Tag Archives: violence

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

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A new agreement between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces in the country’s northeast is being viewed by the United Nations as a potentially significant step toward stabilising a region long shaped by conflict and competing authorities.

Briefing members of the UN Security Council for the first time in his role as Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone highlighted the ceasefire and integration agreement signed on January 30 between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The arrangement, he said, could mark an important turning point if implemented effectively.

Agreement Aims To Integrate Northeast Syria

The deal outlines a gradual process to integrate the military and administrative structures of northeast Syria with the Syrian state. It also contains provisions aimed at facilitating the return of displaced residents and safeguarding Kurdish cultural and educational rights.

Officials say the framework builds upon earlier government measures, including Presidential Decree 13, which recognised certain linguistic, cultural and citizenship rights for Kurdish communities.

Cordone told the Council that hostilities in the region had largely subsided and that work on implementing the agreement had begun.

Security deployments by Syria’s Ministry of Interior have already taken place in key cities such as Al-Hasakeh and Qamishli, while talks are underway regarding local governance arrangements and political appointments.

The United Nations Secretary-General welcomed the agreement soon after it was announced, urging all sides to move quickly to ensure its full implementation. He emphasised that the deal should guarantee the peaceful integration of the northeast, protect Kurdish rights and enable displaced Syrians to return home voluntarily and safely.

Security Council members echoed that message in a presidential statement this week, describing the deal as a comprehensive step that could help prevent further civilian suffering and reduce risks surrounding detention facilities holding suspected fighters from the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL or Da’esh.

UN Continues Political And Humanitarian Engagement

Alongside political mediation, the United Nations remains heavily involved in humanitarian operations across Syria.

The office of the UN Special Envoy continues to engage with the Syrian government and other political actors in an effort to advance the broader political transition. These discussions include implementing the northeast agreement, encouraging inclusive governance and promoting respect for human rights.

At the same time, UN agencies and partner organisations are delivering food, water, healthcare and shelter to millions of Syrians affected by years of war. Aid teams are also supporting mine clearance operations, restoring damaged infrastructure and helping communities rebuild basic services.

These efforts aim to create conditions that would allow displaced families to return home in safety and dignity.

Security Concerns Persist In Several Regions

Despite the relative calm in parts of the northeast, the situation across Syria remains fragile.

Cordone said the United Nations is closely monitoring the transfer of suspected Islamic State fighters from Syria to Iraq. He stressed that legal proceedings must meet international fair-trial standards and urged countries to repatriate their citizens detained in Syria as quickly as possible.

Elsewhere in the country, tensions continue to flare. In the southern province of Sweida, clashes between government forces and local armed groups have caused damage to infrastructure and triggered electricity outages. Protests calling for greater local autonomy have also resurfaced.

In southern border areas, Israeli military operations and search activities have continued. Reports have also emerged of aerial herbicide spraying damaging farmland. UN officials have called for adherence to international law and urged Israel to withdraw from territories it occupies in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.

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

Displacement And Humanitarian Needs Remain High

Humanitarian conditions remain difficult for many Syrians despite some limited improvements.

According to the UN humanitarian coordination office, recent clashes in the northeast displaced tens of thousands of people. Although many have since returned, around 130,000 individuals remain displaced across the governorates of Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa and Aleppo.

More than 90 percent of those affected are women and girls, many of whom are living in overcrowded camps or staying with host families already facing economic hardship.

Heavy flooding this week in Idlib and northern Latakia further compounded the crisis, killing two children and destroying or damaging around 2,000 tents sheltering displaced families.

Still, aid groups say access to some areas is gradually improving. UN teams have reached around 200,000 people in recent weeks, delivering assistance through more than 170 aid convoys.

Electricity supply has also reportedly resumed in the town of Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobane, following repairs to damaged infrastructure.

Political Transition Moves Forward

Attention is now turning to the next stage in Syria’s political transition: the formation of a new People’s Assembly.

Elections for most seats were held in October 2025, though additional seats, including those representing Raqqa, remain to be filled. Confirmation is still awaited regarding the appointment of 70 members by President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the date of the assembly’s opening session.

Cordone stressed that the success of the transition would depend on meaningful representation from Syria’s diverse communities and regions.

He also underscored the need to address long-standing issues such as the fate of missing persons and mechanisms for transitional justice.

Highlighting the contributions of Syrian women throughout years of conflict, the UN envoy said their participation in politics and civil society would be essential for building a more inclusive and stable future.

He concluded his remarks by praising the resilience of the Syrian people and expressing hope that continued cooperation between Syria and the United Nations would help lay the foundations for lasting peace and recovery.

Political violence against MPs rising worldwide: IPU

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Violence and intimidation against elected lawmakers are rising across the world, increasingly fuelled by online hostility and political polarisation, according to a new report presented at the United Nations.

Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), warned that the growing hostility directed at parliamentarians could have serious consequences for democratic institutions if left unchecked.

“If the phenomenon goes uncontrolled, there will be major implications for democracies, parliaments and human rights worldwide,” he told a UN conference in New York on Wednesday.

Online Abuse Dominates Political Violence

The report, titled When the Public Turns Hostile: Political Violence Against Parliamentarians, draws on responses from lawmakers in 85 countries. It also includes detailed case studies from Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands to examine how the problem manifests in different political environments.

One of the report’s most striking findings is the scale of online abuse faced by politicians. Between 65 percent and 77 percent of members of parliament in the five case-study countries reported experiencing harassment or threats on digital platforms.

The most common forms of intimidation include insults and degrading language, the spread of false or misleading information, and direct threats.

Researchers also found that hostile online behaviour tends to surge during politically sensitive moments, such as national or local elections, heated parliamentary debates or discussions on polarising social and cultural issues.

Women Lawmakers Face Greater Risk

The report highlights a clear gender gap in exposure to political violence.

About 76 percent of women lawmakers reported experiencing some form of abuse, compared with 68 percent of male parliamentarians.

Women are also more likely to face gendered or sexualised harassment, particularly online. Such attacks often include derogatory comments about appearance, threats of sexual violence or attempts to undermine credibility based on gender.

Lawmakers from minority communities, including racial minorities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, are also more frequently targeted by online abuse and harassment.

Social Media And AI Amplifying Hostility

The IPU report identifies several factors contributing to the growing hostility directed at politicians.

Rising political polarisation, economic pressures and public frustration with institutions are all contributing to an increasingly confrontational political climate. Social media platforms, researchers say, often amplify anger and misinformation, making it easier for abusive messages to spread widely.

New technologies are also playing a role. The report notes that artificial intelligence tools and deepfake technology are increasingly being used to create manipulated images or videos aimed at discrediting political figures.

Italian MP Valentina Grippo, who is part of the European delegation to the IPU, said lawmakers now face constant scrutiny and criticism in the digital age.

