UN News Today 26 September 2025 |

Gaza: Four more hospitals shut amid ongoing Israeli offensive

The escalating Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm medical professionals there, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday, after four more hospitals shut down this month alone in the north of the enclave.

Only 14 hospitals remain functional throughout all of Gaza.

Here’s WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic:

“What is happening is that you have displacement orders, it’s affected hundreds of health facilities and even if hospitals are not asked to evacuate, there is a lack of access, there is violence just nearby and that can put them out of service.”

The UN health agency described the situation as critical in Gaza City’s remaining eight hospitals and one field hospital, which remain overwhelmed by an “influx of casualties resulting from attacks”. They are low on supplies and forced to treat patients on the floor.

Gaza City forms the backbone of the enclave’s health system since almost half of its hospitals and field hospitals are based there.

But all facilities are short on blood, blood bags and transfusion sets.

“Services could shut down within days, without urgent replenishment”, WHO said.

Sudan: Khartoum returnees face a shelter crisis, warns IOM

To Sudan, where the ongoing war has left vast areas devastated and people returning to their homes without adequate shelter and only limited access to water and food.

In an appeal for international support, the UN migration agency, IOM, said that two in every three people going back to the capital now live in shelters in need of urgent repair.

The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, meanwhile, reported that the war has uprooted more than five million children. Many youngsters face acute hunger and disease outbreaks, while millions still live in conflict-affected areas.

To help, the UN agency is providing life-saving support for health, nutrition, education and protection.

Fighting between the Sudanese regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023.

Clashes have displaced millions and left half the population of Sudan acutely food insecure – nearly 25 million people. Famine has also been officially declared in North Darfur and South Kordofan.

Ukraine: WFP food boxes provide lifeline for frontline communities

Despite the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine, UN aid teams and their partners are still managing to support frontline communities, the World Food Programme, WFP, said on Friday.

The UN agency reported delivering more than a quarter of a million food boxes across eight frontline regions in Ukraine last month.

The boxes “continue to be a lifeline for people” on the frontline, WFP said.

It thanked the EU and Norway for supporting the aid operation which distributes basic foodstuffs in places where markets are closed or food prices are very high.

In a related development, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, announced a $5 million partnership with Saudi Arabia to support vulnerable Ukrainians forced to leave their homes because of the war.

The agreement was signed on the margins of the High-Level Week of the General Assembly in New York and follows the kingdom’s $10 million donation for Ukraine in 2024.

The UN refugee agency said Saudi Arabia’s support would ensure that families are protected against harsh winter weather conditions in Ukraine as temperatures drop.

Daniel Johnson, UN News