Guterres condemns escalating violence in South Sudan as aid operations come under fire

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

In a statement issued by his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq on Saturday, the UN chief said nearly 10 million people – “more than two thirds of the population” – now require life-saving humanitarian assistance and “continue to bear the brunt of the conflict”.

He expressed grave concern over fighting, attacks and looting affecting humanitarian and health facilities, as well as movement restrictions and insecurity along key supply routes.

These conditions, the statement said, are “crippling humanitarian operations and shutting down essential services, placing civilians, including aid workers, at serious risk”.

Healthcare services attacked

Since late December, at least 11 healthcare facilities have been attacked in Jonglei State alone, disrupting critical services for communities already under severe strain. The assaults have also involved the seizure of 12 vehicles, including an ambulance.

“In the past week alone,” the statement noted, incidents have included “repeated attacks on a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy, an airstrike on a hospital run by the leading NGO Médecins Sans Frontières, and the burning of a Save the Children field office and destruction of its health centre”.

The Secretary-General said that “this clear disregard for medical and humanitarian operations is unacceptable and must stop”, stressing that such work “must be facilitated and respected”.

The violence has driven mass displacement, with more than 370,000 people reportedly forced from their homes so far this year, including over 280,000 in Jonglei State, amid a rapidly worsening cholera outbreak.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence from Khartoum in 2011 but soon descended into a brutal civil conflict marked by political rivalry, ethnic violence and repeated peace deal breakdowns.

‘Immediate and decisive’ end to fighting needed

Despite a 2018 agreement, insecurity and localised fighting have continued to undermine stability and recovery.

The UN chief called on all parties to “immediately and decisively halt all military operations”, de-escalate tensions through dialogue, uphold international law, protect civilians and ensure safe, sustained humanitarian access, including the security of aid workers and UN peacekeepers.

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From rural margins to media trailblazers: India’s women journalists are rewriting the news

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Khabar Lahariya, literally “news waves”, is an all-women media organisation run since 2002 by rural reporters, many of them Dalit, Adivasi and Muslim, dispatching fresh stories from some of the most marginalised regions.

“We faced challenges at every level,” founder Kavita Devi told UN News. “People would say women can’t be journalists, but we went to villages, persisted and proved that women can not only report but tell stories that others cannot.”

Long before global conversations about diversity entered newsrooms, these women were building their own.

From illiterate to multimedia producer

Villagers initially doubted women could be journalists and educational barriers made recruiting reporters a daunting challenge, Ms. Devi said, recalling the scepticism they encountered.

At the time, female reporters were virtually absent from newsrooms in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Many of the women who joined Khabar Lahariya had little formal education.

One such journalist, Shyamkali, transformed from being illiterate to becoming a senior reporter.

Khabar Lahariya reports in local languages, including Bundeli, Awadhi and Bhojpuri, rejecting the idea that legitimacy requires elite, urban Hindi or English.

Reporting from the margins

“I didn’t know how to write a resume or handle a camera, but with training and guidance, I was able to learn everything, from interviewing to mobile journalism, and now I report stories that mainstream media ignore,” Shyamkali told UN News.

Khabar Lahariya’s reporting also goes beyond mere representation. Shyamkali recounted a story about a woman who, driven to desperation, acted violently against her abusive husband.

Mainstream media reported the incident without context, focusing only on the shocking act, she said. But, Shyamkali’s reporting brought the woman’s perspective and underlying social realities to light, demonstrating how women journalists can add nuance, empathy and depth to stories often ignored or misrepresented.

Women ‘see their own image in the news’

Language plays a critical role in Khabar Lahariya’s mission. Publishing in local dialects like Bundeli, Awadhi and Bhojpuri, ensures that news is accessible, relatable and empowering for rural communities.

“When we explain issues in their language, people understand better,” Ms. Devi said.

“They see their own image in the news, especially women.”

Game changing digital media

Transitioning from print to digital platforms has been a game changer for Khabar Lahariya, with its staff embracing mobile journalism, learning to anchor, produce and share news on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Technology has empowered us to amplify voices from communities that were always ignored.

“Technology has empowered us to amplify voices from communities that were always ignored,” Shyamkali said, recalling the initial fear and excitement of tackling digital media.

“I never imagined handling a camera or sending live reports from a phone, but now I can.”

This digital expansion not only increases visibility, but enhances women’s agency, confidence and economic independence, proving that technology and training can transform social realities at the grassroots level.

Founded in 2002, Khabar Lahariya is an all-women media organisation run by rural reporters, many of them Dalit, Adivasi and Muslim.

Telling the whole story

Women remain just one in four people seen, heard or read about in the media, according to the 2025 Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) report.

When women’s voices are missing, the public is denied half the story.

Kalliopi Mingeirou, chief of UN Women’s section to end violence against women and girls, told UN News “this is not because women lack expertise or leadership” but because media continues to rely on the same narrow set of voices, too often defaulting to men as experts and decision makers.

Indeed, democracy depends on informed debate and inclusive decision making, she said.

“When women’s voices are missing, the public is denied half the story,” she said. “This distorts reality, weakens accountability and narrows the democratic space. In today’s context of backlash against gender equality, the exclusion of women in news is not only a gender issue, it is a democratic deficit.”

‘Radical rethink’ required

Progress on gender representation in media has not only stalled, it is under threat, according to the new report.

“These findings are both a wake-up call and a call to action,” said Kirsi Madi, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. “When women are missing, democracy is incomplete.”

Despite making up half of the world’s population, women today account for just 26 per cent of news subjects and sources globally, a figure that has barely shifted in the last 15 years, the report found.

“A radical rethink is needed so that media can play its role in advancing equality,” Ms. Madi said. “Without women’s voices, there is no full story, no fair democracy, no lasting security and no shared future.”

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How AI, gaming and virtual worlds are reshaping Holocaust remembrance

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“At the moment, we have an incredibly dispersed and diverse landscape of memory-making, and the more digital we get, the most diverse it gets,” Professor Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden, Director of the Landecker Digital Memory Lab at the University of Sussex, told UN News.

As Holocaust survivors age and first-hand testimony becomes rarer, educators, researchers and designers are increasingly turning to emerging technologies to preserve memory, foster empathy and engage younger generations far beyond museums and classrooms with narrative-driven games and immersive virtual spaces allowing users to not only observe history but interact with it.

Landecker Digital Memory Lab, University of Sussex, participates at a panel discussion: “Technology, Memory, and the Future of Holocaust Remembrance”, at UN Headquarters in New York.

The challenge is no longer whether new technologies should be used, but whether they will be used thoughtfully enough to ensure that memory endures for generations to come as these modern tools open new – and sometimes uncomfortable – questions about interactivity, responsibility and historical truth.

From taboo to tool: ‘Video games and the Holocaust are mainstream’

Long considered the last taboo of Holocaust representation, video games are now increasingly part of the conversation as research-led approaches have seen studios starting to work closely with historians, educators and archives, opening space for designers like Luc Bernard, whose The Light in the Darkness video game follows a Jewish family in Nazi-occupied France.

It doesn’t have a Hollywood ending; I decided to show the real story, which was that most Jews during the Holocaust were murdered.

“It doesn’t have a Hollywood ending; I decided to show the real story, which was that most Jews during the Holocaust were murdered,” said Mr. Bernard, who is currently working on the director’s cut, funded by the Claims Conference and META, which will include the original vision he intended with extra scenes going deeper into the story.

