Gaza war’s terrible toll on women and girls highlights ongoing crisis

17/04/2026 0

The war in Gaza has inflicted a far higher toll on women and girls than in previous conflicts in the Palestinian enclave, with more than 38,000 killed by Israeli air bombardment and land military operations since Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel sparked the war in October 2023, UN Women said on Friday.

MIDDLE EAST LIVE 17 April: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire begins

17/04/2026 0

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect at midnight in Beirut, offering a pause in hostilities after weeks of fighting. The UN Secretary-General has welcomed the agreement and urged all parties to respect it, expressing hope it could open the way for further negotiations. Stay with us for live updates on developments on the ground and diplomatic efforts. App users can follow coverage here.

New food alert platform helps humanitarians combat hunger

17/04/2026 0

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) released its next-generation platform on Thursday known as HungerMap Live, a digital monitoring and intelligence site that integrates food security data with predictive modelling to help fight hunger in more than 50 countries.

MIDDLE EAST LIVE 16 April: All eyes on mooted Israel-Lebanon talks

16/04/2026 0

Amid reports of high-level talks later today between Israel and Lebanon, intense Israeli military strikes continued in southern Lebanese territory, including around the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil. Hezbollah rocket fire continued into northern Israel also. In other developments, the US military announced on Wednesday that it had prevented 10 ships from navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, in line with its blockade of Iranian ports. Meanwhile, the Iranian military reportedly pledged to extend disruption to shipping to the Red Sea. Stay with us for live updates on this and UN agencies. App users can follow coverage here.