UN Reports 330,000 Displaced in Lebanon Amid Current Wars in the World as 1030 Projectiles Strike South in One Week
Ongoing conflicts worldwide continue to generate humanitarian crises, with the UN reporting 330,000 people still displaced across Lebanon, 1,030 projectiles recorded by UNIFIL in southern Lebanon over the past week, an attack that killed two UN peacekeepers in South Sudan, the lifting of a two-year curfew in Sudan's Khartoum amid persistent risks, and command changes in Ukraine's Donbas defense amid current wars in the world.
Lebanon Displacement and Cross-Border Fire
The UN states that 330,000 people remain displaced across Lebanon, where humanitarian access remains a major challenge. [1] UNIFIL recorded 1,030 projectiles fired in southern Lebanon over the past week and described the regional situation as remaining fragile. [3] These figures underscore the scale of disruption in the area, with the UN spokesman highlighting ongoing difficulties in delivering aid to affected populations. [1] The peacekeeping force noted that the volume of projectiles indicates continued volatility along the border, even as efforts to stabilize the region persist. [3] Humanitarian organizations face repeated obstacles in reaching those in need, compounding the effects of displacement on communities already strained by limited services. [1] The combination of large-scale movement of people and frequent cross-border incidents points to a situation where civilian safety and access to essentials remain under pressure. [3]
Deadly Attack on Peacekeepers in South Sudan
An attack on a joint UNMISS patrol in South Sudan's Jonglei State killed two Ethiopian peacekeepers and injured seven others; the African Union condemned the incident and called for an investigation. [2] The African Union has strongly condemned the fatal attack on a joint patrol of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Jonglei State, which left two Ethiopian peacekeepers dead and seven others injured. [2] In a statement issued on Friday, August 28, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, denounced the attack carried out by unidentified assailants on August 25. [2] The two Ethiopian peacekeepers were killed while serving in support of efforts to promote peace and stability in South Sudan, while seven others sustained injuries. [2] Mr Youssouf paid tribute to the fallen peacekeepers and commended their service to international peace and security. [2] He also expressed condolences to the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and to the victims' families, colleagues and friends. [2] The AUC Chairperson called on the relevant authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the attack and ensure that those responsible are identified and prosecuted. [2] The attack highlights the risks faced by peacekeepers operating in fragile and conflict-affected environments, where personnel are often required to carry out patrols and other duties amid significant security challenges. [2] UNMISS has been supporting efforts to protect civilians, promote stability and advance the peace process in South Sudan. [2] The safety of peacekeeping personnel remains essential to the mission's ability to carry out its mandate. [2] Despite the attack, Mr Youssouf reaffirmed the African Union's commitment to supporting the Government and people of South Sudan in their efforts to achieve a credible democratic transition and lasting peace. [2] The AU said it remained committed to working with South Sudan and other partners to advance stability and support the country's political transition. [2] For Ethiopia, the deaths represent a further loss among its personnel serving in international peace operations. [2] The AU's tribute recognised the sacrifice of the two peacekeepers and the risks undertaken by personnel working to support peace and stability beyond their own country's borders. [2] The African Union said it extended its deepest condolences to the Ethiopian Government and to the families, colleagues and friends of those killed and injured in the attack. [2]
UNIFIL records 1,030 projectiles fired in southern Lebanon over the past week. — Source: anadolu
Khartoum Curfew Lifted After Two Years
Sudanese authorities lifted a two-year curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum, but UNHCR warns of ongoing risks from drone attacks, unexploded ordnance, shootings, theft, unreliable services and housing shortages for returnees. [4] Sudanese authorities have lifted a curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum after two years, allowing residents of the capital to move freely as the government seeks to project an improving security picture, despite warnings from international agencies that serious risks remain. [4] The measure was announced on Thursday by the government’s Security Affairs Coordination Committee, which said people would be able to travel and work across the city without time restrictions. [4] Previously, movement by people and vehicles had been restricted between 11pm and 5am. [4] Following a meeting chaired by Khartoum Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza, the committee said security checkpoints and army patrols would remain in place. [4] It advised residents travelling late at night to carry identification. [4] The committee also barred foreign nationals from entering Khartoum State without valid entry visas or permits. [4] Authorities introduced the curfew in May 2024, citing deteriorating security conditions in Khartoum amid fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. [4] Following