#humanitarian

What happened: The Democratic Republic of the Congo's health ministry counted 10,141 Ebola cases and nearly 5,000 deaths as of Oct. 26, UN News reported. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, and has spread to eight provinces. It is the largest of the DRC's 17 Ebola outbreaks and the second largest in the world after West Africa's in 2014-2016.

Why it matters: The outbreak began in the conflict-hit east amid hunger and displacement. More than 2,600 people have recovered, and a ring-vaccination trial called TUMAINI (Swahili for "hope") is testing whether an existing Ebola vaccine protects against this strain. Kenya has recorded nine cases, including two deaths.

How much agreement is there? Broad agreement. Health agencies agree on the threat; the WHO says ending it needs more access to affected areas and community outreach that builds trust.

Could someone help? Donors can back the aid groups and UN agencies working the response, and community health volunteers are central to the trust-building the WHO describes.

What happened: A UN Office on Drugs and Crime survey released Oct. 29 found the area planted with opium poppy in Afghanistan grew to more than 43,000 hectares, up from about 10,000 in 2025. Estimated opium production rose from about 300 tonnes to just under 1,500. It is the first significant increase since the Taliban banned poppy in 2022, though still far below the roughly 232,000 hectares grown before the ban.

Why it matters: Before the ban Afghanistan supplied around 80% of the world's illicit opium. UNODC says farmers are hiding plots inside cereal fields and walled compounds and staggering harvests, and that with traffickers' stockpiles running down, cultivation could climb further.

How much agreement is there? Some disagreement. The numbers come from UNODC; the Taliban authorities say they eradicated 22,000 hectares this year. UNODC's chief says the rise shows bans don't hold when poor farmers have no other way to feed their families.

Could someone help? UNODC is calling for investment in farm livelihoods, infrastructure and market access so families have alternatives to poppy.