News Links this week up to 14 February 2026

Saturday, 14 January 2026

SOUTH SUDAN

UNICEF reports that since late December, devastating violence across northern and central South Sudan has displaced at least 280,000 people in Jonglei state alone—most of them women and children who fled with nothing.  Children make up 53 percent of the displaced and face recruitment into armed groups, separation from families, gender-based violence, and profound psychological distress.  South Sudan's health system is on the verge of collapse with 11 health facilities attacked or looted, nutrition centres closed, and cholera cases surging to 479 nationwide. Around 825,000 children across Jonglei, Unity, and Eastern Equatoria states risk acute malnutrition. WHO reported at least 19 attacks against health care in 2025, and some 1.5 to two million people face restricted or no access to health services.

SYRIA

Syria's political transition gained momentum with a landmark January 30 ceasefire and integration agreement between Damascus and Kurdish authorities in the northeast. The deal provides for phased military and administrative integration of northeast Syria and includes provisions on the return of displaced people and protection of Kurdish civil and educational rights. However, renewed violence in the south, Israeli incursions, and deep humanitarian needs underscore how precarious stability remains. The next milestone is formation of the People's Assembly, with voting for most seats having taken place in October 2025. The UN emphasized women's political participation is a pillar for a state committed to plurality and inclusion.

AFGHANISTAN

UNHCR says the mass return of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran has pushed Afghanistan to the brink of collapse. 5.4 million people have returned since October 2023, with 2.9 million returning last year alone—the largest return to a single country in recent years. Pakistan began deporting undocumented migrants in October 2023 while Iran simultaneously intensified its crackdown. The arrival of a population equivalent to 12 percent of the country's total has placed immense pressure on Afghanistan's already limited resources. UNHCR warned the sustainability of these returns remains a serious concern, with some returnees intending to leave again and a number having already left after returning home.

USA

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Munich Security Conference that the United Nations has virtually no role in resolving conflicts including Gaza. However, Rubio said the UN still has tremendous potential to be a tool for good but cannot ignore that on the most pressing matters it has no answers. He criticized the global forum for having no role in ending wars and called for global institutions to be reformed. 

Staff at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have been instructed to remove "biodefense" and "pandemic preparedness" from the agency's web pages. NIH director Jay Bhattacharya announced a "complete transformation" away from the old model that prioritized HIV, biodefense and pandemic preparedness, shifting focus to basic immunology and infectious diseases currently affecting Americans rather than predicting future diseases. Nahid Bhadelia of Boston University warns the decision will leave Americans more vulnerable to constantly evolving pathogens spilling into human populations.

EUROPE

Measles cases across Europe and Central Asia declined significantly in 2025 with 33,998 cases reported—nearly 75% drop from 127,412 in 2024, according to UNICEF and WHO.  The 2025 figure still exceeds most years since 2000, and some countries reported increases. 

UN

UN Secretary-General António Guterres distanced himself from Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese after member states criticized her speech at the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha. His spokesperson said they don't agree with much of what she says and wouldn't use her language to describe the situation. France will demand Albanese's resignation at the UN Human Rights Council session February 23.  French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said her comments target not the Israeli government but Israel as a people and nation, which is absolutely unacceptable.

The UN General Assembly appointed members of a new independent international scientific panel on artificial intelligence. Secretary-General Guterres said the panel will provide independent scientific insights to enable equal participation of all countries in discussions on AI. The aim is to help governments and institutions better understand rapid AI advances and make informed, fair decisions at the global level. 

After three decades of protecting children caught up in war, UN Special Representative Vanessa Frazier warns that recruitment and use of children remains devastating. In 2024 alone, over 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and groups—only verified cases. Over 30 years, more than 220,000 children have been separated from armed gangs. Beyond documentation, her office negotiates directly with armed groups for children's release, with UNICEF providing reintegration support including psychosocial care and education access. 

