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MSF Syria: One year of strengthening access to healthcare in Daraa Governate

Country: Syrian Arab Republic Source: Médecins Sans Frontières 15 September 2026 - Years of conflict have severely weakened healthcare services across Daraa governorate, Syria. Health facilities continue to face shortages of trained staff, medicines, and medical supplies, alongside unreliable infrastructure and a weak referral system. Financial barriers also remain significant, with many patients having to pay out of pocket for services or medicines they cannot afford. These gaps are particularly acute for maternal and newborn care, while mental health services and treatment for chronic diseases also remain limited. In the Nawa region of Daraa governorate, the Directorate of Health estimates that around 90,500 people rely on health services in the area, including nearly 23,000 women of reproductive age and almost 18,000 children under 5. At the same time, people returning after years of displacement are adding to the demand on already strained services. In 2026, around 604,000 people in Daraa governate are estimated to need health assistance. As of 3 September, UNHCR recorded 149,682 refugee returnees to Daraa governorate. Nawa National Hospital serves communities across Daraa governorate and neighbouring Quneitra; MSF has previously estimated that its activities at Nawa National Hospital help support a population of around 1.2 million people across Daraa and surrounding communities. For one family from Tal Shihab in southern Syria, reaching the healthcare they needed meant travelling to Nawa National Hospital. “Because of our difficult financial situation, I could not afford the cost of a caesarean section [for my wife],” says Bilal Bashndi, whose baby was born at Nawa National Hospital. “We came from Tal Shihab. It took us around an hour and a half by car to reach the hospital." Since Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) began supporting Nawa National Hospital, working with the Directorate of Health to strengthen both medical services and the hospital systems needed to provide them, activities have included rehabilitation and reorganisation of key hospital spaces, repairing the hospital elevator, medical equipment, and supplies, and support to the obstetrics and gynaecology and neonatal departments. This year, work has also included the reorganisation of the operating theatre and continued improvements to the pharmacy and other hospital support services. MSF also supports infection prevention and control, including cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation, as well as essential services such as laundry and central sterilisation and the operation of a kitchen providing meals for patients. At Nawa, MSF supports obstetric and gynaecological care and neonatal services, including vaginal and caesarean deliveries, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, and care for newborns. MSF provides training for medical staff as well. Some services have changed significantly over the past year,” says Tariq Al-Mohammad, MSF's deputy project medical referent. “The neonatal department, which was previously not functioning, is now operational, while specialist coverage and access to medicines and medical supplies have improved. We can see a noticeable improvement in the services.” ​ During the first year of activities, Nawa National Hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecology departments admitted more than 7,100 mothers and have assisted 3,140 births — with 794 surgical intervention — while 315 newborns were admitted ​ and treated with MSF-supported neonatal care. Beyond Nawa National Hospital, MSF also supports primary healthcare services at Tasil Health Centre, helping people in Tasil and surrounding communities access care closer to where they live. Mental health, health promotion, and community engagement activities are also part of MSF’s support in Tasil. Mental health needs after years of conflict The consequences of years of conflict in Daraa extend beyond physical healthcare. Repeated exposure to violence, displacement, economic hardship, and major changes in people’s living conditions have created significant mental health and psychosocial needs. For people returning after years away, reintegrating into communities that have themselves changed can bring additional social, economic, and psychological challenges. MSF provides mental health and psychosocial support in Nawa and Tasil, including community-based activities, individual and family support, and specialised care. “The community today needs mental health services,” says Yousef Hannou MSF's mental health activity manager in Daraa. “People have lived through years of war and repeated traumatic events.” Hannou says that some returnees are coming back after spending many years outside Syria, sometimes to communities with damaged infrastructure, limited services, and very different living conditions from those they left behind. Adapting to these changes, alongside economic difficulties and the effects of past traumatic experiences, can further affect people’s mental wellbeing. MSF health promotion and community engagement teams work with people in Nawa, Tasil, and surrounding communities through health education sessions, regular meetings with community representatives, and group discussions. The teams gather feedback on barriers to healthcare, concerns about the services provided, and suggestions for how they can be improved. “One of our main achievements in community engagement has been establishing networks of community health workers in Nawa and Tasil, made up of people from the communities themselves,” says Mohammad Abazid, MSF health promotion supervisor. “We wanted community health workers to come from the same communities, so that participation is more effective.” MSF has also strengthened infection prevention and control measures within the facility. In addition, water and sanitation teams have ensured adequate water supply and proper waste disposal at the facility over the past year. MSF is initially supporting the hospital’s water supply with around 70,000 litres of water per month. These interventions have significantly improved the overall functionality and quality of services at the hospital. Despite incipient recovery over the past year, significant gaps remain across Daraa’s healthcare system. Substantial support is still needed to ensure patients can access consistent, good-quality care closer to home. -ENDS-

