Published on: 2026-10-21
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 21, 2026 UN
Top news of the day at the UN and worldwide: according to the UN, the current El Niño phenomenon may become the strongest in recorded history; the World Summit on Child Well-being has opened in Samarkand; the first case of Ebola has been confirmed in Nigeria; the earnings of smugglers from illegal migrant trafficking via sea routes to Europe amounted to between 388 and 509 million dollars in 2025.
Record El Niño
The UN warns that the current El Niño event could become the most powerful in recorded history. According to the World Meteorological Organization, by the end of 2026, sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean could exceed the norm by 3.8 degrees Celsius. Extreme heat, droughts, floods, and other weather catastrophes are expected in nearly all regions of the planet. UN emergency coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated 50 million dollars to support the 11 most vulnerable countries, including El Salvador, Somalia, Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
Child Wellbeing Summit
The Global Summit on Child Well-being has opened in Samarkand. Representatives from more than 100 countries are discussing the protection of children from violence, poverty, and the consequences of climate change. Participants of the meeting warn that the reduction of humanitarian aid and global crises threaten child well-being. About one billion children live in countries most vulnerable to climate change. In a message to the summit participants, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized: “When we invest in children, we invest in the future.”
Ebola in Nigeria
The first case of Ebola has been confirmed in Nigeria, according to the World Health Organization. According to the country’s authorities, the infected person is a woman who recently visited Uganda. Her symptoms appeared on October 7, four days after her arrival in Nigeria. The patient is in isolation and receiving medical care. Specialists are trying to identify the likely source of infection and reconstruct the full picture of her movements and possible contacts. Nigeria became the fifth country where the virus has been detected. An Ebola fever outbreak was officially declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 15.
Migrant smuggling into Europe
According to a study published on Wednesday by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the total payments to smugglers for the illegal transportation of migrants along maritime routes to Europe in 2025 amounted to between 388 and 509 million dollars. The average cost of smuggling services varied significantly depending on the route, the migrant’s nationality, and the conditions of travel. For example, for transportation to Europe from Western and North African countries via the Canary Islands, smugglers could receive about 170 dollars per person. The cost of transport along the route from Turkey to Italy through the Central Mediterranean could reach 7,500 dollars.
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