The UN Population Fund announced that globally 12 million adolescent girls marry before age 18 every year. Approximately 640 million women alive today were married in childhood—one in every five girls worldwide. UNFPA called child marriage a violation of human rights, referring to any formal marriage or informal union of children with an adult or another child. Child marriage endangers girls' lives and health, with many facing pregnancy and childbirth complications—a primary cause of death among adolescent girls. The organization said through effective programs, laws, and support for girls' rights it strives to ensure they remain healthy and educated.

Friday 13 February 2026

Gaza

UN Staff Member Killed

An UNRWA worker was killed in Rafah during Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday.  According to UNRWA, 391 of its staff and partners have been killed since the conflict began. 

At least four Palestinians died in strikes on Gaza City and shelling in Khan Younis. Israeli forces demolished a UN school in Jabalia, part of eight UNRWA schools destroyed in the militarized zone between January and February. 

Children Die from Hypothermia in Gaza Winter

At least 11 children have died from hypothermia this winter in Gaza, including a two-month-old baby and a one-year-old child, underscoring the deadly impact of exposure to cold conditions without adequate shelter. 

Since October 7, 2023, over 21,000 children have been killed in Gaza, with more than 120 children killed since the October 2025 ceasefire began. Children continue to be killed and injured during airstrikes and fire along the so-called "Yellow line." 

No hospital is fully functional in the Gaza Strip, while only 50 percent of hospitals are partially functional. UNICEF continues providing winter assistance to children and caregivers, but conditions remain dire for families living in makeshift shelters. 

Syria

Families Leave Syria's Al-Hol Camp After Kurdish Forces Withdraw - Most foreign families have left northeast Syria's Al-Hol camp since the departure of Kurdish forces who previously guarded it, humanitarian sources reported. The camp, which housed relatives of ISIS militants, now has fewer than 20 families in the foreigners' annex, down from over 6,000 foreigners from around 40 nationalities. Prior to the changeover, the camp held some 24,000 people, mostly women and children, including 15,000 Syrians and several thousand Iraqis. Humanitarian organizations report their centers were damaged and looted, and the safety situation remains unstable. 

Sudan: 

UN Documents 6,000 Killed in Three Days at El-Fasher - The UN Human Rights Office accused Sudan's Rapid Support Forces of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the October capture of El-Fasher, documenting more than 6,000 killings in just three days. At least 4,400 people were killed within El-Fasher and over 1,600 others died fleeing along exit routes.  UN rights chief Volker Türk called for credible investigations to establish criminal responsibility. See full report.

UN Human Rights

Child Soldiers: One in Six Children Live in War Zones

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk marked International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, noting nearly one child in six worldwide lives in a war zone. Across conflicts from Afghanistan to Somalia, Nigeria to Yemen, thousands of children are forcibly recruited into armed groups in violation of international law. Young people serve as soldiers, scouts, and messengers, facing violence including sexual abuse and torture. Türk emphasized that protecting children remains a legal and humanitarian obligation, stating that even in war, rules must be upheld. 

Opinion: UN Reform Requires Generational Leadership Renewal

As discussions begin about the next UN secretary-general, potential candidates face criticism for being at or near the organization's retirement age of 65. Dhanush Dinesh, founder of Clim-Eat, argues that reform cannot succeed with leadership profiles the UN has relied on for decades. Many candidates would reach retirement age during their first term. Despite so many conflicts in the world, the UN continues prioritizing seniority and political rotation over relevance. He points to the Netherlands' 38-year-old incoming prime minister as evidence generational renewal works. The author proposes member states agree on informal age-related norms ensuring candidates can serve full terms without reaching mandatory retirement, while emphasizing leadership criteria linked to current realities. 

February 12, 2026

Child recruitment in Haiti has skyrocketed by 200 percent in 2025, with armed groups increasingly exploiting children amid overlapping crises affecting more than 1.4 million displaced people, over half of them children. Since the Handover Protocol was signed in January 2024, UNICEF and partners have verified and supported more than 500 children associated with armed groups. UNICEF's PREJEUNES programme helps adolescents exit armed groups by reducing vulnerabilities and supporting social inclusion, but critical programmes remain significantly underfunded.