“If you say something that is not perfectly in line with what your audience wants to hear, then you have multiple attacks,” she said in an interview with UN News.

Grippo added that political debate is increasingly shifting away from policy disagreements toward identity-based conflicts.

“You no more have the confrontation between ideas, which is normal, which is part of politics, but you really have a fight between identities,” she said.

Anonymous Users Often Behind Attacks

According to the survey, most incidents of political intimidation are carried out by individuals rather than organised groups.

In the online sphere, anonymous users were identified as the main perpetrators in several countries. Nearly nine out of ten lawmakers surveyed in Argentina, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands said anonymous accounts were responsible for most abusive messages.

Chungong said the effects of sustained online harassment often extend beyond digital platforms.

“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,” he said.

Threats To Democratic Participation

The IPU warns that increasing hostility toward politicians could weaken democratic systems over time.

Many lawmakers reported altering their behaviour to avoid attacks, including limiting public appearances, avoiding controversial topics or self-censoring their views.

Some politicians have also chosen to leave office or decided not to seek re-election because of sustained threats and harassment.

These trends, the report says, could discourage diverse groups from entering politics and ultimately undermine representative democracy.

“It makes it more difficult to somehow be able to deliver a message without fearing that it is misunderstood,” Grippo said, noting that in many parts of the world political expression still carries serious personal risks.

Call For Stronger Political Leadership

The report urges political leaders and parliamentary institutions to set clearer boundaries around acceptable public discourse and to respond more firmly to intimidation directed at elected officials.

It stresses that protecting lawmakers from threats is essential to ensuring that dissenting voices and minority perspectives are not silenced.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union, founded in 1889, is the global organisation representing national parliaments. Today it brings together 183 member parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies, working to promote democracy, peace and sustainable development while defending the rights of parliamentarians worldwide.

UN rights chief denounces ‘glorification of violence’ and attack on rule of law

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“No one is safe when human rights are under attack,” Mr. Türk told the Human Rights Council, warning that the rules of war “are being shredded”.

“Some States are becoming an extension of their ruler’s personal power,” he insisted.

In his customary address to the UN’s top rights forum at the beginning of a new session in Geneva, the High Commissioner for Human Rights decried that “pro-war propaganda is everywhere”, from military parades to “ramped-up rhetoric” from leaders.

“Sadly, there are no peace parades or ministries of peace, he stressed, while calling for countries to stand firm against the growing “erosion” of international law.

The High Commissioner also defended the importance of standing behind multilateral accords as “the foundation of peace, our global order and our daily lives, from trade rules to the global internet, to our fundamental rights”.

World order at risk

Today, governments “are disregarding, disrespecting and disengaging” the existing rules-based world order that was established after 1945 to prevent another world war, the UN rights chief insisted, in a call for accountability.

The danger is that when States ignore violations of the law, “they become normalised,” Mr. Türk said. “When States apply the law inconsistently, they undermine the legal order everywhere. It is time for States to wake up and to act.”

Condemning the continued illegal detention of United Nations staff in Yemen as a “direct attack on the UN system”, Mr. Türk also called the United States’ withdrawal “from the Paris Agreement and from global bodies, including this Council…deeply regrettable”, noting that other States were following suit.

The High Commissioner also warned of the negative consequences of the decision by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to leave the Ottowa Treaty on land mines, while identifying the “new trend of disparaging” the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which all countries had agreed to a decade ago.

An A to Z of rights concerns

As is usual at the start of Council sessions, the High Commissioner highlighted situations of concern around the world, from Afghanistan – where the “erasure” of women and girls from public life “is almost complete” – to Haiti which is “plunging deeper into lawlessness; Nigeria, which is seeing a resurgence of Boko Haram extremism; and Syria – whose transition to peace remains “fragile”.

In Ukraine, following the largest drone assault of the conflict, Russia’s full-scale invasion “has turned even more deadly”.

In Sudan, besieged El Fasher is under constant bombardment and the risk of further atrocities remains, Mr. Türk said, while in Myanmar, four years since the military coup, people remain caught up in “a harrowing human rights calamity”.

Turning to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, “damning evidence” indicates continued “grave violations and abuses” by all parties to the conflict, the High Commissioner continued, while Gaza is now a “graveyard”, amid Israel’s “mass killing” of Palestinian civilians.

Where are steps to stop Gaza genocide?

“We are failing the people of Gaza…Where are the decisive steps to prevent genocide?” he asked. “Why are countries not doing more to avert atrocity crimes? They must stop the flow to Israel of arms that risk violating the laws of war.”

The Human Rights Council meets in three scheduled sessions every year at UN Geneva. 

Continuing his tour d’horizon of country situations of concern in addition to thematic issues, Mr. Türk maintained that progress sought by his office, OHCHR, to protect the rights of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in China has “yet to materialise”.

In West Africa, meanwhile, restrictions on LGBTQ+ people are growing in some countries considering criminalising consensual same-sex relations, the High Commissioner said, just as the rights of migrants and refugees are being increasingly violated.

Asylum alert

“Iran and Pakistan have forcibly returned millions of Afghans to their country and India has also deported groups of Rohingya Muslims by land and sea,” he insisted.

Similarly, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and other European countries “have also sought to limit the right to seek asylum”, Mr. Türk insisted. He took note of concerns about the United States’ reported agreement with El Salvador, South Sudan, Eswatini, Rwanda and others, to deport third country nationals, and underlined Kuwait’s decision to revoke citizenship for thousands of people in recent years, “leaving many stateless”. 

Poll appeal

On imminent national elections across Africa, Mr. Türk also cited serious concerns over polling preparations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda.

“In many of these countries, the authorities are resorting to harassment, exclusion or detention of opposition leaders; restrictions on media freedom; bans on peaceful protest; and crackdowns on human rights defenders,” he said.

The UN rights chief also urged the Ethiopian authorities to ensure conditions for free, fair and inclusive elections, amid concerns about arbitrary detentions of journalists.

As part of the UN’s efforts to improve and promote human rights everywhere, Mr. Türk urged all countries to do more so that “every child – whether a future farmer, digital worker, doctor or shopkeeper” understands that human rights “are our birthright”.

He added: “The vast majority of people around the world are crying out for human rights and freedoms…No one is safe when human rights are under attack. Abuses committed against one group are always part of a broader pattern of oppression and lead to the wider erosion of fundamental freedoms”.

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Syria: Violence in Alawite areas may be war crimes, say rights investigators

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Many of the victims were Alawite, a minority community in Syria, which the former ruling Assad family belonged to.  

Some community members are believed to have been killed in March by forces or individuals loyal to the country’s new leadership, the National Transitional Authority, which is headed by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.

In response to the “arrest operation” launched on 6 March, fighters loyal to toppled President Bashar al-Assad responded by capturing, killing and injuring hundreds of interim government forces, the commissioners said.

