Syria transition gains ground with Kurdish deal, but violence and humanitarian strain persist

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Briefing ambassadors for the first time as Deputy Special Envoy, Claudio Cordone pointed to the 30 January ceasefire and integration agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a potentially transformative development.

The deal provides for a phased military and administrative integration of northeast Syria and includes provisions on the return of displaced people and the protection of Kurdish civil and educational rights, building on Presidential Decree 13 on linguistic, cultural and citizenship rights.

“Hostilities have ended and work on an implementation plan has been progressing in a positive manner,” Mr. Cordone said, noting deployments of Ministry of Interior forces in Al-Hasakeh and Qamishli, and discussions on local governance and political appointments.

The Secretary-General on 30 January welcomed the agreement, appealing for all sides “to work swiftly to ensure its implementation, especially in terms of the peaceful integration of northeast Syria, the rights of Syrian Kurds, the safe, dignified and voluntary return of the displaced.”

In a presidential statement issued on Thursday, Council members likewise welcomed the “comprehensive agreement” and stressed the need to adhere to it to “minimize civilian suffering” and prevent any “security vacuum” around ISIL (Da’esh) detention facilities.

What is the UN doing in Syria now?

The UN is supporting Syria’s political transition while continuing large-scale humanitarian operations across the country.

The Office of the Special Envoy is engaging with the Government and a broad range of stakeholders to help advance the political process, including implementation of the recent agreement on northeast Syria, support for inclusive governance, and the protection and promotion of human rights.

At the same time, humanitarian agencies are delivering life-saving assistance to millions of Syrians.

UN teams and partners are providing food, water, medical supplies, shelter and protection services, while supporting mine action, restoring basic services and helping create conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary returns.

Visit the UN News Focus on Syria section to read more about UN’s work in and engagement with Syria.

Situation remains sensitive

The evolving situation around those facilities remains sensitive.

Mr. Cordone said the UN is closely following transfers of Syrian and non-Syrian Da’esh suspects to Iraq, adding that Iraqi proceedings must “fully respect fair trial standards” and urging Member States to repatriate their nationals “as swiftly as possible.”

While the northeast has seen relative stabilization, tensions persist elsewhere.

In Sweida, renewed clashes between Government forces and local armed groups have caused damage and electricity outages. Protests calling for self-determination have resurfaced, and the UN reiterated calls for confidence-building measures within “the full respect of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

In southern Syria, Israeli incursions and search operations have continued, alongside reports of aerial herbicide spraying damaging crops. The UN envoy called for “full respect for international law” and urged Israel to withdraw from areas it occupies “in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement,” while supporting “mutually acceptable security arrangements between Israel and Syria.”

Humanitarian challenges persist

Humanitarian conditions remain severe despite modest improvements.

Lisa Doughten, Director of Financing at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said recent clashes displaced tens of thousands; although many have returned, about 130,000 people remain uprooted across Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa and Aleppo governorates. More than 90 per cent are women and girls, with many sheltering in overcrowded camps or with host families already under strain.

Heavy flooding this week in Idleb and northern Latakia killed two children and damaged or destroyed some 2,000 tents, affecting over 5,000 displaced people.

Still, access and basic services are gradually improving in parts of the northeast. UN teams have reached 200,000 people and organized more than 170 truck movements. In Ain al-Arab (Kobane), electricity supply has reportedly resumed after repairs.

Participants at a UN workshop on recovery priorities, challenges and response planning.

Meaningful representation of all Syrians crucial

Politically, the next milestone in the transition is the formation of the People’s Assembly. Voting for most elected seats took place in October 2025 – with additional seats, including in Raqqa, due to be filled. Confirmation is awaited on the appointment of 70 members by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as well as of the date of the opening session.

Mr. Cordone reiterated the importance of meaningful representation of Syria’s regions and diverse groups, stressing that “the protection and promotion of human rights – including addressing the issue of the missing and transitional justice – are fundamental elements for a credible and successful political transition.”

‘Extraordinary role’ of Syrian women

He highlighted the “extraordinary role” of Syrian women and civil society over the decade-long conflict, saying women’s political participation at all levels is “a pillar for a state committed to plurality, inclusion and opportunity for all.”

“I salute the Syrian people for their determination in overcoming decades of oppression and brutal conflict. I look forward to strengthening the UN’s partnership with Syria in pursuit of a stable, peaceful and prosperous future,” he said in Arabic as he concluded his briefing.

Source link

‘Like a scene out of a horror movie’: UN report warns of war crimes in Sudan’s El Fasher

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“Persistent impunity fuels continued cycles of violence,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, calling for credible investigations and accountability for perpetrators.

Sudan’s national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have been fighting each other for control of the country for almost three years. The new report details widespread atrocities committed during the RSF assault on the besieged city of El Fasher in North Darfur.

The RSF and allied Arab militia carried out mass killings and summary executions, sexual violence, abductions for ransom, torture and ill-treatment, detention, disappearances, pillage and the use of children in hostilities. Many attacks were directed against civilians and persons hors de combat based on ethnicity or perceived affiliation.

Documented atrocities

Based on hundreds of interviews with victims and witnesses in late 2025, OHCHR documented more than 6,000 killings in the first three days of the RSF offensive. The report however warns the overall death toll during the weeks-long offensive is “undoubtedly significantly higher”.

The report revealed that in one incident around 500 people were killed when RSF fighters opened fire using heavy weapons on a crowd of 1,000 sheltering at Al-Rashid dormitory in El Fasher University on 26 October. One of the witnesses reported seeing bodies thrown into the air “like a scene out of a horror movie”.

RSF fighters also carried out summary executions within El Fasher of civilians, targeting young boys and men under 50, accused of “collaboration” with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Joint Forces, often determined on the basis of their non-Arab ethnicity, such as the Zaghawa community.

Survivors and witnesses recounted patterns of rape and gang rape, abductions for ransom using sexual violence, and sexual assault during invasive body searches, with women and girls from the Zaghawa and other non-Arab communities at particular risk.

Possible crimes against humanity

According to the report, the violations at El Fasher mirror other RSF offensives during the war, such as at the Zamzam camp in April 2025. The “organized and sustained course of conduct” suggested a systematic attack against the civilian population in the Darfur region.

“The acts of violence knowingly committed as part of such an attack would amount to crimes against humanity”, OHCHR said.

Calls for justice

Mr. Türk urged parties to the conflict to end violations by forces under their command and called on States with influence to help prevent further atrocities, including by respecting the arms embargo and halting the supply of weapons.

He called on States to do everything possible to support local, regional, and international mediation efforts, to achieve a cessation of hostilities and a pathway towards inclusive civilian governance.

“In a protection crisis of this scale, human rights must remain central to efforts to achieve a durable resolution of the conflict,” he said.

Source link

Madagascar: ‘Overwhelming’ destruction, surging needs after back-to-back cyclones – WFP

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Speaking to reporters from Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo, WFP Country Director Tania Goossens said some 400,000 people are facing acute humanitarian needs after the island was hit by back-to-back cyclones in the space of three weeks.

Ms. Goossens recently returned from a mission to the port city Toamasina (also known as Tamatave), the country’s second largest urban centre, where Gezani made landfall on Tuesday evening with wind gusts of up to 250 kilometres per hour.

“The scale of the destruction is really overwhelming,” Ms. Goossens insisted.

Nearly 40 deaths

She said that according to the authorities, 80 per cent of the city has suffered damage and that it is “running on roughly five per cent electricity at the moment.”

“There’s no water and one of WFP’s warehouses and our office was also completely destroyed during the cyclone,” she added.

Assessments are ongoing but to date the authorities report 38 deaths and 374 people injured.

Families left with nothing

The UN food agency official said that many families have left their homes and that there was “severe” damage to buildings, businesses, schools and the city’s hospital.

“During my visit, I saw families trying to recover the little that was left of their home,” she recounted. “Many are spending the night in homes where the roofs have been torn off.”

Uprooted trees and debris across the city are blocking streets, Ms. Goossens said, and fuel is difficult to come by.

“Families are telling us that they have lost everything,” she stressed. “Many are sheltering in damaged homes or temporary sites and uncertain about how they can access their next meal.”

Rising needs

In addition to the urgent need for food Ms. Goossens highlighted humanitarians’ concerns about water, sanitation and hygiene conditions, as a lack of clean water and damaged infrastructure raise the risk of disease outbreaks.

She also mentioned “rising protection concerns for vulnerable groups” such as women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Mobilising support

In anticipation of the shock WFP and partners have been providing cash assistance to the most vulnerable households allowing them to purchase some food and better prepare before the storm struck.

The UN food agency is now mobilising its “last food stocks,” which will be distributed in coordination with national disaster relief teams, Ms. Goossens explained.

