Today's top news: Madagascar, Sudan

Madagascar

Relief efforts continue in the southeast of the country, which was hit by cyclones this year and last year.

Today, we, together with the Government of Madagascar, launched a series of humanitarian projects to support 335,000 people in the most vulnerable regions.

These projects have been made possible by a $8.5 million allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund’s Under-Funded Emergencies Window, which allows us to tackle crises that fall outside of the global spotlight.

The communities targeted by these projects have been impacted by back-to-back emergencies: Cyclone Freddy and Tropical Storm Cheneso this year, and Tropical Cyclones Batsirai and Emnati in 2022. More than 870,000 people need support in the cyclone-affected regions. 

This year, in support of the Government, we have already reached 439,000 people with food, clean water, and sanitation and hygiene support.

Our colleagues warn that the $215 million Flash Appeal for Madagascar is just 23 per cent funded.

Sudan

The World Health Organization says that, as of Monday, more than two thirds of hospitals were out of service in combat areas. Only 28 hospitals in these areas are fully or partially operational.

Even hospitals in states that have not been affected by the fighting are running low on medical supplies and staff, as well as fuel, oxygen and blood bank services.

Meanwhile, we and our partners continue to ramp up the distribution of critical humanitarian assistance in Sudan.

A small number of trucks - out of the 168 trucks ready to deliver aid to 4 million people across the country - are on the move from Port Sudan to Gadaref, Kasala and Aj Jazirah today. We need security conditions to stabilize and bureaucratic impediments to be lifted so more aid can be delivered.