Looting was also widespread, while homes were set alight, leaving tens of thousands of civilians displaced, the commissioners continued.

In total, approximately 1,400 people were reported killed in the ensuing massacres, predominantly civilians.

“The vast majority were adult men, but victims included approximately 100 women, the elderly and the disabled, as well as children,” the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said.

Still a target

It also warned that the Alawite community which formed former Mr. al-Assad’s power base is still being targeted today. Alawites make up about 10 per cent of the majority Sunni country. 

According to the commissioners’ latest report, the victims killed in March were murdered and tortured, while the bodies of the dead were also mutilated.

They added that some acts were filmed and published on social media, along with footage of civilians being abused and humiliated.

Chair of the UN panel, Paulo Pinheiro, condemned the scale and brutality of the violence which reportedly involved Alawite men being identified and singled out before being led away to be shot and killed in multiple majority Alawite villages and neighbourhoods.    

“Bodies were left in the streets for days, with families prevented from conducting burials in accordance with religious rites, while others were buried in mass graves without proper documentation,” the commissioners’ report stated.

Meanwhile, hospitals became overwhelmed “as corpses piled up”.

Eye-witnesses

The Commission’s latest report is based on extensive investigations, including more than 200 interviews with victims and witnesses, including in Latakia and Tartus.  

The investigators also visited three mass grave sites and met senior Syrian government officials.

Today, Alawite communities still live in fear and face ongoing abductions of women, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and looting and occupation of their property, investigators noted.  

Protection must be a priority

They should be protected by the new authorities in charge of Syria, commissioners insisted.  

“The affected communities need to see urgent action to increase their protection. Beyond referral of suspected perpetrators to criminal justice, individuals suspected of involvement in violations during the March events should be immediately removed from active duties pending investigation,” said Commissioner Lynn Welchman.

Additionally, screening processes need to be expanded so that known or suspected perpetrators of grave violations in the past are not recruited into the ranks of the interim government security forces, she maintained.

After 14 years of civil war which ended last December when opposition forces including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – led by interim Prsident al-Sharaa – the  swept into Damascus, forcing out Mr. al-Assad, lasting damage has been done to Syria’s unity.

“The extreme violence that occurred has deepened existing rifts between communities, contributing to a climate of fear and insecurity amongst many Syrians throughout the country,” the Commissioners said.

“We call on the interim authorities to continue to pursue accountability for all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation or rank,” Mr. Pinheiro continued. “While dozens of alleged perpetrators of violations have reportedly since been arrested, the scale of the violence documented in our report warrants expanding such efforts.”  

Syria: Ceasefire under strain as violence and aid access issues persist in Sweida

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The 19 July truce followed weeks of sectarian clashes, Israeli airstrikes and grave human rights violations in the southern governorate, also known as As-Sweida.

As a result, more than 190,000 people have been displaced there and in neighbouring Dar’a and Rural Damascus governorates.

The fighting also caused severe damage to infrastructure and to livelihoods.  Electricity networks, water production assets including wells, and key public facilities were impacted.

Volatility, surveillance and demonstrations

Between 1 and 5 August, the security situation in Sweida and surrounding areas remained volatile, with clashes reported in three places, according to the OCHA flash update.

“Additionally, aerial surveillance activity attributed to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has been observed over multiple locations in Dar’a and As-Sweida, contributing to regional tension,” the agency said.

During the same period, public demonstrations occurred across multiple locations in Sweida, reiterating calls for improved humanitarian access and protection.

Parallel demonstrations also took place in Dar’a and Damascus governorates which emphasised the importance of national unity. 

Aid efforts continue

Humanitarian access remains constrained, OCHA said, as the UN and partners continue to support response efforts.  

The main highway between Sweida and the capital, Damascus, has been inaccessible since 12 July due to security concerns. 

Furthermore, the southern corridor via Busra Esh-Sham in eastern Dar’a was temporarily closed for 24 hours but reopened on Monday, affecting aid delivery.

“Humanitarian actors scaled up response efforts, including fuel and food deliveries to As-Sweida and Dar’a, commercial convoy facilitation, and shelter support for displaced populations,” OCHA said.

Inter-agency mission

Since the escalation of hostilities, humanitarians have provided bread assistance to nearly 1.5 million people.

OCHA also led an inter-agency mission to Dar’a to assess shelter conditions and to discuss medium-term housing options for displaced people.

Meanwhile, restoration of essential services is ongoing in Sweida, with partial electricity restored through emergency repairs.  

However widespread telecommunication and internet outages persist across the governorate, and maintenance of water and power networks continues in rural areas. 

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Violence in northern Mozambique forces thousands to flee, straining aid efforts

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The displacement is the latest consequence of a cascade of overlapping emergencies in the country – including armed violence, climate shocks, disease outbreaks and a severe funding shortfall. Since January, over 95,000 people have fled insecurity in Cabo Delgado and humanitarian access is becoming increasingly fragile.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), attacks by armed groups between 20 and 28 July triggered the displacement of at least 46,667 people across the districts of Chiúre, Ancuabe and Muidumbe.

Chiúre was the hardest hit, with more than 42,000 people uprooted – over half of them children.

“Insecurity persists, and people on the move often lack civil documentation,” OCHA said in a humanitarian bulletin on Saturday. “These challenges may impact the ability of displaced people to move freely, safely access basic services and maintain their livelihoods.”

Children separated from families

Attacks in Chiúre Velho, Ocua and Mazeze have driven families to Chiúre Sede, where they are sheltering in overcrowded conditions in the neighbourhoods of Bairro Micone and Bairro Namicir. Reports indicate a high number of unaccompanied or separated children.

Food, shelter and essential non-food items are reported as the most urgent needs, according to humanitarian partners.

The security situation in Ancuabe district also deteriorated rapidly. According to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of displaced families nearly tripled in one week, reaching 444 households (1,946 people), including over 1,200 children. The violence forced residents of Nanduli village to seek refuge in Chiote and Ancuabe Sede.

In Muidumbe, fighters reportedly torched homes in Magaia village and opened fire near Mungue. Nearly 500 families fled to nearby displacement sites, where humanitarian access remains limited.

Protection concerns, limited funding

OCHA stressed that under international law, civilians must be allowed to seek safety and freely choose their destination. But insecurity, lack of documentation and involuntary relocations are compounding protection risks.

At the same time, the aid response remains severely underfunded.

As of July, only 19 per cent of Mozambique’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded. Of the $352 million requested, just $66 million has been received – forcing agencies to reduce their response targets by over 70 per cent. They now aim to assist only 317,000 people, down from the target of 1.1 million at the start of the year.

“Urgent and sustained funding is essential to prevent further deterioration and address the escalating humanitarian needs that remain as acute and widespread as ever,” the OCHA report warned.