However, the needs on the ground exceed WFP’s capacity and the agency is calling for urgent donor support.

The latest disaster “comes on top of an already very critical food security situation,” Ms. Goossens said, as already before the back-to-back cyclones 1.57 million people across the country were food insecure, including 84,000 facing emergency levels of hunger, according to the latest data from the IPC, a UN-backed global food security monitoring system.

“We’re also in the peak of the lean season here in Madagascar and funding shortfalls remain alarming… Our lean season response as well as cyclone response faces a $18 million gap over the next six months,” the WFP official warned.

“We will need… sustained support over the coming months to help people recover, to rebuild and strengthen their resilience against further shocks,” she added. “In fact, we are in at the start of the cyclone season. So, we are also concerned that this is only just the beginning.”

Source link

Political violence against MPs rising worldwide

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Head of the IPU, Martin Chungong, told a UN conference in New York on Wednesday that “if the phenomenon goes uncontrolled, there will be major implications for democracies, parliaments and human rights worldwide”.

In an interview with UN News, Valentina Grippo, an Italian MP with the European Delegation to the IPU – which partners with the UN – emphasised the difficulties MP’s have just doing their job today: “If you say something that is not perfectly in line with what your audience wants to hear, then you have multiple attacks.”

The report titled When the public turns hostile: Political violence against parliamentarians, includes responses from parliamentarians across 85 countries, with in-depth case studies in Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands to reflect diverse political and regional contexts.

Key Findings

Violence is heavily concentrated online with between 65 and 77 percent of MPs across the five-case studies report experiencing abuse online.
Most common forms of intimidation:
– Insults and degrading language
– Spread of false or misleading information
– Direct threats
A majority of respondents say the situation is worsening. In Argentina and the Netherlands, eight out of 10 MPs report an increase in violence over the past five years.
Online violence frequently increases around:
– National or local elections
– High-profile legislative debates
– Polarizing political or cultural issues
Gender gap:
– 76 per cent of women MPs report exposure to violence
– 68 per cent of men MPs report exposure
Gendered abuse: Women are disproportionately targeted with gendered and sexualized violence, particularly online.
Impact of emerging technologies: Abuse is increasingly amplified by AI-generated content and deepfakes.
MPs from minority or disadvantaged groups, including racial minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ communities, face heightened levels of online violence.

Why the increase?

The IPU report highlights several factors driving the increase in public hostility, including rising political polarization, economic and social pressures that contribute to public frustration, the amplification of anger through social media, and declining trust in public institutions

Ms Grippo emphasised that “you no more have the confrontation between ideas, which is normal, which is part of politics, but you really have a fight between identities.”

Who is committing the violence?

Violence against Members of Parliament is most often carried out by individuals rather than organised groups.

Online, anonymous users are identified as the main perpetrators by nearly nine in 10 MPs in Argentina, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands (89–93 per cent).

“Those we surveyed consistently told us that sustained online abuse affected their offline behaviour including their willingness to engage publicly and their sense of personal safety,” Mr Chungong said.

Impact on democracy

The IPU warns that public intimidation of Members of Parliament can have serious consequences for democracy.

As hostility increases, many MPs report censoring themselves, avoiding certain public appearances, and experiencing negative impacts on their family members.

Some also choose to step down or not seek re-election. Over time, the report warns, these trends can erode democratic representation, discourage diversity, and weaken parliaments as democratic institutions.

“It makes it more difficult to somehow be able to deliver a message without fearing that it is misunderstood.” Ms Gruppo added that “we always have to remember that there are big parts of the world where you cannot say what you think without fearing for your safety.”

The report calls on political and parliamentary leadership to set boundaries when it comes to acceptable public discourse and to ensure that intimidation does not succeed in silencing dissenting and minority voices.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations.

Today, the IPU comprises 183 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development.

It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener and more gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.

Source link

World News in Brief: Türk slams relentless Russian attacks, Gaza update, Cyclone Gezani hits Madagascar

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

His reaction followed overnight attacks on energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Dnipro and the key port city of Odesa.

Nearly 8,800 multistorey buildings in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa are without heating.

In Kharkiv, temperatures are forecast to drop to minus 10°C or 14°F on Thursday evening, said Viktoriia Andrievska from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

“Without heating or electricity, homes will turn freezing, basic services will stop, for example, the lifts will stop working, and people, especially older residents and families with children, will struggle to stay warm and safe,” she said.

Illegal strikes

In his statement, the UN human rights chief emphasised the lasting impact of “large-scale” attacks by Russia on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which he stressed are prohibited under international law.

“Millions of households struggle with only a few hours of electricity each day,” Mr. Türk said, noting that unheated schools have been forced to shut and medical care has been impacted too.

International efforts to end the war in Ukraine continue, meanwhile, with Moscow announcing on Thursday that it expected the “next round” of talks “to take place shortly”, according to a Kremlin spokesperson.

Gaza: Another UN worker is killed, says UNRWA

Another UN worker has been killed in Gaza, despite a ceasefire agreement between Hamas fighters and the Israeli military.

According to the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, a staff member was killed during Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, reportedly after an attack by Hamas militants in Rafah.

UNRWA said that the Israeli strikes in Gaza City and shelling in Khan Younis killed at least four Palestinians, including their colleague, as he was hit while out walking on Salah Eddin Street in central Gaza.

Nearly 400 staffers killed

Since the war began, 391 UNRWA staff and partners have been killed.

In other Gaza news, Israeli forces have demolished a United Nations school in Jabalia in northern Gaza, it has been confirmed.

According to UNRWA, the school was one of a number of facilities it has behind the so-called “Yellow Line” of concrete blocks that separates the Israel Defense Forces from the people of Gaza.

Between January and February, eight UNRWA schools in the militarised area have been reportedly demolished by Israeli forces, the UN agency said.

Cyclone Gezani displaces thousands in northeastern Madagascar

Tropical Cyclone Gezani has killed at least 31 people and displaced thousands after making landfall in Madagascar on 10 February, bringing winds exceeding 195 km/h, heavy flooding and widespread destruction across eastern and central regions.

According to local authorities, four people remain missing and 35 have been injured. Preliminary reports indicate that more than 250,000 people have been affected, with nearly 7,000 displaced.

Over 65,000 homes have been flooded, damaged or destroyed, and around 600 classrooms have been partially or completely rendered unusable.

UN emergency teams deployed

The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) has deployed emergency teams to Toamasina to support authorities as displaced families shelter in 28 evacuation centres across 16 districts. A national state of emergency has been declared.

“The scale of devastation…has left families struggling to cope with urgent needs and heavy losses,” said IOM Chief of Mission Roger Charles Evina.

The Government is leading search-and-rescue operations and delivering emergency shelter and food assistance, including the distribution of 800 metric tonnes of rice, with support from UN agencies and partners.

A $3 million allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund will assist more than 90,000 people as additional donor funding supports early response efforts.

The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, warned that the cyclone could also affect central and southern Mozambique in the coming days.

Source link

UN envoy urges renewed political push as Yemen tensions rise

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Hans Grundberg also warned that rising regional tensions risk dragging Yemen back into broader confrontation.

“I ask this Council to remain united in supporting a credible path back to a political process, and I urge regional actors to align around the same purpose and to use their influence in a coordinated way to steer Yemenis toward engagement,” he said.

A ‘fragile’ situation

Since 2014, Yemeni government forces, who are backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels have been fighting for full control of the fractured country.

The internationally recognised authorities are largely based in the southern city of Aden while the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, control the capital Sana’a and large areas of the north and west.

In recent months, forces affiliated with a separatist group in the south have advanced on more territory.

Mr. Grundberg briefed from the Saudi capital Riyadh, where he held talks with Yemen’s newly appointed Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and members of the Presidential Leadership Council.

He highlighted early positive signs in government areas, including improvements in the provision of electricity and payment of public sector salaries, and commended the appointment of three women cabinet ministers.

“However, continued tensions, recent security incidents and demonstrations, where in some cases violence and loss of life has been reported, underscore the fragility of the situation,” he said.

‘Protect recent gains’

He told the Council that the new cabinet “can protect recent gains by anchoring them in strengthened institutions and economic reforms”.

Furthermore, a planned southern dialogue offers an opportunity to begin addressing long-standing grievances and build consensus on issues important to the region’s people and all Yemenis.

Mr. Grundberg said that stabilisation in any part of the country will not be durable if the broader conflict is not addressed comprehensively.

“It is high time to take decisive steps in that regard,” he said. “Without a wider negotiated political settlement to the conflict, gains will continue to remain vulnerable to reversal.”

The way forward

The UN envoy has been engaging with the warring parties, regional actors and the international community to explore ways to restart an inclusive political process in Yemen.

