN Relief Chief hails ‘landmark’ US contribution to humanitarian aid
Today in Geneva, the United Nations and the Government of the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which the US is making a $2 billion commitment to UN-managed humanitarian funds. The agreement covers 17 countries, as well as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), enabling life-saving assistance to reach people in some of the world’s most severe crises.
In a statement, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the announcement as an extraordinary act of leadership by President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Under Secretary of State Jeremy Lewin, calling it “a commitment that will save many millions of lives” and a major vote of confidence in the Humanitarian Reset to deliver aid faster, smarter and closer to people who need it most.
Fletcher underscored that accountability and transparency will be central to this partnership, and that American taxpayers will see how every dollar is tracked, measured and turned into real, life-saving impact on the ground.
He added that this investment will significantly strengthen humanitarian operations in 2026 and help close critical gaps across multiple emergencies.
#Sudan
UN carries out first assessment mission to besieged El Fasher in months
Following extensive humanitarian negotiations, the UN carried out a security assessment in El Fasher on 26 December, the first such mission since the city came under siege more than 500 days ago.
The team spent several hours on the ground, visiting the Saudi hospital and speaking with people who remain trapped in the city. UN staff reported a severe lack of basic supplies and services.
Humanitarian convoys carrying food and other life-saving items having been blocked from entering El Fasher for months. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled the city and its surrounding areas in recent months, while humanitarian workers continue to provide protection and life-saving assistance to those who have fled.
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Humanitarians continue to rush aid to people impacted by severe rains
OCHA says the humanitarian community in Gaza is providing emergency response as an ongoing rainstorm causes war-damaged buildings to collapse, floods tents and soaks people’s belongings.
Over the past 24 hours, weather conditions have led to further casualties and increased health risks, including hypothermia among babies and illnesses linked to overflowing sewage.
To respond swiftly to flood alerts, a system brings together UN agencies and non-governmental organizations to distribute tents, tarpaulins, warm clothes, blankets and dignity kits across Gaza. The UN and its partners are also mobilizing heavy equipment to pump overflowing sewage away from residential areas.
Separately, humanitarian teams are helping hundreds of people newly displaced from the neighbourhood of At Tufah in Gaza city, where military operations have forced many from their homes. People who remain in or have returned to As Sanafour area of the neighbourhood, typically because of lack of space elsewhere, report significant challenges in accessing water, food and basic services.
Meanwhile, other relief operations under the UN-coordinated humanitarian plan for the ceasefire continue.
Between 23 and 26 December, partners leading on water, sanitation and hygiene dispatched tens of thousands of dignity kits, hygiene kits and bottles of shampoo across Gaza for some 150,000 people in need.
As of yesterday, partners working to mitigate food insecurity have reached more than one million people – half of Gaza’s population – through 60 distribution points with the monthly general food assistance for December. In parallel, to support local production and reduce aid dependency, they have distributed veterinary kits and animal feed to more than 2,000 families with livestock between 9 and 26 December.