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February 13, 2026 UN

The main news of the day at the UN and around the world: a report on crimes in El Fasher, Sudan, large-scale destruction as a result of cyclones in Madagascar, a socio-economic crisis in Cuba, and the Secretary-General's message at the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

Crimes in El Fasher

The violence committed in El Fasher, Sudan, last October was "shocking in its scale and brutality." The violations could constitute war crimes and probable crimes against humanity, according to a new report from the UN Human Rights Office. Based on hundreds of interviews with eyewitnesses, the Office documented over 6,000 killings in the first three days of the Rapid Reaction Force offensive. The report's authors emphasize that the total number of deaths over the weeks of fighting is "significantly higher."

Cyclone in Madagascar

Madagascar's main port was severely damaged by Cyclone Gezani, which struck the country just ten days after a previous storm, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Friday. According to the agency, hundreds of thousands of people need humanitarian assistance. In anticipation of the storm, WFP and its partners provided cash assistance to the most vulnerable families to enable them to purchase food and other essentials. However, the scale of destruction caused by two cyclones in such a short period of time has dramatically increased needs and complicated supplies.

The situation in Cuba

The UN Human Rights Office expressed grave concern about the deepening socioeconomic crisis in Cuba amid the long-standing embargo, extreme weather events, and recent restrictions on oil supplies. Fuel shortages threaten vital services throughout the country, including healthcare, water, and communications. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterates his call on all States to lift unilateral sectoral measures, given their widespread and indiscriminate impact on the population.

UN chief's message for Ramadan

In his message ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the UN Secretary-GeneralAntonio GuterresHe emphasized that this is a time of reflection and prayer, one that holds within it a vision of hope and peace. However, for too many people, this hope remains elusive. He recalled the ongoing suffering of civilians – from Afghanistan to Yemen, from Gaza to Sudan, and throughout the world. The UN chief urged everyone to heed the enduring message of Ramadan: to build bridges, bring aid and hope to those in need, and protect the rights and dignity of every person.

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February 13, 2026 Peace and security

Following the ceasefire agreement in northeastern Syria, a window of opportunity has opened to advance the political transition, but the security situation remains fragile and humanitarian needs remain enormous, UN representatives stated at a Security Council meeting on Friday.

Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Claudio Cordone, speaking for the first time to the UN Security Council in his new capacity, welcomed the announcement on January 30 agreement between the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Steps towards integration in the North-East

"We look forward to its full and swift implementation in terms of the peaceful integration of northeast Syria, the protection of the rights of Syrian Kurds, the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of displaced persons, and the creation of conditions under which all residents of this part of the country can live in dignity and without fear," he said.

According to Cordone, hostilities have largely ceased, and work on mechanisms for implementing the agreements is progressing positively. The UN, however, calls for an investigation into allegations of violations and abuses and for those responsible to be held accountable.

The UN representative noted that the situation around detention facilities in northeastern Syria is being closely monitored, including the transfer of ISIS suspects to Iraq.

Tensions in the South and External Factors

In As-Suwayda province, clashes between security forces and local armed groups have again erupted, Cordone noted. Israeli operations are also continuing.

"We reiterate our call for full respect for international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria," the UN spokesman said.

Human rights and the role of women

Cordone emphasized that protecting human rights, resolving the issue of missing persons, and advancing transitional justice are key elements of trust. He particularly noted the contribution of Syrian women and civil society.

The UN mission, he said, intends to expand cooperation with the authorities and other partners.

Hundreds of thousands of victims, millions in need

Lisa Doughten, a representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, addressed the Council on behalf of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator.

According to her, recent fighting has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. While many have returned, approximately 130,000 remain displaced. More than 90 percent of them are women and girls.

Despite the difficulties, the UN and partners are expanding their operations. Trucks with food, water, medicine, and fuel have been dispatched to the affected areas. Electricity has been partially restored in some areas.

According to the latest estimates, the food situation has improved somewhat, but about 700,000 people still face extreme food insecurity, and millions more face moderate food insecurity.

Doughten added that heavy rains this week caused flooding in areas of Idlib and northern Latakia, killing two children, injuring thousands of displaced people and destroying tents.

Three key directions

To overcome the crisis, the UN representative emphasized, efforts are needed to prevent a new escalation, invest in restoring infrastructure and livelihoods, and maintain vital humanitarian funding.

