Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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March 18, 2026 UN
The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: an emergency meeting of the International Maritime Organization has begun in London, the Secretary-General has called for an investigation into the circumstances of the attack on a hospital in Kabul, the UN has presented a humanitarian aid plan for Yemen, and progress in preventing child mortality has slowed.
Strait of Hormuz
More than 20,000 sailors and about 3,200 ships are unable to leave the Persian Gulf area west of the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in the Middle East, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reportsThe UN agency is holding an emergency meeting in London to discuss measures to support seafarers and ships trapped on one of the world's key trade routes. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez recalled that at least seven seafarers have been killed and several more injured in attacks on ships since the beginning of the conflict.
Attack on a hospital in Afghanistan
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Strongly condemned the airstrike on the Afghan capital, Kabul, on March 16, which reportedly killed and wounded civilians in a hospital. The UN chief reiterated that, in accordance with international law, patients, medical personnel, and healthcare facilities must always be protected from attack, and called for an independent and impartial investigation into the incident. The Secretary-General expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded. He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Aid to Yemen
The UN and partners have presented a humanitarian plan for Yemen through 2026. Overall, more than 22 million people—over half the country's population—require assistance. The plan requires $2.16 billion to provide priority support to 12 million Yemenis. Meanwhile, more than 18 million people in the country are experiencing severe food insecurity. More than 2 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition. Nearly 40 percent of health facilities are either partially operational or completely closed.
Infant mortality
It is estimated that in 2024 4.9 million children, including 2.3 million newborns, died before reaching their fifth birthday. Most of these deaths are preventable with proven, affordable interventions. A new UN report shows that while under-five mortality has more than halved since 2000, the rate of progress has slowed by more than 60 percent since 2015. The report's authors note that this is the first study of its kind, which takes into account statistics from around the world and analyzes the causes of death.
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