His office has also held consultations with a diverse group of Yemenis, leading to three takeaways.

The first calls for acknowledging what more than a decade of war has done to Yemen. Although the conflict has become more complex, the common objective has remained steady and firm.

“Yemen needs an inclusive political process under UN auspices to reach a negotiated political settlement that can sustainably end the conflict, but getting there requires that the parties adopt a forward-looking approach,” he said.

Restarting a political process will require engagement across political, economic and security issues in tandem “without making engagement in one track contingent on progress in another”, he added.

The third point calls for a credible process that enables near-term agreements that reduce suffering and demonstrate progress. At the same time, space must be created for negotiations on longer-term issues, including the future shape of the State, security arrangements and principles of governance.

Free detained staff

The Special Envoy also used the briefing to reiterate his call for the unconditional release of scores of UN personnel who have been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.

Currently, 73 staff are locked up, along with representatives from civil society and diplomatic missions.

“Many have been held incommunicado, with serious concerns about their conditions and wellbeing. Some have been referred to Ansar Allah’s special criminal court, which is proceeding with trials that fall far short of basic due process,” he said.

He noted that this week marked a year since a staff member with the World Food Progamme (WFP) died while being held and no investigation has taken place.

Houthis storm UN offices

A senior official with the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, updated the Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

“As we have said in this Council before, these detentions of humanitarian workers are having a profound impact on operations,” Lisa Doughten, director of OCHA’s financing and outreach division, told ambassadors.

She reported that the Houthi de facto authorities entered multiple UN offices in Sana’a on 29 January “without permission, commandeering equipment and vehicles”.

They also continue to withhold clearances for UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights to Marib, though flights to Sana’a resumed over the weekend following a month-long suspension.

Millions in need

The “interference and impediments” are happening when 22.3 million people – half the population – need humanitarian assistance this year, or nearly three million more than in 2025.

Around 18 million face food insecurity, making Yemen the region’s most severe hunger crisis. It is also the country with the largest number of people experiencing emergency food security conditions, some 5.5 million.

Source link

Protecting children in war is key to lasting peace, top UN envoy warns

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

In an exclusive interview with UN News, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, reflected on the alarming rise in grave violations against children and the urgent need to safeguard their future.

“The recruitment and use of children is still one of the most widespread and devastating violations we face. In 2024 alone, over 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and armed groups, and those are only the verified cases,” Ms. Frazier told us, just ahead of Thursday’s international day against the use of child soldiers.

“Over the last 30 years, we have separated over 220,000 children from armed gangs,” she emphasised.

Growing crisis across conflicts

Her office monitors approximately 26 conflict situations around the world, and the numbers tell a grim story.

“The violations are most prevalent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Myanmar,” Ms. Frazier explained.

Interview with Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, for UN News.

“But we’re also seeing worrying trends in Sudan, where children are specifically targeted because they are seen as useful – as border guards, as workers, even as fighters.”

Behind those statistics, she stressed, are young lives forever altered. “Each number in our report represents a child whose innocence has been interrupted,” she said.

From abduction to reintegration

Beyond documenting violations, Ms. Frazier’s office engages directly with combatants to negotiate the release of children and their safe return home.

“One of the strengths of our mandate is that we can negotiate directly with armed groups for the handover of children,” she explained. “Once separated, [children’s agency] UNICEF and our partners work on their reintegration, ensuring they receive psychosocial support, access to education, and the chance to reclaim their childhood.”

An eleven-year-old boy sits in the dormitory of a reintegration centre for recently demobilized child soldiers in Goma, DR Congo. (file)

But reintegration is often fraught with stigma. “Girls who return may be shunned by their communities, especially those who come back with children,” she said. “For societal reasons, some girls cannot be fully reintegrated are considered damaged goods.”

Prevention and accountability

For Ms. Frazier, prevention is the ultimate goal.

“Prevention is better than cure,” she told us. “You know, this is why we really do advocate that even in times of war and armed conflict, children must remain in school. When they are out of school, they become very vulnerable to recruitment – whether forced or not.”

Accountability, too, plays a key role. The Special Representative – who previously served as Malta’s Ambassador to the UN, including an influential period on the Security Council – pointed to recent prosecutions before national courts and the International Criminal Court (ICC) as vital deterrents.

“One of the greatest tools of deterrence is justice and accountability,” she highlighted”. “When warlords or armed group leaders are prosecuted and sentenced for recruiting children – including in national courts and at least three cases before the International Criminal Court – it sends a powerful message. Justice and accountability act as strong deterrents, showing armed groups that this crime carries real consequences.”

A 13-year-old girl formerly associated with an armed group in the Central African Republic holds a mock weapon.

Her conviction is rooted in field experience – from meeting survivors of Boko Haram’s abductions in Nigeria to listening to women once enslaved by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda.

“You hear about a 13-year-old girl holding her baby, and you realise how deeply conflict steals childhood,” she said.

“When you hear these stories, you realise those numbers in our reports are individuals – children who were supposed to have their whole future ahead of them,” she said.

Epitome of innocence

Ms. Frazier spoke with emotion about why she is so committed to this cause.

“Children are the epitome of innocence,” she said. “They have not taken sides in any war, yet their innocence and childhood have both been interrupted. Children should never be treated as collateral of war.”

Children are the epitome of innocence

She added that the path to lasting peace begins with protecting and empowering those same children.

“The sustainability of peace depends on children’s right to take it forward. When they are brought back from conflict, they must have access to education and the chance to be fully integrated into society — to aspire to become doctors, nurses, lawyers, politicians, engineers — and that can only be achieved through education.”

Messages of hope

The Special Representative outlined her campaign Prove It Matters, which invites children affected by war to send messages to leaders, folded into origami doves, the universal symbol of peace.

“One child wrote to me, ‘I still have hope for a peaceful world. Never again a girl being a wife of a guerrilla fighter. Never again being part of armed groups. Let’s save childhoods and families too.’ It’s such an innocent plea, but it is what we are about,” she said.

A young man and former child soldier in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines, plans to return to school.

As the conversation ended, Ms. Frazier reiterated her conviction that education, justice and hope remain the pillars of peace.

“Children should be able to continue with their innocence even during times of conflict,” she said. “It is about ensuring a sustainable and peaceful future for the world.”

Source link

From war zones to outer space, radio remains essential

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Every 13 February marks World Radio Day, a celebration timed to the moment UN Radio first crackled to life 80 years ago.

UN News teams have gathered stories from every corner of the world that reveal a simple truth: in places fractured by conflict, disasters or deep digital divides, radio remains a steady, reliable pulse – carrying information, reassurance and connection where other signals cannot reach.

From UN Radio to UN News

This enduring role is deeply woven into the history of the United Nations itself. Eighty years ago, as the world emerged from the devastation of the Second World War, UN Radio began broadcasting from modest studios at UN Headquarters in New York, reaching audiences with news bulletins and feature programmes in five languages, often transmitting entire Security Council proceedings.

L to R: UN Radio staff José Quijano-Santos, Luis Marron, Hernando Solano, Jorge A. Carvallo, Luis Carlos Sanchez, Osvaldo Lopez Noguerol, Beatrix Alcapra Cuellar and Guillermo Caram, record a special broadcast for Latin American radio networks.

Over the decades, iconic voices such as Edward R. Murrow, Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn and Frank Sinatra helped narrate global stories, while listeners heard historic speeches from leaders including John F. Kennedy, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro and Pope John Paul II.

That legacy evolved into what is now UN News, a multimedia platform publishing in 10 languages and connecting with audiences in more than 170 countries. It brings breaking news, interviews, live coverage and richer storytelling on the world’s most urgent challenges – and the efforts under way to solve them.

For all the transformations brought by new technology, one guiding principle endures: providing dependable information to the people who need it most, through audio formats that bridge both heritage and innovation.

Rebuilding radio broadcasting in Gaza

Nowhere is this mission more urgent than in conflict zones. In Gaza, before October 7, 2023, a total of 23 local radio stations operated across the territory. Following the war triggered by Hamas attacks on Israel, every station was destroyed.

Yet Rami Al‑Sharafi, director of Zaman FM, is working to piece broadcasting back together – a fragile but determined effort in the midst of profound damage.

Journalist Rami Al-Sharfi, is the director of radio at Gaza’s ZMN 90.60 FM radio station.

When UN News Arabic visited the station, he put it plainly: “Zaman FM has resumed broadcasting, and we are currently the only radio station transmitting FM frequencies from inside the Gaza Strip after this massive destruction.”

The need for reliable broadcasting is profound, particularly as Gaza faces the spread of diseases, the collapse of educational structures, and disrupted public services.

