Matt Smethurst, Ligon Duncan

Iran contradicts Vance, says no plan to allow nuclear inspections

Texas judge awarded $640K after same-sex wedding dispute

Targeting Effectiveness and Impact of WFP Food Assistance in Syria

. Key highlights from the report: Evidence from the April–October 2025 WFP remote monitoring survey (mVAM), covering 28,583 households across three population groups (WFP beneficiary households, eligible unassisted households, and non-eligible households) demonstrates that: WFP targeting criteria ar

Cameroon: 2026 - Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) Funding Overview (as of 31 May 2026)

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Nigeria: Health Sector Cholera Outbreak Situation Report, Borno State - No. 09 (19 June 2026)

. This Situation Report provides an update on the cholera outbreak response in Borno State, Nigeria, covering the period from 01 May - 19 June 2026.

Nigeria: Health Sector Cholera Outbreak Situation Report - Borno State, No. 08 (08 June 2026)

. This Situation Report provides an update on the cholera outbreak response in Borno State, Nigeria, covering the period from 01 May - 08 June 2026.

Lebanon: Conflict Intensity Snapshot (2 March - 22 June 2026)

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Nigeria: Health Sector Cholera Outbreak Situation Report Borno State No. 07 (01 June 2026)

. This Situation Report provides an update on the cholera outbreak response in Borno State, Nigeria, covering the period from 01 May - 01 June 2026.

Utah wildfire scorches 10,000 acres in hours, prompts evacuations

Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund Annual Report 2025

. LETTER FROM THE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR In 2025, Ethiopia continued to face a complex humanitarian situation shaped by the combined effects of conflict, climate shocks, displacement and disease outbreaks. Millions of people remained in need of critical assistance, particularly in areas affected b

Deadly heat wave bakes Europe

Yemen: Hub Analysis Report (First Quarter 2026)

. During the first quarter of 2026, populations across Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah, Marib, Taiz, Al Dhale’e, Hadramout, Al Mahweet, Hajjah, Hudaydah, Sana’a, Amran, and Dhamar continued to face complex and overlapping protection risks driven by protracted conflict, repeated climate-related shocks, ec

WFP Madagascar Country Brief June 2026

. In May, WFP assisted 178,030 people in drought‑affected communities in the Grand South of Madagascar, including 38,593 children under two and 32,159 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls who received specialized nutritious foods to prevent moderate acute malnutrition. Following Cyclones Fytia

DR Congo: West and Central Africa: Latest Events at a glance (16–22 June 2026)

Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Niger . Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola concerns grow as deaths reported in displacement sites in Bunia Between 17 and 18 June, humanitarian organizations reported at least 13 deaths in two displacement sites in Bunia, Ituri Province. Respons

How Focused Writing Happens in Our Distracted Age

Trying to pinpoint a “focused writing time” in the year 2026 is a bit like trying to hit a moving target. As nice and stately as it sounds to nestle into a candlelit library, dipping the quill into ink for a whole evening of undistracted penmanship, it’s just not reality. Granted, others may be more

Planting a Church

What does it actually take to plant a healthy church? Matt Smethurst and Ligon Duncan discuss the joys, challenges, and realities of church planting. Drawing from Matt’s experience planting River City Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, they explore everything from assessing a call to church plant

World: El Niño is coming. Here is where the risks to agriculture are highest

. New analyses by experts at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) allow for detailed mapping of where El Nino-linked drought is most likely to impact crops and pasturelands. As the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) forecasts a stronger-than-usual cycle, FAO’s analy

World: Regional Dashboard RBESA: Refugees and asylum-seekers by country of asylum as of 31 May 2026

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Sudan: Regional Dashboard RBESA: IDPs Dashboard - 31 May 2026

Countries: Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania .

Somalia Situation: Population of Concern to UNHCR - 31 May 2026

Countries: Somalia, World .

Lebanon Cash Working Group Minutes of meeting

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Lebanon: Protection Monitoring Snapshot #5 (16 May - 07 July 2026)

. Situation Overview The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains fragile despite the ceasefire in place since 17 April 2026. Hostilities continued and increased, predominantly in Nabatiyeh and South governorates, with new displacement orders and sporadic attacks being reported in the West Bekaa. O

WFP Haiti Seasonal Monitoring March & April 2026

. HIGHLIGHTS • Strong Hydrological Recovery: Haiti experienced a rapid transition from drought to widespread wet conditions in March 2026, with intense rainfall surpluses (>130–200%) fully restoring soil moisture and water resources and driving a peak in hydrological conditions. • April Stabiliza