Sudan

Escalating airstrikes in Sudan killed two children and injured 13 others in a drone strike on a mosque in Al-Rahad, North Kordofan, where all victims were students at the adjoining school, hours after a primary school in Dilling was also hit. The UN World Food Programme warehouse in Kadugli was struck by suspected rockets, significantly damaging humanitarian supplies, while more than 115,000 people have been displaced across the Kordofan region since late October. Despite the violence, a multi-agency UN convoy of 41 trucks carrying nearly 800 metric tonnes of food and supplies departed El Obeid for Kadugli, marking a breakthrough along a previously closed route.

UNICEF Executive Board

France reaffirmed its strong support for UNICEF before the agency's Executive Board, with continued support planned for 2026 across the Great Lakes, Syria, Haiti, Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan, focusing on fighting grave violations against children in conflicts. With more than 200 million children needing humanitarian aid in 2026 and 2025 potentially marking the first increase in child mortality this century, France emphasized the need for multilateral cooperation. France stands firmly with UNICEF and its partners amid growing tensions and challenges to multilateral institutions.

Syria

A delegation from UNICEF and the World Food Programme visited Kobani, Syria, meeting with representatives from water, health, electricity, education, internet, and economic sectors to assess conditions under the siege imposed by Syrian Interim Government factions. The ten-member delegation visited schools, kindergartens, bakeries, and mosques where displaced people are sheltering to directly observe their conditions. Institution representatives urged the agencies to closely monitor the situation and provide necessary response.

February 11, 2026

AI

UNICEF Issues 10-Point AI Guidelines to Protect Children - Ahead of the upcoming AI summit in New Delhi, UNICEF released 10-point guidelines addressing AI's implications for children, focusing on optimizing opportunities while mitigating risks including child abuse and exploitation. 

Syria 

Syria clashes displace nearly 200,000 people, half of them children

Renewed violence and clashes in northeastern Syria displaced almost 200,000 people in January 2026, about half of them children, according to a UNICEF statement issued February 7. At least five children were reported to have died in Ain Al Arab/Kobani due to the lack of health services and winter supplies. UNICEF urged all governments and parties to conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and take immediate action to end violence against children.

Floods in Syria kill two children, affect thousands of displaced people

Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall hit northwest Syria on February 9, killing two children and affecting more than 5,000 displaced people. Rainfall since Saturday caused widespread flooding across parts of Idleb and northern Latakia, damaging around 1,800 tents and destroying at least 150 in camps housing displaced families. In a separate incident, a Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff member was killed and five others injured when their vehicle crashed while assisting flood-affected communities.

Sudan

Child malnutrition hits catastrophic levels in parts of Sudan

Acute malnutrition among children reached catastrophic levels in parts of Sudan's North Darfur and Greater Kordofan on February 5, with UN-backed analysts warning that conflict, mass displacement and aid denials are pushing the country deeper into famine. Assessments found acute malnutrition levels of 52.9 percent in Um Baru—nearly twice the famine threshold—and 34 percent in Kernoi. Across Sudan, nearly 4.2 million cases of acute malnutrition are expected in 2026, including more than 800,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition.

DRC

UN wants 'security guarantees' to monitor DR Congo ceasefire

The United Nations said on February 11 it wants security guarantees from warring parties in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to enable its soldiers to use Goma airport for monitoring a planned ceasefire. UN deputy secretary-general Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated they won't send helicopters when there are risks of jamming or drones. The UN mission MONUSCO is expected to deploy in coming weeks from Uvira, which M23 rebels seized in December before withdrawing under US pressure, with nearly 8,000 UN peacekeepers deployed in the region.

Gaza

GHF still recruiting? -North Carolina-based UG Solutions, which provided security for the now-defunct Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, is seeking to hire Arabic-speaking contractors with combat experience. The GHF faced UN criticism over deaths of hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach its aid sites before shutting down after the October ceasefire. The firm's job listings don't specify Gaza as the work location, though Palestinians could regard any return as troubling given Amjad al-Shawa's statement that the GHF has Palestinian blood on its hands.

