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Iran: Middle East Regional Coordination Meeting Minutes, 21 May 2026

Countries: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Yemen Sources: Logistics Cluster, World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. 1. Logistics Update & Situation Overview There have been no important operational changes to the regional situation since the previous coordination meeting two weeks ago, though the context remains highly volatile. Ocean freight through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted as carriers maintain a cautious approach with no service changes at this time, and high fuel prices continue to place operational constraints on humanitarian operations.

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Ethiopia Shelter/NFI, CCCM, and HLP – 2nd Round Prioritization and Strategic Response Overview – 2026: Responses and Priority Woredas (May 2026)

Country: Ethiopia Sources: CCCM Cluster, International Organization for Migration, Shelter Cluster, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Situation Overview The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia continues to be shaped by climatic shocks, localized insecurity, prolonged displacement, and increasing pressure on already limited humanitarian resources. Many displaced and vulnerable households remain in collective centers, displacement sites, and host communities, facing inadequate shelter conditions, overcrowding, limited access to essential household items, and gaps in site level coordination and service delivery. With the upcoming rainy season, there is increasing concern over aging and temporary shelters in several locations, particularly in areas exposed to flooding, strong winds, and poor site conditions. At the same time, service delivery gaps and poorly performing indicators in some displacement sites continue to highlight the need for strengthened CCCM and shelter and NFI interventions, particularly in overcrowded and underserved locations. Operational challenges including fuel shortages, inflation, low-quality shelter materials in local markets, concentration of humanitarian organizations in limited locations, reports of eviction and unavailability of land in some areas, and funding gaps, continue to affect the scale, coverage and timelessness for CCCM, HLP and shelter and NFI responses, while significant humanitarian needs persist across multiple regions.

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Haiti: Latin America and the Caribbean: When seeking medical care is dangerous

Countries: Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico Source: International Committee of the Red Cross In places where armed violence is rife, health-care workers may be harassed or subjected to physical or verbal abuse. Ambulances face even greater risks when transporting patients, struggling to do so safely. Health-care facilities are often damaged during clashes and their operations frequently disrupted. Meanwhile, patients are unable to access health care, either out of fear or because of security risks or difficulties in reaching health-care facilities, or simply because services have been shut down. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have observed that these issues are becoming increasingly common in many of the affected communities across Latin American and the Caribbean. “While acts of violence against health-care services are widespread, it is in Colombia, Mexico, Haiti and Ecuador where serious incidents linked to armed violence are most frequently reported. It is communities that suffer when health-care workers and the health system are jeopardized. Safeguarding their proper functioning is essential to ensure people can access health-care services,” explains Gabriel Mayorga, regional adviser for the ICRC on protection issues and respect for health care. Far from being isolated incidents, these events reflect a worrying pattern of violence that is affecting the provision of health-care services in places across the region where armed conflict and other situations of violence are widespread. According to figures from the National Medical Mission Board,* a total of 282 acts of violence against health-care services related to non-international armed conflicts were recorded in Colombia in 2025, indicating breaches of international humanitarian law. Incidents include threats and murders, with health-care workers and wounded people who are no longer taking part in the hostilities targeted, either in ambulances or in health-care facilities. Furthermore, in the areas most affected by armed conflict, communities are having their movements restricted, limiting their ability to access health-care services in a timely way. In some cases, the consequences are deadly. “I remember the case of a woman from an indigenous community who suffered pregnancy complications. The dynamics of the armed conflict resulted in movement restrictions. Unable to get to the nearest health centre, both she and her baby died,” says a member of the ICRC’s health team in Colombia. In these situations, the ICRC maintains a bilateral and confidential dialogue with all parties to the conflict to remind them of their obligation under international humanitarian law to respect and protect health care. Even in countries not experiencing armed conflict, health-care services still suffer the consequences of violence. In Mexico, the ICRC documented more than 190 serious incidents affecting health-care services and patient care between 2024 and 2025, based on primary and publicly available information. These incidents include attacks against – and sometimes the murder of – health-care staff, patients and their families, armed raids on health-care facilities, and the theft of data and supplies, among others. Beyond the statistics, these incidents have a profound impact on the lives of health-care workers. Fernanda,* a psychologist from southern Mexico, went from being a provider of mental-health care for health-care workers affected by violence to being a victim of violence herself. “Being a mental-health professional does not protect us from violence and its consequences. We have received threats and our lives have been in danger. In my case, I had to move away. I left behind my home and my support network, and the health centre where I worked had to close for more than a year. I still have nightmares and feel very anxious whenever I think about the centre reopening at some point and having to go back. I’ve had to have psychotherapy and medical treatment to be able to cope with it,” she recounts. * Name has been changed to protect the person’s identity. The ICRC is also very concerned about the situation in Haiti. The escalation of armed violence since 2024 has put out of action more than 70 per cent of health services in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Most health-care facilities have been affected, preventing people from accessing them safely. Emergency services, care for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and other medical specialisms have collapsed. Furthermore, many patients with chronic conditions have no access to medical care at all. In Haiti, the ICRC uses various channels to remind people of their obligation to respect health-care workers. This banner in Haitian Creole reads: “Hospitals, health-care workers and ambulances must not be targeted. Every life counts!” Against this backdrop of violence, which is significantly affecting and restricting people’s access to health-care services, the La Paix University Hospital is now the only major state-run hospital still operating in Port-au-Prince. But it faces a whole host of challenges. “We don’t have enough beds for all the patients coming to the hospital – we have to treat and resuscitate some patients on the floor,” says Dr Myriam Gousse, head of the hospital’s emergency department. Staff are also under pressure. “Sometimes patients come in who are armed; they pull out their weapons to force the staff to treat them. We are seeing more incidents like this,” adds Dr Gousse. Ecuador is another country facing a worrying escalation in armed violence, and it is having an impact on its health services, particularly in the most conflict-affected areas. The situation has created significant challenges in managing health facilities in these areas, leading to the temporary suspension of certain services and making it more difficult for people to access health care. “In light of this situation, the Ecuadorian Red Cross, together with members of the Movement, has stepped up its efforts to promote respect for health services and to provide support to the Ministry of Health, medical units and health-care staff, as well as affected communities. Our actions uphold the right of health-care professionals to carry out their work in an environment free from pressure and threats,” explains Jhonny García, security coordinator for the Ecuadorian Red Cross. How do we address this issue? Dialogue with weapon

