Ebola in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea: As a three-day countrywide shutdown came to an end in Sierra Leone, the UN Security Council set up a special mission to lead the global response to the Ebola outbreak. More than 5,800 cases have been reported since the beginning of the outbreak, including 2,800 deaths, and more than 13.5 million people are now considered in need of assistance as the impact of the epidemic spreads.
Syria: Kurds flee IS advance on Kobane, and 138,000 refugees have been counted at the Turkish border. The US has launched airstrikes targeting IS bases, with the support of other states, while government airstrikes in Idleb, Homs, Rural Damascus, and Aleppo have killed over 100 people in the past week. Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped under IS control in Deir-ez-Zor. For lack of funds, WFP will be reducing the size of rations from October, with further cuts planned in November.
Yemen: Sanaa saw a significant escalation in violence, in which the Houthis gained control over much of the capital, including key government buildings, and 200 people are thought to have died. Houthi leaders have denied reports of a peace deal agreed with the Government on 21 September.
Updated: 23/09/2014. Next update: 30/09/2014