East Africa

Severe drought pushes East Africa towards a humanitarian emergency - Worsening drought in East Africa is affecting an estimated 4.6 million people across Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia and eastern Kenya, with drought conditions that began in September 2025 intensifying due to scarce rainfall and high temperatures. Farmers are reporting significant crop failures and livestock mortality has risen sharply, while food insecurity reached emergency levels by January 2026. Without sustained rainfall, aid agencies warn the situation could deteriorate further in coming months.

Mozanbique

Heavy floods in Mozambique turn unsafe water and malnutrition into deadly threat for children

More than 513,000 people have been affected by flooding in Mozambique as of January 20, over half of them children, according to UNICEF. More than 50,000 were forced to flee homes and shelter in 62 temporary centers, with floods threatening to push vulnerable children into acute and severe malnutrition. UNICEF is working with the Government and partners to restore critical services including safe water, sanitation, hygiene, health services, education and child protection.

February 10, 2026

Climate

SG says Global Economy Must Move Beyond GDP - UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that humanity's future requires radically transforming the global economy to stop rewarding pollution and waste. Speaking to The Guardian, he called for moving beyond GDP as a measure of progress, noting "when we destroy a forest, we are creating GDP." In January, the UN held a conference in Geneva where senior economists including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz were tasked with devising new measures that take human wellbeing, sustainability and equity into account.

UN 

How much and when will the US pay?  - The United Nations is waiting to learn how much of the nearly $4 billion owed by the United States will be paid after the Trump administration announced plans for a down payment, ABC News reports. The US owes $2.2 billion to the regular budget and $1.8 billion for peacekeeping. The Trump administration paid nothing in 2025.

Palestine - West Bank

Israeli announcements on the future of the West Bank have drawn global denunciations.   Ministerr Israel Katz vowed to "kill the idea of a Palestinian state," The Guardian reports. The measures transfer building authority in Hebron to Israeli administration, allow non-Arab property purchases, and place settlements under direct Israeli control. A joint statement by Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey warned the decisions would "inflame violence and endanger regional stability.  Israeli measures extending control over the West Bank have also drawn condemnation from the US, UK, EU and Arab nations after Defence Minister 

Syria

Detainee camps - Women and children in Syria's al-Roj camp for Islamic State detainees are facing beatings, threats and family separations during nightly raids as control transfers from Kurdish authorities to the Syrian government, Middle East Eye reports. Female detainees told MEE they are forced from tents, stripped of warm clothing and doused with water in freezing temperatures, with some beaten unconscious. Families report being asked to pay $2,000 for the return of children taken from mothers, while activists remain unsure who actually controls the camp where tens of thousands have been held since 2019.

Sudan

UNICEF reports that recent escalation of the conflict in North Darfur over 22,000 women and children accessed UNICEF-supported primary health care in the past two weeks according to a Humanitarian Flash Update In Kordofan, over 88,000 people have fled since late October with the region now hosting more than 1 million internally displaced persons.

Sudan Discusses Water Sector Support with UNICEF - Sudan's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation discussed urgent water sector reconstruction with UNICEF Country Director Whit Shelton, emphasizing that the water sector is among the most affected by RSF destruction, according to an article in Sudan Horizon. 

East and Southern AFRICA 

Child Labour - Nearly 41 million children—one in five—are engaged in child labour in Eastern and Southern Africa, accounting for almost one third of the global total, according to a new UNICEF report. While prevalence has declined from 26 percent in 2020 to 20 percent today, two thirds of children in child labour are under age 12 and 13.4 million are in hazardous work. Six in ten adolescents aged 15-17 in child labour are not attending school. UNICEF warns that recent gains remain fragile against risks from climate change, conflict and economic instability.

USA

Measles Outbreak in ICE Detention Facility - Two people detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, have been confirmed with measles, exposing children and families to one of the most contagious viruses known to medicine. Writing in STAT, infectious diseases physician Krutika Kuppalli calls the outbreak "the foreseeable result of policy choices that confine people without basic health protections." 

The outbreak comes amid a rapid measles resurgence with 588 confirmed US cases this year following 2,267 cases in 2025. During the outbreak announcement, 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father were released from the facility, illustrating how individuals can move from outbreak settings directly into communities.