the outbreak of the war in April 2023, the RSF seized the presidential palace, Khartoum International Airport and much of the capital and its wider tri-city metropolitan area. [4] The SAF retained a foothold in Omdurman, west of the Nile. [4] In late September 2024, the army launched a major offensive across Khartoum State. [4] It eventually recaptured Khartoum city at the end of March 2025, pushing out remaining RSF positions from much of the state. [4] Since then, the government has returned to Khartoum from its temporary administrative base in Port Sudan, seeking to re-establish the capital as the centre of state administration. [4] International agencies and analysts have cautioned against treating the army’s recapture of the city, or the lifting of the curfew, as proof that Khartoum is safe or ready for a large-scale return of displaced residents. [4] In a report released on Friday, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, described major challenges facing people returning to Khartoum State, as the effects of the war continue to endanger civilian life. [4] The agency highlighted security concerns in some areas of the state, particularly at night, when reports of shootings, theft and drone activity are most frequent. [4] Drone attacks remain a threat in parts of Khartoum State. [4] On 13 August, RSF drones targeted the capital, prompting anti-aircraft fire from Omdurman as residents reported explosions. [4] UNHCR also warned of the threat from unexploded ordnance, saying that safety risks from unexploded ordnance remain present in some areas. [4] It said returnees were confronting interlinked challenges that constrain their ability to reintegrate sustainably, including unreliable electricity, limited access to basic services and a shortage of adequate housing. [4]
Ukraine Bolsters Donbas Defense with Azov Veterans
Ukraine has appointed Andrii Biletskyi and Denys Prokopenko, both with roots in the Azov unit, to command two major defensive groupings in the Donetsk region as Russian advances remain a threat near Sloviansk. [5] Every day, the Ukraine Battlefield update newsletter offers a clear look at how the war is unfolding on the ground. [5] Russia wanted to destroy Azov, but its founders have never been as powerful and influential as they are now. [5] Russian infiltration towards Sloviansk through Mykolaivka has been halted for now, but the situation across the entire axis is extremely tense. [5] An extended-range Iskander struck Kyiv. [5] Donetsk was hit in a major Storm Shadow/SCALP missile attack. [5] Russian infiltration towards Sloviansk through Mykolaivka has been halted for now, but the situation across the entire axis is extremely tense. [5] Both quotes were reactions to these two sentences by the Ukrainian president on Wednesday: We are also enhancing the effectiveness of the defense of the Donetsk region. Two groupings will be established, to be commanded by Andrii Biletskyi and Denys Prokopenko. [5] A security meeting on the frontline situation and defensive operations in key sectors was attended by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander of the Airborne Forces Oleh Apostol, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi. [5] It is ironic that Russia invaded Ukraine to demilitarise it and destroy Azov, which had fewer than two thousand members at the time. Today, Azov’s founder and its current commander were entrusted with commanding two groupings that together have more than 100,000 men. What a Russian failure. [5] Slovakiansk and Kramatorsk will be defended by convinced Nazis. [5] Both Askola’s and Kots’s comments suggest that this is not merely a military decision. It is also a move with political implications. [5] Biletskyi and Prokopenko are elite soldiers who both came out of an ultra-right, extremist milieu, and Biletskyi was one of its leading figures before the war. [5] At the same time, both have become legends, both deservedly received the title Hero of Ukraine, and in both cases the fact that they will be responsible for defending what is left of Donbas has been received very positively. [5] Biletskyi was a well-known right-wing radical even before 2014. [5] He founded Right Sector and the Azov volunteer unit at that time. [5] Among other things, he made a significant contribution to the liberation of Mariupol. [5] He later entered politics and became an MP with marginal influence. [5]
Humanitarian and Security Challenges Across Current Wars in the World
The shared risks to civilians, peacekeepers and returnees highlighted in the separate conflict zones reflect broader patterns seen across current wars in the world. [1] [2] [4] The UN has documented persistent displacement and access issues in Lebanon while UNIFIL tracks ongoing projectile activity. [1] [3] In South Sudan, the African Union has called for accountability following the deaths of peacekeepers. [2] Sudanese authorities have eased restrictions in Khartoum even as UNHCR details continued threats from multiple sources. [4] These developments occur alongside command adjustments in Ukraine's Donbas region amid tense frontline conditions. [5] Each case illustrates how security measures and international responses must contend with immediate dangers that affect daily movement, aid delivery and long-term stability for those impacted. [1] [2] [4]
What to watch next: Continued monitoring of projectile activity in southern Lebanon, the outcome of investigations into the South Sudan attack, returnee conditions in Khartoum, and defensive operations on the Sloviansk axis.
