ICRC coordinates aid and negotiates access in conflicts, defending civilians and prisoners under international law.
The Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has infected about 1,926 people and caused 702 deaths, official data has shown. Cases have spread from Ituri into North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo and Haut‑Uele. WHO modelling has warned the true caseload could be two to four times higher, and clinical trials of two experimental treatments have begun.
Lebanese paramedics have been killed and wounded in Israeli strikes targeting rescue teams in southern Lebanon. The attacks involve multiple strikes on emergency responders, with Lebanon condemning these as deliberate violations of international law. The conflict has escalated, with over 90 healthcare workers killed since March 2.
Recent aid budget cuts by the US and UK are worsening the humanitarian crisis caused by the Iran war. UN officials warn that these reductions will increase global poverty, displacement, and instability, with millions at risk of suffering from food and water shortages. The conflict's ripple effects are felt worldwide.
The Houthis and Yemen's government have agreed to release more than 1,600 detainees in what UN officials call the largest prisoner exchange in the Yemen conflict, with ongoing talks for additional releases and prisoner visits under ICRC oversight.
Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that the government must allow visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to Palestinian prisoners, overturning a blanket ban imposed after the Hamas attack. The decision covers detainees in Israeli prisons and military detention and follows a joint petition by human-rights groups. The ICRC says it is ready to resume visits; rights groups hope enforcement will curb abuses.
Retired and active security figures warn against regional blame as Nigeria faces a persisting security crisis. Attacks across Kebbi, Zamfara and other states have left dozens dead or abducted; officials urge a united, proactive response while noting political rhetoric is complicating efforts.
Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, remains detained in Israel without charges, recently moved to solitary confinement. Courts are reviewing his case under the unlawful combatants law; rights groups demand his release as medical care is reportedly withheld.
Field reports from Kenya and Somalia depict youths turning to farming and aid-funded programs as climate shocks drive unemployment, hunger, and mass displacement. In Kenya, young workers blend farming with digital tools to survive; in Somalia, drought and war overwhelm families pushing them into camps.
The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile as Israeli strikes persist and Palestinian casualties rise. Multiple incidents near Beit Lahiya and Khan Younis have killed civilians, including a 13-year-old, and drawn international concern. Authorities say casualties continue to mount since the October 2023 war, despite a formal ceasefire.
NGOs warn the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is testing already fragile health and water systems. Officials say funding declines and conflict are hampering response, with hundreds of deaths and thousands infected as burial practices and contact tracing face challenges.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government and Houthi forces are mobilising along multiple fronts amid renewed clashes near Hodeidah. Reports confirm deadly exchanges in Jabal Dabbas and Hays district, with a sharpened U.N.-brokered truce under pressure. The government has reinforced positions on the western coast while the Houthis threaten airports and shipping routes in the Red Sea.
South Sudan marks 15 years since independence as violence and economic strain persist. Leaders face delayed elections, inflation bites, and ongoing intercommunal clashes, with calls for accountability and reforms to unlock progress.
Yemen's internationally recognized government has struck Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, marking a major escalation with Houthi rebels. The Houthis vow retaliation, while the airport remains closed and regional tensions rise as the UN urges de-escalation.