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World News in Brief: Violence in Somalia, cholera in Haiti, tax support for sustainable development

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Clashes intensified in the town of Mahas in the Hiraan region, Hirshabelle state, on 26 July forcing the entire population – over 28,000 people – to flee their homes. 

Another 38,000 people were displaced in the Gedo region, Jubaland state, between 23 and 26 July, some of whom crossed into Kenya. 

Security concerns have forced seven health facilities in the Hiraan region to suspend operations, leaving thousands of people without essential healthcare and emergency services. Humanitarian access also has been restricted, particularly in areas that were already hard to reach.  

OCHA noted that only a limited number of aid partners are able to operate in these locations given the insecurity as well as financial constraints. Meanwhile, affected communities urgently need shelter, food, clean water, healthcare and protection. 

The situation is unfolding as aid agencies grapple with severe funding cuts. A $1.4 billion humanitarian plan for Somalia this year is around 16 per cent funded, with $229 million received to date.

Cholera haunts displaced families in Haiti

Cholera continues to impact the fragile public health system in Haiti, particularly in sites hosting displaced people where there is limited access to safe water and sanitation.

The Caribbean country is confronting multiple political, security and socio-economic crises, including rampant gang activity mainly in the capital, Port-au-Prince.  

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) said that between 13 and 19 July, 34 new suspected cholera cases were reported across six of the nation’s 10 departments. Most were linked to displacement sites. 

Five active transmission hotspots have been identified, including in Port-au-Prince and in the northern regions. 

Since December 2024, over 2,800 suspected cholera cases have been recorded across Haiti, with 91 laboratory-confirmed cases and 36 fatalities. 

Despite funding shortfalls, UN humanitarian partners continue to carry out key cholera prevention and response activities. 

Families in Artibonite department received water purification tablets and oral rehydration salt, for example, while partners in central Haiti have installed handwashing stations and scaled up community outreach. 

Experts to help countries create tax policies that advance sustainable development

Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed 25 experts to a UN committee to help countries design tax policies that advance their social, environmental and economic development objectives. 

The UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters supports governments in navigating complex policy trade-offs.  Its work provides countries with practical options and tools based on real-world experiences from tax systems across the globe. 

The 25 experts, who will serve for the 2025-2029 term, have diverse expertise in tax policy design and administration, as well as international tax cooperation. 

They represent various geographical regions and tax systems, and the majority are women, reflecting the UN’s commitment to strengthening inclusivity in tax leadership. 

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Syria: Deadly sectarian violence displaces thousands in Sweida; healthcare attacked

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Since 13 July, around 176,000 people have been displaced from Sweida,  according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Mostly migrating to neighbouring Dar’a and Rural Damascus governorates, civilians are fleeing violent clashes between Bedouin tribal fighters, Syrian caretaker government forces and Druze militias.

Meanwhile in the north of the country, local authorities reported that a large explosion struck an ammunition depot in Ma’arrat Tasmarin, in Idleb Governorate, on Thursday, reportedly killing six people and injuring at least 140 others.

Although Syrian Civil Defense teams attempted to evacuate people and transfer the injured for medical care, secondary explosions in the vicinity significantly hindered emergency response efforts.

Attacks on healthcare

In Sweida, health facilities are under immense strain, with staff operating in extremely difficult conditions, while access to healthcare remains a challenge.

As WHO confirmed five attacks on healthcare, including the killing of at least two doctors, the organization also reported on the obstructions to and targeting of ambulances as well as the temporary occupation of hospitals.

“We know healthcare must never be a target. In fact, health facilities, patients and health workers must be actively protected,” said Dr. Christina Bethke, WHO acting representative in Syria, speaking from Damascus to journalists at the UN in Geneva on Friday.

Dr. Bethke said that Sweida’s hospitals are facing shortages of staff, electricity, water, and basic supplies, with the morgue at the city’s main hospital reaching capacity earlier this week.

“Ensuring that doctors, nurses and supplies can reach people safely is not just vital for saving lives, it is a responsibility under international law that all sides must uphold,” Dr. Bethke said.

Limited access

As different groups control different pathways, poor security conditions are restricting access to Sweida, limiting the ability of the UN and partners to deliver aid to those affected by the violence.

While access to the city remains limited, WHO has been able to deliver vital supplies to health facilities in Dar’a and Damascus governorates, including trauma supplies, essential medicine and hospital support.

In response to rising violence both in Sweida and in the north, UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula  launched an extension of the 2025 humanitarian appeal, which is currently less than 12 per cent funded. 

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Haiti: Violence and displacement driving humanitarian crisis as funding needs go unmet

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Nearly 1.3 million people in the Caribbean country have fled their homes, with an additional 15,000 uprooted last week after armed attacks in the communes of Dessalines and Verrettes in the Artibonite department.

Further, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have screened more than 217,000 children for acute malnutrition in 2025. Some 21,500 children have been admitted for acute malnutrition treatment, representing a mere 17 per cent of the 129,000 children who are projected to need lifesaving services this year.  

This malnutrition stems from severe food insecurity across the country. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that an estimated 5.7 million people – more than half of Haiti’s population – faced high levels of acute food insecurity between March and June this year.  

Education emergency

Haiti’s children also face an education emergency. More than 1,600 schools remain closed in Haiti, an increase of over two thirds compared to the start of the year.  

“Without access to education, children, of course, are more vulnerable to exploitation and recruitment by gangs,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at Headquarters in New York

In response, UNICEF has provided learning opportunities to more than 16,000 children, and the agency has given over 100,000 children mental health and psychosocial support.      

Insecurity and lack of funds straining access

Despite dire humanitarian needs and commendable efforts by UN agencies, the current support “is just a fraction of what is needed in Haiti”, Mr. Dujarric emphasised.

Insecurity continues to constrain the humanitarian response, causing access challenges, supply shortages and the closure of health facilities.

Subsequently, the many displaced families in urgent need of hygiene supplies, food, emergency shelter, medical assistance and other essential items are often unable to access them.  

Humanitarian response is also hampered by a severe lack of funds.

“Haiti remains, as I have said here many times, the least funded of our underfunded country appeals globally,” Mr. Dujarric stressed. More than halfway through the year, the Haitian humanitarian response plan has received less than 9 per cent of the $908 million required.  

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Syria: Ongoing violence fuelling mass displacement in Sweida

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More than 93,000 Syrians have been displaced across Sweida, neighbouring Dar’a governorate and Rural Damascus due to escalating violence in the city,  UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at Monday’s daily press briefing in New York.

Most displaced people in Sweida are staying with local communities or in one of 15 reception centres, while around 30 collective shelters have opened in Dar’a.