A crucial tool for peacekeeping

Across other conflict zones, radio serves as a steadying presence. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Radio Okapi, has become a trusted voice since its creation in 2002 as part of the UN peacekeeping mission there, known as MONUSCO.

Broadcasting in French and four national languages, the station offers reliable information in regions of the country affected by violence and displacement, according to testimonies gathered by UN News French.

In Bukavu, deep in the country’s restive eastern region, one listener described how Radio Okapi “plays a key role in promoting peace by broadcasting information that is reliable and impartial,” noting that “when people want to be sure that information is true, they often turn to Radio Okapi.”

Radio Okapi and Radio nationale congolaise have made a commitment to broadcast didactic sequences on the main subjects of the primary and secondary cycle in the DRC during the Covid-19 pandemic

For many communities, the station is also a vital channel for civic participation and accountability. “It ensures that victims of war can express their suffering so that it can reach the authorities,” said another Bukavu resident.

The station’s influence extends beyond information, actively countering hate speech and strengthening social cohesion. In Lubumbashi, a listener credited Radio Okapi with helping “stop or reduce messages inciting hatred,” while praising programmes like Inter-Congolese Dialogue, which he said, “allow national cohesion to produce outcomes of peace.”

Lifesaving information in conflict zones

For refugees such as Bahati Yohane, now living in Kyangwali Refugee camp in Uganda, Okapi became a literal lifeline during escalating violence in DRC. In an interview to UN News Kiswahili, he said: “To be honest, if there had been no radio to tell us anything about security, we would not be alive in this world today”.

In the Central African Republic, radio continues to bridge isolation in remote and insecure areas. The UN Mission, MINUSCA, supports both its own station, Guira FM, and local broadcasters to strengthen access to trusted information.

Radio GUIRA-FM – 4 years anniversary

Through recent campaigns that put more than 500 radios into local hands, communities have not only improved the flow of reliable information but also curbed the kinds of rumors that can disrupt travel, trade and relations between neighbours.

These efforts revive a tradition that began decades ago, when UN News Kiswahili partnered with Radio Tanzania – now the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation – to air the weekly programme Mwangaza wa Umoja wa Mataifa from the 1970s through the 1990s.Former programme controller Edda Sanga remembers that “the program helped build hope and aspirations for many people,” offering stories of progress and practical solutions.

It became, she said, a programme “eagerly awaited” by listeners looking for reliable updates on peace, human rights, environmental issues and conflicts unfolding in neighbouring countries.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, is also a key partner for radio stations across fragile environments, helping them remain operational during crises and continue delivering life‑saving information. In Afghanistan, the agency backs 10 stations that broadcast guidance on basic services, reaching as many as 20 million listeners, about 40 per cent of whom are women and girls.

Radio amateurs as national heroes

Outside conflict areas, radio’s quiet strength becomes even clearer during climate‑driven emergencies. As storms or floods knock out phone lines and internet connections, radio signals frequently remain the last dependable link to the outside world.

Eloísa Farrera/CINU México

Jesús Miguel Sarmiento, with the call sign XE1EW as a radio operator, presides over the Mexican Federation of Radio Experimenters

In Mexico, amateur radio operators were recognized as national heroes following the 1985 earthquake, when traditional communication systems failed entirely.

Today, the Mexican Federation of Radio Amateurs coordinates the National Emergency Network, due to its ability of transmitting vital information during hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.

During Hurricane Otis in 2023, operators quickly improvised communication systems under extreme conditions. As Federation President Jesús Miguel Sarmiento Montesinos told UN News Spanish, “They turned copper wires into antennas, used their equipment and batteries, and immediately began transmitting, reporting on the situation in the affected areas, the extent of the flooding, and whether the areas were accessible or inaccessible”.

An inclusive platform

Radio also serves as a powerful force for accessibility and inclusion. In India, Radio Udaan was launched in 2014 as the country’s first online station operated entirely by visually impaired presenters and staff. Today, it reaches 125,000 listeners across 120 countries, addressing disability rights, education, technology and social inclusion, and challenging stereotypes through fashion shows, singing competitions, matchmaking, talent hunts and other community‑driven programmes.

UN News Hindi spoke with Founder Danish Mahajan, who explained that his lived experience as a visually impaired person helps shape programming tailored to audience needs.

An Online Radio Station Giving Voice to India’s Visually Impaired.

He highlighted the importance of UN News content, noting, “Whenever there is a programme, discussion, or special UN commemoration related to disability, the themes, dialogues, and inspirational talks produced by the United Nations greatly benefit the community”.

Mr. Mahajan also sees new opportunities through artificial intelligence, AI, describing it as a “game-changing technology” capable of expanding accessibility through tools such as smart glasses that help visually impaired individuals make sense of their surroundings.

Empathy that algorithms can’t replicate

Artificial intelligence is transforming the global audio landscape. In China, these shifts are unfolding at remarkable speed, with the podcast audience already exceeding 150 million and expected to grow further.

UN News Chinese heard from Professor Sun Shaojing of Fudan University that audio content is becoming deeply woven into daily life – from electric vehicles navigating crowded cities to smart devices accompanying moments of solitude.

The UN Global Digital Compact aims to bring together governments and industry to ensure that technology, like AI, works for all humanity.

He notes that AI‑generated news presenters and synthetic voices are becoming increasingly common, offering accuracy, efficiency and multilingual reach on a scale once unimaginable. Yet within this technological precision, Professor Sun identifies a paradox: the very imperfections of human speech – the pauses, hesitations and emotional textures – are what give voice its soul.

“When reporting on disaster scenes, affected individuals, their suffering, and their needs, AI would lose many of the emotional and empathetic dimensions that require human compassion and connection. It would not achieve the same depth of emotional impact or resonance”, he said.

Demand increases for radio communications in outer space

Even beyond Earth, radio continues to underpin communication and discovery. From the moment the first satellite broke through the atmosphere in 1957, radio waves have carried the quiet work of exploration, becoming the unseen bridge behind space communications, Earth monitoring and navigation.

As space exploration accelerates, these frequencies are becoming even more critical. Alexandre Vallet, Chief of Space Services at the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, told UN News Portuguese that satellites equipped with highly sensitive sensors rely on ITU’s protected spectrum bands to accurately track the accelerating impacts of climate change.

A satellite, as seen from space, tracks over South America.

He explained that expanding lunar plans by major space powers – including proposals from the United States and China to build permanent bases – are likely to drive a steep increase in radio‑communication needs. That surge, he warned, could threaten the Moon’s Shielded Zone, protected under a 1970s ITU treaty to preserve the lunar silence essential for studying the universe’s earliest moments.

“For the next conference on the radio regulations, at the end of 2027, we will discuss establishing for the first time a regulatory framework for radio spectrum management on the moon. So, this will include finding a good balance between the need for communication links and also the need to protect the spectrum for scientific purposes,” he said.

Looking ahead, the rapid transformation of the space economy will only deepen humanity’s reliance on radio spectrum. Mr. Vallet added that emerging industries such as space tourism, orbital manufacturing, space mining, and even data centers beyond Earth will depend on reliable radio-based communication channels.

A signal that endures

Across conflict zones, disaster response, accessibility efforts, digital innovation and even the far reaches of space, radio continues to demonstrate its quiet but remarkable strength.

Amid a world overwhelmed by images and accelerating technology, these invisible waves endure as a reminder that the simplest forms of communication often hold the greatest power to inform, protect and unite.

Listen to daily news bulletins and podcasts on SoundCloud or here.

Source link

Gaza radio station re-opens, bringing voices from the rubble

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

While 23 local radio stations were operating in Gaza before the conflict erupted, they were all destroyed and ceased broadcasting, he told UN News.

“Today, we are the only radio station broadcasting on FM from within Gaza after this widespread destruction,” he said. “We hope that other local radio stations will resume broadcasting, thus allowing competition in providing media services to the people of the Gaza Strip.”

Ahead of World Radio Day, observed on 13 February, the resumption of broadcasting comes at a time when Gaza’s media infrastructure still faces significant challenges amid local and international calls to support journalism as part of broader recovery and reconstruction efforts in the sector.

A journalist works in the damaged office of Zaman 90.60 FM radio station in Gaza City.

Digging through the rubble

After a hiatus of nearly two years due to the war, some local radio stations in the Gaza Strip are transmitting again, in a move showing gradual efforts to revive the media landscape in the war-ravaged Strip – much of which has suffered widespread destruction of infrastructure and civilian institutions from Israeli attacks.

Zaman FM operates in the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City, where Israeli attacks triggered a famine and left mountains of debris in the streets.

The cracked walls of the station’s building tell a story of immense destruction and the scene inside is unlike any other radio studio in the world.