“It’s no longer a taboo subject,” Mr. Bernard said. “Video games and the Holocaust are mainstream.”

The Light in the Darkness has reached audiences well beyond traditional educational settings, with the average gamer age of 35 among players from countries such as Saudi Arabia that have engaged strongly with the story, he said.

“People relate to the characters, and it’s resonated more with them than even movies around the Holocaust,” he said. “That’s just the power of videogames or any form of art. It depends on how you direct it.”

Luc Bernard, game designer, participates at panel discussion “Technology, Memory, and the Future of Holocaust Remembrance” at UN Headquarters in New York.

Building resilient digital memory

The current landscape requires a fundamental rethink of how Holocaust memory is produced and sustained in the digital age, from interactivity to what it means when users engage with the past in these spaces, said Ms. Richardson-Walden, whose work brings together educators, researchers, policymakers, technology companies and memory institutions worldwide.

Indeed, collaboration is essential, including to ensure Holocaust memory remains resilient as digital formats multiply, she added.

“Without all coming together, we are wasting resources, we are spreading our human resources, our financial resources, our technologies and our time really thinly,” she cautioned, adding that one of the greatest risks lies not in technology itself but in how digital projects are funded.

In addition, short-term initiatives, from apps to virtual exhibitions, are often expensive and quickly become obsolete as software changes causing projects to “break and disappear” alongside the digitised materials, metadata and knowledge behind it, she said. “It’s just all gone.”

Rethinking interactivity and risk: ‘You can’t change the narrative’

Instead, Ms. Richardson-Walden called for investment in shared digital infrastructure. Aligned databases, common standards and permanent digital expertise within institutions would allow memory organizations to adapt quickly as new technologies emerge, whether in gaming, virtual reality or artificial intelligence (AI).

Interactivity is often misunderstood, particularly in discussions about video games, with fears that users might be able to make changes to what happened in the Holocaust, she said.

“But, anyone in the gaming industry understands that is an illusion of agency,” she said. “You can’t change the narrative.”

The Light in the Darkness: Director’s Cut.

AI risks: Catching up with the tech world

At the same time, Ms. Richardson-Walden warned of genuine risks in the current digital environment, especially with the rapid spread of generative AI. Holocaust-related content circulates widely online, making it vulnerable to monetisation without historical understanding or ethical oversight.

“People know the Holocaust performs well online,” she explains. “Holocaust is a well-talked-about subject. People know about it. People want to talk about it, which is great, but also a problem in this sphere because that means it can be monetised.”

Listen to an interview with Professor Victoria Grace Richardson-Wald:

Pointing to the mass production of AI images on social media, she said “we need to find a way to catch up with the tech world’s speed slightly because otherwise the policy, the discussions we’re having will be so far behind the reality that they’ll become kind of meaningless.”

Catching up with the tech world

Both Mr. Bernard and Ms. Richardson-Walden emphasised that responsibility for digital Holocaust memory extends beyond individual creators, with technology companies, funders and governments working with educators and creatives to develop ethical, sustainable approaches.

“These conversations used to happen in fringe spaces,” Mrs. Richardson-Walden says, following a panel debate around technology, memory and the future of Holocaust Remembrance at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Connective Holocaust Commemoration Expo 2025 at the University of Sussex, UK.

Now, international forums, including the United Nations, have an important role in turning discussion into coordinated action,

Watch the Technology, Memory and the Future of Holocaust Remembrance panel discussion at the UN here.

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From shelter to strength: How disaster refuges protect lives in Palau

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Palau’s biodiversity is threatened by rising sea levels.

Climate change, a personal issue

For Techitong, these climate related hazards are deeply personal.

“I fear the places I grew up in might be underwater in the next decades,” he said. “I don’t want future generations to only hear stories about what Palau used to be. That’s what drives me.”

Today, he works with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Palau alongside the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), overseeing the strengthening of climate-resilient disaster shelters across the country.

Techitong visits one of the IOM-supported disaster shelters.

Strengthening national resilience

Techitong’s work is part of a broader effort by the United Nations to support Palau’s resilience to the adverse effects of extreme weather events through an integrated, long-term approach.

The UN works alongside the Government of Palau and civil society across four interconnected pillars: People, planet, prosperity, and peace.

Building community resilience to extreme weather events and strengthening disaster risk reduction cuts across all four of these pillars, as resilience is not only environmental, but also social, economic and institutional.

The shelters Techitong oversees put this vision into practice.

Techitong speaks to one of the construction workers building shelters.

The shelters are designed to function as a connected national network of safe spaces accessible to all people during emergencies.

Built to withstand high winds, heavy rainfall and flooding, they will be equipped with typhoon shutters, rainwater catchment systems, solar lighting, generators, and water filtration systems.

Four out of the eight shelters have already been strengthened and handed over to the community in Palau.

“The strengthened shelters consider the needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable people, so no one is left behind during emergencies,” said Alex Iyar, a community member involved in the consultations that led to the development of this project.

Beyond infrastructure, the project is strengthening local capacity. Community-based Red Cross Disaster Action Teams are being trained to manage shelters before, during and after emergencies, reinforcing local leadership and ownership.

It gives me hope that my children still be able to enjoy the best parts of Palau that I grew up with.

Addressing displacement risk and protecting social cohesion

Across the Pacific, climate displacement is increasingly common. According to IOM data on global displacement trends, weather-related disasters have triggered hundreds of millions of internal displacements over the past decade.

Disaster events are fundamentally reshaping patterns of mobility worldwide, disproportionately affecting small island States like Palau.

While disaster shelters cannot stop the sea from rising, they can buy time, protect lives and help communities remain rooted for as long as possible.

For Di Maech, a local Palauan conservation worker, this matters deeply. “In Palau, our communities are learning, growing, and finding ways to be resilient in the face of disasters thanks to UN-supported projects.

“It gives me hope that my children still be able to enjoy the best parts of Palau that I grew up with.”

UN Micronesia/Carlota Nunez

Di Maech is a Palauan conservation worker.

Investing in youth leadership

IOM’s Techitong believes the shelters are central to national resilience. “These shelters are not just emergency refuges, they are community hubs that support preparedness, connection and adaptation,” he said.

Techitong still swims in the ocean when he can. The water remains beautiful, powerful and deeply familiar, even as it carries new uncertainty.

“I grew up learning how to move with the waves,” he says. “Now my work is about making sure our communities can do the same. Adapt, protect each other, and keep Palau standing.”

UN Micronesia/Carlota Nunez

Young Palauans play volleyball in Kuabes park, an area that could be underwater in the next 30 years.

Pakistan: Guterres condemns deadly suicide bombing at Islamabad mosque

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres said he condemned the bombing “in the strongest terms.”

Call for accountability

“The Secretary-General reiterates that attacks against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable,” the statement said, stressing that those responsible “must be identified and brought to justice.”

Mr. Guterres extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished “a full and speedy recovery to those injured.” He also reaffirmed “the solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Pakistan in their efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.”

Attack during Friday prayers

According to media reports, at least 31 people were killed and more than 160 injured when a suicide bomber detonated the explosive device at a Shia mosque in the Tarlai area of Islamabad.

Police said the attacker opened fire at the gates of the mosque before triggering the explosion after being confronted by security guards.

