World News in Brief: Ending famine, refugee solidarity in Kenya, Ukraine civilian casualties update

In an alert, Cindy McCain – who heads the World Food Programme (WFP) – attributed a “dangerous and deepening global hunger crisis” to violent conflicts, extreme weather and economic downturns.  

The development comes as WFP faces massive shortfalls in funding; it has received less than half of the $13 billion it needs to reach 110 million of the world’s most vulnerable people.

This means that millions may be cut off from vital assistance, threatening lives and the stability of regions, the agency warned.

“WFP has proven time and again that early, strategic and innovative solutions can halt famine, stabilize communities, deter migration and enable families to recover,” Ms. McCain insisted.

Her comments come in a context of increasing hunger crises now affecting 318 million people around the world. In addition, “hundreds of thousands” are already suffering from “famine-like” conditions, WFP says.

Kenya plan showcases bold vision for refugee self-reliance

Barham Salih has made his first official visit as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in charge of UNCHR, calling in the Kenyan capital for stronger global support to develop the solutions refugees need to rebuild their lives.

Over 800,000 refugees and asylum seekers live in the East African nation. Some 300,000 refugees, mostly from South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have found safety in the Kakuma region over many years – a place of “transformation and innovation,” said the UNHCR chief.

He warned that the consequences of a growing lack of humanitarian funding were “stark” in Kakuma.  

“Despite scarce resources, Kenya continues to show remarkable solidarity for people in need, through smart policies that foster self-reliance and economic growth,” said Mr. Salih.  

Lack of funding  

Last year, less than a quarter of UNHCR’s budget for Kenya was funded – severely constricting access to healthcare, water, education and protection services for both refugees and host communities.  

In light of this, Kenya’s Shirika Plan seeks to transition from humanitarian aid to refugee self-reliance and harmony with host communities, providing refugees with legal IDs, financial services, education, and health care.

“These inclusive policies hold great promise for transforming the futures of both refugees and the communities hosting them.” said M Salih.  

Ukraine: 2025 was deadliest for civilians since full-scale conflict erupted

More than 2,500 civilians were killed in Ukraine in 2025, and nearly 12,250 injured – marking a 31 per cent increase compared to 2024, according to UN human rights monitors.  

The figures refer to those verified, with the actual total likely to be considerably higher.  

In December alone, more than 150 were killed and 888 injured. During that month, long-range attacks by Russian forces using missiles and drones caused 33 percent of all civilian casualties (34 killed and 308 injured), hitting cities and towns far from the frontline.

Some 67 per cent of civilian casualties occurred near the frontline (122 killed and 571 injured).  

Attacks on energy infrastructure

Since the conflict began in 2014, nearly 18,500 civilians have been killed.  

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (UNHRMM), the number of civilian casualties is likely to be significantly undercounted in cities such as Mariupol (Donetsk region), Lysychansk, Popasna, and Sievierodonetsk (Luhansk region), where there was protracted intensive fighting at the start of the full-scale Russian invasion which began in February 2022.

On top of civilian casualties, the Russian Federation also conducted large-scale, region-specific attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.  

In December, the Odesa region was among the most affected areas, experiencing repeated strikes that resulted in prolonged outages in several cities.