The United Nations has warned that Sudan is sliding deeper into catastrophe, with growing famine and surging violence – particularly in North Darfur – driving mass displacement and an alarming rise in civilian deaths.

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, voiced deep concern on Wednesday over the recent surge in violence across Syria, particularly in the suburbs of Damascus and in Homs.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon has called for greater support to people in the south of the country working to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of last year’s hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lifesaving operations everywhere continue to be shut down by sweeping funding cutbacks which will result in millions of people dying, the UN’s top aid official said on Wednesday.

DAR ES SALAAM, Apr 29 (IPS) - Under the scorching Tanzanian sun, Neema Mushi wipes sweat from her dust-covered face and swings her pickaxe into the earth. The impact sends dust swirling into the air, coating her tattered clothes. She barely notices. For the past eight years, this has been her life—digging, sifting, sieving, and hoping to strike gold in the male-dominated pits of Geita. It is a grueling task riddled with obstacles.

After suffering almost 18 months of deadly bombardment, displacement and lack of access to basic services, the embattled people of Gaza face yet another challenge: the threat of insects and rodents.

The UN political affairs chief underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire in Ukraine in a briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday.

The UN Secretary-General has warned that the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine is nearing collapse, urging world leaders to take bold, irreversible steps to preserve hopes for lasting peace.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed “deep concern” over rising tensions between India and Pakistan since the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir a week ago in which 26 tourists were killed.

Faced with mounting debt and economic stagnation, middle-income countries have issued a call for financial reform, sustainable investment, and a roadmap to escape the so-called “middle-income trap,” at a UN-backed international conference held in Manila, Philippines, which concluded on Tuesday.