Preliminary reports indicate that at least 13 civilians, including women and children, were killed and seven injured in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan.
Further strikes in Paktika province resulted in damage to buildings, including a school and a residential property, although no casualties were reported in that incident. The UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged all parties to cease hostilities to protect civilians and prevent further loss of life, reminding them of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Crete; Dozens Feared Dead or Missing
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 30 migrants are feared dead or missing after a boat capsized in severe weather off the coast of Greece on Saturday. The vessel, which had departed from Tobruk on February 19, overturned approximately 20 nautical miles south of Kali Limenes, Crete. Twenty individuals were rescued, including four minors, and authorities recovered the bodies of four victims.
The IOM highlighted that this year has seen the deadliest start to the year on the Mediterranean Sea route since records began in 2014, with at least 606 migrants having died or gone missing so far. The agency is advocating for enhanced search and rescue operations, increased regional cooperation, and expanded safe migration pathways.
UN Experts Urge Justice Ahead of Brazil Murder Trial
Independent UN human rights experts have called for justice and accountability in Brazil ahead of the Supreme Court trial for the alleged masterminds behind the 2018 murders of a Rio de Janeiro politician and her driver. The experts emphasized the importance of fairness and transparency in the judicial process for councillor Mariella Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes.
They stated that the trial is a crucial step in addressing systemic impunity for racism, discrimination, and violence against human rights defenders, women, people of African descent, and LGBTIQ+ individuals in Brazil. The experts noted that the eight-year delay to reach this final judicial stage is shocking. While welcoming previous convictions of some perpetrators, they stressed that accountability for those involved in the planning and cover-up of the murders is essential for full justice and to prevent future violence.
