UN News Today 04 November 2025 |

Sudan: UN chief calls for immediate ceasefire

UN chief António Guterres appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan on Tuesday as disturbing images of apparent mass killings there continue to circulate online.

In a short online message, Mr. Guterres called to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces “to come to the negotiating table to bring an end to this nightmare of violence”.

Heavy fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the rival armies which has created a massive humanitarian disaster.

Last week saw the fall of government-held El Fasher after more than 500 days of siege by rebels in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Hundreds of civilians – including humanitarian workers – are believed to have been killed, and many others are trapped behind barricades.

In his ceasefire call, Mr. Guterres urged the “rapid and unimpeded” delivery of humanitarian aid to all civilians in need and an end to the flow of weapons and fighters into the country.

Gaza: One million receive food parcels as humanitarians race to ‘push back hunger’

Food is slowly returning to the shelves in Gaza but the situation is still “apocalyptic” and supplies are desperately inadequate, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

In a new call for wider access and more financial support, the World Food Programme (WFP), said that relief access remains severely limited for the hundreds of thousands who returned to northern Gaza last month.

But food isn’t the only thing Gazans need after two years of war between Hamas fighters and Israel, explains the UN agency’s Nour Hameed:

“Families invite us into their tents most of the time in the field and their tents are worn out by winter cold and summer heat, and they want to show us the reality, and the reality is that people need food, people need shelter. People need warm clothing because winter is around the corner and they need continued support.”

In the three and a half weeks since a fragile ceasefire was declared, WFP has distributed around a million food parcels to people across Gaza.

Supplies are still limited so families receive a reduced food ration to last them 10 days.

Syria’s future under threat from acute funding shortages

Hopes for a peaceful future in post-war Syria are at risk as funding for basic services dries up, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

The development comes 11 months after the country’s devastating civil war ended with the overthrow of the Assad regime by opposition forces loyal to new President Ahmad Al-Sharaa.

Today, as Syrians return home in increasing numbers, the shattered country faces chronic shortages of medicines, power and equipment, said WHO’s representative in Syria, Dr Christina Bethke:

“We are seeing some immediate flashpoints that have been declared, in example in northeast, Hassakeh National Hospital – which is the only comprehensive public hospital for more than 300,000 people – faces the end of donor support at the end of December. And that places ambulances and referral system also at risk, as well as round-the-clock primary care especially in several IDP camps in that region.”

According to the UN health agency, only 58 per cent of hospitals and 23 per cent of primary health care centres are fully functional today, amid rising needs.

Latest UN data indicates that more than 1.1 million Syrians have returned to their country since the fall of the Assad regime.

The lack of healthcare they are finding is a key factor in dissuading more from coming home.

Daniel Johnson, UN News