Infrastructure and services are suffering in the area. Some hospitals and health centres in Sweida are out of service, water infrastructure has been critically damaged, significant cuts to electricity have been reported, and access to food is disrupted.

Initial aid delivery

On Sunday, the first aid convoy deployed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent reached Sweida and the Salkhad district within the city, where most displaced people are seeking safety.  

The convoy of 32 trucks carried food, water, medical supplies and fuel provided by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed this initial delivery on social media, saying it was a “desperately needed first step, but much more relief is needed.”  

Mr. Dujarric stressed that as the UN engages with relevant parties to facilitate humanitarian access and ensure the protection of civilians, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is working with authorities to facilitate a direct visit to Sweida to deliver assistance when security conditions allow.  

Mr. Fletcher echoed this sentiment, saying OCHA teams “are mobilised to move as much as we can.”

“We continue to urge all parties to protect people who have been caught up in the violence, including by allowing them to move freely to seek safety and medical assistance,” concluded Mr. Dujarric.

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Desks become beds as Haitian school shelters people displaced by violence

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The classrooms at Anténor Firmin school in Hinche in central Haiti are no longer studiously quiet.

Once a place of learning, it now echoes with the sounds of babies crying, water containers clanking, and voices murmuring through the night.

Over 700 people displaced by violence are crammed into the crumbling compound, sleeping on floors where children once solved math problems.

Among them is Edens Désir, a former teacher, who continues to believe that education should be the key to a more prosperous and peaceful future for this beleaguered Caribbean Island nation.

Edens Désir teaches a class at Anténor Firmin school.

A trained accountant and former secondary-school teacher, his life was upended by the violent clashes that erupted in March 2025 in Saut-d’Eau and Mirebalais, two small towns south of Hinche.

Like 6,000 others, he fled massacres, rape, arson, and looting.

“Everything I built, little by little, was destroyed,” he said. “I walked away with nothing.”

Warring gangs have long controlled most of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, some 30 miles (48 km) away.

It is only recently that their sphere of influence has moved to more the more rural areas of Centre department where, Hinche and Saut-d’Eau are located.

Edens Désir, found refuge in the school where he once studied, a place now stripped of its purpose. Desks have become beds. Classrooms have turned into shelters. Families lie packed into rooms never meant to house them.

A classroom at Anténor Firmin school in Hinche now serves as both a shelter and an informal learning space for displaced children.

Even in these crowded rooms, he found a way to start over. Not for himself, but for the children around him. With a whiteboard, a marker, and quiet determination, he has brought a sense of purpose to lives that have been thrown off course.

“Ever since I was a kid, I loved teaching,” he explained. “It’s what matters most to me. I’d rather be in front of a class than sitting around doing nothing. For these kids, school is the only real chance they’ve got.”

Living in limbo

Once on the verge of expanding a small business, Mr. Désir now lives in limbo. “That plan is gone. Violence made sure of it. My only option now is to leave and try to start over somewhere else. But as long as I’m here, I will keep sharing what I know.”

These days, he takes life one day at a time. “I can’t make plans anymore,” he said. “Each day, I just figure things out as they come. Each night, I wonder if there will be food tomorrow.”

Clean water is scarce. Long queues stretch at distribution points, where women and children wait patiently, balancing heavy containers.

Hygiene conditions are dire. With few latrines and showers available, hundreds are left without privacy or sanitation. The health risks are growing, especially for the most vulnerable.

Food is just as uncertain. “There are nights I go to sleep without eating,” he says. “But I keep teaching because the kids are here.”

IOM staff and a civil protection agent asses the needs of displaced people

Delivering aid to the displaced is no easy task. The main road between Port-au-Prince and Hinche remains blocked by insecurity, cutting off supply routes and isolating entire communities.

Despite the hurdles, the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reached over 800 families across 17 displacement sites, providing emergency items such as shelter kits, blankets, kitchen sets, and jerrycans.

IOM teams continue working directly with displaced families, host communities, and local authorities to assess needs and provide relief.

Site committees and civil protection teams are being trained to better manage the shelters. The most fragile sites are being relocated to safer areas and mental health support is offered to those affected by the violence.

Protect the vulnerable

These efforts aim to protect the most vulnerable, especially children, from a crisis they did not choose but are now forced to navigate.

Edens Désir believes that knowledge is the best defence against dehumanization. When violence tears everything apart, forcing children into displacement, splitting families, and cutting off access to education, teaching becomes an act of resistance.

Even when the days feel heavy, he keeps showing up for the children who still believe in him.

“If we want things to change, we need people who grow into better citizens,” he said. “I don’t know if what I’m doing is enough to make that happen, but it gives me purpose. It breaks my heart to know that one day I’ll have to leave them behind and look for a better future.”

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World News in Brief: Violence in Haiti, rising insecurity in DR Congo, expert panel on nuclear war

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Displaced Haitians are dispersed among the 250 active displacement sites across the country, most of which are informal. Just over a fifth of these sites are managed by humanitarian organizations, meaning that many are living in precarious conditions.  

In June alone, more than 200 alerts were reported across displacement sites, over 80 per cent of which were related to essential needs such as lack of water, food, shelter or healthcare.

OCHA noted that nearly 1.3 million people are now internally displaced in Haiti, the highest number ever recorded in the country due to violence.

Constrained UN response

The UN and partners have supported more than 113,000 displaced Haitians this year, providing essential services such as water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare.

The humanitarian response is severely constrained by limited funding and persistent insecurity, hampering humanitarian access to the most affected areas and delaying the delivery of aid. 

Despite the challenges, the agency continues to work closely with Haitian authorities and humanitarian partners to coordinate relief efforts and mobilise additional resources to support displaced communities. 

DR Congo: Ongoing violence in the east drives displacement, impedes aid delivery

Ongoing violence in North and South Kivu provinces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to claim the lives of civilians and to trigger new displacement. 

In North Kivu, UN partners on the ground in Rutshuru and Lubero territories reported that fighting between M23 and other armed groups was ongoing until Tuesday, resulting in eight civilian deaths and 42,500 displaced people as of earlier this week. 

Since early July, heavy clashes between M23 and other armed groups in South Kivu have also persisted, as local partners said the fighting has displaced at least 37,000 people from their homes. 

Aid access restrictions 

The surge in violence is making it harder for humanitarians to deliver assistance to vulnerable communities. 

While partners and teams on the ground are doing their best to maintain services for those affected, access restrictions and severe funding shortages pose significant obstacles. 

A humanitarian convoy coordinated by OCHA along the road between the provincial capital Bukavu and the city of Uvira, primarily planned for this Friday, has been postponed due to a lack of security guarantees on that route. 

Many UN partners on the ground are forced to scale back their operations, disrupting essential services for those in need. 

OCHA called on the international community to take urgent action to address these severe funding gaps and avert a humanitarian tragedy. 

