Recent drone strikes in El Fasher, North Darfur, have killed dozens of people sheltering in a displacement centre, including 17 children.

In a significant step forward for girls’ rights, the new law (no. 1639), enacted by the President of the Republic of Bolivia, bans child marriage and early unions without exceptions. The law enters into force on 25 September.

Following the attack in El-Fasher, Darfur, on 19 September, Plan International Sudan is sounding the alarm over the rising civilian casualties from the recent upsurge in fighting across the country, warning that it could further deepen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.

The UN Commission of Inquiry has determined that genocide is occurring in Gaza, concluding that Israeli authorities and security forces are committing some of the worst crimes imaginable against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel have agreed to pause military operations for 10 hours a day in three populated areas of Gaza – El-Mawasi area, central Deir al-Balah and northern Gaza City – to allow the UN and humanitarian organisations to deliver food and medicine to people “until further notice”.

Sudan is facing the world’s worst hunger crisis. We are already seeing signs of mass starvation in camps where mothers arrive unable to feed their children and today the IPC have warned the situation is only going to get worse.

Plan International is profoundly disturbed by the chaos that has erupted today during the first day of food distribution of the Israeli government’s scheme implemented by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and US private security firms.

Plan International is horrified by the return to hostilities in Gaza with Israeli airstrikes overnight that have killed at least 300 people, many of them children and women.

North Darfur’s Zamzam camp, which is currently home to half a million Sudanese people who have been forced to flee fighting, has come under intense attack, killing and injuring civilians.

The new deal on climate finance – agreed over the weekend at the annual UN Climate Change Conference, or COP29 – is staggeringly disappointing, falling well short of what is needed to tackle the climate crisis, according to global humanitarian and girls’ rights organisation Plan International Australia. 

The international community must urgently pressure Israel into reversing this dangerous decision by Israel’s Knesset. Gaza is already facing a man-made hunger emergency, with a real risk of famine NOW. Children are dying daily of starvation, dehydration, and related diseases. Banning UNRWA, the main organisation responsible for delivering humanitarian aid is unthinkable, and can only lead to more death and suffering.

Today marks a year since the October 7 attack on Israel and a year of retaliatory military strikes on Gaza and the West Bank. As a humanitarian organisation which advocates for children’s rights around the world, we are heartbroken by the horrific violence that has engulfed Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and Lebanon since October 2023. Every day that passes without a permanent ceasefire means more children will be killed. Those who survive are constantly being exposed to highly traumatic events which will leave mental and physical scars for years to come. All children have the right to grow up without fear of violence yet all too often, in conflict and war, children pay the highest price.