Employees dig through the rubble to keep the station broadcasting, working with minimal technical resources while behind them, awareness posters warn people of the dangers of dilapidated buildings.

On-air messages of hope

Local radio remains vital in Gaza as humanitarian crises persist, power outages continue and access to other media remains limited. This makes radio one of the most effective ways of getting key messages out to the public, along with health guidance and information about other services.

Gaza is in dire need of professional local radio stations capable of broadcasting awareness messages and guidance bulletins in light of the spread of diseases, the deterioration of the education system and the disruption of many basic services, said Mr. Al-Sharafi, director of the radio station and host of the morning programme, An Hour of Time.

“We need to deliver information to the population and guide them to the services that have stopped and are gradually being resumed,” he said, “especially in light of the difficult health conditions and the spread of epidemics.”

Amid the destruction all around, Mr. Al-Sharafi sits behind his dust-covered microphone and does just that.

He sends morning greetings to Gaza residents and provides them with important information and updates, bringing some much-needed hope to the airwaves across a devastated landscape that has only just begun to recover.

Source link

Civilians and aid operations under fire as Sudan airstrikes intensify

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Two children were reportedly killed and 13 others injured in a drone strike on a mosque in Al-Rahad, North Kordofan, where all the victims were students at the adjoining school. The attack came just hours after a primary school in Dilling, South Kordofan, was hit, with further injuries reported.

WFP warehouse hit

The warehouse of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in the South Kordofan capital, Kadugli, also was struck by suspected rockets, significantly damaging buildings and mobile storage units.

Recent days have also seen drone strikes reported in other parts of South Kordofan, North Kordofan and West Kordofan states, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York.

Strikes have occurred close to key supply routes linking the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan to Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, and this is endangering civilians, including humanitarian workers.

Not a target

“The fact that we have to reiterate almost every day that civilians and civilian infrastructure, places of worship, schools and hospitals cannot and should not be targeted is a tragedy into itself,” he said.

“Yet, we have to remind the parties of this almost every day and that they need to respect international humanitarian law.”

Meanwhile, the UN and partners continue their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people.

The war between the national army and former allies-turned-rivals the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – which erupted in April 2023 – has sparked the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with some 30 million people in need of assistance.

Aid convoy breakthrough

Mr. Dujarric said a multi-agency UN convoy made up of 41 trucks carrying nearly 800 metric tonnes of food and other essential supplies departed El Obeid for Kadugli on Tuesday, marking a significant breakthrough along a previously closed route.

In South Kordofan, humanitarians have distributed nearly 600 metric tonnes of food to nearly 70,000 people, but the continued arrival of families fleeing their homes is depleting what limited stocks are available.

More than 115,000 people have been displaced across the Kordofan region since late October, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Diplomatic concern

The UN and four other organizations working to promote political dialogue in Sudan voiced grave concern at the continued escalation of the conflict in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The Quintet – which comprises the African Union (AU), East African bloc IGAD, the League of Arab States (LAS), the European Union (EU) and the UN – expressed particular alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile state.

The statement highlighted the urgent need for action, citing:
• Deadly drone strikes and tightening sieges around population centres
• Attacks on hospitals, schools and humanitarian assets
• Widespread displacement and severe constraints on humanitarian access
• Direct attacks on humanitarian aid convoys

Protect civilians, allow aid access

The Quintet recalled the horrors that occurred in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, “and the repeated warnings issued ahead of those atrocities that went unheeded with devastating consequences for civilians”.

The city was under siege by the RSF for more than a year during which crimes such as rapes, executions, mass killings, attacks on displacement were committed.

“The Quintet insists that civilians must no longer bear the cost of ongoing hostilities,” the statement said.

“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, international humanitarian law must be respected, and safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all areas in need must be ensured.”

Ramadan plea

The partners also emphasised the need for coordinated international efforts to de-escalate the conflict and halt the flow of weapons and fighters sustaining the violence.

Ahead of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, they urged all concerned “to seize the opportunity presented by ongoing efforts to broker a humanitarian truce and to immediately deescalate hostilities, to prevent further loss of life and enable life-saving assistance.”

Source link

Ukraine: UN aid convoy reaches frontlines in Dnipro

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that access to the town had been “extremely difficult due to the continued fighting.” Of the 10,000 people who lived there before the full-scale invasion in February 2022, only about 500 remain, “most of them older people and people with disabilities.”

According to Ukrainian authorities, hostilities between Tuesday and Wednesday morning caused several civilian deaths and injuries, including children. The regions of Donetsk, Dnipro, Sumy and Kherson were reported to be the hardest hit.

In Zaporizhzhia region, a hospital and a pre-school were damaged, and thousands of people were left without heating following an attack, underscoring the strain on essential services as winter conditions persist.

Drone strike devastates family

Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike killed a father and three young children and left a pregnant woman critically injured in the town of Bohodukhiv in the Kharkiv region, humanitarian workers said on Wednesday.

The attack occurred around midnight Tuesday into Wednesday, completely destroying the family home, according to Olena Labzeva of the Humanitarian Mission Proliska.

The father, who had a disability, and the couple’s three children – including toddlers aged one and two – were killed.

A neighbour who heard the explosion pulled the injured woman from the burning rubble. She remains in an extremely serious physical and psychological condition in hospital.

Damage costs exceed $176 billion

Amid the ongoing violence, UN agencies are also supporting longer-term recovery efforts.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) said it has now helped clear one million tonnes of debris since the start of the full-scale invasion, restoring safe access to more than 200 public locations and enabling reconstruction at over 1,600 heavily damaged sites – including homes, schools and hospitals.

Direct damage to Ukraine’s buildings and infrastructure was estimated at $176 billion by the end of 2024, with debris posing a major obstacle to rebuilding and the return of residents.

Health system under severe strain

At the same time, the war’s devastation is placing additional pressure on the health system.

Repeated strikes on energy facilities have disrupted electricity, heating and water supplies, complicating care for pregnant women and newborns, particularly during freezing winter temperatures.

According to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, doctors and nurses have reported power outages during complex surgical procedures.

They are also seeing more potentially life-threatening obstetric emergencies, including hypertension and uterine rupture, signalling a maternal health system under severe strain.

Just under 12 per cent of babies are born preterm in frontline areas – nearly double the national rate.

UNFPA is supplying maternity hospitals with back-up energy systems and life-saving reproductive health supplies, while calling for sustained international support.

Source link

World News in Brief: School shooting in Canada, cholera outbreak in DR Congo, evacuations in Gaza

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

António Guterres was “saddened to learn of the tragic shooting in Tumble Ridge, British Columbia,” his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at the daily news briefing.

“[Mr. Guterres] extends his deepest condolences to those affected and his sympathies to the Government and people of Canada,” Mr. Dujarric added.

Two crime scenes

According to media reports, the dead included at least three female students, two male students and a teacher. Two additional people were found dead at a nearby home, who local police have reportedly identified as the suspect’s mother and stepbrother.

The suspect – who was born male but was transitioning and identified as female, according to police – was found at the school having died from an apparent self-inflicted wound.

Two of the several dozen injured were airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Tumbler Ridge, located in the Canadian Rockies more than 1,000 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, is a small community near the Alberta border. The secondary school serves around 175 students from Grades seven to 12.

DR Congo: UN urges urgent scale-up as cholera outbreak worsens

The UN relief coordination office, OCHA, has warned that the spiralling cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo demands an immediate scale-up of the response.

It is reportedly the country’s worst outbreak in 25 years. Since the start of 2026, more than 1,300 suspected cases and 35 deaths have been recorded.

Last year, over 71,800 suspected cases were reported, with more than 2,000 deaths.

Humanitarian support

Humanitarian partners, alongside the Government and the UN, continue to provide support, but major gaps remain. Water, sanitation and hygiene services are critically underfunded, health workers are overstretched, supplies are running low and access to treatment facilities remains difficult.

On Monday, $750,000 was allocated from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help health partners rapidly expand life-saving assistance and curb transmission.

OCHA stressed that more flexible funding is urgently needed to bolster health services and contain the outbreak.

Gaza: UN scales up evacuations and education support

In Gaza, UN teams supported the medical evacuation of 18 patients and 26 companions through the Rafah Crossing on Tuesday.

Teams also received 41 additional returnees at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where a reception area is being operated to assist those arriving.

Since Rafah reopened in early February, just over 220 people in each direction have been facilitated through the crossing, according to UN Spokesperson Dujarric.

“I reiterate that we would like to see more people having the opportunity to move voluntarily and safely, in both directions, especially to access services that they need,” he said on Wednesday.

Hoping to expand aid operation

“We also hope to see the movement of cargo enabled through Rafah, to increase the volume of humanitarian supplies entering, and further expand the scale up of the humanitarian response.”