A state of emergency has been declared in the capital and hospitals have appealed for blood donations. The attack has been described as the deadliest of its kind in Islamabad in over a decade.

‘Deeply shocked and saddened’

The UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, Mo Yahya, said he was “deeply shocked and saddened by the horrifying attack at an Imambargah in Islamabad, where people were gathered for Friday prayers.”

“I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims and their families,” he said, adding: “We should stand together in opposing such senseless violence.”

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Nuclear disarmament at breaking point as mistrust grows – but hope remains

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Yet even as the architecture weakens, signs of progress – including nuclear-weapon-free zones and rising youth engagement – offer grounds for cautious hope, a UN researcher on nuclear non-proliferation has told UN News.

Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova, a fellow with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) – an autonomous institute studying disarmament and international security issues – said that decades of arms control built through painstaking negotiations are now at risk of unravelling.

“The situation right now is very difficult,” she added.

“We are observing the disintegration of the arms control architecture that was built primarily through negotiations between [the then] Soviet Union – and subsequently Russia – and the United States.”

Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova, briefs the Security Council on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. (November 2025)

Arms control architecture under strain

That erosion has left the global non-proliferation regime increasingly fragile, with most Cold War-era agreements either abandoned or expired. The 2010 US-Russia New START accord – which capped deployed strategic nuclear warheads – expired this week without a successor in place.

While both American and Russian presidents acknowledged the dangers of a renewed nuclear arms race, no replacement for the New START is currently under negotiation.

This is a troubling backdrop for the next review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), scheduled for April-May in New York, Ms. Mukhatzhanova said.

Opened for signature in 1968 and extended indefinitely in 1995, the NPT remains the only binding multilateral treaty requiring nuclear-weapon States to pursue disarmament.

However, the political conditions that once made cooperation possible have deteriorated sharply, added Ms. Mukhatzhanova.

“We are back to a period of severe mistrust between the major actors – arguably worse than during the Cold War,” she said.

We are back to a period of severe mistrust between the major actors – arguably worse than during the Cold War

Challenges and emerging risks

Statements by the US suggesting a possible resumption of certain forms of nuclear testing have raised alarm, even if limited to so-called “subcritical experiments” – highly explosive tests where no chain reaction is involved.

Such moves, Ms. Mukhatzhanova said, risk undermining the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and reopening questions many hoped were settled.

“If full-scale explosive testing were to return,” she warned, “we are talking about a really drastic and very negative change – one that would open the door for others to resume nuclear testing.”

New technology, new risks

Hypersonic weapons, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence are accelerating arms competition and increasing the risk of miscalculation.

“The concern is that too much is left to the decision of a machine,” Ms. Mukhatzhanova said, warning that AI-driven early-warning systems could misinterpret data and trigger inadvertent escalation.

She noted recent UN resolutions calling for “meaningful human control” over nuclear-related technologies.

Hiroshima, shortly after a nuclear bomb was dropped on this city in August 1945.

Room for progress remains

Despite the grim outlook, she highlighted areas where progress continues.

Nuclear-weapon-free zones – covering Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Central Asia – demonstrate how states can pursue security without nuclear weapons.

“They are a feel-good story,” she said, describing them as practical examples of cooperation even amid global tensions. The Central Asian zone stands out for its strong verification standards and links to broader non-proliferation commitments.

Young people engaging

Ms. Mukhatzhanova also pointed to growing engagement by younger generations, who increasingly question the long-standing narrative that nuclear weapons guarantee security.

“They are ready to challenge that framing,” she said. “That gives me hope.”

While the arms control system may be fraying, she argued that history shows it can be rebuilt.

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Ukraine war keeps nuclear safety on a knife-edge, UN watchdog warns

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Russian forces have been carrying out strikes on critical infrastructure amid freezing winter temperatures as their full-scale invasion approaches the four-year mark next month.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said the electrical grid was again the target of military activity this past weekend, leading to significant impacts to several regions and nuclear power plant operations.

Power lines down

The fighting caused power lines linking Ukraine with neighbouring countries to be disconnected, which in turn knocked out supplies inside Ukraine.

As a result, a unit at one nuclear power plant disconnected from the grid due to fluctuations and automatically shut down, while other units at other plants were forced to reduce power.

The Chornobyl site – where the world’s worst nuclear disaster occurred in 1986 – experienced a complete loss of offsite power and relied on its emergency diesel generators for roughly an hour.

‘Ever-present risks’

“This latest grid event in Ukraine is a stark reminder of the ever-present risks to nuclear safety and security arising from deteriorating grid conditions,” said Mr. Grossi.

He stressed that extensive repairs are needed to improve the reliability of power supply to nuclear power plants and strengthen their resilience.

“Once again, I call for maximum military restraint, as well as full observance of the Seven Indispensable Pillars to enable these essential repairs to take place.”

Seven safety principles

The IAEA developed the seven pillars for nuclear safety in Ukraine in March 2022, just weeks after the war began – the first time ever that armed conflict has occurred amid the facilities of a major nuclear power programme.

Measures include maintaining the physical integrity of facilities, ensuring offsite power supply from the energy grid, and implementing effective radiation monitoring systems.

Operating staff must also be able to fulfill their safety and security duties and to make decisions without any undue pressure.

Vital inspections

As military activity increases impacting the electricity grid in Ukraine, three IAEA teams are conducting a two-week mission visiting 10 substations critical to nuclear safety and security.

The objective is to assess the continuing damage to the grid, review repair efforts and identify practical steps to strengthen the resilience of off-site power supplies to nuclear power plants.

This marks the second IAEA mission in as many months. A mission this past December confirmed the effects of cumulative impacts on nuclear power plant operations and staff conditions.

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Keeping ‘hope alive for younger generations’ in Haiti as funding falters

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Armed groups control large swaths of Port-au-Prince, forcing more than 1.4 million people from their homes and cutting access to food, health, water and education services.

Half the population is not getting enough to eat, and malnutrition among children is rising sharply. Humanitarian efforts are hampered by insecurity and blocked access routes.

According to the UN, six million people of Haiti’s population of around 11.4 million need some form of humanitarian assistance in 2026.

Why funding Haiti matters

Funding for humanitarian aid in Haiti is a lifeline for millions. The UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan seeks $880 million to assist 4.2 million of those six million vulnerable people, covering emergency food, shelter, protection, health and education services.

Without these resources, basic lifesaving operations, such as nutrition support for children and protection services for women and girls, cannot reach all of those in need.

UN agencies stress that sufficient donor funds are essential not only to save lives but to stabilise communities torn apart by violence and displacement.

Thousands of people have died as a result of gang violence in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

Violence by armed groups has forced 1.4 million people, or 12 per cent of the population, to flee their homes.

Mass displacement has left children without education, healthcare, or safety.

What is the UN saying?

The UN’s most senior humanitarian official in the Caribbean country, Nicole Boni Kouassi, said that said the high level of funding was needed “to preserve the life and dignity of every Haitian, and to keep hope alive for younger generations.”

Speaking to donors in August 2025, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres said “Haiti remains shamefully overlooked and woefully underfunded.”

What services have been reduced?

Significant cuts to food security services, leaving many people without regular food assistance as food insecurity rises nationwide.
Access to drinking water curtailed, with reductions in water distribution and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) services.
Primary healthcare services scaled back, including community‑level health support and clinical services.
Education-related humanitarian support reduced, affecting children already impacted by school closures and displacement.
Protection services restricted, including programs addressing gender‑based violence, child protection, and support for survivors.