ReliefWebReliefWeb•Médecins Sans Frontières15 Sept

UNHCR Austria Factsheet, February 2026

Countries: Austria, Afghanistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye, Ukraine, World Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Preliminary statistics for 2025 show a further decrease in asylum applications, with a total of around 16,500 asylum applications compared to around 25,360 cases in 2024. In 2025, only 42 per cent were new applications, others included children born to refugees and repeat applications. Afghans were the biggest group of asylum-seekers, followed by Syrians. Austria is among the top donors to UNHCR’s activities, while supporting the international responses to the needs of forcibly displaced people worldwide.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees15 Sept

Yemen: Escalating fighting and mass displacement put civilians at grave risk

Country: Yemen Source: Oxfam Please refer to the attached file. We, the undersigned aid organisations operating in Yemen, are deeply concerned by the sharp escalation in fighting across Taiz and the West Coast since 3 September and its mounting humanitarian impact, including civilian casualties and mass displacement. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix, displacement in Yemen has reached 85,818 people, including 82,164 displaced since the beginning of September alone. More than 2,000 people fleeing the hostilities have also reached Djibouti. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains one of the largest in the world. Renewed fighting risks worsening conditions for civilians and further constraining the ability of aid organisations to deliver critical services. More than a decade of conflict has left 22 million people, over half the population, in need of humanitarian assistance.¹ Millions already face hunger, displacement and limited access to basic services. Clashes have intensified across several of Yemen’s frontlines, many of which had remained relatively stable since the 2022 UN-brokered truce. Fighting has escalated rapidly along the West Coast and South Taiz frontlines. OCHA has reported civilian casualties, including children.² IOM reports that Taiz is the hardest hit by new displacement, with nearly 56,000 people displaced, followed by more than 19,000 in Lahj, more than 8,000 in Al Hodeidah and more than 2,500 in Aden.⁴ The escalation follows weeks of renewed hostilities in Marib, Taiz and Al Hodeidah, which displaced more than 162 households during August, according to OCHA.³ Families are fleeing in extremely difficult conditions, with some who have already been displaced by conflict now facing the prospect of being forced to flee again. Fighting near displacement sites and along routes used by civilians is creating serious protection risks for people on the move. Women and girls, particularly pregnant and breastfeeding women; children, including unaccompanied and separated children; older people; people with disabilities; and people living with chronic illnesses may face heightened risks, including difficulties accessing safe shelter, healthcare, sanitation and other essential services. Humanitarian organisations are providing lifesaving support, but insecurity and access constraints are making it harder for civilians to flee safely and for aid workers to reach everyone in need. Delivering essential goods to sustain humanitarian operations is already challenging amid regional instability and related supply-chain disruptions, and the recent escalation may further complicate these efforts. Additional flexible funding is urgently needed to address emerging humanitarian needs, particularly emergency shelter, food assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene, healthcare, nutrition, mental health and psychosocial support, education and protection, while safeguarding the continuity of existing services. Every Yemeni life is precious and must be protected. All parties to the conflict must respect and uphold international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure safe and sustained humanitarian access. After years of suffering, Yemen’s people cannot endure further civilian harm and displacement. We urge all parties and the international community to use available diplomatic channels to support an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process aimed at ending the conflict and achieving lasting peace in Yemen. • Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) • Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH) • International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) • Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) • Save the Children • CARE International • INTERSOS • War Child Alliance • International Medical Corps • Concern Worldwide • Vision Hope International • Action For Humanity International • MedGlobal • Médecins du Monde – Yemen • International Rescue Committee (IRC) • Danish Refugee Council (DRC) • Secours Islamique France (SIF) • Oxfam • Helpcode Italia ETS

