Source: UN News: Thursday, 08 January 2026 00:01 AM
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the impact of the surge in violence on civilians in Sudan’s conflict-ridden Darfur and Kordofan regions. On the other hand, 79 lakh people in Venezuela need immediate assistance, which is more than one-fourth of the country’s total population. On January 3, in Sudan’s North Darfur province, civilian casualties were reported in drone attacks on local markets, medical centers and other places in the villages of Al Zurg and Gurair. On the same day, a civilian was killed in two drone attacks in the Kulbus area in West Darfur province. Humanitarian organizations say the attacks in Kulbus have displaced more than 600 people and caused fear among local residents. Meanwhile, several drone strikes were carried out in the city of Dilling in South Kordofan province from January 1 to 3, with civilian casualties reported. The situation in the city is grave and civilians are living under siege, while the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate and access to essential supplies becomes difficult. The UN Office for Emergency Situations has appealed to ensure the protection of civilians in all areas affected by violence, as well as unhindered humanitarian access, to prevent the situation from worsening. Violent confrontation broke out between Sudan’s armed forces and its former ally paramilitary force (RSF) in April 2023, amid differences over control of the country. On October 26 this year, The RSF captured Al Fashar, the capital of North Darfur province, after a 1.5-year siege, where allegations of mass displacement and atrocities emerged. After this, the fighting has now centered in the Kordofan region. Serious situation in Venezuela, shortage of aid funds © Unsplash/Bona Lee A view of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the humanitarian situation in Venezuela remains grave. Earlier this year, 7.9 million people in the country needed urgent assistance, which is more than a quarter of the country’s total population. But these relief efforts lack adequate funding. Last year, under the humanitarian aid scheme in Venezuela, an amount of 600 million dollars was appealed, of which it was possible to collect only 17 percent. Venezuela is among the countries in the world that receive the least financial support for humanitarian aid appeals. UN agencies, together with their humanitarian partners, are assessing the current situation and working to provide support to those in need. As part of these efforts, food, health care and protection, among other services, are being provided to people living in vulnerable situations. The United Nations has underlined the importance of respecting international law, protecting civilians and maintaining continuity in the conduct of humanitarian assistance operations, so that assistance can be provided to people in line with humanitarian principles. In view of this, there has been a call for a greater level of support to deliver life-saving assistance to the population most in need. Ukraine: Civilian casualties in the attacks, power supply disrupted © UNICEF/Oleksii Filippov Russian bombing in the Ukrainian capital Kiev has caused heavy damage to a residential building. (File) The attacks in Ukraine last weekend have resulted in a large number of civilian casualties, including children, and many people are living without electricity supply in the harsh winter. In the attacks that took place from January 2 to Monday morning, more than 12 people were reported killed and 50 others injured. These attacks in many areas of Ukraine have caused damage to energy plants. Last Friday, at least 12 civilians were killed in an attack in the central area of Kharkiv, including a mother and her child. Many people have been injured. Residential buildings and health care centers have been damaged and electricity, water and gas supplies have been cut off in many parts of the city. One person has died, while 4 others have been injured in the attacks that took place on January 5 in the capital Kiev and its areas. According to the local administration, a private hospital has been damaged. Thousands of people are living in residential buildings without electricity supply. Humanitarian aid workers are busy providing relief to the needy in Kharkiv and other areas including Kiev which were hit by the attacks. Several other areas including Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv are also reported to have been targeted in the attacks.