Humanitarian partners working to provide educational support have delivered stationery and toys in recent days to improve learning conditions for thousands of children.

Four new temporary learning spaces were established last week, bringing the total across Gaza to about 450, serving more than 5,500 students.

Between 29 January and 4 February, child protection partners provided winter assistance, psychosocial support and safe spaces to more than 6,500 children and caregivers, including warm clothing for nearly 3,800 children.

Source link

Measles cases drop in 2025 across Europe and Central Asia, but outbreak risks remain

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

“While cases have reduced, the conditions that led to the resurgence of this deadly disease in recent years remain and must be addressed,” said Regina De Dominicis, the UN Children Fund (UNICEF) regional director for Europe and Central Asia.

Fifty-three countries in Europe and Central Asia reported 33,998 measles cases in 2025, down from 127,412 in 2024.

The overall decreasing trend in cases reflects both outbreak response measures and the gradual decline in the number of people susceptible to measles infection as the virus made its way through under-vaccinated communities, according to UN agencies.

Tackling deadly misinformation

However, many cases could have been prevented with higher routine vaccination coverage at community level and more timely response to outbreaks, UN agencies said.

“Until all children are reached with vaccination, and hesitancy fuelled by the spread of misinformation is addressed, children will remain at risk of death or serious illness from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases,” she warned.

Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said eliminating measles is essential for national and regional health security, stressing that “in today’s environment of rampant fake news, it’s also crucial that people rely on verified health information from reliable sources such as WHO, UNICEF and national health agencies.”

Measles still present

The number of cases in 2025 still exceeded what has been reported for most years since 2000, and some countries reported more cases in 2025 than in 2024. Measles cases continue to be detected in 2026 in the region, according to WHO.

“Over 200,000 people in our region fell ill with measles in the past three years,” Dr. Kluge said.

“Unless every community reaches 95 per cent vaccination coverage, closes immunity gaps across all ages, strengthens disease surveillance and ensures timely outbreak response, this highly contagious virus will keep spreading.”

Highly contagious

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses affecting people. For every one person who has measles, up to 18 other unvaccinated people will be infected.

This makes measles around 12 times more contagious than influenza. As well as hospitalisation and death, the virus can cause long-term, debilitating health complications.

It can also damage the immune system by “erasing” its memory of how to fight infections for months to even years, leaving measles survivors vulnerable to other diseases and death.

Two doses of measles-containing vaccine provide up to 97 per cent life-long protection against measles.

A vaccination rate of 95 per cent with two doses of the measles vaccine in every community each year is needed to prevent measles outbreaks and achieve herd immunity, which protects infants too young for measles vaccination and other people for whom it is not recommended due to medical conditions, like those who are immunocompromised.

Public health priorities

Outbreak preparedness and response alongside the target of measles elimination, remain public health priorities.

UNICEF and WHO work together with governments and with the support of partners, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the European Union, to prevent and respond to measles outbreaks by, among other things:

engaging with communities
training health care workers
strengthening immunisation programmes and disease surveillance systems
initiating measles vaccination catch-up campaigns

Source link

UN social policy commission closes with calls to turn pledges into action

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Meeting at UN Headquarters, in New York, from 2 to 10 February, the Commission for Social Development marked its first session since the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha last year.

The gathering brought together ministers, senior UN officials, civil society groups and youth representatives to examine how global pledges can be translated into coordinated, inclusive and equitable policies at the national level.

Opening the session, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Lok Bahadur Thapa stressed that social development policies are where “resilience, social cohesion, and trust are ultimately tested.”

He warned that widening inequalities, demographic change, and rapid digital and green transitions are placing growing strain on societies worldwide. Responding in an integrated, people-centred way, he said, is “not merely a policy choice; it is a moral imperative.”

Delegates at the 64th session of the Commission for Social Development.

What is the Commission for Social Development?

The Commission for Social Development is an ECOSOC functional commission and the United Nations’ primary intergovernmental body for social development.

Established in 1946, it has helped shape global policy frameworks on poverty eradication, employment, social protection and inclusion, including by steering follow-up to landmark agreements such as the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration and, more recently, the 2025 Doha Political Declaration.

Click here for UN News special coverage of the Doha Summit

Over the years, the Commission has driven progress on universal social protection, decent work for all, and international focus on groups at risk of exclusion, including persons with disabilities, older persons, youth and families.

Its conclusions have informed national policies, helped develop social protection floors, and reinforced links between social development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Commission meets annually at UN Headquarters, in New York, generally in February.

Click here for more information on the Commission

A post-Doha moment for social policy

This year’s priority theme – advancing social development and social justice through coordinated, equitable and inclusive policies – framed discussions throughout the session, reflecting concerns that fragmented policymaking is slowing progress on poverty eradication, decent work and social inclusion.

Addressing delegates, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock underscored that social development is not a secondary concern reserved for calmer times, but “the foundation that peace is built upon” and a critical investment in stability.

Ending hunger and poverty, she said, is both a moral obligation and a matter of security, noting how deprivation fuels conflict, migration and instability.

From commitments to delivery

In a message to the Commission, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted the shift signalled by the Doha Political Declaration away from incremental progress towards more ambitious, coordinated action.

She pointed to strong civil society engagement – with more than 700 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered for the session – and urged governments to match that readiness with concrete delivery.

“If Copenhagen, Doha and the 2030 Agenda are where we drew the map, then the Commission for Social Development sets us on the road,” she said.

Click here to watch the Deputy Secretary-General’s message

Coordinating policies in a changing world

Throughout the session, speakers repeatedly stressed the need for greater policy coherence – aligning employment strategies with universal social protection floors, inclusive education and health systems, and just-transition measures.

The Commission also examined emerging social challenges, including demographic change, labour-market disruption, and the social impacts of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

Delegates heard that while new technologies carry risks, they can also accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if governed inclusively and equitably.

A young boy relaxes in a wicker basket as his family threshes harvested wheat.

Youth mental health in focus

Youth voices featured prominently, reflecting the Commission’s emphasis on inclusion. The launch of the World Youth Report on Youth Mental Health and Well-being highlighted the growing pressures facing young people – from poverty and inequality to climate stress, conflict and digital harms.

Youth delegates and advocates shared lived experiences, describing how uncertainty about the future is eroding trust and well-being among younger generations, while calling for preventive, community-based and youth-responsive approaches.

Resolutions endorsed

At the close of the session, Member States endorsed two draft resolutions – one on advancing social development and social justice through coordinated, equitable and inclusive social policies, and another on the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

The resolutions reaffirm commitments made at the 1995 Copenhagen Summit and the 2025 Doha Summit, while emphasizing the need to translate global pledges into concrete national action.

Outcomes from the session will feed into upcoming UN processes, including the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July, ECOSOC’s broader work, and the General Assembly’s five-year follow-up towards a high-level review of social development commitments in 2031.

Source link

Women and girls in science: Dismantling barriers, closing gender gaps

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Across the world, a significant gender gap persists at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines due to lack of research funding, gender stereotypes, and discriminatory workplace practices.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the gap is particularly pronounced in technology, where women represent just 26 per cent of the workforce in data and artificial intelligence, and 12 per cent in cloud computing.

“Excluding women from science weakens our collective capacity to address urgent global challenges, from climate change to public health to space security,” he warned.

Greater inclusion

As societies continue to grapple with widening inequalities, the UN believes that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), social science, STEM and finance provides a way to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development.

The approach is being highlighted on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed on Wednesday.

Synergizing these four domains can help dismantle persistent barriers by closing gender gaps in digital skills, catalysing women-driven start-ups, advancing gender-responsive AI governance, and mobilising finance that embeds social inclusion as a performance metric.

“From advancing renewable energy to preventing the next pandemic, our future hinges on unlocking as much human talent as possible,” the Secretary-General said.

“Today and every day, let us ensure that women and girls can realise their scientific ambitions – for their rights, and for the benefit of all.”

Scientist, entrepreneur, ambassador

Chemist and entrepreneur Asel Sartbaeva from Kyrgyzstan is a role model in this regard.

She is an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom and co-founder and CEO of the biotech company EnsiliTech.

Her work tackles one of global health’s most persistent challenges: how to make vaccines stable at high temperatures so they can be transported to the most remote communities without complex refrigeration.

Supporting girls in STEM

Alongside her research, Ms. Sartbaeva works with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as an ambassador for the Girls in Science programme in Kyrgyzstan, encouraging girls to pursue higher education and careers in STEM.

She told UN News that in many communities, decisions about a girl’s future are shaped by her family – particularly her father.