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World: Evaluation of DG ECHO’s approach to reducing the environmental footprint of humanitarian aid, 2020–2024 (Final Report)

Country: World Source: European Commission Please refer to the attached file. The purpose of this study is to evaluate DG ECHO’s approach to reducing the environmental footprint of humanitarian aid by assessing how this policy, and the Minimum Environmental Requirements (MER) developed as a result, have been applied across sectors and crisis contexts, how staff and partners have been supported to operationalise them, and what results have been achieved to date. The study covers DG ECHO-funded actions across all humanitarian sectors, disaster preparedness, as well as internal greening, and innovation and capacity-building supported through ERC funding. The methodology was designed in line with Better Regulation requirements and assessed relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, EU added value and sustainability. Evidence was drawn from a desk review, a portfolio analysis, key informant interviews, two online surveys, three regional case studies, and a validation workshop. The evaluation found that the Greening Policy is highly relevant and has raised environmental ambition, while increasing operational benefits. Implementation remains uneven across countries and crisis types, constrained by limited engagement, uneven leadership support, capacity gaps, short funding cycles and limited monitoring. In response, three strategic recommendations focus on strengthening DG ECHO’s internal enabling environment, scaling practical field support and capacity building, and improving monitoring for accountability and learning.

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Guatemala – Food Security Outlook Update: Lean season marked by a high dependence on the market, April – September 2026

Country: Guatemala Source: Famine Early Warning System Network Please refer to the attached file. Key Messages In the Dry Corridor, areas of Alta Verapaz, and the Western Highlands, the poorest households will experience an early lean season and will be classified in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) between April and September 2026. Consecutive years of crop losses have caused a strong dependence on markets for food. This dependence exceeds their purchasing capacity and forces them to resort to negative coping strategies, such as atypical debt and reducing the quantity of food consumed, to meet their basic food needs. Between April and September 2026, many households in the rest of the country will face Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food insecurity. Despite their purchasing capacity being strained due to rising transportation and food prices, their savings and food reserves will mitigate the impact. However, an increasing proportion will fall into Crisis (IPC Phase 3) starting in May, as food reserves are depleted and agricultural labor opportunities seasonally decline. They will depend on markets with atypically high prices and will have to reduce food consumption and resort to negative coping strategies to meet their basic needs. Below-average rainfall, above-average temperatures, and a prolonged seasonal dry spell (canícula) are expected. These conditions will negatively affect staple grain yields for poor households without irrigation and reduce agricultural labor demand during the primera agricultural season. In March, fuel prices experienced atypical increases due to disruptions in the supply chain. Higher fuel prices increase transportation and food costs and generate higher expenses for agricultural production and trade at the start of the primera season.

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Afghanistan: Humanitarian Update, March and April 2026

Country: Afghanistan Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. Cross-border hostilities continue to drive humanitarian needs in Afghanistan Cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan since October 2025 have caused significant humanitarian consequences, including civilian casualties, displacement and disruptions to essential services. Although a ceasefire reached in October 2025 temporarily reduced the intensity of hostilities, violence has continued intermittently in border provinces. Between January and March 2026, cross-border armed violence between Afghanistan’s de facto security forces and the Pakistani military resulted in 769 civilian casualties, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). This includes 372 people killed and 397 injured, among them 72 women, 554 men, 48 girls and 95 boys. UNAMA reports that the majority of incidents occurred in February and March, largely driven by airstrikes following Pakistan’s announcement of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on 26 February. Airstrikes accounted for approximately 64 per cent of total civilian casualties, while the remainder resulted from indirect cross-border fire and isolated incidents, including the targeted killing of a humanitarian worker. Displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure Humanitarian partners estimate that more than 100,000 people have been displaced across Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktia, and Paktika provinces since the escalation of hostilities. While displacement has largely been temporary, affected populations continue to experience significant humanitarian needs. Assessments indicate that airstrikes or clashes linked to cross-border violence have been reported in 11 provinces. In addition, nearly 