Trucks carrying aid to Haitians are loaded onto boats to bypass areas controlled by gangs.

Why funding has been so difficult to raise

Despite the scale of need, Haiti’s humanitarian appeal is among the least funded crises in the world. For 2025, the UN sought $908 million but received only 24 per cent of that target.

Competing global crises and donor fatigue, together with attention on other emergencies, including in Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza, have left Haiti’s requirements under-resourced.

Funding shortfalls also jeopardize essential operations, such as humanitarian air services that are often the only means of reaching isolated communities.

The result: agencies are forced to prioritize the most urgent cases while many go without assistance.

Regional or international consequences of not funding humanitarian aid in Haiti

Failing to fully fund Haiti’s humanitarian response risks broader instability beyond its borders.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that unchecked violence, mass displacement and lack of basic services could fuel:

Irregular migration
Heighten pressures on neighbouring countries
Undermine regional economic and security cooperation

A child who was rescued at sea off a boat of migrants is handed back to the Haitian authorities by the US Coast Guard.

Prolonged instability also increases the likelihood of secondary crises, such as public health emergencies and cross-border crime, with ripple effects across the Caribbean and the Americas.

In this context, donor engagement is framed as investment in regional resilience.

What happens next?

In late 2025, the UN officially launched Haiti’s 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan, calling on governments and partners to step up commitments to preserve life and dignity amidst violence and deprivation.

If funding and access improve, aid agencies aim to expand food support, restore basic services, enhance protection for vulnerable groups, and create more resilient pathways to longer-term recovery.

But without stronger financial backing and security improvements, millions of Haitians face increasingly desperate conditions — and humanitarian needs are likely to deepen.

At the beginning of February, the 2026 appeal was less than four per cent funded.

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Fatwas, faith and fallacies: Myth-busting female genital mutilation in Africa

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“Deep down, I knew what I had experienced was not something any girl should go through,” she emphasised.

FGM was once considered an unavoidable rite of passage for young girls in the Mara region of the United Republic of Tanzania, but communities are making inroads.

Busting the myth

More than 230 million girls and women have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) and are living with the deep, lasting and often life-threatening physical and mental consequences of it despite efforts to eradicate the horrific practice.

In 2026, nearly 4.5 million girls are at risk of undergoing the procedure.

One of the reasons FGM remains so entrenched is the false notion that foreign influence is driving efforts to abandon it.

Ahead of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, observed on 6 February, we’re busting this myth.

‘Survivor leadership is changing my community’

When Ms. Albert joined a community dialogue supported by the UN agency, she heard other survivors openly sharing their experiences.

Olivia Albert leads a youth advocacy group in the Mara region of the United Republic of Tanzania

“When girls hear from someone who has lived through this, they listen differently,” she said.

“They find courage. Survivor leadership is changing my community. We cannot erase the past, but we can make sure the next girl grows up without fear and together, we will make that happen.”

Calling out misinterpretation

Religious leaders are also calling out misinterpretation, including Imam Ousmane Yabara Camara, a known and respected figure in Guinea’s Kindia prefecture.

“Female genital mutilation is not a prescription of Islam,” he said. “Too many girls suffer from the severe health consequences of this practice. We must put an end to it.”

He suggested that the subject be brought into education to better help future generations live without FGM.

Today, thousands of children hear about it in schools that increasingly teach comprehensive sexuality education.

In Guinea’s Kindia prefecture, Imam Ousmane Yabara Camara is a known and respected figure, and one who has chosen to use his platform at the service of his community’s women and girls. .

New laws are turning the tide

In many countries where female genital mutilation is deeply entrenched, new legislation is slowly turning the tide.

In Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia, Islamic scholars issued a national fatwa in 2025 stating that there are no religious grounds to justify FGM.

“In our neighbourhoods, we now have two powerful shields: the Constitution and the fatwa,” said activist Nafissa Mahamoud Mouhoumed from Djibouti.

“While the law reminds people of the legal consequences, the fatwa removes the religious excuse that was used for generations to justify FGM. This dual victory gives us, the activists on the ground, the ultimate confidence to talk to families and say ‘your faith and your country both protect your daughter.’”

Engaging men and boys

In Ethiopia, three quarters of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone some form of FGM.

“We sat helplessly for years, watching women suffer through childbirth complications, sometimes losing both mother and baby,” recalled local district chief Mitiku Gunte. “We knew something was wrong, but we didn’t understand what or how to stop it.”

Mr. Mitiku is now an advocate with a joint programme led by UNFPA and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which together with the local administration engages hundreds of men and boys in the fight against the practice.

Through dialogues tailored for different segments of society – elder men, young unmarried men, women and youth – members of the community go door-to-door to speak to each group about their specific concerns and influences.

No medical justification for FGM

When carried out by a healthcare provider, FGM is often described as “medicalised”, but even with a professional present and sanitised equipment available, it is neither safe nor necessary, and there is never any medical justification for it.

In Ethiopia’s Hadiya Zone, a local elder leads a weekly information and discussion session on harmful practices.

“I often receive cases after the damage has already been done, with serious complications,” Dr. Maram Mahmoud, a family doctor in upper Egypt.

“I honestly didn’t expect this to have such an impact on my perspective, but now I better understand the different mindsets of those considering it, and I feel more confident in guiding them and explaining the serious harms, risks and consequences.”

Find out more about how UNFPA is helping to eradicate FGM here.

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UN Police ‘indispensable’ to fulfilling peacekeeping mandates, Security Council hears

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Jean-Pierre Lacroix was speaking in the UN Security Council during the annual briefing by heads of police components of UN peace operations.

“Despite severe constraints, our police personnel continue to serve with dedication, professionalism and courage,” he said.

“They operate in environments of persistent insecurity, political volatility and growing operational risks.”

Key to peacekeeping

Peace operations depend on UN Police (UNPOL) for community engagement, institutional reform and prevention of criminal and intercommunal violence.

Officers also address challenges that require a policing response, including in environments with high density populations such as displacement camps, among other duties.

“United Nations Police remain a key component of UN peacekeeping and play an indispensable role in fulfilling our mandates,” Mr. Lacroix said.

He stressed that Member States, host countries, uniformed and civilian personnel all share responsibility for ensuring the success of peacekeeping.

This is particularly the case at a time when multilateralism faces unprecedented pressures and peace operations are being asked to do more with less.

Reform and reductions

He noted that the Council meeting was taking place as a comprehensive review of UN peace operations enters its final phase.

It was also held against the backdrop of the UN80 reform initiative and mission contingency planning due to the severe liquidity crisis affecting the entire UN system.

This has led to cost saving measures, including reductions in civilian staff and repatriation of military and police personnel.

Sustainable financing critical

The peacekeeping chief visited some of the UN’s biggest field missions in recent months and saw how these measures have affected mandate delivery, including protection of civilians.

“Efficiency is necessary. We are committed to finding ways to save. However, this efficiency drive cannot substitute for predictable and sustainable financing,” he said.

“As the Secretary-General has emphasized repeatedly, peacekeeping’s ability to fulfill its mandates will be severely compromised without the full and timely payment of assessed contributions from Member States.”

