Lizzy Davies

A live Guardian blog reports that famine is unfolding in Gaza, according to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, with more than 60,000 Palestinians reported killed since October 2023 and rising deaths from malnutrition. UN secretary general António Guterres, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, Oxfam and the World Food Programme call for a massive increase in aid and warn that airdrops and limited pauses are inadequate. Britain says it will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel ends its Gaza campaign, agrees to a ceasefire, rules out West Bank annexation and commits to a two-state peace process. France, Germany, the UK and Jordan announce or conduct limited airdrops, while the European Commission proposes partially suspending Israel from the Horizon research program and the Netherlands bans two far-right Israeli ministers. Donald Trump acknowledges “real starvation” and urges Israel to allow more food into Gaza, while Israel and Hamas remain under pressure over the war, hostages and ceasefire negotiations. The blog also reports the killing of Palestinian activist and filmmaker Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank.

South African chef Mmabatho Molefe brings reimagined Zulu dishes to London’s Carousel restaurant, using her cuisine to challenge prejudices around indigenous ingredients and meat cuts considered low‑value. Her Cape Town restaurant Emazulwini highlights overlooked staples while promoting sustainability and social empowerment, including employing an all‑Black staff and aspiring to support homeless people through hospitality training. Her London menu showcases childhood‑inspired dishes that elevate traditional South African foods to fine dining.

Hundreds of unaccompanied children are fleeing Sudan’s escalating conflict and crossing into Chad, with aid agencies warning of rising risks of exploitation and severe trauma. Unicef reports growing numbers of minors arriving alone as families are separated during attacks. Efforts to reunite children with their families are hampered by long borders, poor communications and large refugee flows. Health concerns are mounting, including cases of measles and acute malnutrition among young refugees, while flooding from early rains is blocking access to vulnerable communities and delaying essential aid deliveries.

UK aid organisations criticised the government for reducing humanitarian funding to east Africa amid severe drought, conflict and rising costs. The newly announced £143m aid package is lower than last year’s allocation and far below previous commitments. NGOs warned that millions face acute food insecurity, particularly in Somalia, where displacement has reached record levels. Critics argued the funding is insufficient and poorly timed, urging the UK to restore stronger support to meet escalating needs across the region.

Tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees who have fled to Chad face severe shortages of shelter, food and water as the rainy season approaches, raising fears of a major humanitarian disaster. Aid groups warn that the rapid influx of people, mostly women and children, has outpaced efforts to relocate them from vulnerable border areas. Reports highlight inadequate medical support, rising disease risks and overcrowded temporary camps, while UN agencies seek funding and additional camps to manage the escalating crisis.

More than 1.1 million people die annually from viral hepatitis despite the availability of low-cost diagnostics, effective vaccines and affordable treatments. Ahead of a pledging conference in Geneva, advocates urge donors to commit $150m to expand access and avoid repeating early failures from the HIV/Aids response. Michel Kazatchkine warns that insufficient political and financial commitment is leading to preventable deaths and that treatment for hepatitis C can cost as little as $80. Although some countries have progressed toward WHO’s 2030 mortality reduction target, global efforts remain off track, with low vaccination rates in Africa and limited access to curative antivirals. The conference, co-hosted by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Hepatitis Fund and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, aims to mobilize resources to scale up prevention and treatment worldwide.

A major Moroccan locust outbreak in northern Afghanistan threatens up to a quarter of the nation’s wheat harvest, worsening food insecurity for nearly 20 million people. The FAO warns potential losses could reach 1.2 million tonnes, compounded by weakened locust‑control efforts since the Taliban takeover and reduced international support. Farmers and aid groups are scrambling to bury hopper bands before they mature, but the scale of the infestation means significant damage is expected, with fears that 2024 could be far worse without increased funding for control measures and humanitarian aid.

Global internal displacement rose to a record 71 million people in 2022, driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and extreme weather events such as Pakistan’s catastrophic monsoon floods. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre reported unprecedented levels of movement as individuals repeatedly sought safety. Conflict-related crises, including ongoing violence in countries such as Sudan, Syria, Nigeria and Somalia, combined with worsening food insecurity, have compounded vulnerabilities. Experts call for increased resources and research to address the growing complexity and scale of displacement challenges.

More than a million newborn deaths and stillbirths could be prevented annually in low- and middle-income countries through low-cost antenatal interventions such as vitamins, antimalarials and aspirin. A UN report shows progress on reducing newborn deaths has stalled since 2015 due to inadequate investment in antenatal care. Researchers estimate $1.1bn would be sufficient to implement key measures across 81 countries, potentially preventing millions of pre-term and low‑birthweight births. Experts urge governments and global partners to prioritise maternal and newborn health to reverse stagnating outcomes.

Sudan’s conflict has driven more than 110,000 people into neighbouring countries already strained by food insecurity, instability and limited infrastructure. Chad, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Egypt are struggling to meet basic needs as funding gaps hamper UN agencies’ ability to respond. Aid workers warn that the onset of the rainy season, damaged infrastructure, inflation and overstretched services will intensify the crisis, leaving many refugees without adequate support or access to safe onward travel. Humanitarian organisations urge increased international funding to address rapidly growing needs in the region.

Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces agreed to extend a fragile ceasefire for another 72 hours after diplomatic pressure from the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Norway and the UN. Fighting nevertheless continued, including intensified violence in Darfur, where dozens were reportedly killed, while the conflict disrupted food distribution and humanitarian aid. Foreign governments continued evacuating their citizens, with the UK, Canada, France, China and Saudi Arabia reporting rescue operations. More than 750 British nationals had reached Cyprus, but officials warned that evacuation opportunities could disappear once the truce ended. Aid groups urged governments to focus not only on evacuations but also on civilians remaining in Sudan, as casualties, displacement and shortages worsened.

