News Links 24 February 2026

 

Gaza 

Heavy rains flooded displacement camps across Gaza, where 1.9 million Palestinians living in worn tents faced floodwaters submerging shelters in Khan Younis and Gaza City's al-Rimal neighbourhood. Israel continues to block entry of shelter materials, including tents and mobile homes, despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025.

Thirty-seven international aid organisations have jointly petitioned Israel's High Court to suspend enforcement measures requiring them to cease operations in Gaza and the West Bank by end of February. The groups, which collectively support more than half of all food assistance in Gaza and all inpatient treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition, say Israeli demands to transfer staff personal data violate international humanitarian law and European data protection law.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of the risk of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and a broader collapse of the global human rights framework, speaking at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. He said the UN human rights system is in a "struggle for survival," citing severe funding cuts, attacks on UN experts, and the withdrawal of major powers from international accountability mechanisms.

Sudan 

 Both of Sudan's warring parties are deliberately targeting aid convoys, infrastructure and civilian gathering points, according to relief workers, civilians and analysts. A drone strike on 19 February killed three people and injured four aid workers travelling with a UN food convoy in South Kordofan, while strikes on markets, schools and water wells have killed hundreds of civilians in recent weeks. Nearly 21 million people face acute food insecurity in what the UN describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

Mozambique 

 Severe flooding has displaced nearly 400,000 people in Mozambique, with families forced to flee without documents as floodwaters rose rapidly across Gaza, Maputo and central provinces. More than 230,000 children are out of school as the worst flooding in decades damages and closes schools, while around 100,000 people shelter in temporary centres. The humanitarian response is under severe strain, compounded by ongoing conflict displacement in the north and acute funding shortfalls, with the UN seeking $187 million in emergency funding. UNHCR mobile protection teams are working to address risks for the most vulnerable.

UN AI

The UN Office of Counter-Terrorism has published a practice guide on using artificial intelligence to prevent and counter violent extremism, identifying specific applications including large-scale open source monitoring, detection of synthetic media, and narrative trend analysis. A survey of 120 practitioners from 45 countries found fewer than one quarter currently use AI, with barriers including concerns about bias, privacy and limited organisational capacity. The guide stresses human oversight, documented risk assessments and compliance with international human rights law as non-negotiable components of responsible AI integration.