© UNHCR Humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in Lebanon. Top news of the day | Friday: Lebanon, Gaza, Ebola, UN chief’s trip to London UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 18 people, an average of one child has been killed in Gaza since the start of the truce, almost 900 cases of Ebola have been confirmed in DR Congo, the UN Secretary General will take part in London Climate Action Week.
Conflict in southern Lebanon
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday condemned the worsening conflict in Lebanon, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah militants in the south of the country reportedly killing at least 18 people. Meanwhile, the United Nations has renewed its call for freedom of movement for its peacekeepers in Lebanon, who continue to closely monitor developments, including in the context of the recent preliminary peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
Situation in Gaza
In the Gaza Strip, 265 children have died as a result of violence since the ceasefire was declared in October 2025. This was stated today by the representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) James Elder. According to him, this means that on average, every day for more than eight months, one child was killed. According to Gaza health authorities, almost a thousand Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since the start of the truce, and more than 3,100 others were injured. UNICEF also stresses that for the 1.1 million children and their families in the sector, the search for clean water remains a daily challenge.
Ebola Outbreak
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to spread, affecting new areas of the country. Women, doctors and internally displaced persons are at particular risk. Representatives of UN humanitarian agencies announced this on Friday at a briefing in Geneva. To date, the DRC has reported 896 confirmed cases, including 232 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The International Organization for Migration has conducted more than a million health checks at border points and key travel routes in the region. The UN Secretary-General will arrive in London on Monday to attend a series of events as part of London Climate Action Week. On Tuesday, António Guterres will deliver a speech on climate and energy and emphasize that renewable energy represents the clearest path to energy security. During his visit to London, the UN chief will also attend other events, including the Global Energy and Electrification Summit, the Local Leaders Summit, and the Climate and Development Finance Forum.