ReliefWebReliefWeb•Oxfam15 Sept

UNHCR Bulgaria Factsheet, February 2026

Countries: Bulgaria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. UNHCR provides protection and inclusion support to refugees from Ukraine who have fled to Bulgaria since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, of which some 84,190 are currently present in the country. UNHCR has expanded its support with assistance and protection and facilitating their socioeconomic inclusion through various programs aimed at improving access to employment and essential social services. UNHCR supports Bulgaria, being EU external border country to strengthen its asylum system ahead of the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees15 Sept

UNHCR Croatia Factsheet, February 2026

Countries: Croatia, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Croatia’s asylum legislation is aligned with international standards, providing a solid framework for adequate reception conditions for asylum-seekers and effective integration opportunities for refugees. UNHCR monitors access to territory and asylum and advocates for the effective functioning of the Independent National Monitoring Mechanism, including through participation in its Advisory Board. Since March 2022, Croatia has offered temporary protection to refugees from Ukraine, with UNHCR working alongside partners to expand access to services and strengthen their socio-economic inclusion.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees15 Sept

World: Food Assistance Outlook Brief, September 2026

Country: World Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key messages In March 2027, FEWS NET expects the number of people in need of humanitarian food assistance to be highest in Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Yemen, followed by Afghanistan. When food assistance needs are expressed as a percent of the total population of each respective FEWS NETmonitored country, FEWS NET expects the share of the population that needs humanitarian food assistance to be highest in South Sudan, where 50-55 percent of the country’s population will most likely need food assistance. The share of the country’s population that needs food assistance is also very high in Yemen (45-50 percent); Sudan (40-45 percent); Somalia, Syria, and Haiti (25-30 percent each); and Lebanon (20-25 percent). Out of the projected total 155-165 million people in need across FEWS NET-monitored countries, Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Democratic Republic of the Congo are each expected to contribute over 10 percent of total food assistance needs. Yemen and Afghanistan are each expected to contribute 5-10 percent of total food assistance needs. In comparison to March 2026, FEWS NET expects the number of people in need of food assistance to be higher in Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Uganda, Venezuela, Ukraine, Madagascar, Lebanon, and Angola. In contrast, FEWS NET expects the number of people in need of food assistance to be lower in Afghanistan, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, and Burundi. In all other countries, food assistance needs are expected to be similar to last year.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•Famine Early Warning System Network15 Sept
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Yemen: la escalada del conflicto provoca nuevos desplazamientos y la llegada de refugiados a Yibuti