1,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. Civilian infrastructure, including schools, health facilities and water systems, has also been damaged or destroyed. Approximately 19 health facilities have been suspended, closed or reduced to partial operations, limiting access to health care for an estimated 78,000 people. In the education sector, more than 13,000 students in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces have experienced disruptions. Access constraints and operational challenges Humanitarian access has been constrained in several affected areas due to insecurity, shelling, and road closures. In Kamdesh and Bargmatal districts of Nuristan Province, access to nearly 100,000 people was restricted for almost two months, limiting the delivery of essential services. The main supply route between Nari District in Kunar Province and Kamdesh District in Nuristan Province was closed due to ongoing hostilities, causing shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, and disrupting health referral pathways and humanitarian operations. On 13 April, the road was reopened following engagement by community elders from both sides and humanitarian actors. Since then, humanitarian organizations have resumed the delivery of food, medical supplies and other essential assistance to affected communities. Humanitarian needs and ongoing response Despite intermittent improvements and ongoing humanitarian response efforts, humanitarian needs remain severe across the affected provinces. Needs assessments conducted in affected areas have identified critical gaps in food security, emergency shelter, health services, nutrition support, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and multi-purpose cash assistance. The World Food Programme estimates that approximately 160,000 people in affected areas are facing heightened food insecurity. Nutrition partners have also raised concerns regarding acute malnutrition among children under five, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women. Protection risks remain high in conflict-affected areas, particularly for women and children exposed to displacement, shelling, and explosive remnants of war. While the intensity of hostilities has fluctuated in recent weeks, the humanitarian situation remains fragile. Continued insecurity, restricted access and funding shortfalls are likely to sustain humanitarian needs in the coming months. Humanitarian partners emphasize the importance of sustained humanitarian access, the protection of civilians, and adequate funding to ensure the continuity of life-saving assistance. Floods in Afghanistan: Widespread destruction amid compounding climate risks Between late March and April, heavy rainfall triggered widespread flash flooding across Afghanistan, affecting 31 of 34 provinces, 165 districts, and 546 villages, approximately one-third of the country. The floods caused significant loss of life, extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, and major disruption to livelihoods, leaving thousands of families in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Scale of impact and humanitarian needs An estimated 31,000 people (9,984 families) were affected by the floods across Afghanistan. At least 55 people were killed and 148 injured. In total, 7,751 houses were damaged and 1,731 destroyed, forcing many families into temporary shelter arrangements or unsafe living conditions. The eastern region, particularly Nangarhar Province, was among the most affected, followed by southern and western regions. Rural communities were among the hardest hit, with widespread damage to agricultural land, irrigation systems, and rural infrastructure further weakening already fragile livelihoods and food security. Beyond immediate shelter needs, the floods have significantly deepened existing vulnerabilities. Many households have lost both their homes and primary sources of income, particularly in rural areas dependent on agriculture and seasonal labour. Displacement patterns remain fluid. While some families have returned to partially damaged homes due to a lack of alternatives, others remain in temporary shelters. Access to safe water, sanitation, and basic services remains limited in several affected districts, increasing health and protection risks. Humanitarian response Humanitarian partners, in coordination with local authorities, have scaled up emergency response efforts across affected areas. As of May, 37,845 people have received assistance (including 22,821 people with food assistance, 37,536 with non-food items, 16,151 with shelter support, 32,473 with WASH assistance and 21,232 with cash assistance). Response efforts are ongoing, but challenges persist due to damaged infrastructure, access constraints, and limited resources in some of the hardest-hit areas. Funding constraints are also contributing to critical gaps in assistance, particularly in hard-to-reach and severely affected communities where needs remain unmet. Multiple shocks, growing needs The recent floods are part of a broader pattern of climate-related shocks affecting communities across Afghanistan. Environmental pressures, fragile infrastructure and climate change continue to increase exposure to disasters and deepen existing vulnerabilities. At the same time, prolonged drought conditions continue to affect large parts of the country. Afghanistan is facing its sixth consecutive year of drought-like conditions, with continued below-normal precipitation and higher temperatures expected into 2026. These overlapping shocks are compounding humanitarian needs, particularly in rural areas where households have limited coping capacities and depend

