The “relentless” attacks are targeting critical energy infrastructure, leaving millions without heat and electricity, and limited access to water and other essentials.

“The increase in long-range missile and drone strikes means there is no safe place in Ukraine,” said UNHCR director, Philippe Leclerc, adding that humanitarian operations have also come under attack.

Evacuations continue

Between September and mid-October, several security incidents affected agency personnel and partners, aid facilities or clearly marked vehicles involved in relief efforts.

UNHCR said displacement within Ukraine is expected to continue as evacuations from frontline areas increase, while nearly 5.2 million Ukrainian civilians continue to live across Europe as refugees.

UN nuclear watchdog still unable to verify Iran’s nuclear material

The UN’s nuclear watchdog still cannot confirm that none of Iran’s safeguarded nuclear material has been diverted, its chief told the Security Council on Tuesday – more than a year after Israeli and US military strikes cut off inspectors’ access.

“This can and must be rectified,” said IAEA Director Genera Rafael Grossi, adding that we know from our past work with Iran that constructive engagement is possible.”

Inspectors have not been able to return to the sites hit by Israeli airstrikes in June 2025 and joint Israeli and US attacks in early 2026.

The agency has seen no sign of work to repair or rebuild them, Mr. Grossi said, but satellite monitoring is no substitute for access on the ground.

The one exception is the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where inspectors are currently at work.

Iran’s atomic energy agency has cooperated in delivering the safeguards equipment needed to verify spent fuel there before it is moved to dry storage, expected early next year, Mr. Grossi said.

Normal inspections on hold

Normal inspections have not resumed, and Iran has not provided the information and access needed to verify previously declared nuclear material at its safeguarded facilities – both those hit in the attacks and those that were not – the IAEA chief said.

Of particular concern is Iran’s declared stock of 440kg of highly enriched uranium. The agency is also seeking access to the Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, which Iran declared just before the June 2025 strikes.

“Only diplomacy, underpinned by IAEA verification, can prevent nuclear proliferation in the long term,” Mr. Grossi said.

Follow the full Security Council meeting here.

Emergency aid for Ethiopians fleeing to Kenya

Kenyan authorities are at the fore of an emergency response plan to host more than 36,600 Ethiopian refugees who have fled escalating insecurity in the south, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

Recent fighting has triggered waves of displacement following a decades-long battle between forces from southern Ethiopia’s Somali and Oromia regions over boundary demarcations and resources.

Thousands of displaced Ethiopians are living with host communities.

Rapid needs assessment

UN agencies have joined the Government-led response – assessing needs and providing emergency supplies and technical support – including the World Food Programme (WFP) and UN migration agency, IOM, together with UNHCR.

On Tuesday, UNICEF in Kenya said therapeutic nutrition supplies had been delivered to a local hospital and the agency is supporting malnutrition screening, infant and young child feeding, safe water and hygiene services.

UNICEF has also provided four 10,000-litre water tanks and hygiene kits for about 1,000 households, alongside additional nutrition and sanitation technical support.