UN News Today 09 September 2025 |

While Israeli military strikes Hamas in Doha, families flee Gaza City

The UN Secretary-General has condemned an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday, highlighting the “very positive role” played by Qatar in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza – and the release of hostages.

In a statement, António Guterres spoke out against what he called a “flagrant violation” of Qatari sovereignty and territorial integrity. He insisted that all parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire (in Gaza), “not (on) destroying it”.

Meanwhile in Gaza, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) confirmed the worrying news that families who’ve fled Gaza City amid the escalating Israeli offensive there are now returning, because it is the least dangerous option.

Here’s UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires:

“It is true, I heard from colleagues on the ground whom I speak to every day that indeed families are trying to find alternatives and following evacuation – forced evacuation orders – they’re looking at places to go outside Gaza City, but when they try and do some sort of recce of whether that would be a safe option or not to move their families, they find out very quickly that the risk of trying to move out is, amazingly enough, often greater than actually staying where they are.”

The UNICEF official explained that the Israeli evacuation order applies to the entire population of Gaza City which is expected to leave and go towards Al-Mawasi, the so-called “humanitarian zone” to the south.

But there is no safe place in Gaza now, Mr. Pires insisted, as he highlighted rising malnutrition among children for the sixth month in a row.

Ukraine: Russian strike on village kills more than 20, including pensioners

A Russian airstrike on a Ukrainian village in the frontline region of Donetsk on Tuesday has reportedly killed more than 20, with nearly 20 injured.

Many of the victims in Yarova were elderly people who were lining up to collect their pension payments.

Matthias Schmale, the UN’s top humanitarian official in the country, condemned the attack. He explained that many elderly civilians have decided to stay at home in frontline communities, despite the escalating danger from Russia’s full-scale invasion, that has also targeted health facilities including ambulances more than 2,600 times this year alone.

Dr Jarno Habicht, UN World Health Organization Representative in Ukraine, said that Russian strikes were “continuous”:

“Every fourth of the attacks, 25 per cent, are against ambulances, so it is not only about primary care and hospitals. These are also the essential transportation and reaches out to those who need to have care in their acute situations. If we think about non-war environments, when anybody calls an ambulance, this is for a reason. This is for a reason of life and death.”

Afghanistan relief effort is being held back by funding shortages, say aid teams

To Afghanistan, where aid teams say that they’re at “breaking point” because of funding cuts to lifesaving humanitarian work – including the earthquake response.

The UN’s top aid official for Afghanistan, Indrika Ratwatte, said that overall resources are down 35 per cent this year compared with 2024.

A full 47 per cent of the humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan was funded by the US Government until the spending freeze was announced earlier this year, and this has resulted in a “critical” loss of resources, Mr. Ratwatte explained.

Funding has also fallen from other countries because of competing humanitarian crises elsewhere, he noted, despite the “multiple shocks” facing Afghanistan.

In addition to last Sunday’s devastating earthquake in the country’s northeast, Afghanistan continues to suffer from drought.

In addition, some 1.8 plus million Afghans have returned to the country, often against their will from Iran or Pakistan, to communities that are extremely vulnerable, the veteran aid official said.

Daniel Johnson, UN News