UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday that the continued closure of key border crossings into Gaza is putting civilian lives at risk, just as they begin to recover from months of war, deprivation and hunger.

In a series of meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed spearheaded discussions on fortifying global food systems and advancing sustainable development, setting the stage for the upcoming fourth UN Food Systems Summit.

The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday stressed that the “true foundation” of recovery and reconstruction in Gaza must be based on a clear and agreed political framework, not just bricks and mortar.

As conflict rages across Sudan, armed men are raping and sexually assaulting children, including some infants as young as one, according to the UN children’s agency (UNICEF).

In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), insecurity and horrific sexual violence have left tens of thousands fleeing across borders with no sign of the exodus stopping, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday.

Synthetic drugs are rapidly transforming the global drug trade, fuelling an escalating public health crisis, according to the UN administered International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).