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March 10, 2026 Peace and security

Attacks on civilian infrastructure in the Middle East—along with the expansion of attacks to new areas—are increasing the risks for populations throughout the region and beyond, warns UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

He condemned the large-scale attacks on residential areas and vital civilian infrastructure, including medical and educational institutions, cultural heritage sites, and water and energy systems. Türk emphasized that international humanitarian law requires the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure under all circumstances.

"All parties are obligated to comply with these rules and must be held accountable if they are violated. The entire world is watching," the High Commissioner added.

Attacks on vital infrastructure

A desalination plant and fuel facilities in Iran were reportedly hit over the weekend, causing an oil spill and fires along road drainage systems. On Qeshm Island in Hormozgan Province, a strike on a desalination plant reportedly disrupted the water supply to at least 30 villages.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society also warned that rainfall in the country could become "hazardous and acidic" and cause chemical burns and serious lung damage.

"I am deeply concerned about the impacts of these oil fires on human health and the environment, including possible acid rain pollution," Turk said.

According to him, the expected consequences for the civilian population and the environment raise serious questions about compliance with the principles of proportionality and precaution enshrined in international humanitarian law.

Risks for the region and the global economy

Attacks in the region have already caused civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, including a desalination plant in Bahrain that provides water to a significant portion of the population.

Turk warned that a "spiral of mutual blows" could lead to even more serious consequences.

According to him, the crisis is already having an impact beyond the region. Migrant workers in the Gulf countries are facing a dire situation – some have already died or been injured, while others are "trapped" and unable to return home. Remittances, which are crucial for the well-being of their families back home, have also been disrupted.

Decline in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz affects access to energy, food and fertilizers in many countries around the world.

A sharp rise in oil prices, Türk warned, could negatively impact macroeconomic and social stability, especially in countries already facing debt problems. In this context, he emphasized the importance of investing in renewable energy sources.

Freedom of expression

The High Commissioner also expressed concern about reports of detentions and harassment of people in a number of countries for expressing views on the conflict.

He reminded all States that international law obliges them to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression, including in times of crisis.

"All those arbitrarily detained must be immediately and unconditionally released," Türk stressed.

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March 5, 2026 Peace and security

The UN is "extremely concerned and disturbed by the drone attack on Azerbaijani territory," UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated in response to a reporter's question during a daily briefing.

He called the attack "yet another example of the widening of the conflict" and the involvement of another country. "This is a clear violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty," the UN official emphasized. "We do not want to see further escalation and we want to see respect for international law."

According to a statement from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Iranian drones struck the Azerbaijani city of Nakhchivan on Thursday. The Nakhchivan airport building was damaged.

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March 10, 2026 Women

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on civil society to continue fighting for the rights of women and girls, warning of a growing wave of resistance to gender equality in many countries around the world.

Speaking at a meeting with human rights defenders at the UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines 70th session of the Commission on the Status of WomenThe UN chief thanked them for their work at the forefront of the global movement.

"Patriarchy fights back"

“Every day, you defend the rights of women and girls, open up new opportunities and build coalitions at a time when societies are divided,” he said.

According to the Secretary-General, this work often involves threats, intimidation and harassment.

"When you advocate for change, you challenge the patriarchy. And the patriarchy fights back," he noted.

Guterres emphasized that the world remains a "man's world with a male culture," and that gender equality is largely linked to power—in politics, economics, and the technologies that shape the future, including artificial intelligence. He noted that the concentration of power in the tech sector reflects a profound gender imbalance.

Progress within the UN system

The UN chief noted that over the past decade, the Organization has made significant progress in achieving gender balance. For the first time in the history of the UN, parity has been achieved among senior management – both at headquarters and among heads of missions worldwide.

While ten years ago, women accounted for approximately 30 percent of the approximately 160 senior UN officials, today complete gender balance has been achieved. The Secretary-General emphasized that this did not require any changes to the selection rules.

"Achieving gender parity doesn't require changing the rules. We just need to ensure women have the same opportunities as men," he said.

According to him, achieving gender balance has strengthened the work of the Organization, increased its authority and improved its performance.

Growing resistance

At the same time, Guterres warned of a worrying trend: a growing global backlash against women's rights.

This wave, he continued, is fueled by disinformation, fears, and so-called "culture wars." Nevertheless, Guterres emphasized, women continue to play a key role in the fight for human rights—from health and climate change to peacebuilding and labor rights.