Countries: Yemen, Djibouti Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees GINEBRA - ACNUR, la Agencia de la ONU para los Refugiados, advierte de que la rápida escalada de los enfrentamientos en la costa occidental de Yemen ha desplazado a más de 100.000 personas dentro del país y ha obligado a miles más a cruzar el estrecho de Bab el-Mandeb en busca de seguridad en Yibuti. Los combates han expulsado de sus hogares a familias en las gobernaciones de Al Hodeidah, Taiz, Lahj, Adén, Abyan, Marib, Al Dhaleh y Shabwah, lo que genera preocupación sobre nuevos desplazamientos dentro de Yemen y flujos adicionales de refugiados si continúa la escalada de la violencia. Muchas familias han huido con apenas unas horas de margen y con escasas pertenencias. Entre las necesidades más urgentes figuran alojamiento, alimentos, agua potable, atención sanitaria y servicios de protección, en un momento en que las comunidades de acogida y los asentamientos para desplazados se encuentran desbordados. El acceso humanitario sigue siendo uno de los principales desafíos. La inseguridad, los daños en las carreteras, los cortes en las telecomunicaciones y las restricciones de movimiento están lastrando las operaciones, especialmente en la costa occidental y en las rutas entre Taiz, At Turbah y Adén. Además, los daños sufridos por el puerto de Al Makha han complicado aún más la logística y el traslado de asistencia. ACNUR lidera la respuesta interagencial en materia de protección, alojamiento y coordinación de emplazamientos, en estrecha colaboración con sus socios humanitarios, que continúan prestando asistencia a pesar del adverso contexto de seguridad. La organización también ha activado su capacidad de respuesta de emergencia en el interior de Yemen, priorizando medidas de carácter urgente en materia de protección, alojamiento, artículos de primera necesidad y ayudas económicas. Entre las acciones inmediatas destaca la asistencia monetaria multipropósito para 1.000 hogares, ayudas económicas para alojamiento de emergencia destinadas a 500 familias y kits de reparación de viviendas para otras 1.000. Si la financiación y las condiciones de acceso lo permiten, ACNUR prevé ampliar la respuesta con el envío de 3.000 paquetes adicionales de artículos de primera necesidad y un mayor apoyo económico. Asimismo, ACNUR muestra su profunda preocupación por la seguridad y el bienestar de los más de 65.000 refugiados y solicitantes de asilo registrados en Yemen, en su mayoría procedentes de Somalia y Etiopía, que vuelven a quedar expuestos a graves peligros debido al conflicto. Al mismo tiempo, la escalada está impulsando movimientos transfronterizos. En los últimos cuatro días, más de 2.400 personas han cruzado por mar desde Yemen hasta Yibuti, llegando principalmente a través de Obock, Khor Angar, Moulhoule y Godoria. Más del 60 % son mujeres, niños y personas mayores, y existen indicios de que otras muchas personas podrían estar preparando su salida del país. ACNUR también sigue de cerca la posibilidad de movimientos paralelos o secundarios hacia Somalia, donde ya se están elaborando planes de contingencia ante una posible llegada de más personas. “Las personas llegan tras una travesía marítima muy difícil, muchas exhaustas, angustiadas y cargando con las pocas pertenencias que han podido llevarse”, declaró Sandrine Desamours, Representante de ACNUR en Yibuti. “La respuesta humanitaria ya está bajo presión. Necesitamos apoyo urgente antes de que lleguen más familias y las necesidades superen nuestra capacidad de asistencia”. Se trata principalmente de un movimiento de refugiados que huyen del conflicto y la inseguridad. Las personas que llegan desde Yemen buscan protección internacional y deben ser acogidas y asistidas. ACNUR agradece a Yibuti, un país con una larga trayectoria de acogida a refugiados, que mantenga sus fronteras abiertas y continúe recibiendo a quienes se ven obligados a huir. ACNUR apoya al Gobierno de Yibuti y a la autoridad nacional para los refugiados en las tareas de recepción, registro y protección. Los equipos de la Agencia de la ONU para los Refugiados ya están desplegados en Obock, mientras que las personas recién llegadas están siendo trasladadas desde los puntos de llegada en la costa hasta el asentamiento de refugiados de Markazi para su correspondiente registro y posterior asistencia. En coordinación con las autoridades y organizaciones socias, ACNUR proporciona transporte, alojamiento temporal, artículos de primera necesidad, alimentos, agua, atención sanitaria y servicios de protección. “Las familias de Yibuti y la comunidad de refugiados yemeníes están abriendo sus puertas y compartiendo lo poco que tienen, pero la respuesta humanitaria -que ya se enfrentaba a una grave crisis de financiación- está llegando rápidamente a su límite”, señaló Desamours. “Markazi solo dispone de capacidad para unas 5.000 personas refugiadas más, mientras nos preparamos para la llegada de más de 10.000 personas. Un gran número son niños y adolescentes, y ACNUR trabaja con el Gobierno para integrarlos en unas escuelas que ya están saturadas. Necesitamos ayuda antes de que se agoten el espacio, el agua, los alojamientos y los servicios esenciales”. La escalada del conflicto también genera preocupación por su impacto en la logística humanitaria mundial, que ya se encuentra afectada por las continuas interrupciones en torno al estrecho de Ormuz. El estrecho de Bab el-Mandeb es un corredor marítimo crítico que conecta el mar Rojo con el golfo de Adén. La persistencia de la inseguridad podría afectar al transporte marítimo comercial y humanitario con destino a Yemen, Sudán y otras emergencias activas en la región y fuera de ella, lo que podría incrementar los costes de transporte y retrasar la entrega de suministros de ayuda esenciales. ACNUR ya ha puesto en marcha medidas de mitigación, con suministros de emergencia en camino hacia Sudán y la posibilidad de recurrir a envíos terrestres desde sus almacenes globales en Dubái y Nairobi. No obstante, un deterioro adicional de la situación podría obligar a desviar las rutas a través del cabo de Buena Esperanza, lo que añadiría entre 25 y 30 días a los plazos de entrega. ACNUR necesita aproximadamente 14 millones de dólares para cubrir las necesidades inmediatas de las familias desplazadas dentro de Yemen. Asimismo, se requerirá apoyo internacional adicional a Yibuti para garantizar que las personas refugiadas procedentes de Yemen sigan teniendo acceso a servicios de acogida, protección y asistencia básica.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees15 Sept