New panel to examine the effects of a nuclear war

The UN Secretary-General has appointed an independent scientific panel of 21 experts to examine the physical and societal consequences of a nuclear war on a local, regional and planetary scale in the days, weeks and decades following such an event.

The creation of the panel, mandated by a General Assembly resolution, comes at a time when nuclear guardrails are being eroded and “the risk of nuclear war is higher than at any point since the depths of the Cold War,” UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Friday during the daily media briefing from Headquarters in New York. 

The panelists will seek input from a wide range of stakeholders – including international and regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), civil society and affected communities. 

Members will hold their first meeting in September and will submit a final report to the General Assembly in 2027. 

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Syria crisis: Hundreds killed in ongoing violence, hospitals overwhelmed

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Briefing reporters in Geneva, UN human rights office, OHCHR, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani highlighted “credible” reports of “widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and looting of homes” in the city of Sweida.

“Among the reported perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim authorities, as well as other armed elements from the area, including the Druze and Bedouin,” she said.

Many hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of injured, the UN refugee agency UNHCR also noted.

Forced to flee

On Friday morning, OHCHR colleagues reported that clashes were continuing and that “a lot of people are trying to flee or have fled the area”, Ms. Shamdasani continued.

Latest updates from the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office, OCHA, on Thursday indicated that nearly 2,000 families had been displaced from areas affected by the fighting.

Hundreds have reportedly been killed since sectarian violence involving the Druze and Bedouin communities erupted on 12 July, triggering an intervention by Syrian security forces.

OHCHR’s Ms. Shamdasani highlighted an incident on 15 July in which at least 13 people were killed when “armed individuals affiliated with the interim authorities deliberately opened fire at a family gathering”.

Briefing an emergency meeting of the Security Council in New York on Thursday, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari also referenced reports of “civilians, religious figures and detainees being subjected to extrajudicial executions and humiliating and degrading treatment”. He urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Rumours and fact-checking

Ms. Shamdasani stressed that the UN human rights office has been trying to verify the information through “contacts on the ground…families of people who were killed, eyewitnesses”, but that obtaining reliable estimates of the death toll remains challenging.

“There are lots of videos circulating,” she said. “Some claim to be fighters who are in the area filming the abuses and violations they’re carrying out. We are trying to verify some of these videos, but there’s a lot of disinformation out there and a lot of it is being used to incite further violence to inflame tensions.”

The OHCHR spokesperson also expressed concern about reports of civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s airstrikes on Sweida, Dara’a and central Damascus.

“Attacks such as the one on Damascus on Wednesday pose great risks to civilians and civilian objects,” she warned, calling for the strikes to cease.

Israel had launched the strikes pledging to protect the Druze community.

The violence and displacement have sparked “considerable” humanitarian needs, with the health and aid systems struggling to keep up, said William Spindler of the UN refugee agency UNCHR.

“Many of the hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have been injured in the recent fighting,” he said.

According to OCHA, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched enough trauma and emergency surgery kits for 1,750 interventions to the area, but many “remain undelivered due to access constraints”.

Since the displaced had to flee at very short notice, they are in desperate need of essentials – blankets, jerry cans, solar lamps – but providing these items has been a challenge.

Too risky to enter

“We have this in stock and we are ready to deliver them as soon as the security allows it,” Mr. Spindler said. “For now, this has not been possible.”

Mr. Spindler also warned of water shortages due to electricity outages. He said that people are unable to buy bottled water or food because of the insecurity.

UNHCR has an office in rural Sweida and Mr. Spindler expressed concern about the impact of the hostilities on the agency’s operations, infrastructure and personnel.

“We know that humanitarian infrastructure has been affected,” he said, describing an incident on 15 July in which a warehouse of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was severely damaged by shelling.

The UNHCR spokesperson called on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian premises, personnel and assets “in accordance with international humanitarian law”.

World News in Brief: violence spurs displacement in Syria, Israeli forces cross the Blue Line in Lebanon, mall fire kills dozens in Iraq

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As of Thursday, nearly 2,000 families have been displaced from violence-affected areas in Sweida governate and are currently sheltering in a dozen collective sites. Many are unable to return home due to damage, looting or destruction of their homes.

The health systems in Sweida and neighbouring Dar’a governorate remain under critical strain, operating without power and facing severe supply shortages. Reports also suggest that at least two doctors were killed in the recent clashes, and some armed groups have occupied health facilities, putting patients and staff at risk.

Mobilisation amid constrained access

The UN and its partners are mobilising humanitarian assistance as security allows and working with authorities to facilitate access.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched 35 trauma and emergency surgery kits for 1,750 interventions, but many remain undelivered because of constrained access.  

“We urge all parties to protect people caught up in the violence, including by allowing them to move freely to seek safety and medical assistance,” said Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stephanie Tremblay at Thursday’s daily press briefing in New York.

She also stressed that security forces must respect applicable international law, norms and standards throughout their operations.

Lebanon: UN peacekeepers observe unauthorised Israeli activities  

Ms. Tremblay also reported that peacekeepers at the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continue to observe Israeli military activities in its area of operations.

On 16 July, Israeli soldiers crossed north of the Blue Line to conduct military exercises.  

UNIFIL peacekeepers have also heard several explosions, including one on 17 July near the Mission Headquarters in Naqoura.  

The “blue helmets” have additionally discovered unauthorized weapons and ammunition caches at one site, rocket launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds and ammunition boxes.  

Commitment to Lebanon

In response to recent observations the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Diodato Abagnara, met with the Lebanese Army’s South Litani Sector Commander Brigadier General Nicolas Tabet in Tyre on 17 July.  

“Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert and General Abagnara underlined our commitment to supporting the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, including strengthening State authority and helping restore stability in southern Lebanon,” Ms. Tremblay said.

As part of UNIFIL’s support, peacekeepers trained with Lebanese Armed Forces personnel in Tyre on 16 July, enhancing the operational competency of the Lebanese Army personnel.

Fire in Iraqi shopping mall

The United Nations has expressed condolences to the families of the victims of a tragic fire in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut on Wednesday.

According to news reports, the fire tore through the shopping centre – which opened only a week ago – leaving at least 61 people dead.  

“We express our strong solidarity with the people of Wasit Governorate in this profound loss,” Ms. Tremblay said.  

She also emphasised that the UN and its partners are ready to provide humanitarian assistance to help mitigate the tragedy’s impact.

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Syria: UN chief urges de-escalation as Sweida violence escalates, Israel strikes Damascus

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News reports estimate that the sectarian violence in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, south of the capital, has killed more than 200.

Israel explained its attacks in the heart of the capital and on pro-government forces in Sweida as a defensive move in support of the Druze community, which has a significant presence within Israel and in the Israeli-occupied Golan.  

