UN News Today 27 April 2026 |

Afghanistan: refugees from Iran ‘returning to nothing’: OCHA 

We start in Afghanistan, where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to reach vulnerable people, amid ongoing cross-border clashes with Pakistani forces.

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of harbouring terrorists, a claim the de facto authorities deny. 

UN aid worker Olga Cherevko said that the hostilities have been at a lower intensity than previously, but civilian casualties are still being reported.

She told UN News that in recent days, a school, health centre and telecommunications tower were all damaged in cross-border shelling:

“In the meantime, there are many people returning from Iran and are returning to nothing. Many of them are coming with nothing. They have no opportunities here. They don’t know how they will support their families, how they will be able to study, whether they will be able to study or get a job, or where their next meal comes from.”

Ms. Cherevko, from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said that the violence is putting the humanitarian supply chain under increasing strain and could threaten ongoing programming. 

Since September 2023, Afghanistan has taken back five and a half million nationals returning from neighbouring countries.

Strait of Hormuz crisis sparks rush to use Gulf’s land corridors

A reported half a million trucks are being mobilized in Saudi Arabia alone as Gulf States seek solutions to the blockades and attacks restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The lorries and their cargo of food, medicines and more have been on the move since the start of the war on 28 February, crossing the Saudi desert mainly from the Red Sea port of Jeddah to the other side of the country and on to Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar.

It’s all possible thanks to a UN International Road Transport treaty called the TIR (as in tears falling) Convention. It’s the only global customs system for the international transport of goods and covers the whole of Europe, North Africa and all Gulf States.

The accord streamlines trade by ensuring that all containerized shipments are sealed by customs at their point of departure and unsealed once they reach their destination. 

“This reduces border inspections and speeds transit – reducing cross-border transport times for goods by as much as 92 per cent and costs by up to 50 per cent,” according to the UN Economic Commission for Europe, which administers the treaty.

Mali: UN aid chief highlights dangers, urges access to assistance

Reports continue to come in about deadly and coordinated attacks across Mali at the weekend, led by separatist fighters and ISIL affiliates. 

State TV confirmed the death of the country’s defence minister in an apparent suicide truck bombing.

Russian forces supporting the military Government confirmed their withdrawal from the key northern city of Kidal.

On Monday, the United Nations Emergency Relief chief Tom Fletcher insisted that “responding to humanitarian needs, protecting civilians and ensuring access to basic services” were “paramount”, following reports of weekend explosions and gunfire in Mali, including in the capital, Bamako. 

That message followed the UN Secretary-General’s “profound concern” at the reports. 

In a statement from his spokesperson, António Guterres strongly condemned the attacks and expressed his solidarity with the country’s people.

Mali’s military Government came to power after two coups launched in the early 2020s. It says it’s launched a successful counter-offensive, and the capital was reportedly calm Monday. 

The  UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, drew down fully in 2023 after being asked to leave by the Government, worsening security conditions in the country. 

UN humanitarian efforts in the country.

Daniel Johnson, UN News