Action for Peacekeeping

Mr. Lacroix also highlighted the renewed Action for Peacekeeping (A4P+) initiative which remains the framework for strengthening the effectiveness, safety, and impact of peace operations.

The seven priority areas include upholding political solutions as the core of sustainable peace, strengthening strategic and operational integration, investing in capabilities and mindsets, and deepening cooperation with host-State police and other law enforcement agencies.

“Across all these priorities, the Women, Peace and Security agenda remains central,” he said.

Although progress has been made in increasing women’s participation and leadership in UNPOL, it “remains fragile, particularly in the context of budget cuts.”

Pledges of support

He recalled that the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Berlin demonstrated renewed political commitment to peacekeeping.

The event saw record participation and meaningful pledges, including for specialised roles, rapid deployment and training.

“The pledges are essential to ensuring that UN Police are prepared to respond to emerging threats in areas like transnational organized crime, cyber-enabled crime, climate-related insecurity, and the misuse of new technologies,” he said.

Renewed commitment

Mr. Lacroix concluded by saying his briefing was an opportunity not only to take stock of progress, but to renew collective commitment.

“We must ensure that mandates are matched with adequate resources. We must sustain political unity around peacekeeping,” he said.

“We must protect the institutional gains achieved under A4P+.And we must equip United Nations Police to meet the demands of tomorrow.”

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World News in Brief: UN condemns attack on civilians in Nigeria, updates from Gaza and West Bank, relief flights to resume in Yemen

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, António Guterres conveyed his “heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Nigeria,” and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

“The Secretary-General reiterates the solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Nigeria in their efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism and stresses the importance of bringing the perpetrators to justice,” the statement said.

Death toll may rise

According to media reports, armed groups attacked two rural villages in Kwara state on 3 February, with the death toll expected to rise as bodies continue to be discovered.

Many victims were reportedly shot at close range, while homes and shops were set ablaze, forcing residents to flee into nearby bushland.

The attack was the deadliest recorded in the area in recent months, amid a sharp rise in violence across Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions, where armed groups have increasingly targeted civilians.

The worsening security situation has also contributed to a deepening humanitarian crisis, with large-scale displacement and growing hunger and malnutrition across affected areas.

Civilians deaths and injuries continue due to Gaza attacks

Despite the shaky ceasefire, dozens of civilian deaths and injuries continued to be reported in Gaza over the past 24 hours, as well as ongoing displacement in the West Bank, according to UN agencies.

Many people remained inaccessible to emergency teams, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists, citing reports from the UN aid coordination office OCHA.

He reiterated that all parties must comply with international humanitarian law, including the obligation to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Mr. Dujarric said UN teams overnight received 25 additional returnees crossing through Rafah, who were transported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

There, UN partners continue operating a reception area providing medical, psychological and protection support.

He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners supported the medical evacuation of 15 patients and 31 companions from Gaza to Egypt over the past two days.

Record spike in West Bank attacks

Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have seen a massive spike since 2021, with more than 50 Israeli settler attacks recorded between 20 January and 2 February.

The attacks resulted in casualties, property damage or both.

According to OCHA, since the beginning of 2026, more than 900 Palestinians have been forced out of their homes or communities, mostly due to settler violence and access restrictions, followed by demolitions.

OCHA said it is carrying out preliminary assessments of damage and needs following these incidents, to inform the humanitarian response.

Yemen: Aid flights set to resume to Houthi-controlled capital

The UN has confirmed that its aid flights to Yemen’s opposition-held capital will resume, after being blocked for more than a month.

UN Humanitarian Air Service flights are a vital provider of relief amid overwhelming needs across Houthi-held areas, including the capital city, Sana’a, and other locations across Yemen, which has been at war since 2014.

Boost to aid delivery

Julien Harneis, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said in a statement that the agreement reached earlier this week will allow NGOs to enter and exit Sana’a, which is a prerequisite to providing assistance for millions of people in need in Houthi-controlled areas.

Years of conflict between separatists and the internationally recognised government have left more than 19.5 million people needing humanitarian assistance and more than 4.8 ‎million internally displaced.

Funding is only available to meet around 25 per cent of needs, meaning that millions ‎are not getting lifesaving assistance, including health care, shelter, water, sanitation ‎and hygiene.

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Chad: Africa’s refugee haven struggles with its own stark challenges

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Here’s what you need to know:

Fighting and dire humanitarian conditions triggered by the conflict that erupted among rival militaries in Sudan in April 2023 have so far displaced 14 million people, spilling over to the country’s seven bordering neighbour nations, according to the UN.

Few places are feeling the effects of the ongoing war as acutely as Chad, which is now Africa’s largest refugee host per capita, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

“Chad’s generous welcome of refugees is a powerful act of solidarity,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih.

But, as landlocked Chad has welcomed more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees across its eastern border since the start of the conflict, 40 per cent of its own population already needs humanitarian assistance.

Why it matters

Often called the “Babel Tower of the world”, reflecting its more than 200 ethnic groups and 100 languages, Chad’s challenges are multifaceted.

With over 42 per cent of the population living below poverty, the country is among the poorest in the world.

Now hosting over 1.5 million refugees, Chad continues to keep its borders with Sudan open while also battling climate and security shocks.

Floods and food insecurity

The word Chad translates in a local language as “large body of water,” and reflects the cultural importance of Lake Chad, which gives the country its name.

As the lake continues to shrink due to climate change and other issues, the country has endured large floods that have devasted its food security.

In 2024 alone, floods destroyed more than 432,000 hectares of crops, equivalent to over 600,000 football fields, affected nearly two million people and exposed gaps in water and sanitation infrastructure, with cholera outbreaks reported in July last year.

With a rapidly growing population, Chad far exceeds its resource capacity at a time when malnutrition rates are alarmingly high.

An estimated two million Chadian children aged six to 59 months are suffering or expected to suffer acute malnutrition between October 2025 and September 2026, including nearly 484,000 children expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition, according to the global hunger monitor – the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

Security pressures

The security landscape is equally concerning.

Violent extremist groups, including Boko Haram and its affiliates, have continued to drive insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin, displacing over 250,000 people.

Security forces patrol in Adré in Chad.

In the north, trafficking networks and illegal coal mining overlap with gender-based violence and exploitative child labour.

With 87 per cent of the total refugee population in Chad being women and children, these concerns continue to increase.

What the UN is doing

Since April 2023, Chad’s Government and UNHCR assisted 67 per cent of those fleeing war-torn Sudan to relocate to extended and newly established settlements, where refugees and host communities benefit from the services delivered by humanitarian teams.

UN agencies and partners continue to respond to provide humanitarian assistance, including in Chad and war-torn Sudan.

On 19 February, the UN Security Council will convene to discuss the ongoing crisis in Sudan, focusing on the need to end the fighting and alleviate suffering, particularly concerning the widespread violence against women and girls in the country.

As for needs, the UN emergency relief agency, OCHA, released its Humanitarian Action Plan 2026, which shows that the number of people in need in Chad decreased by 42 per cent, but continues to remain high.

The Action Plan calls for $986 million and aims to help 3.4 million people, including $540million dedicated to refugees alone. The UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday, “We and our partners will focus our efforts on the most impacted regions including in the east, the Lake Province and parts of the south.”

Radwa Abdelkarim, a 37-year-old mother of six, fled to Chad in June 2023 after “the war took everything.”