The strikes on the defence ministry in Damascus also hit an area near the presidential palace, according to news reports and Syrian authorities.

Pledging to protect the Druze minority but also following up on its threat to attack any Syrian military operations taking place south of the capital, Israel said it would intensify strikes if government forces did not withdraw from the region, according to news reports.

Syrians ‘robbed’ of opportunity for peace

“The Secretary-General is alarmed by the continued escalation of violence in Sweida” and “unequivocally condemns all violence against civilians,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on Wednesday.  

It was the second day in a row that the UN chief has intervened to highlight the increasing civilian toll and “reports of arbitrary killings and acts that fan the flames of sectarian tensions and rob the people of Syria of their opportunity for peace.”  

Mr. Guterres further condemned Israel’s “escalatory airstrikes” on Sweida, Daraa and central Damascus, together with “reports of the IDF’s redeployment of forces in the Golan,” the highly-contested mountainous region along the border of the two countries. 

The UN also called on Israel to cease any violations of Syria’s sovereignty and respect for the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. 

The UN chief also reiterated the need to support “a credible, orderly and inclusive political transition in Syria in line with the key principles of Security Council Resolution 2254.”

Extending his condolences to the people of Syria, the Secretary-General reiterated his call for an immediate de-escalation of violence measures to facilitate humanitarian access.  

Civilians in peril

Mr. Dujarric said UN humanitarians were warning that “the deadly hostilities continue to put civilians at risk, with ongoing reports of significant displacement and damage to critical infrastructure, including water, electricity and telecommunications networks,” Mr. Dujarric said.  

Access to Sweida and the impacted areas remains severely constrained due to insecurity and road closures, and civilians are unable to reach shelters.  

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, said that the UN and its humanitarian partners plan to assess the needs and provide essential assistance in Sweida as soon as conditions allow.

Mr. Dujarric underscored that medical services in Sweida and the neighbouring Daraa Governorate are overstretched and hospitals are almost at capacity.  

While the World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched emergency medical supplies to Daraa, deliveries to Sweida have yet to get through due to the fighting. 

Displacement, poverty and insecurity fueling violence against women in Gaza

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In the past three months, a third of Gaza’s population (714,000 people) have been forced to move once again, separating families and dismantling local support systems.

Women and girls are bearing a heavy burden, fearing for their lives on the streets – at delivery points, and in overcrowded, makeshift shelters that lack privacy and security – as many sleep in the open.

“Women have experienced immense loss, including the death or imprisonment of relatives. Looking for water, living without any privacy, and constantly worrying – it’s exhausting,” one case worker told UNFPA.  

Many young girls are also being pushed into child labour and forced marriage in efforts to cope with devastating hunger.

Suhair who works at a safe space for women and girls in Gaza’s central Deir El-Balah Governorate.

Safe spaces in big demand

In response to this crisis, on Wednesday, UNFPA reported a sharp increase in victims seeking help at their safe spaces, which provide shelter and psychological support.

However, according to the women working there – many of whom are also displaced, conditions are extremely difficult, and there are far too few facilities for the number of women and children in need, making it difficult to reach those most at risk.

For instance, displacement orders have disrupted services and caused providers to lose essential equipment and files, forcing them to restart operations from scratch.  

Even as staff receive accounts of abuse, incidents remain vastly underreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation, and the collapse of health and justice systems.

“Despite all the difficulties, I continue to support abused women and girls,” said Asmaa, who works at a UNFPA-supported safe space in Gaza and has been displaced ten times since the war began.

Severe supply and fuel shortages

Fuel shortages are crippling critical infrastructure across Gaza. The UN has warned that humanitarian operations may collapse entirely, and an estimated 80 per cent of health facilities are expected to run out of fuel in the coming days.

As UNFPA attempts to shift to remote support, fuel shortages have triggered telecommunications blackouts, cut off survivor hotlines and made remote assistance largely inaccessible.

Since the blockade was imposed on 7 March, no agency supplies have entered Gaza, leaving essential items such as menstrual hygiene kits severely depleted.

Due to these shortages, three UNFPA safe spaces have closed, while the remaining 14 are functioning at severely limited capacity.

Despite the many challenges, the reproductive health agency and its case workers continue to try their best to help women and girls. “We feel the urgent needs of women and recognise the importance of supporting them. A small effort can make a big difference in their lives,” one caseworker stressed.

© UNFPA/Women’s Affairs Centre

Salma, left, is a mother of four and gender-based violence case manager in Khan Younis.

 

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World News in Brief: Inter-ethnic violence in Syria, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, global information security

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The violence erupted two days after a Druze merchant was abducted on the highway to Damascus.

The incident marks the latest episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, where fears among minority groups have surged since Islamist rebels toppled former dictator Bashar al-Assad in December and installed a new caretaker Government, which is gaining increasing international recognition.

Those targeted include the Druze sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam.  

UN voices ‘deep concern’

On Monday, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Najat Rochdi, expressed “deep concern” over these reports and urged authorities and stakeholders to “take immediate steps to protect civilians, restore calm and prevent incitement.”

She also underscored the need for inclusion, trust-building and meaningful dialogue to advance a credible and inclusive political transition in Syria.

UN human rights chief says ‘wisdom’ of Indigenous Peoples needed in climate change, digital policy upgrades

The UN human rights chief spoke at a high-level political forum on the rights of Indigenous Peoples on Monday.

Underscoring how crucial such forums are to advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Volker Türk highlighted developments in Colombia, Finland and Guatemala that have given them more self-determination.

But despite these advances, violations against Indigenous Peoples’ rights continue.

Many still lack formal land recognition, while mining activity, deforestation and large-scale agricultural development often cause environmental destruction.

Indigenous Peoples also experience immense discrimination and face the brunt of climate chaos, Mr. Türk stressed.

Toll on activists

Furthermore, data from the human rights office reveals that 26 per cent of rights activists killed in 2023 and 2024 were Indigenous, largely in the Americas.

Additionally, states are using AI in ways that harm Indigenous Peoples through surveillance, data exploitation and exclusion from decision-making. Türk thus called for human rights-based approaches that uphold Indigenous data sovereignty and self-determination.

The High Commissioner also called for future policies on climate, digital technologies and other areas to “reflect the wisdom and experience of Indigenous Peoples.”

“This is not only essential to respect and fulfil the human rights of Indigenous Peoples,” he concluded. “There is growing recognition that the ideas and approaches of Indigenous Peoples hold important lessons for all of us.”

Guterres welcomes step forward in securing digital technology worldwide

The UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday, welcomed the adoption by consensus of the UN Open Ended Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies.

It was established in 2020 with a five-year mandate to promote regular institutional dialogue and initiatives focused on keeping digital technologies safe and secure.  

The Secretary-General welcomed the Final Report of 10 July, which summed up the past five years of negotiations, said a statement issued by his Spokesperson.  