"We will not give up"

The Secretary-General called on the activists to continue their work, reminding them that the progress achieved remains fragile.

"Rights can be lost much faster than they were won," he warned.

In conclusion, Guterres assured the meeting participants of his support.

"We will say it loud and clear: no backsliding, no abandoning what has been achieved. We will never give up," the Secretary-General declared.

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March 10, 2026 Peace and security

According to UN agencies, fighting in Lebanon is intensifying amid a regional escalation. The death toll is growing literally by the hour, with many of the dead and wounded being women and children.

"In the past 24 hours alone, 106 people have been killed in more than 100 airstrikes reportedly carried out by Israeli forces in the governorates of South Lebanon and Nabatiyeh (north and south of the Litani River), as well as the city of Baalbek, the Bekaa Valley and the southern suburbs of Beirut," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement, citing Lebanese authorities.

Growing number of displaced persons, refugees and returnees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports a rapid increase in the number of refugees and displaced people in the Middle East as ongoing conflict forces people to flee their homes.

In Iran, refugee reception centers remain open, but access is limited due to the deteriorating security situation. Thousands of people are seeking assistance through UNHCR hotlines. Afghan refugees report severe restrictions on movement, rising food prices, and loss of income.

In Lebanon, nearly 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. More than 117,000 people are currently staying in hundreds of collective shelters, most of which are already nearing capacity.

UNHCR has provided essential supplies to tens of thousands of displaced people.

The agency also reports that more than 70,000 Syrians and several thousand Lebanese have crossed the border into Syria, while Afghan refugees continue to return home from Iran.

In Turkey, UN staff are monitoring the situation in the Van-Ağrı-Hakkari border area. Crossing points remain open, but the flow of arrivals has dropped to approximately 1,300 people per day.

The Agarak crossing on the border between Armenia and Iran is also open, with small groups of people continuing to cross the border in both directions.

According to UNHCR, there are already around 25 million displaced and returnee people in the region as a whole, and the current crisis is only worsening the situation.

Black Rain in Iran

As bombings and drone strikes continue across the Middle East, the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning of public health risks from Israeli and US attacks on oil infrastructure in Tehran, as well as Iran's retaliatory strikes in the Persian Gulf.

"Black rain and the acid rain that accompanies it do pose a danger to the population, especially to the respiratory system," WHO representative Christian Lindmeier said at a briefing in Geneva.

"We are in contact with hospitals and authorities, and the Iranian authorities have already issued a warning urging people to stay indoors," he added.

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March 10, 2026 Peace and security

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern on Tuesday about serious violations reportedly occurring in the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. The UN human rights chief called on all parties to immediately cease fire.

According to Türk, there are growing reports of brutal killings of civilians, destruction and poisoning of water sources, and new waves of mass displacement.

Horrific incidents

According to the UN Human Rights Office, more than 160 civilians have been killed in the country over the past 17 days. On March 1, militants from the Boul Nuer ethnic group killed at least 139 people in the Abiemnom district in the north of the country.

Another incident occurred on February 21 in the village of Pankor in Jonglei State in the east of the country, where government forces reportedly killed 21 civilians. According to the UN, soldiers gathered people under the pretext of distributing food aid and then opened fire. Among the dead were 15 women and three girls.

On the same day, troops reportedly tied up and beheaded four civilians – an elderly man, a woman, a boy and a girl – in the village of Thiam in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

Orders for the withdrawal of UN personnel

On March 6, the military ordered all residents to leave the town of Akobo and nearby villages in the east of the country, demanding the closure of the temporary base of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the withdrawal of other UN agencies and humanitarian organizations. In response, the Mission stated that its peacekeepers would remain in Akobo to ensure the protection of civilians.

Possible war crimes

“Civilians are being killed, injured and displaced daily across the country amid escalation of hostilities "between government forces and the opposition," Türk said. He added that some of these actions could qualify as war crimes.

According to local residents, government airstrikes destroyed or deliberately contaminated water sources – approximately 99 wells that provided water to local communities.

The High Commissioner called for prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all alleged violations of international law and for those responsible to be held accountable.

Mass displacement

Since the end of December, more than 280,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in South Sudan, mainly in Lakes, Jonglei and Upper Nile states.

Türk stressed that the mass exodus of residents from Akobo only intensifies the suffering of the population, which is already experiencing the consequences of the renewed fighting in January.