“We lost our money, our relatives and neighbours,” she said. “Some were killed, others disappeared and are still missing.”

Safely out of Sudan, Ms. Abdelkarim combined her entrepreneurial skills with cash assistance from UNHCR to start baking and selling bread from her home in Farchana refugee settlement, and has since opened two grocery stores, a restaurant, and employs 12 other refugees.

“I support [refugee women] so that we can grow together and no one is left behind,” she said. “It is important to stand with our brothers and sisters, to help them heal.”

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M23 rebels: UN sees progress in talks but warns violence persists

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Qatar is facilitating discussions between the Congolese government and the M23 armed group, which controls large areas of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

The latest developments follow months of intense fighting that has displaced civilians and destabilised the region.

However, the UN warns that despite diplomatic momentum, the security situation on the ground remains volatile.

M23, also known as the March 23 Movement, controls large areas of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. In January 2025, after a rapid offensive, the group seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu.

Weeks later, it captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Since then, the rebels have set up parallel administrations in areas under their control. The UN says the group is supported by the Rwandan armed forces, an allegation Kigali has repeatedly denied.

Uvira, a major city in South Kivu on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file)

Framework agreement

On 2 February, the Congolese authorities and M23 signed a document setting out the terms of reference for a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism under the Doha Framework Agreement, signed in November 2025. The Doha talks are being mediated by Qatar.

Separate discussions have also taken place between the DRC and Rwanda, with mediation by the United States.

In December, Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda signed the Washington Agreements, raising hopes of an end to the fighting. However, the UN says the security situation at the start of this year remains volatile and continues to deteriorate.

Immediate ceasefire call

Against this backdrop, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, has renewed its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

It recalled that a UN Security Council resolution adopted last year authorises the Mission to support the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, including through technical and logistical assistance to a regional verification mechanism.

“MONUSCO stands ready to support a credible ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism within the limits of its mandate as defined by the Security Council and in full respect of the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Vivian van de Perre, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Acting Head of MONUSCO.

“The Mission will continue to engage constructively with relevant stakeholders within the established ceasefire architecture and to communicate transparently on the scope and modalities of its support,” she added.

‘Positive signal’ from Doha

Speaking to UN News, MONUSCO spokesperson Ndeye Khady Lo described the progress in Doha as “a positive signal” that helps make “the ceasefire architecture more concrete and operational”.

She said an initial team of UN peacekeepers would be deployed to the town of Uvira, in South Kivu, to support the monitoring mechanism.

MONUSCO stressed, however, that this would not mark a permanent return to the province, which the Mission left in June 2024, but a limited and strictly defined role linked to the ceasefire process.

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Child malnutrition hits catastrophic levels in parts of Sudan

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

According to an alert from the IPC, a global food security monitoring system, thresholds for acute malnutrition were surpassed in two new areas of North Darfur – Um Baru and Kernoi – following the fall of the regional capital, El Fasher, in October 2025 and a massive exodus.

December assessments found acute malnutrition levels among children of 52.9 per cent in Um Baru – nearly twice the famine threshold – and about 34 per cent in Kernoi.

The IPC stressed that the alert does not constitute a formal famine classification but warned that conditions are deteriorating rapidly – and action is urgently needed.

“These alarming rates suggest an increased risk of excess mortality,” the experts said, adding that many other conflict-affected or inaccessible areas may be facing similarly catastrophic conditions.

Projection acute food insecurity in Sudan from February to May 2026.

▶ See our UN News explainer on the evidence-based IPC index here.

Um Baru and Kernoi

Um Baru and Kernoi are in remote areas of northwestern North Darfur, near key displacement corridors leading toward the Chadian border.

Both areas have absorbed large numbers of civilians fleeing fighting in and around El Fasher, where conflict has shattered markets, disrupted livelihoods and sharply curtailed humanitarian access.

Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the once-allied Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has devastated food systems nationwide, triggering mass displacement, market collapse and repeated disruptions to health, water and nutrition services.

Across the country, nearly 4.2 million cases of acute malnutrition are now expected in 2026, including more than 800,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition, representing a sharp increase from 2025 levels, according to IPC projections.

What the alert means

The IPC alert is intended to draw urgent attention to the worsening conditions and does not introduce any new formal classification.

It builds on earlier IPC analyses that confirmed famine (IPC Phase 5) in El Fasher, North Darfur in 2024, and Kadugli, South Kordofan, in September 2025 – and projected famine risk in at least 20 other areas across greater Darfur and greater Kordofan.

The new findings indicate that famine-like conditions are likely spreading beyond previously assessed locations, driven by continued fighting, displacement and the collapse of food, health and water systems, IPC analysts said.

Greater Kordofan at risk

The IPC also warned of rapidly deteriorating conditions across Greater Kordofan, where famine was already confirmed in Kadugli and severe conditions were projected in Dilling and the Western Nuba Mountains.

Renewed fighting since late October has displaced more than 88,000 people in the region, pushing total displacement above one million. Markets there are among the least functional in Sudan, with food prices far above national averages.

Without an immediate end to the fighting and large-scale humanitarian access, IPC experts said preventable deaths are likely to rise.

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Cuba: UN warns of possible humanitarian ‘collapse’, as oil supplies dwindle

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

The United States has threatened to impose tariffs on any country providing oil to Cuba, increasing pressure on the island nation following a decades-long trade embargo and the US seizure of Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro last month.

Venezuela had been the main supplier of oil to Havana but Washington has been ratcheting up pressure on Cuba in recent weeks, including an executive order last Thursday threatening to impose additional tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, including Mexico.

“I can tell you that the Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, and if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

The UN chief noted that the General Assembly has been calling for an end to the US embargo for more than three decades: “The Secretary-General urges all parties to pursue dialogue and respect for international law.”

Fuel crisis

The fuel crisis has pushed up food prices for Cubans, led to severe fuel shortages and major power cuts throughout the country.

“Clearly what we see now, especially after the recent events in Venezuela, is a combination of emotions,” said Francisco Pichon, the most senior United Nations official in Cuba, describing “a mix of resilience, but also grief, sorrow and indignation, and some concern about the regional developments.”

Thirty-two Cubans were killed in Venezuela on 3 January in the US operation to capture Mr. Maduro.

The UN’s humanitarian work in Cuba

Mr. Pichon spoke to UN News from Havana last month, where the power had just gone out in his office. The UN team said that the vast majority of Cubans are being hit by rolling blackouts, at a time when the number of people in vulnerable situations has increased significantly.

Even before the latest regional developments, the UN has been working with the Cuban Government to incubate ideas and support development, including ways to diversify the Cuban economy.

“The energy transition is a major priority due to reduced access to fuel and infrastructure challenges,” Mr. Pichon said, noting that investment needs remain a bottleneck.

Urgent changes needed

“The last two years have been quite tough,” he added, stressing that urgent changes are needed to sustain Cuba’s social model “in the midst of the severe economic, financial and trade sanctions”.

Cuba’s economy, which has historically relied on tourism as a key source of hard currency, was severely disrupted in the COVID pandemic and remains well under 2018 levels.

As the Cuban economy has deteriorated, the country’s social indicators – such as universal healthcare, universal education, and extensive social safety nets like subsidised healthcare and food rations – are under strain.

