Dozens rescued or evacuated in Wales as Storm Claudia floods Monmouth

LONDON (AP) — Dozens of people were rescued or evacuated from homes in Wales after a river overflowed and swamped the town of Monmouth during heavy rains from Storm Claudia that drenched parts of the U.K. and Ireland.

Aerial footage showed roads under muddy brown water, submerged cars and businesses along its main street flooded after the River Monnow rose to a record level and spilled over its banks.

Nearly 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) of rain fell in southeast Wales overnight and there was also some flooding in England from the storm that brought damaging winds that downed trees. Several rail lines were disrupted by high water or toppled trees.

“I personally haven’t seen it so bad for probably 40 years," since flood defenses were put in place for Monmouth, said Peter Fox, a Conservative member of the Welsh Parliament.

The center of the town near the border of England is just upstream of where the Monnow joins the River Wye, the fourth-largest river in the U.K.

Some 50 flood warnings were still in place across England on Saturday afternoon as a cold spell was expected to bring subfreezing temperatures to parts of the U.K. in coming days.

Flooding was also reported in Portarlington, Ireland, and further damage was possible with some rivers not yet reaching their peaks. The high winds also knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses and trees blocked roads.

Emergency services on Cinderhill Sreet after severe flooding due to Storm Claudia, in Monmouth, South Wales, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

A woman is wheeled away as emergency services arrive after severe flooding due to Storm Claudia, in Monmouth, South Wales, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

Emergency services near the River Monnow after severe flooding due to Storm Claudia, in Monmouth, South Wales, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

Emergency services on Cinderhill Sreet after severe flooding due to Storm Claudia, in Monmouth, South Wales, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP)

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s humanitarian aid coordination office is downsizing its appeal for annual funding in 2026 after support this year, mostly from Western governments, plunged to the lowest level in a decade.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Monday it was seeking $33 billion to help some 135 million people cope with fallout from wars, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics and food shortages. This year, it took in $15 billion, the lowest level in a decade.

The office says next year it wants more than $4.1 billion to reach 3 million people in Palestinian areas, another $2.9 billion for Sudan — home to the world's largest displacement crisis — and $2.8 billion for a regional plan around Syria.

“In 2025, hunger surged. Food budgets were slashed — even as famines hit parts of Sudan and Gaza. Health systems broke apart," said OCHA chief Tom Fletcher. "Disease outbreaks spiked. Millions went without essential food, healthcare and protection. Programs to protect women and girls were slashed, hundreds of aid organizations shut."

The U.N. aid coordinator sought $47 billion for this year and aimed to help 190 million people worldwide. Because of the lower support, it and humanitarian partners reached 25 million fewer people this year than in 2024.

“I know budgets are tight right now. Families everywhere are under strain," Fletcher said. “But the world spent $2.7 trillion on defense last year – on guns and arms. And I’m asking for just over 1% of that.”

He has called for “radical transformation” of aid by reducing bureaucracy, boosting efficiency and giving more power to local groups. Fletcher cited “very practical, constructive conversations” almost daily with the Trump administration.

“Do I want to shame the world into responding? Absolutely," Fletcher said. "But I also want to channel this sense of determination and anger that we have as humanitarians, that we will carry on delivering with what we get.”

FILE - A convoy of vehicles loaded with food and other aid is en route to Sweida on the international highway in rural Daraa province, Syria, July 20, 2025, heading to the city of Busra al-Sham. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki, File)

FILE - Palestinians grab sacks of flour from a moving truck carrying World Food Programme aid as it drives through Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana, File)

FILE - People carry sacks and boxes of food and humanitarian aid that was unloaded from a World Food Program convoy that had been heading to Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File)

FILE - Women displaced from El-Fasher stand in line to receive food aid at the newly established El-Afadh camp in Al Dabbah, in Sudan's Northern State, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)