Published on: 2026-08-18
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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August 18, 2026 UN
Top news of the day at the UN and worldwide: the Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs visits Ukraine, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia threaten further escalation in Yemen and the region, the aftermath of the earthquake in Colombia increases the risk of human trafficking, one million dollars allocated to fight cholera in Chad.
UN Deputy Secretary-General visits Ukraine
UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher visited the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions of Ukraine today. He arrived in the country the day before. The UN emergency relief coordinator met with families who had fled their homes and hospital patients who told him about the physical and psychological consequences of the war. Meanwhile, UN humanitarian agencies report that as a result of attacks yesterday and today, civilians in Ukraine were once again killed and injured. Despite the risks, humanitarian organizations continue to provide assistance across the country.
Houthi strikes
The UN expressed deep concern over reports of Houthi attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia. Such attacks could lead to further involvement of Yemen in a broader regional conflict. The UN also emphasized that attacks on shipping must stop, and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden must be respected. The UN again calls on all parties to fulfill their obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Aid after the earthquake in Colombia
The UN continues to scale up humanitarian aid for people affected by the earthquake in western Colombia. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the disaster has impacted more than 186,000 people. Nearly 30,000 homes were destroyed and are beyond repair. The World Food Programme has called on donors to provide $23 million to supply food for 100,000 people over the next three months. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration warns that family separations, as well as loss of housing and income, could increase the risk of human trafficking.
Cholera outbreak in Chad
UN Deputy Secretary-General Tom Fletcher allocated one million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support measures to combat the cholera outbreak in Chad. In the Lac province, the infection is spreading among people fleeing violence due to lack of access to clean water, sanitation services, medical care, and other essential services. Earlier this month, Fletcher had already allocated three million dollars from the fund to assist thousands of people displaced by violence in this region of Chad.
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