UNHCR Hungary Fact Sheet, February 2026

Countries: Hungary, Afghanistan, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine, World Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. n consultation with the Government of Hungary, UNHCR coordinates the Ukraine Situation Refugee Response Coordination Forum (RCF), bringing together a wide network of partners supporting refugees. UNHCR works to ensure that all individuals in need of international protection have access to territory and fair asylum procedures, in line with international law, through advocacy and capacity-building. UNHCR promotes educational inclusion through evidence-based advocacy and community initiatives such as the “Back to School” campaign. Explore the latest participatory assessment report here.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees15 Sept

Angola: Portuguese-speaking African countries strengthen emergency medical team readiness

Countries: Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe Source: World Health Organization Addis Ababa - Five Portuguese-speaking African countries have developed national roadmaps to establish and strengthen emergency medical teams capable of rapid deployment during disease outbreaks, disasters and other health emergencies. Representatives from Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe developed the roadmaps during the first regional Emergency Medical Team workshop specifically designed for Portuguese-speaking African countries. Organized by WHO, with support from the Government of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region, the workshop addressed a longstanding gap in access to specialized emergency preparedness and response capacity-building opportunities tailored to the Portuguese-speaking context in Africa. WHO specialists collaborated with country delegations to assess existing capacities, identify operational gaps and define priority actions for building trained, equipped and coordinated national teams. The resulting roadmaps outline responsibilities and actions for the next 12 to 24 months, providing a foundation for sustained national action, continued WHO technical support and measurable progress towards operational readiness. “A strong emergency response depends on national teams that can be mobilized quickly and operate effectively from the outset,” said Dr Marie-Roseline Darnycka Bélizaire, Regional Emergency Director for WHO in Africa. “This initiative is equipping Portuguese-speaking countries with the systems, skills and expertise to lead emergency responses nationally and deliver life-saving care when it is needed most.” The WHO African Region records over 100 public health emergencies annually, ranging from disease outbreaks and climate-related disasters to humanitarian crises. While 27 countries are developing national emergency medical teams, only 12 have achieved operational readiness in line with WHO minimum standards. Progress among Portuguese-speaking countries has been partly constrained by limited access to specialized guidance and language barriers. During the workshop, participants were introduced to WHO’s ten-step approach to developing national emergency medical teams and integrating them into existing health emergency response systems. Drawing on experiences from COVID-19, cholera, cyclones and other emergencies, each delegation examined the governance, financing, workforce, equipment, logistics and coordination arrangements required to establish a sustainable national team. Participants also visited the WHO Emergency Medical Teams Training and Knowledge Hub in Addis Ababa, gaining practical insight into how multidisciplinary responders are trained and prepared for deployment. The hub maintains a roster of approximately 650 trained emergency responders, including 250 trained in 2026. The workshop supports the implementation of the Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams, 2026–2030, adopted by African health ministers. The framework calls for every country in the region to have at least one functional national emergency medical team by 2030, marking a shift from relying on teams assembled during crises to maintaining permanent national capacities that are trained, tested and ready to deploy. Support from the Government of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region has enabled WHO to begin closing an important capacity gap while strengthening cooperation and peer learning among Portuguese-speaking countries. WHO will continue working with the participating countries to refine and implement their roadmaps, strengthen national coordination and expand practical and simulation-based training. Media contacts Chinyere Nwonye Emergencies Communications Officer WHO Africa Regional Office nwonyec@who.int +2348034645524 Collins Boakye-Agyemang Communications and marketing officer Tel: + 242 06 520 65 65 (WhatsApp) Email: boakyeagyemangc@who.int