“Most of the time, the biggest worry I’ve heard, especially from fathers, was that they thought that if their girls would go into science, they will not have a family,” she said.

“For me, really, the first thing was to show that actually that is not true. They can have both and it’s not mutually exclusive.”

‘We need you’

The UNICEF programme combines science masterclasses with mentoring, communication training and confidence-building. Thousands of girls have taken part, and many have gone on to pursue university degrees in STEM.

Ms. Sartbaeva believes opportunities for women in science are improving. Women professors were rare when she was at university, but today she sees far more balance and stronger policies supporting inclusion.

Still, more talent is still needed and she had a clear, simple message for girls considering STEM: “We need you.”

Source link

UN warns civilians remain at risk as airstrikes continue across Gaza

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the regular news briefing in New York that the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, had received additional reports of airstrikes, bombing, shelling – including from at sea – and shootings in residential areas.

The violence, he said, “puts civilians in danger and adds to the immense hardship they have endured over the past 28 months.”

He added that civilians are protected under international humanitarian law wherever they are, “even if they cross military demarcation lines or are near them…civilians must always be protected and during military operations and constant care must be taken to spare them.”

Health centre reopens

Amid the ongoing hostilities, UN agencies reported limited but important progress in restoring essential services.

The UN ‘s Palestine refugee relief agency (UNRWA) said it has reopened the Bureij Health Centre in Deir al Balah after months of closure. The facility is now providing primary healthcare, maternal health services, laboratory testing and dental care.

However, thousands of patients remain without access to treatment and recovery, as critical services are still unavailable in Gaza.

“Their top priority is to scale up local services, including by rehabilitating damaged facilities and expanding critical care. This requires more medical supplies, including items that are not easily approved for entry by Israeli authorities, such as X-ray machines and laboratory equipment,” Mr. Dujarric said.

Shelter, protection needs remain acute

UN shelter partners said that by last week they had provided more than 5,600 families with emergency shelter assistance in just over one week, including nearly 5,000 tarpaulins and more than 12,000 bedding items.

Last month alone, similar assistance – including nearly 8,000 tents – reached more than 85,000 families. However, durable solutions are urgently needed, which requires permission from Israeli authorities to bring in machinery and construction materials to repair damaged structures, partner organizations said.

Source link

In Bahrain; work, dignity and the quiet rise of home-grown enterprise

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Their experiences underline a broader message: inclusive economic growth depends on opening space for those too often excluded, including people with disabilities, youth and home-based innovators.

Entrepreneur by necessity

For Shaymaa Saeed, a young Egyptian crochet designer and handicrafts artist with a disability, entrepreneurship was not a lifestyle choice but a necessity. Health challenges prevented her from securing formal work, pushing her to rethink how she could earn a living.

“I started my project from home in 2018 due to health challenges, after I was unable to secure a job,” she told UN News.

Instead of giving up, I turned my hobby into a source of income

What began as a personal coping strategy gradually became a viable business. Ms. Saeed went on to take part in some of Egypt’s largest handicrafts exhibitions, building confidence and visibility along the way.

Recently, she presented her work outside her home country for the first time, marking a significant milestone in her journey.

Stepping on stage

“My participation marks my first step onto the international stage,” she said, pointing to the role of entrepreneurship training and institutional backing. “The support I received helped me grow personally and professionally, with greater confidence.”

UN News/Abdul Monem Makki

Shaymaa Saeed, a young Egyptian entrepreneur who’s attending WEIF in Bahrain.

All the issues raised by Ms. Saeed’s experiences are up for discussion during this week’s Sixth World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF), in the Bahraini capital, Manama, where a parallel exhibition on home-based entrepreneurship is showcasing how targeted support can turn personal challenges into economic opportunity.

Organised by the UN Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) International Technology and Innovation Promotion Office in Bahrain, the gathering is bringing together entrepreneurs, policymakers and investors from dozens of countries.

Big dreams

Ms. Saeed’s enterprise remains entirely home-based and online, but her ambitions extend well beyond that. “I do not yet have a physical store, but I dream of having my own space to showcase and sell my work, and of reaching markets across the world as a successful small business.”

Ms. Saeed is candid about the realities of building a business from scratch. “Success does not come overnight,” she said. “It is a continuous journey of effort, learning and development.”

I dream of having my own space to showcase and sell my work, and of reaching markets across the world

Similar themes are emerging from other women using art and entrepreneurship as vehicles for agency and expression.

Bahraini visual artist and art teacher Mariam Sayed Anwar, who also lives with a disability, described creativity as both discipline and emotional release.

“My work moves between still life, portraits, charcoal, pencil and acrylic,” she explained, stressing the importance of experimentation. “I never limit myself to just one medium.”

For her, art communicates what language sometimes cannot. “Through paint and brushes, I can express what is in my heart and soul more than writing ever could. Art is my language; when words fall silent, my work speaks for me.”

UN News/Abdul Monem Makki

A woman speaker takes the stage at the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum 2026 in Manama, Bahrain.

International exposure

Beyond individual stories, entrepreneurs from Africa gathering in Bahrain are highlighting the structural conditions that shape success or failure.

Zimbabwean entrepreneur Dr. Roselyn Musaruru-Wacharewa said exposure to international networks had reshaped her understanding of what is possible – not just for individual women, but for entire regions.

UN News/Abdul Monem Makki

From Zimbabwe, entrepreneur Dr. Roselyn Musaruru-Wacharewa describes how exposure to international platforms in Bahrain has reshaped her outlook.

“In many African countries, governments tax entrepreneurs so heavily that it feels like they want you out of business,” she said, contrasting this with environments where policy actively encourages enterprise.

Her appeal was blunt: African women entrepreneurs are ready, but governments must “change the narrative and give them real access and recognition”.

Guterres underlines private sector role

The importance of creating such enabling conditions was echoed by UN leaders and national officials, though the emphasis remained on outcomes rather than rhetoric.

In his message delivered in Bahrain on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underlined the private sector’s role as an engine of jobs, innovation and investment, particularly through micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for roughly two-thirds of global employment.

He stressed that growth must go hand in hand with respect for human rights and labour standards, and with expanding opportunities for those left behind.

UNIDO officials highlighted youth and women as central drivers of innovation, while Bahraini authorities pointed to national initiatives supporting young and women entrepreneurs, alongside strategies embracing artificial intelligence and new technologies.

Lived experience

Yet the strongest arguments for inclusive growth came not from policy statements, but from lived experience.

From home-based businesses run entirely online, to art that speaks where words fail, entrepreneurs like Shaymaa Saeed illustrate what becomes possible when talent meets opportunity – and what is lost when barriers remain.

Source link

Violence surges in South Sudan leaving civilians at risk and peacekeepers stretched thin

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council on Tuesday, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said instability had risen sharply in recent weeks, driven by political deadlock among signatories to the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement and a dangerous escalation in armed confrontations.

Fighting has intensified most dramatically in Jonglei state, where clashes between Government forces and opposition elements displaced more than 280,000 people, according to government sources.

Reports of aerial bombardments, inflammatory rhetoric and severe restrictions on humanitarian access have raised fears of a return to the widespread violence seen in 2013 and 2016.

Communities, Mr. Lacroix said, are once again “on the move,” fleeing areas where fighting has erupted and basic services have collapsed.

Click here to read a summary of threats to South Sudan’s peace process and the converging political, security and humanitarian crises, and their impact on civilians.

Humanitarian statistics for South Sudan as of December 2025.

Crisis unravelling

In late January, Government forces instructed civilians, UN personnel and humanitarian workers to temporarily relocate from several counties in Jonglei, including from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base in Akobo, citing an anticipated military operation.

Although the Government later denied issuing such a directive and reiterated its cooperation with humanitarian partners, the episode underscored the volatility of the situation.

Regional bodies, including the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), have voiced alarm at the escalation, stressing that there is no military solution and that the peace agreement remains the only viable framework for stability.

Political deadlock deepens

Mr. Lacroix warned that unilateral initiatives to amend the peace agreement risk undermining its primacy, particularly proposals to defer key transitional tasks such as constitution-making until after elections scheduled for December 2026.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) has said it cannot engage in political dialogue while its leader, First Vice-President Riek Machar, remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings, further complicating efforts to break the stalemate.

Mr. Machar, once an ally of President Salva Kiir, has been under house arrest since March 2025 and reportedly faces charges of murder and treason – which he denies.

The UN Security Council meets on the situation in South Sudan.

Humanitarian crisis worsens

The deteriorating security situation is compounding what Mr. Lacroix described as one of the world’s most dangerous environments for aid workers.

In 2025 alone, 350 attacks on humanitarian personnel and facilities were recorded, a sharp increase from the previous year, as the country grapples with its worst cholera outbreak on record.