"A ceasefire must be established as soon as possible to save lives and move this conflict toward a negotiated solution," he said. He also called on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to end the violence and emphasized the need to resume dialogue.

"The parties must urgently take tangible steps to salvage the fragile peace agreement. South Sudan must be pulled back from the brink of full-scale civil war," the High Commissioner added.

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March 10, 2026 Peace and security

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released a briefing paper, "Shipping Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz: Implications for Global Trade and Development," which examines the impact of disruptions to maritime traffic through one of the world's key trade corridors.

The Strait of Hormuz provides transit for approximately a quarter of the world's seaborne oil shipments, as well as significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers, according to the report. The escalating conflict in the region has disrupted these traditional routes, raising concerns among experts about potential dire consequences for energy markets, shipping, and global supply chains.

Energy markets reacted immediately: the price of Brent crude rose above $90 per barrel. At the same time, tanker freight rates and war risk insurance rates are rising, as are marine fuel costs, leading to higher shipping costs throughout the entire supply chain.

About a third of the world's seaborne fertilizer exports—approximately 16 million tons per year—pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This raises concerns about the availability of fertilizer for poor countries, which are already facing supply instability and rising prices.

Developing economies are particularly vulnerable, the report notes. High debt levels and rising borrowing costs limit their ability to withstand further price shocks.

UNCTAD recalls that recent global crises – from the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine – have shown how quickly disruptions in the supply of electricity, transport services and agricultural inputs can spread across interconnected markets, fuelling inflation and undermining food security.

The current events in the Strait of Hormuz are yet another reminder of the fragility of global trade and the need to strengthen the resilience of international transport corridors, especially in the face of growing geopolitical tensions, the report's authors conclude.

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March 9, 2026 Peace and security

Afghanistan is on the brink of a new wave of instability due to a combination of external conflicts, economic pressure, and the de facto government's policies that are alienating the country from the international community, Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan, stated at a Security Council meeting on Monday.

Gagnon recalled the goal enshrined in Security Council Resolution 2721: "an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors, fully integrated into the international community." She noted that this prospect is becoming increasingly remote amid the escalating conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has resulted in "severe human and economic losses."

Closure of cross-border routes

The closure of the Pakistani border and instability on trade routes through Iran have already led to rising prices for basic goods in Afghanistan, increasing pressure on its already fragile economy. Gagnon emphasized that the key problem remains Afghanistan's continued isolation from the international community, which is blocking progress in security, economic development, human rights, and humanitarian aid. According to her, if the situation continues, the country could once again become a source of regional and global instability.

Individual achievements against the backdrop of a general crisis

In her speech, Georgette Gagnon noted a number of positive trends. Among them is the continued ban on opium poppy cultivation, which has led to a 20 percent reduction in the area under cultivation in 2025 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, since September 2023, Afghanistan has been able to accommodate 5.5 million returning refugees, "without signs of social collapse."

Read also:

INTERVIEW | How the UN is supporting Afghanistan amid regional escalation and a severe shortage of resources

However, Gagnon emphasized that these achievements do not offset the damage caused by other decisions by the de facto authorities, primarily the ban on education for girls beyond sixth grade and the restrictions placed on women's work in the humanitarian sector. She called this "extremely damaging" to the country's future and recalled that the ban on the recruitment of local female UN staff violates international norms and the Charter of the United Nations.

"Critical" humanitarian situation

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains critical: 17.5 million people require assistance in 2026, but the current plan is only 10 percent funded. Gagnon warned that dwindling resources, climate shocks, and the mass return of refugees are increasing pressure on families and triggering a new wave of migration.

The Deputy Head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan also expressed concern that Afghanistan is not demonstrating a willingness to fulfill its counter-terrorism obligations, as neighboring countries express concern about extremist groups linked to the de facto authorities.

Incentives for reintegration

Gagnon called on the Security Council to remain united and actively support Afghanistan. She said UN member states can create incentives for the country's reintegration into the international community.

"The UN mission in Afghanistan remains fully committed to the common goal of creating conditions in which this country can live in peace with itself and its neighbors," she concluded.

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March 9, 2026 Human rights

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif warned of a rapid increase in child rights violations in conflict zones and called on states to take urgent action to protect and rehabilitate victims.

Al-Nashif addressed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. She said the harm war inflicts on children—physical, mental, social, and developmental—is exacerbated by grave violations of international humanitarian law. Parties to armed conflicts are increasingly using explosive weapons in densely populated areas, forcibly recruiting children, and resorting to sexual violence as a tactic of war.