ReliefWebReliefWeb•World Health Organization15 Sept

The air support behind Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: World Health Organization Bunia— On-the-ground presence is the essence of an effective health emergency response. Equally vital is the ability to deploy frontline teams, medicines and essential supplies to the communities that need them most. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola response, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is providing that critical link, delivering responders and lifesaving cargo to the frontlines of the response. Since the declaration of the outbreak, response efforts have been intensified and scaled up, including air operations, to meet the demands of the response. Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, which previously operated three flights per week, is now connected to the capital Kinshasa by five regular weekly rotations. In addition, dedicated Ebola response flights serve several affected areas, including Beni, Isiro, Buta and Kisangani towns, in addition to special flights to meet operational needs. Every day, UNHAS teams adapt to meet the needs as the response operations have expanded. At the same time health measures have been strengthened to ensure safety. “Our work does not begin at take-off. From four o’clock in the morning, we check safety, fuel and aircraft disinfection. Passengers go through several checkpoints before boarding,” Says Daniel Honne Guissil, Ebola operations coordinator in Bunia. To meet the growing demand, the team has been reinforced, increasing from three station managers to eight staff members, while the number of handlers rose from 14 to 30. Pilots, co-pilots, flight attendants, logisticians, handlers, airfield operations staff and ground personnel all ensure a vital mission: connecting affected areas, transporting response teams, delivering medical supplies and maintaining the logistical flow essential for a rapid and effective response. “The contribution of UNHAS is invaluable. More than logistical support, it is a pillar of the response, linking almost all affected provinces,” notes Dr Steve Ahuka, Incident Manager of the Presidential Task Force on the Ebola response. For him, every pilot, handler or baggage operator is a frontline responder, just like doctors, epidemiologists or hygienists working in Ebola treatment centres. “UNHAS supports the response across multiple hotspots from Bunia. Without this support, interventions would be delayed and ultimately ineffective,” he adds. Most personnel, equipment and medicines destined for Ituri depart from the capital Kinshasa, located about 1800 kilometres by air from Bunia and nearly 3000 kilometres by road. By air, the journey takes just two-and-a half hours. Reaching Bunia by other means takes weeks: four days by road to Kisangani then by river to Kinshasa that can take between 10 and 20 days. Humanitarian flights are the fastest and safest way to deploy responders and equipment needed for case detection and patient care. “Without UNHAS, this response would not have been possible. It is truly a critical partner,” says Dr Thierno Balde, WHO Incident Manager for the Ebola response, pointing out that Ituri, the epicenter of the outbreak, is the starting point for operations to North Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uélé and Bas-Uélé provinces. “When the first cases were reported in Kisangani, the very next day, UNHAS mobilized a special flight, enabling us to support the response in Tshopo. That is an important example of its value.” As of 9 September, 2026, in Ituri Province, UNHAS had carried out 876 flights, transported 6918 passengers and delivered over 100 tonnes of cargo. Behind these numbers lies the expertise, resilience and commitment of an entire team maintaining a vital air bridge between coordination centres, affected health zones and Ebola treatment facilities. “Without the UNHAS air bridge no progress would have been possible to date. From the earliest hours of the response, they have stood with us alongside affected communities,” says Dr Anne Ancia, Acting WHO Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “The heroes of this response are not only doctors and community mobilizers. UNHAS personnel are also our heroes.” At the Bunia base, infection prevention measures are strict: aircraft and baggage disinfection, use of personal protective equipment, and quarantine for contacts. The risk of infection is real, but the ground and air teams remain determined. “We are not direct health workers, but without us there would be no medicines or medical staff on the ground. We are proud to be part of the chain that saves lives,” says Guissil. For the teams, each take-off is a battle won against time and against Ebola. “We’re still saving lives, of course,” Guissil says. Media contacts Kayi Lawson Communications Officer Regional Office for Africa Email: lawsonagbluluf@who.int Eugene Kabambi Communications Officer WHO DRC Tel : +243 81 715 1697 Office : +47 241 39 027 Email: kabambie@who.int René Koundou IFONO Chargé de communication OMS - République Centrafricaine Email : ifonor@who.int

ReliefWebReliefWeb•World Health Organization15 Sept

UNHCR Luxembourg Fact Sheet, February 2026

Countries: Luxembourg, Eritrea, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukraine, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Between Jan-Nov 2025, 1,648 people applied for international protection (a 7 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2024). Top countries of origin were Eritrea, Syria and Algeria. The first instance protection rate was 56 per cent. Between Jan-Nov 2025, 1,070 people applied for temporary protection (TP). During this period, 902 individuals were granted TP, while 3,865 existing TP holders renewed their status, extending validity until March 2026. The national reception agency provides housing to asylum-seekers, refugees and beneficiaries of TP. Despite the creation of additional places, the occupancy rate remains at 97 per cent.

ReliefWebReliefWeb•UN High Commissioner for Refugees15 Sept