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Afghanistan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (April 2026)

Country: Afghanistan Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic. Access constraints in April 2026 continued to affect humanitarian operations across Afghanistan, with 66 reported incidents. While this reflects a 23 per cent decrease from March, the decline in reported incidents does not indicate an improvement in the overall access landscape. Rather, this was largely attributed to the cessation of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with fewer conflict-related impediments reported. Reported incidents consisted of interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities, restrictions on movement, violence against humanitarian staff, facilities and assets, and military operations, of which 48 incidents resulted in delays in the implementation of humanitarian activities. Continued engagement with the authorities, strengthened coordination mechanisms, and sustained advocacy for principled humanitarian access continue to be critical for the continuity of assistance delivery to affected populations. Interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities remained the most significant humanitarian access constraint reported in Afghanistan during April 2026, accounting for the majority (70 per cent) of recorded incidents. Operational disruptions linked to administrative procedures continued to be reported by humanitarian partners linked to administrative procedures such as delays signing MoUs (17), interference in programming (25) and recruitment processes (2). The timely delivery of assistance to vulnerable populations was affected by these constraints to vulnerable populations and additional operational burdens were also observed. Requests by the de facto authorities for the sharing of sensitive operational information, including staff lists and project documentation (2), were also reported. Restrictions affecting female humanitarian workers and their participation in humanitarian activities also continued to affect operational capacity in several sectors. Violence against humanitarian personnel, assets, and facilities continued to pose operational risks for humanitarian actors during April 2026. Although the number of reported incidents remained relatively limited compared to other access constraints, the safety and security of staff continued to be affected by security-related incidents. Regarding physical and environmental constraints, five incidents related to climatic conditions and weather-related disruptions affecting infrastructure and transportation routes were reported. In most cases, movement of health teams to community clinics was temporarily constrained which resulted in delays to provide assistance. Military operations and ongoing hostilities continued to result in operational challenges during April 2026, with five reported incidents affecting humanitarian access and staff movement. Although the overall security environment in Afghanistan has remained relatively stable compared to previous months, operational challenges continued to be reported due to localized insecurity and security incidents. Restrictions affecting conflict-affected populations’ access to humanitarian assistance were also reported during April. Four incidents limited access to humanitarian services and assistance thus limiting vulnerable populations’ access to essential services. In the south-eastern region, following recent hostilities, stock shortages were reported by partners, prompting efforts to reallocate supplies though authorisation was not granted by the authorities. Gender-related incidents remained one of the major challenges, with a total of 10 incidents reported, mainly affecting female staff. Reported incidents include female restrictions, access by beneficiaries to humanitarian assistance, participation in midwifery training in Jalalabad, increase interference in Herat, detention of female personnel, monitoring visits to offices continue to heighten operational risk for humanitarian workers.