The UN has recorded a sharp increase in cases of sexual violence against children: between 2021 and 2024, the number of such incidents nearly doubled. In Sudan alone, at least 223 child victims were documented in 2025. However, according to Al-Nashif, the actual figures are significantly higher.

The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized that child survivors of violence have the right to support and justice. Some states have already adopted laws aimed at providing assistance to victims or created reintegration programs for children previously held for their association with armed groups. Since 2000, thanks to UN efforts, more than 210,000 children and adolescents have been released from armies and armed groups.

Al-Nashif found that crimes against children committed during armed conflicts are rarely investigated, and long-term psychosocial support and reintegration programmes remain chronically underfunded.

In her speech, Al-Nashif outlined four key areas of action: conducting independent investigations into all violations; recognizing children associated with armed groups as victims and ending their arbitrary detention; allocating resources for long-term rehabilitation, education, and medical care; and engaging children in justice processes.

"Children aren't just victims. They should have a voice in shaping their own lives," she emphasized.

Concluding her speech, Al-Nashif declared that war is "the ultimate violation of children's rights": "We are abandoning children to their fate instead of helping them. We need to change this."

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March 9, 2026 Peace and security

UN agencies reported on Monday large-scale displacement of people across the Middle East, as well as soaring food and fuel prices that threaten to worsen hunger and suffering among the most vulnerable.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in Lebanon alone, nearly 700,000 people, including about 200,000 children, were forced to flee their homes.

In its latest update, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 294 people have been killed and over a thousand injured in Lebanon in the first eight days of the latest Middle East war. Specifically, last Saturday, an Israeli operation in the eastern Lebanese town of Nabi Sheet killed over 40 people and injured nearly a thousand, OCHA reported, citing Lebanese authorities. For the third time since the war began, Israel has issued evacuation orders, covering all territory south of the Litani River and, for the second time, the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Civilian casualties

Israeli health authorities reported that approximately 2,000 people have been injured in Israel since the conflict began on February 28. One civilian was killed on Monday by a rocket strike in central Israel.

Iranian authorities have said at least 1,330 civilians have been killed in the country since the war began.

Bahraini authorities reported more than 30 wounded in an Iranian drone strike. Qatari officials reported the deaths of two civilians in Saudi Arabia.

Growing needs and "secondary impact"

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned of a "secondary impact" of the war on countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, "where needs are already enormous."

Fletcher added that the international community's attention to existing crises – in Sudan, South Sudan and Ukraine – is increasingly waning.

Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz

The profound economic uncertainty caused by the war is reflected in the soaring price of motor fuel, driven by the sharp rise in oil prices. UN agencies also point to serious global supply chain disruptions affecting shipping, the energy sector, and the fertilizer market.

Attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz have virtually halted traffic through the narrow channel, which carries nearly a fifth of the world's oil supplies. On Friday, at least four sailors were killed and three were seriously injured in the Strait of Hormuz after their vessel was attacked. Drone strikes on an Omani port facility have driven up charter prices. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), approximately 20,000 sailors remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.

"The conflict has a direct impact on food security in the Middle East," the World Food Programme (WFP) said, noting that a significant portion of the world's fertilizer supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Any disruptions threaten to reduce the availability of fertilizers, reduce crop yields, and, as a result, lead to higher global food prices," the agency emphasized.

Food security is under threat

WFP also recalled the high levels of food insecurity in Lebanon, which existed even before the war, and in Iran, where families have "limited capacity to withstand further shocks."

A sharp rise in food prices in Gaza was caused by the closure of key crossings for humanitarian aid from Israel. Although the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing has reopened, prices remain high.

"WFP will likely be forced to reduce food rations to 25 percent of the daily requirement for approximately 1.3 million people. Without reliable humanitarian corridors, the fragile gains associated with the ceasefire could be lost," the agency stated.

Faced with increasing transit times and delays for humanitarian supplies, WFP and its partners are increasingly using transit routes through Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan, as well as expanding the use of overland routes between the UAE and the eastern Mediterranean.

WFP also noted that its humanitarian hub in Dubai continues to operate despite disruptions to air and shipping services.

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On Monday, events commemorating International Women's Day are taking place at UN Headquarters in New York. They coincide with the opening of the United Nations' largest annual forum on gender equality and women's rights worldwide—the Commission on the Status of Women (March 9–19).

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