“All of this is happening in the context of the US embargo against Cuba,” said Mr. Pichon, noting that Cuba has also been relisted by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism.

“From the UN perspective, our guiding principles remain unchanged: To be present. To support. To act based on cooperation, respected for international law, and the UN values.”

Mr. Pichon, as UN Resident Coordinator, oversees the work of 23 UN agencies, funds and programmes. Here is a snapshot of some of the work underway.

Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa tore through Cuba as a Category 3 storm on 29 October. For the first time in the country, anticipatory action was taken through the release of funds from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), enabling supplies, such as water purification units, food, hygiene kits, generators, medicines, medical and shelter supplies to be pre‑positioned.

The UN launched a $74 million Plan of Action to support national recovery and assist more than 2.2 million people affected by the storm’s destruction. So far, about $23 million has been mobilised targeting the one million most vulnerable.

“No lives were lost directly due to the hurricane,” Mr. Pichon said, owing to the solid capabilities of Cuba’s civil defence, although recovery needs remain enormous, including rebuilding tens of thousands of homes.

Cooperation Framework

The UN’s long‑term engagement in Cuba is undergirded by a cooperation framework aligned with Cuba’s National Development Plan and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This framework has four key pillars:

Institutional: The UN supported the development of around 30 laws following the 2019 constitutional reform, advancing equity, inclusion and rights for women, children, LGBTQ+ persons, people of African descent and persons with disabilities.
Economic: Focuses on productive transformation and access to financing amid ongoing sanctions and the US listing of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Utilizing the Joint SDG Fund, which helps countries pay for projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Environmental: Disaster risk management and climate resilience are central, especially given Cuba’s exposure to hurricanes, such as Melissa. UN support in anticipation and response seeks to protect lives and livelihoods.
Social: Social protection systems and attention to differentiated needs with a focus on leaving no one behind, including vulnerable groups vulnerable groups such as people living with AIDS, the LGBTI community, children, adolescents, women, and the elderly, who are a very relevant sector in an aging society.

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‘Human rights cannot wait’: Türk launches $400 million appeal for 2026

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

He warned Member States that with crises mounting, the world cannot afford a human rights system in crisis.

“The cost of our work is low; the human cost of underinvestment is immeasurable,” he said.

“In times of conflict and in times of peace, we are a lifeline for the abused, a megaphone for the silenced, a steadfast ally to those who risk everything to defend the rights of others.”

Documenting violations, supporting survivors

Last year, UN human rights staff in 87 countries observed more than 1,300 trials, supported 67,000 survivors of torture, documented tens of thousands of human rights violations, and contributed to the release of more than 4,000 people from arbitrary detention.

They also documented civilian casualties and informed humanitarian responses through risk analysis and early warning in 21 armed conflicts around the world.

For example, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) is the only organization that has maintained a comprehensive record of civilian casualties since Russia first invaded the country in 2014.

“In Sudan, we are providing vital support to survivors of sexual violence and other horrific atrocities, paving the way for justice and accountability,” he said.

Aligning economic policies with human rights

The High Commissioner also stressed that addressing inequalities and respecting economic and social rights are vital to peace and stability.

“Human rights make economies work for everyone, rather than deepening exclusion and breeding instability,” he said.

His office worked with more than 35 governments in 2025, helping them to align all economic policies with human rights. He cited the example of Djibouti, where staff helped conduct a human rights analysis of the health budget, with a focus on people with disabilities.

‘Delivering under strain’

Mr. Türk thanked the 113 funding partners – including governments, multilateral donors and private entities – who contributed to OHCHR’s 2025 budget.

“But at the same time, I have to say – and you know it from our previous encounters – that we are currently in survival mode, we are delivering under strain,” he said.

He outlined several consequences of reduced funding. For example, the Office reduced presence in 17 countries, wiping out programmes critical for endangered, threatened, or marginalised communities such as Indigenous People. Roughly 300 staff out of 2,000 were laid off.

“At a time when truth is being eroded by disinformation and censorship, we had to curtail our support for its guardians – journalists and human rights defenders. Less support for civic space means more surveillance and more repression.”

‘Ambitious, agile and creative’

OHCHR “will need to be even more ambitious, agile, and creative” in 2026, he said.

The UN General Assembly has approved a regular budget of $224.3 million, which is based on assessed contributions from Member States. This amount is 10 per cent lower than in 2025.

Through the 2026 appeal, OHCHR is requesting an additional $400 million in voluntary contributions.

“Historically, human rights account for an extremely small portion of all UN spending. We need to step up support for this low-cost, high-impact work that helps stabilise communities, builds trust in institutions, and supports lasting peace,” said Mr. Türk.

“And we need more unearmarked and timely contributions so we can respond quickly, as human rights cannot wait.”

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UN chief warns of ‘grave moment’ as final US-Russia nuclear arms treaty expires

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

In a statement issued as the treaty expired at midnight GMT Thursday, he said the world was entering uncharted territory, with no remaining legally binding constraints on the nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Russia – the two countries that together hold the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons.

“For the first time in more than half a century, we face a world without any binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals” of the two countries, he said.

The New START treaty – formally known as the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms – was signed in 2010 and entered into force the following year.

It capped each side’s deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 and imposed limits on delivery systems such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and heavy bombers.

The agreement also included verification measures, including data exchanges, notifications and on-site inspections, designed to reduce mistrust and prevent miscalculation.

Tools for stability

Mr. Guterres said decades of nuclear arms control agreements – from the Cold War-era Strategic Arms Limitation Talks to New START – played a crucial role in preventing catastrophe and reducing global nuclear stockpiles.

“Throughout the Cold War and in its aftermath, nuclear arms control between these governments helped prevent catastrophe,” he said, adding that such frameworks “built stability” and “prevented devastating miscalculation.”

The Secretary-General warned that the collapse of this system of restraint comes at a particularly dangerous time, as geopolitical tensions rise and the risk of nuclear weapon use is “the highest in decades.”

Reimagine arms control

But he added that the watershed also provides an opportunity to reimagine arms control for a changing security environment, welcoming statements from both US and Russian presidents acknowledging the dangers of a renewed nuclear arms race.

“The world now looks to the Russian Federation and the United States to translate words into action,” Mr. Guterres said, urging both sides to return to negotiations “without delay” and to agree on a successor framework that restores verifiable limits, reduces risks and strengthens global security.

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AI ‘moving at the speed of light’ warns Guterres, unveiling recommendations for UN expert panel

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“AI is moving at the speed of light,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, underscoring the urgency of regulating the breakthrough technology. “We need shared understandings to build effective guardrails, unlock innovation for the common good, and foster cooperation. The Panel will help the world separate fact from fakes, and science from slop.”

The roots of the Panel stretch back to 2023, in the wake of the release of ChatGPT in the United States and other pioneering technology, heralding a new era in the field of artificial intelligence.

Mr. Guterres convened a group of leading technologists and academics and tasked them with advancing recommendations for safe governance.

After a series of in-depth discussions, the experts came back with a vision for an approach to AI governance that could benefit humanity. Amongst the ideas was the creation of the International Scientific Panel – independent but supported by the UN.

The Panel, says Mr. Guterres, will be the “first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies.”

Panellists will exchange ideas, run “deep dives” into priority areas such as health, energy and education, and share the latest leading-edge research.