Since September 2024, more than 98,000 cholera cases have been reported nationwide, with a resurgence now underway in Jonglei. Flight restrictions and blocked movements are delaying medical evacuations and the delivery of lifesaving supplies.

Recent incidents include an airstrike on a hospital in Lankien on 3 February, which destroyed critical medical stocks and injured staff, and the looting of a health facility in Pieri the same day. Violence has also forced the closure of 24 nutrition sites in Jonglei, cutting off care for nearly 8,000 children, including more than 2,600 suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Peacekeepers stretched thin

Against this backdrop, UNMISS is grappling with significant funding-driven capacity reductions.

Mr. Lacroix said cost-cutting measures have already reduced protection patrols by up to 40 per cent in some areas and by as much as 70 per cent where bases have closed. Human rights monitoring missions have been cancelled, and tensions have increased in areas left without a UN presence.

At the same time, the Mission has been forced to redeploy forces to hotspots such as Akobo and establish temporary operating bases to deter violence and protect civilians.

“The trends we are currently observing are clear,” Mr. Lacroix said, urging the Security Council and international partners to ensure sustained political and financial support.

“The presence of UNMISS continues to matter a lot. It matters to the people that we protect, it matters to our humanitarian partners that we assist, and it matters to the peace process that we actively support and engage in.”

Source link

Fresh report warns fish fraud extends to one fifth of global catch

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

While there is no official estimate of how prevalent fraud is in the $195 billion global fisheries and aquaculture sector, empirical studies suggest that 20 per cent of the trade may be subject to some type of fraud, according to FAO.

Menu of misinformation

Some studies suggest that up to 30 per cent of seafood products may be mislabelled in restaurants, with the report citing cases from around the world, from ceviche stands in Latin America and seafood eateries in China to canned tuna products in the European Union.

While as much as one third of aquatic products sold in the United States may not conform to package descriptions, less than one per cent of imports are tested, the report warned.

What drives fish fraud?

Economic incentives are the most widespread driver of fish fraud.

Selling Atlantic salmon, almost all of which is farmed, as Pacific salmon, most of which is wild caught, delivers a nearly $10 benefit per kilogramme.

Some fraud occurs to mask the geographic provenance of a product or to suppress evidence of above-quota landings, which may pose risks to the sustainability of fishery stocks.

Finding fraud

Fish fraud is defined in the report as “a deliberate practice intended to deceive others” and can pose risks to biodiversity, human health or economic systems, according to Food fraud in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, produced by FAO through cooperation between its Fisheries and Aquaculture Division and the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.

The main categories of fish fraud are:

adding water to unprocessed fishery products to bolster weight and price
adulteration (adding colouring to make tuna look fresher)
counterfeiting (imitation shrimp made from starch-based compounds)
simulation (packaging surimi to seem like crab meat)
diversion (distributing legitimate products outside of their intended markets)
misbranding (such as incorrect claims about sustainability)
overrun (involving overfishing)
species substitution (selling tilapia as red snapper)
tampering and mislabelling (involving origins and even expiry dates)
plain theft

Meanwhile, the human welfare risks of some seafood fraud are evident as some fish pose risks when eaten raw, while re-freezing seafood increases the risk of bacterial growth.

Catching fishy business

The global scale of fish consumption – targeting over 12,000 seafood species – the diversity of fraud type and the lack of standardised regulatory or legal definitions, make global estimates difficult to assess, but there are novel ways to tackle the scourge.

Advanced laboratory tests can be effective in identifying substances, but access to these methods is limited.

Meanwhile, the report shows that portable X-ray fluorescence and machine-learning models are innovations that could help cut fraud and make regulations more enforceable.

To quash fish fraud, the new report advocates for:

harmonised labelling requirements
mandatory inclusion of scientific names where possible
better traceability systems

Adding science to the tacklebox

Given its complexity, identifying the crime is not straightforward, but the report goes into considerable detail about how advances in science can contribute to tackling fraud, including:

A standard method to determine whether and how many times a seafood product has been frozen has so far proven elusive, but differences in the fatty-acid composition of wild and farmed fish may be used to detect fraud
Carbon and nitrogen ratios to determine the geographical origin of major commercial fish species

Netting offenders

Prevention and enforcement are critical to reduce and eventually eliminate fish and all food fraud, according to the report, which reviewed concerted efforts to tackle cases in Argentina, Italy and the United States.

An investigation using DNA-barcoding to assess the scale of mislabelling in Los Angeles, California, found that while it is quite low in processing plants, it is moderate among grocers and particularly prevalent in sushi restaurants.

A local initiative by local academia, industry, government stakeholders – together with an education campaign coupled with ongoing blind tests, reduced seafood mislabelling in the focus area by two thirds over 10 years.

What the UN’s doing

Part of UN ongoing efforts include:

FAO and the Codex Alimentarius Commission – the international food standards body – are working on toughening international standards to combat food fraud
through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, FAO offers technical support to members that need to bolster their testing capacities.

Find out more about what FAO is doing here.

Source link

General Assembly President urges Europeans to ‘stand up’ for the UN

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Arun Kumar N

In a key address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Annalena Baerbock repeated her call to uphold multilateralism amid “trying times” globally.

She noted that just 40 days into 2026, the world has already seen crises around Venezuela, Iran and Greenland, on top of continuing devastation in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere.

International order ‘under attack’

“The international order is not only under pressure, it is under attack,” she told lawmakers.

“And we face a new and more troubling kind of crisis: conflicts waged not even under the pretence of self-defence or respect for international law but often carried out in open defiance of it.”

She warned that at precisely the moment the world most needs cooperation and the UN, “powers – even those who have a special responsibility to protect peace and security – are pulling away from it or even outright attacking it.”

Protect the UN Charter

Ms. Baerbock recalled that four years ago, when she was Germany’s Foreign Minister, she addressed the General Assembly and called for the UN to stand up for Europe’s peace as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“Today, I’m coming as President of the General Assembly to Europe, calling for Europe to stand up for the United Nations because the world needs the UN. But right now, the UN and its principles as enshrined in the Charter, needs the world too,” she said, referring to all continents.

“It needs you to form a cross-regional alliance to protect, defend and champion the Charter and the international rules-based system that benefits us all individually and collectively.”

Defend the truth

First and foremost, the EU must defend the truth in a world where “fake news, falsities, mis- and disinformation” are everywhere.

“Defending the truth means we cannot negotiate the facts; we cannot ‘go along to get along’ in the hope that it will avoid a tariff,” she said.

Ms. Baerbock acknowledged that defending the truth “is easier said than done, especially when you’re faced with blackmail or coercion, or threats and intimidation.”

European unity over Ukraine

She stressed, however, that “no one can do it alone”, highlighting European Union (EU) collective action in this regard.

“Four years ago, Europe watched as 100,000 troops amassed on Ukraine’s borders, shocked into paralysis. Nobody could have imagined the EU, which has been described as ‘too slow and too bureaucratic, too divided’ would unite over a weekend,” she said.

The invasion began on a Thursday and by that Monday morning “the EU collectively passed one of the largest sanctions packages ever recorded because it responded as one, with conviction and purpose.”

‘The world is calling’

But Europe did not act alone as she pointed to late-night calls and pleas made to other countries around the world.

“Today dear colleagues, the world is calling. It’s not only about Greenland, it’s also about Latin America, about Africa. Once again, it’s about the international peace order, once again it’s about the UN Charter,” she said.

“The UN needs Europe and I count on your answer to be a clear and resounding: yes, we will be there for our peace, for the international peace order, for the United Nations.”

Support UN reform

The Assembly President said the UN also needs Europe “to reform it, to make it better, to make it more effective and efficient.” While the 80-year-old Organization is not perfect, she insisted that the world would not be better off without it.

“Imperfection is an opportunity to strengthen and refine, not to cut down and demolish,” said Ms. Baerbock.

“We cannot allow those who would weaponize failings or setbacks to use existing inefficiencies or duplications as justification to unravel all that we have built, nor allow exclusive clubs to hold responsibilities for world peace.”

Lead by example

The UN is also “dealing with an existential liquidity crisis,” with some Member States not paying their assessed contributions – whether late, or not at all, for years.

She noted that UN financial rules further require any “unspent” budgeted money to be returned to Member States, even if it was never received in the first place.

“If the EU wants to preserve and strengthen the UN, then the EU should lead by example,” she said. This includes paying dues on time and in full and proposing ways “to overhaul this Kafkaesque financial rule of reimbursing funds never received”.

Similarly, the EU should step up when it comes to the selection of the next Secretary-General “as one might wonder how in 80 years the UN has never selected a woman to serve its highest office, despite there being four billion potential candidates on Earth.”

Source link