WFP Haiti Market Monitoring April - May 2026

. The analysis highlights a generaly satisfactory availability of staple food commodities such as wheat flour, rice, maize, sugar, vegetable oil, and black beans, with traders reporting only minor proportions of unavailability. In contrast, red beans stand out for their pronounced scarcity: more tha

DR Congo: Ebola in Ituri and North Kivu: Managing rumours, stigma and community tensions (June 2026)

. NOTABLE EVOLUTIONS AS OF JUNE 23 The health situation linked to the Ebola outbreak, declared on 15 May 2026, continues to deteriorate. Between 13 and 20 June 2026, confirmed cases increased by 28.2%, rising from 782 to 1,003, while 60 recoveries were recorded. Ituri remains the epicentre of the ou

DR Congo: Note_5_Ebola in Ituri and North Kivu Managing Rumours, Stigma and Community Tensions (June 2026)

. NOTABLE EVOLUTIONS AS OF JUNE 23 The health situation linked to the Ebola outbreak, declared on 15 May 2026, continues to deteriorate. Between 13 and 20 June 2026, confirmed cases increased by 28.2%, rising from 782 to 1,003, while 60 recoveries were recorded. Ituri remains the epicentre of the ou

World: Epidemic and emerging disease alerts in the Pacific as of 23 June 2026

Countries: World, Australia, Bangladesh, Japan, Kiribati, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Samoa, Vanuatu . Highlights/updates since the last map was sent on PacNet on 16 June 2026: Dengue • Kiribati: Dengue transmission continues in Kiribati, with the outbreak ongoing since April 2025. As of 16

Poland: Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment - Vulnerability and Basic Needs Analysis Across Selected Rayons of Dnipropetrovska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Zaporizka, Sumska, and Mykolaivska Oblasts - May 2026

Countries: Poland, Ukraine . Summary 1. Total number of people in need and severity of humanitarian conditions. Evidence gathered indicates that 85% of households assessed are classified as being in need, including 6% facing critical needs, 23% facing severe needs and 56% facing moderate needs, Furt

Kenya Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy 2026–2030 (June 2026)

. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Local Manufacturing Strategy is structured to position Kenya’s healthcare as an investment for social impact, equity, economic growth, commercial traction, and sustainability. As a catalyst for self-reliance and health security, the strategy advances Kenya’s strategic intere

Yemen: Protection Risk Overview: January–March 2026

. During the first quarter of 2026, populations across Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah, Marib, Taiz, Al Dhale’e, Hadramout, Al Mahweet, Hajjah, Hudaydah, Sana’a, Amran, and Dhamar continued to face complex and overlapping protection risks driven by protracted conflict, repeated climate-related shocks, ec

Yemen: Protection Hubs Quarterly report: January–March 2026

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UNHCR IRAQ Update, May 2026

Countries: Iraq, Syrian Arab Republic . Context As of the end of May 2026, Iraq generously hosts around 350,500 refugees and asylum-seekers, the majority (88%) of whom are Syrians. Close to 81% of this population resides in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. While most refugees and asylumseekers live in

UNHCR Ethiopia | Refugees and IDPs | May 2026

Countries: Ethiopia, World .

UNHCR Ethiopia | Refugees and IDPs statistics | May 2026

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UNHCR Ethiopia | Population Movement from Sudan to Ethiopia | May 2026

Countries: Ethiopia, Sudan .

UNHCR Ethiopia | Registered Refugee Population by Location | May 2026

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UNHCR Ethiopia | Refugees and Asylum-Seekers | May 2026

Countries: Ethiopia, World .

DR Congo: L’IFRC poursuit l’acheminement de matériel opérationnel pour soutenir la riposte à l’épidémie d’Ebola en République démocratique du Congo.

Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda . Depuis la déclaration de l’épidémie, l’IFRC a livré 23 kits d’inhumation sûre et digne (Safe and Dignified Burial – SDB), permettant de réaliser plus de 450 enterrements, ainsi que plus de 300 housses mortuaires, en

Philippines: UNOPS Rapid Engineering Response to the 2026 Mindanao Earthquake

. Bridging emergency response and sustainable recovery through specialized infrastructure assessments in the Philippines A powerful 7.8-magnitude offshore earthquake struck Sarangani on 8 June 2026, sending tremors across Southern Mindanao and severely affecting surrounding communities. The timing o

Mozambique: Humanitarian Access Snapshot - Northern Provinces (Cabo Delgado, Niassa, Nampula), as of May 2026 [EN/PT]

. The month of May was marked by an expansion of non-State armed group (NSAG) activity into previously less-affected areas, including Namuno district—which had not experienced attacks since 2022. Against this backdrop, humanitarian access remained constrained due to insecurity, bureaucratic impedime