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Today's top news: Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine

Sudan Red Crescent volunteers distribute food, kitchen sets and hygiene supplies to displaced families and refugees in shelters in Port Sudan. OCHA/Basma Ourfali

Sudan

The conflict in Sudan continues to displace civilians at an alarming rate. 

In just the last week, nearly 200,000 people were displaced by the fighting inside Sudan, according to new figures released by the International Organization for Migration. Since the start of the conflict, IOM says more than 2.6 million people in Sudan have been internally displaced.

Meanwhile, more than 730,000 people have fled across Sudan’s borders to neighbouring countries since 15 April, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

The humanitarian community in Sudan continues to provide relief those fleeing the fighting. In North Darfur, UNICEF and partners are supporting water trucking to gathering sites for internally displaced people, as well as to health care facilities. They have also constructed more than two dozen latrines.

The World Health Organization, meanwhile, is working closely with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other partners in states sheltering internally displaced people to provide essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and paediatric care. 

And yesterday, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners managed to deliver life-saving supplies, including 3,000 reproductive health kits, to six hospitals in Khartoum state. UNFPA is committed to reaching all women and girls in need across Sudan with urgent health and protection services.
 

Democratic Republic of the Congo

We are sounding the alarm on the situation in the province of Ituri, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is experiencing a significant escalation in violence.

In the past week, at least 40 civilians were killed in a span of three days in attacks by armed groups near the city of Bunia. In Ituri this year, more than 600 civilians have been killed, while some 345,000 people have been displaced.

We strongly condemn this violence and call on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and human rights principles.

To respond to the urgent needs of people affected, our humanitarian partners have scaled up operations and increased the level of assistance. We and our partners have supported 460,000 people in Ituri in the first quarter of this year.

The current humanitarian response plan for the DRC is only 30 per cent funded. We urge the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of the DRC and provide the support needed to address this spiraling humanitarian crisis.
 

Ukraine

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown today condemned an attack that damaged the Ukrainian port of Odesa overnight, just hours after the termination of the Black Sea Initiative.

Ms. Brown said that civilian infrastructure, which is key for food security globally, appears to have been targeted, reminding that they are protected under international humanitarian law.

During the attack, which was claimed by the Russian Federation, some civilian houses were reportedly damaged and one civilian – an older person – was injured. This is according to local authorities and our colleagues on the ground.

Regrettably, attacks and hostilities continue to take a heavy toll on civilians in Ukraine. They are destroying lives and livelihoods and leaving nearly half of the people who remain in the country – some 18 million people – in need of humanitarian assistance.