Diverse candidates

On Wednesday, Mr. Guterres and Amandeep Gill, his Special Envoy on Technology, informed journalists that the names of 40 prospective members would be submitted to the General Assembly, which will have the ultimate say over the panel’s membership.

Mr. Gill said the experts on the list were chosen for their globally recognised expertise in AI. Geographical representation and gender balance also came into play.

The nominees – 19 women and 21 men – include Sonia Livingstone (United Kingdom), a professor at the London School of Economics and an advisor on media literacy and rights in the digital environment; Balaraman Ravindran (India), head of the Department of Data Science and AI at the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras; and Maria Ressa (Philippines), the renowned journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Finding consensus

With its large and diverse membership, diverging attitudes towards regulation and growing geopolitical tensions, the ability to forge consensus could prove challenging.

But Mr. Gill pointed out that, even during the Cold War, scientists from across the world were able to work together on issues of international importance. “It’s one of the value-adds of the United Nations to provide those mechanisms where scientific understanding, common understanding can be advanced,” he said.

The General Assembly is expected to make the final decision on membership on 12 February, and the Panel’s first report is due to be delivered by July.

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Intensifying ISIL threat highlights need to step up counter-terrorism measures

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General at the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), presented its latest report which highlights the group’s intensifying presence in Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

He said the threat posed by ISIL, also known by its Arabic acronym, Da’esh, has “increased steadily” since the previous report issued in August, “remaining multipolar and increasingly complex.”

Instability in West Africa

ISIL and its affiliates have continued to recruit foreign fighters, enhance their use of new and emerging technologies, and maintain access to funding – including through measures such as unlawful taxation and kidnapping for ransom.

The terrorists have also continued to expand their presence in parts of Africa.

“Their efforts and demonstrated capacity to control territory are deepening regional instability and further weakening the capacity of national authorities to address interconnected security, human rights, and development challenges,” he said.

The situation in West Africa and the Sahel remains especially urgent, where the ISIL affiliate in the Lake Chad Basin region “has further expanded its prominence.”

Attacks in Iraq and Syria

Da’esh also remains active in Iraq and Syria “with continued attacks and renewed efforts to destabilise local authorities.”

Syria is undergoing political transition following the overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024. “The security situation remains fragile, with Da’esh continuing to exploit governance vacuums and incite sectarian tensions,” he said.

Mr. Zouev also highlighted the situation in the country’s northeast, where tens of thousands of people with alleged ties to the group – mainly women and children – remain in camps in dire conditions.

The withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces from notorious Al Hol last month “has also introduced new operational and humanitarian challenges,” he added.

Meanwhile, ISIL-Khorasan in Afghanistan “continues to pose one of the most serious threats to the region and beyond.”

The group was behind the “heinous terrorist attack” in the capital, Kabul, on 19 January which killed seven people and injured several others, including a child.

Use of AI in recruitment

Mr. Zouev said progress in countering terrorism financing has led Da’esh and other groups to further exploit digital platforms and new technologies, with expanded use of crypto-currencies, drones and other tools.

“Artificial Intelligence is increasingly used by terrorist groups particularly for the radicalisation and recruitment of people, with youth and children among those deliberately targeted,” he said.

In the face of the intensifying threat posed by Da’esh, the counter-terrorism chief underlined three central calls made by the UN SecretaryGeneral in the report.

Women and children walk through the Al Hol Camp in Syria, a displacement site housing over 30,000 people.

Areas for action

He urged countries to step up efforts to repatriate people from the camps and detention facilities in northeast Syria.

As the situation in parts of Africa – particularly the Sahel, West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin – remains deeply concerning, “Member States must exercise political ownership and forge unified, coherent, and joint responses.”

Mr. Zouev stressed that lasting progress requires comprehensive approaches by both the government and society that are firmly rooted in the rule of law and in full accordance with international human rights norms,

Therefore, “nationally owned and inclusive prevention” must remain at the heart of international counter-terrorism efforts.

“The intensification of the threat posed by Da’esh and its affiliates, despite significant national and international efforts, underscores how imperative it is to sustain global cooperation on counter-terrorism,” he said.

Technical assistance to countries

Nathalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) – the secretariat for the Council’s own Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) – also briefed ambassadors.

She said the last six months have demonstrated that “Da’esh continues to perpetrate and inspire terrorist attacks globally,” with devastating impacts.  

CTED has conducted assessment visits to Austria, Cameroon, Chad, Hungary, Malta, Norway and Somalia over the past year,

“We work closely with each Member State that we visit to provide tailored recommendations and identify technical assistance needs,” she explained.

UN counter-terrorism efforts ‘critical’

Ms. Gherman gave the example of CTED’s support for a project to address the use of the internet, social media and video games by Da’esh and Al Shabaab in Somalia and the broader region.

The initiative brought together 70 representatives from national authorities in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, as well as participants from civil society, academia and the private sector.

“The efforts of the United Nations to address the Da’esh threat are critical,” she said,

“These efforts require adequate resources and the cooperation of all Member States to achieve our shared goal: a world free from terrorism.”

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‘Deepfake abuse is abuse,’ UNICEF warns

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“The harm from deepfake abuse is real and urgent,” the UN agency said in a statement. “Children cannot wait for the law to catch up.”

At least 1.2 million youngsters have disclosed having had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year, according to a study across 11 countries conducted by the UN agency, international police agency, INTERPOL and the ECPAT global network working to end the sexual exploitation of children worldwide.

In some countries, this represents one in 25 children or the equivalent of one child in a typical classroom, the study found.

‘Nudification’ tools

Deepfakes – images, videos, or audio generated or manipulated with AI and designed to look real – are increasingly being used to produce sexualised content involving children, including through so-called “nudification”, where AI tools are used to strip or alter clothing in photos to create fabricated nude or sexualised images.

“When a child’s image or identity is used, that child is directly victimised. Even without an identifiable victim, AI-generated child sexual abuse material normalises the sexual exploitation of children, fuels demand for abusive content and presents significant challenges for law enforcement in identifying and protecting children that need help,” UNICEF said.

“Deepfake abuse is abuse, and there is nothing fake about the harm it causes.”

Demand for robust safeguards

The UN agency said it strongly welcomed the efforts of those AI developers who are implementing “safety-by-design” approaches and robust guardrails to prevent misuse of their systems.

However, the response so far is patchy, and too many AI models are not being developed with adequate safeguards.

The risks can be compounded when generative AI tools are embedded directly into social media platforms where manipulated images spread rapidly.

“Children themselves are deeply aware of this risk,” UNICEF said, adding that in some of the study countries, up to two thirds of youngsters said they worry that AI could be used to create fake sexual images or videos.

A fast-growing threat

“Levels of concern vary widely between countries, underscoring the urgent need for stronger awareness, prevention and protection measures.”

To address this fast-growing threat, the UN agency issued Guidance on AI and Children 3.0 in December with recommendations for policies and systems that uphold child rights. Read the full report here.

Right now, UNICEF is calling for immediate action to confront the escalating threat:

Governments need to expand definitions of child sexual abuse material to include AI-generated content and criminalise its creation, procurement, possession and distribution
AI developers should implement safety-by-design approaches and robust guardrails to prevent misuse of AI models
Digital companies should prevent the circulation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, not merely remove it, and strengthen content moderation with investment in detection technologies

Read UNICEF’s latest brief on AI and child sexual abuse and exploitation here.

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