Sudan’s escalating conflict has left most hospitals in El Fasher and Khartoum nonfunctional, forcing the South hospital in North Darfur to absorb overwhelming numbers of trauma cases alongside regular maternity care. Looting, shelling, staff shortages and power cuts have devastated healthcare capacity, while shortages of medicines and equipment threaten imminent collapse. WHO warns of additional deaths from disease outbreaks, lack of chronic care, and disruptions to essential services. Aid organisations fear long-term deterioration as millions already faced hunger and poor health before the fighting began. Medical teams continue working despite extreme danger and dwindling supplies, with projections that remaining resources may last only weeks.

A report found that the UK government provided aid funding to the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, an organisation whose members have publicly supported extreme anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The Foreign Office confirmed it funded the group until early 2023, ending support after the council backed a bill imposing severe penalties for same-sex relations and LGBTQ+ identity. The bill passed Uganda’s parliament but awaits final approval after President Yoweri Museveni requested reconsideration. International actors, including the UN and the US, criticised the legislation, while advocates called for greater scrutiny of aid funding to prevent support for groups promoting anti-LGBTQ+ agendas.

Ghana has become the first country to approve Oxford University’s R21 malaria vaccine, the first to surpass the WHO’s 75% efficacy target. The approval covers children aged 5 to 36 months, the group most at risk. Experts welcomed the milestone but cautioned that WHO recommendation and pre-qualification remain essential for international funding and widespread rollout. While the vaccine shows strong efficacy and manufacturing capacity is high, donors may still weigh its cost-effectiveness compared with other malaria interventions. The development comes amid stalled global progress against malaria, driven by increasing resistance to insecticides and treatments.

A long-delayed diagnosis of coeliac disease forces a dramatic shift to a strict gluten-free diet, bringing relief from years of debilitating symptoms. Navigating the dietary restrictions proves challenging at first, from restaurant eating to travel and social situations, but access to improved gluten-free products and home cooking makes the lifestyle manageable. Health conditions linked to prior undiagnosed coeliac disease, including anaemia and osteopenia, underline the importance of treatment. Over time, gluten-free eating becomes normalised, allowing a renewed enjoyment of food and everyday life.

Christian Aid spent about £700,000 defending itself against a US lawsuit filed by the Zionist Advocacy Center, which accused the charity of providing material support to terrorists. The case, dismissed after more than five years, is described by Christian Aid and other NGO experts as part of a broader strategy of legal intimidation aimed at deterring organisations from working in the Palestinian territories. TZAC has filed similar complaints against other international NGOs, with mixed outcomes. Critics argue that such litigation creates a chilling effect on humanitarian groups, while TZAC’s director maintains that the cases target improper conduct and are politically motivated in support of Israel. Christian Aid says the experience has strengthened its commitment to continue working in the region.

Chefs and entrepreneurs across Africa are working to revive the continent’s traditional plant-based eating as rising incomes and fast‑food culture increase meat consumption. Figures such as Nicola Kagoro in Zimbabwe, Hakeem Jimo in Nigeria, and Marie Kacouchia in Ivory Coast emphasize that African cuisines have deep vegan roots and can offer affordable, healthy alternatives to meat. Activists, including Uganda Vegan Society founder Nabaasa Innocent, promote accessible vegan options, while innovators like Olaoluwa Fashola develop culturally relevant meat substitutes. Ethiopia’s long-standing fasting traditions further illustrate diverse plant‑based practices. A featured recipe for cauliflower yassa highlights modern adaptations of regional dishes.

A Syrian refugee in Lebanon recounts years of escalating domestic violence that culminated in her husband nearly killing her, triggered by financial tensions and his refusal to work during Lebanon’s economic crisis. Too fearful to report the assault, she now lives in poverty with her children, unable to obtain a divorce since her husband fled back to Syria and refuses consent. She remains anxious about his potential return and hopes for a chance to rebuild her life abroad.

Women in Lebanon face rising domestic violence driven by entrenched patriarchal norms, a legacy of militarised masculinity, and the pressures of economic collapse. The deaths of victims including Hanaa Khodor and Zeina Kanjo highlight legal paralysis, weak protection mechanisms, and limited social support, exacerbated by poverty, displacement and inadequate shelters. NGOs and advocates report increasing child marriage, reduced access to education for girls, and a lack of political will to reform personal status laws and citizenship regulations. Families of victims seek justice amid stalled courts and uncertain extraditions, reflecting the broader institutional dysfunction undermining women’s safety and rights.

Global efforts to eradicate guinea worm disease have reduced human cases to a record low of 13 in 2022, marking significant progress toward making it the second disease eliminated after smallpox and the first without vaccines or medicine. The Carter Center reports sharp declines in both human and animal infections, with remaining endemic cases concentrated in Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia. Improvements in water quality, community mobilization and sustained monitoring underpin the success. Former president Jimmy Carter and programme director Adam Weiss expressed optimism that eradication is within reach.

OECD data show Italian and Spanish graduates scoring significantly lower in basic literacy and numeracy than high‐performing countries, aligning with high unemployment levels. Andreas Schleicher links low skill levels to joblessness, while Massimo Egidi rejects a quality problem and instead cites mismatches between labour demand and graduate fields. Additional commentary criticizes structural features of Italian universities, such as reliance on oral exams, which may hinder development of writing skills. Italy and Spain also previously ranked last in OECD skills assessments.