"We have a rare opportunity to help the Syrian people turn the tide in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Let's continue to do everything we can to ensure they seize this opportunity," she concluded.

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February 13, 2026 Refugees and migrants

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has stated the need for urgent international support for Afghans returning from neighboring countries to their homeland under extremely difficult conditions. This was announced on Friday by UNHCR Representative in Afghanistan Arafat Jamal at a briefing in Geneva.

According to the agency, nearly 150,000 Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since the beginning of 2026. This is in addition to the unprecedented 2.9 million people who arrived in the country in 2025.

Since October 2023, a total of approximately 5.4 million Afghans have returned, voluntarily or involuntarily.

UNHCR warns that the speed and scale of returns are further exacerbating the crisis in a country already facing dire humanitarian, economic, and social conditions, particularly for women and girls. The World Bank estimates that rapid population growth will reduce Afghanistan's per capita GDP by four percent by 2025.

The situation is exacerbated by a harsh winter: freezing temperatures and snowfalls threaten the lives of people, many of whom lack housing, employment, and documentation. According to a UNHCR survey, only half of men and less than a quarter of women were able to find even informal employment. More than 90 percent of families live on less than five dollars a day, and over half lack identification documents.

UNHCR expressed concern that five percent of respondents plan to leave the country again, and more than ten percent know someone who has already left after returning. "These decisions are driven by the impossibility of rebuilding a dignified life," Arafat Jamal emphasized during a briefing.

At the same time, the agency also notes “islands of hope”: among those returning in 2025, there are more people with education and work experience, which could contribute to stabilization if employment opportunities are available.

In 2026, UNHCR will prioritize supporting the reintegration of returnees in Afghanistan. The agency requires $216 million to assist returnees and internally displaced persons, but the plan is currently only eight percent funded.

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February 13, 2026 Peace and security

Systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in January resulted in grave consequences for the civilian population, according to the monthly report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), published on Friday.

According to the Mission, at least 161 civilians were killed and another 757 injured across Ukraine in January—approximately the same number as in the same period the previous year. Long-range weapons strikes, including missiles and drones, accounted for 39 percent of all casualties. Most of the casualties were located near the front line, where short-range drones remained the primary cause of civilian deaths.

Harsh winter

The report states that the strikes by the Russian armed forces, which continued in February, caused widespread disruptions with electricity, heating and water supply throughout Ukraine amid sub-zero temperatures.

Mission staff visited warming centers, hospitals, and educational institutions in the hardest-hit areas to document the impact of the outages in the midst of one of the harshest winters in recent memory.

"The scale and persistence of these attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for the lives and well-being of civilians," said HRMMU Head Danielle Bell. "When electricity, heat, and water are repeatedly cut off in the middle of winter, basic survival becomes a daily struggle."

Constant attacks

According to the Mission, in January, Russian armed forces struck energy facilities almost daily, including at least five massive attacks that simultaneously hit multiple regions. Damage or destruction was recorded in at least 17 regions of Ukraine, as well as in Kyiv.

Extended power outages across the country caused heating and water problems, especially in multi-story buildings. Millions of people had power for only a few hours a day for a month.

Repeated strikes on district heating facilities had particularly serious consequences. In Kyiv, missiles and drones repeatedly hit two combined heat and power plants, each time resulting in heat outages in nearly 6,000 multi-story buildings. As a result, authorities announced that heating would not be restored to more than 1,100 buildings by the end of winter.

Basic rights have been violated

The Mission emphasized that the prolonged absence of electricity, heat and water had a negative impact on a wide range of human rights, including the right to adequate housing, healthcare, and education. Temperatures in apartments plummeted, forcing some people to leave. Hospitals and clinics canceled procedures, and many schools closed.

The outages were particularly hard on people with limited mobility, who found themselves trapped in their homes during outages due to inoperative elevators. Some had to be relocated to special institutions. Families with small children also faced particular difficulties when the temperature inside dropped and cooking was impossible.

"The destruction of critical infrastructure has predictable and devastating humanitarian consequences," Bell emphasized. "It disrupts civilian life, impedes the fulfillment of basic needs and human rights, and leaves millions of people facing extreme deprivation. Civilians should never pay the price for attacks on vital services."

Strikes on Russian territory

The UN Human Rights Mission also noted reports of Ukrainian military strikes on energy facilities in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation in January, leading to localized power, heating, and water outages for civilians.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.