It reflects shared views on current and emerging threats, responsible government policies, international law, norms and efforts such as confidence-building and capacity development.  

Call for cooperation

It also establishes a permanent mechanism to continue discussions about responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies, which the Secretary General particularly appreciated.  

“The Secretary-General now calls upon all States to work together through the Global Mechanism to tackle digital risks and ensure these technologies are leveraged for good,” the statement said.  

The Secretary General congratulated the group on its accomplishments, saying the consensus adoption “demonstrates that even in the most challenging international security environment, collective action is still possible.” 

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150,000 Rohingya flee to Bangladesh amid renewed Myanmar violence

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As armed clashes intensify and conditions worsen inside Myanmar, thousands continue to cross the border seeking safety in the overcrowded camps of Cox’s Bazar, where nearly one million Rohingya refugees already live in densely populated camps.

“This is the largest movement of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh since 2017,” said Babar Baloch, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, briefing journalists in Geneva on Friday.  

He clarified that unlike the mass influx in 2017, when some 750,000 Rohingya fled deadly violence in Rakhine state, this uptick in refugees has unfolded more gradually.

Advocating for asylum

UNHCR is working closely with local authorities to respond to urgent humanitarian needs.  

“As the conflict in Myanmar continues unabated, we are advocating with the Bangladeshi authorities to provide managed access to safety and asylum for civilians fleeing the conflict,” he said.

Bangladesh has long provided refuge to the Rohingya, a mostly Muslim minority community in Myanmar, which is mainly Buddhist. 

The country currently hosts nearly one million people in the refugee camps and the recent arrivals – many of them women and children – are placing further strain on resources. Many are relying heavily on local solidarity and sharing limited resources with those already living in the camps.

Appeal for support

By the end of June, nearly 121,000 newly arrived refugees had been biometrically registered, although many more are believed to be residing informally in the camps. Access to adequate shelter remains a major concern as facilities struggle to absorb the new population.

“These new arrivals join another nearly one million Rohingya refugees crammed into just 24 square kilometres,” said Mr. Baloch. “More humanitarian support is urgently required.”

Aid partners have been able to provide basic services including food, medical care, education, and essential relief items. However, the response is now under serious threat due to a lack of funding.

UNHCR warned that the 2024 humanitarian appeal for $255 million is only 35 per cent funded. Without immediate financial support, the entire operation could face systemic collapse.

Action needed now

Unless additional funds are secured, health services will be severely disrupted by September and essential cooking fuel — liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) – will run out by December. Food assistance will stop and education for some 230,000 Rohingya children, including 63,000 new arrivals, is in danger of being discontinued.

Despite a strictly controlled and officially closed border, the Government of Bangladesh has allowed new arrivals to access emergency services in the camps. The UN agency expressed deep appreciation for this humanitarian gesture under highly challenging conditions.

“We don’t have the resources to take care of the new arrivals and also those who were there before them,” said Mr. Baloch. “Everything will be impacted.”

As displacement from Rakhine state continues, UNHCR and its partners are urging the international community to act swiftly. Without immediate and sustained support, the already fragile humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazar could begin to unravel  – with devastating consequences for more than one million people who rely on it for survival. 

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Libya: UN urges restraint as military buildup threatens renewed violence in Tripoli

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In a statement late on Wednesday (local time), the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed deep concern over continued reports of armed group mobilisation in densely populated areas, urging all parties to refrain from the use of force and inflammatory rhetoric.

“The Mission strongly urges all parties to avoid any actions or political rhetoric that could trigger escalation or lead to renewed clashes,” it said.

UNSMIL stressed that protection of civilian lives and property under international law remains a binding obligation for all political and security actors.

“Those responsible for attacks against civilians will be held accountable,” the Mission said.

Pursue dialogue, not violence

The Mission reiterated its support for the implementation of security arrangements developed by the Truce and Security and Military Arrangements Committees, emphasising that “forces recently deployed in Tripoli must withdraw without delay.”

It also underscored that dialogue – not violence – remains the only viable path to achieving sustainable peace and stability in Tripoli and across Libya.

The appeal comes amid reports of military movements in the capital and renewed clashes between armed groups, reflecting the persistent volatility that has plagued Libya since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Political stalemate

The country remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, with unity efforts repeatedly stalled.

A UN-brokered ceasefire signed in 2020 raised hopes for national elections, but progress has been hampered by political deadlock and sporadic outbreaks of violence – particularly in Tripoli.

In May, clashes erupted in several districts of the capital, reportedly triggered by the killing of a prominent militia leader. The fighting, which involved heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, forced hundreds of families to flee and further strained the city’s already fragile infrastructure.

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Haitian capital ‘paralysed and isolated’ by gang violence, Security Council hears

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 Since January, the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), recorded over 4,000 individuals deliberately killed – a 24 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.  

“The capital city was for all intents and purposes paralysed by gangs and isolated due to the ongoing suspension of international commercial flights into the international airport,” Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for the Americas at the department of political affairs (DPPA), told ambassadors in the Security Council on Wednesday.

Having visited the country recently, he warned that, gangs have only “strengthened their foothold”, which now affects all communes of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and beyond, “pushing the situation closer to the brink.”

He called on the international community to act decisively and urgently or the “total collapse of state presence in the capital could become a very real scenario”.

Gang control expands

Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), echoed that warning.

“As gang control expands, the state’s capacity to govern is rapidly shrinking, with social, economic and security implications,” she told ambassadors, briefing remotely from Vienna.

“This erosion of state legitimacy has cascading effects,” she said, with legal commerce becoming paralysed as gangs control major trade routes, such conditions worsening “already dire levels of food insecurity and humanitarian need,” she added.  

Rise of ‘vigilante’ groups

Amidst increasing public frustration with the limited protection capacity of the state, “vigilante” or self-defence groups are now gaining in popular appeal.  

Although some are motivated by the urgent need to protect their communities, many operate outside existing legal frameworks, in some cases, engaging in extrajudicial actions and colluding with gangs.  

The rise of these actors is pushing demand for guns and military-grade weapons, “fuelling illicit arms markets and raising the risk of licit weapons being diverted to criminal elements,” Ms. Waly said.  

Human trafficking

Meanwhile, the broader deterioration of the security and economic situation in the capital and the rest of the country continues to fuel a sharper escalation in human rights violations.  

Despite persistent under-reporting of sexual violence due to fear of reprisals, social stigma and lack of trust in institutions, BINUH reported an increase in sexual violence committed by gangs in the past three months.  

In May, Haitian police raided a medical facility in Pétion-Ville suspected of being involved in illicit organ trade, as allegations of trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal are now arising.  

As the situation in Haiti remains desperate, “there is not a moment to lose,” Mr. Jenča urged. 

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