World News in Brief: UN Support Office in Haiti, Goodwill Ambassador Theo James in Syria, urgent appeal for millions in DR Congo

The office established through a resolution in September, will provide support to the new Gang Suppression Force and the UN political mission in the country (BINUH).

The Spokesperson’s updates included that Stephen McOwan has been selected as interim director of the office and he joined some 37 staff members already up and running in Port-au-Prince over the weekend. 

Furthermore, a second office was established in Santo Domingo, capital of the neighbouring Dominican Republic last week, to provide resources, finance and travel services.

The country will also serve as a designated medical evacuation destination should the organization need it. 

Mr. Dujarric added that the first air asset to be delivered, a helicopter, is now in Port-au-Prince, while more equipment is coming from the UN Logistics Base in Brindisi and from the UN’s now closed mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

Goodwill Ambassador Theo James ‘hopeful’ after visit to Syria 

Walking through Damascus, the Syrian capital currently being rebuilt after years of conflict, British actor Theo James contemplated his own grandfather’s journey years ago, who was welcomed in Syria after escaping war in Greece. 

“It’s a reminder that we all have the choice to provide safety to those fleeing conflict and persecution,” said the Hollywood star and UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador. 

Renewed clashes over the past weeks in northeast Syria have forced thousands to flee their homes, a year after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. 

Mr. James visited the country this week in his capacity as a top advocate for UNHCR’s work, which is on the ground providing assistance to Syrian families. He visited Damascus, Zabadani and Eastern Ghouta, meeting families who have recently returned home.

Optimism despite crisis 

“I am hopeful for the future after meeting with Syrians who chose to return to their homes – though for many people, not much is left,” said Mr. James. 

However, almost 90 per cent of the population needs humanitarian assistance, according to UNHCR.

Mr. James added that much of the infrastructure is destroyed and access to basic services remains limited, among other struggles. 

“That’s why UNHCR’s work in Syria is critical to ensure that those who return receive support,” he said.

New funding appeal for DR Congo 

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the humanitarian community have launched an urgent appeal for $1.4 billion to support millions in the country this year, the UN aid coordination (OCHA) agency announced on Wednesday. 

In what OCHA characterised as one of the ‘most neglected humanitarian crises’, nearly 15 million people are in need of aid. Due to limited funding, however emphasis is on reaching the 7.3 million most vulnerable, down from 11 million last year.

Impossible choices

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, said “the combination of immense needs and limited resources, forces us to make extremely difficult, sometimes impossible, choices.” 

The funding appeal focuses exclusively on areas affected by three major shocks: conflict, climate hazards, and recurrent epidemics. It covers 228 health zones, compared to 332 in 2025.  

This drastic reduction comes in a humanitarian context that is already deeply disrupted, particularly in the east where the situation has continued to deteriorate since January 2025 following an offensive by M23 rebels.