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Yemen: Agrometeorological Early Warning Bulletin (20 – 31 May 2026) [EN/AR]

Country: Yemen Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Please refer to the attached files. Overview: May 2026 is expected to conclude with steadily declining rainfall and elevated temperatures, particularly across desert and coastal areas. Key Concerns: Decreasing rainfall and flood recession: During the last dekad of May 2026, rainfall is expected to decline gradually to very low levels, with only occasional residual showers over the central highlands, particularly in Dhamar and Ibb governorates. Bi-weekly forecasts from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) indicate a moderate (40%) probability of below-average rainfall along the western slopes of the highlands. Soaring temperatures: Above-average temperatures are forecast across most governorates during the third dekad of May 2026, with the strongest anomalies over the coastal plains—including Tihama, Aden, and the Hadhramaut coast—and inland desert areas such as Al Jawf, Marib, and the Hadhramaut interior, increasing the likelihood of heatwaves (Fig. 1). Maximum temperatures are expected to reach 35–42°C in coastal and desert areas, while the central highlands—including Sana’a, Dhamar, Ibb, and Taizz governorates —are likely to see temperatures of 25–31°C. Implications on Agricultural Livelihoods Rainfed agriculture: Conditions are likely to remain generally favorable for early-stage sorghum and millet, though localized rainfall variability may delay planting and other field activities in some areas. Irrigated agriculture: Higher temperatures and increased evapotranspiration are expected to raise irrigation demand, with heightened water-stress risks in already water-scarce basins. Livestock and pastoral systems: Heat-stress risk is expected to increase in desert rangelands, coastal areas, and lowlands. Meanwhile, pasture conditions may improve slightly in parts of the central highlands following convective rainfall. Adaptation and Coping Strategies: The following are key measures that FAO and partners can take to mitigate the expected meteorological impacts during the last dekad of May 2026: Early Warning Systems: Strengthen coordination among meteorological, agricultural, and disaster-management institutions to issue regular agrometeorological advisories at governorate and district levels. Promote the use of localized weather and seasonal forecasts to inform planting decisions, irrigation scheduling, and livestock mobility planning. Crop farming Promote drought- and heat-tolerant varieties, particularly for sorghum, millet, legumes, and vegetables. Scale up soil conservation and agroforestry practices to reduce erosion and improve resilience to heavy rainfall and heat stress. Encourage crop and livelihood diversification to reduce reliance on a single season or commodity. Livestock management Ensure adequate livestock water supply through water storage, rehabilitation of water points, and targeted water trucking where needed. Reduce heat stress by providing shade and limiting livestock movement during peak daytime temperatures. Support fodder reserves and supplementary feeding in anticipation of pasture deterioration in lowland and drought-prone areas.

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WFP Yemen Country Brief #4, April 2026

Country: Yemen Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. Half of all households in Yemen were unable to obtain their minimum food needs in March, according to WFP data. The ongoing regional crisis is constraining fuel imports to Yemen, while increasing food costs are threatening access to food. WFP has completed the first and second cycles of its new targeted emergency food assistance (TEFA) programme in Government-controlled areas, with preparations for the third cycle ongoing. WFP has completed its re-targeting and registration exercise, a prioritization and beneficiary identification exercise designed to enhance accountability and enable an agile and hyper-prioritized response. WFP has completed a community-based participatory planning exercise in Ta’iz governorate to inform future WFP resilience and livelihoods efforts.

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