The UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has reported a significant increase in military activity in Gaza in recent weeks, leading to heightened casualties and displacement. Residents like Ahmed Talal, living near areas of Israeli control, describe intense conflict, with his family having been displaced 12 times.
Independent Experts Warn of Escalating ‘Settler Terror’
Independent UN human rights experts have issued a warning regarding the escalating violence by Israeli settlers across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. A group of 13 Special Rapporteurs appointed by the Human Rights Council highlighted that these attacks are increasingly forcing the displacement of Palestinian communities. The experts reported that at least 13 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 500 injured in the first five months of the year. They specifically noted growing risks of displacement and settlement expansion in Area C of the West Bank, with the Jordan Valley and South Hebron Hills facing particular pressure. Communities like Umm al-Kheir have experienced repeated raids, demolitions, and damage to infrastructure, compounded by restrictions on access to essential services. The rapporteurs have urged Israel to halt support for settlements and settler violence, ensure accountability, and enhance protection for Palestinian communities.
UN Chief Advocates for Development Reform Support Amid Funding Concerns
The UN Secretary-General emphasized on Monday that reforms to the UN development system have enhanced its coherence, accountability, and alignment with national priorities. However, he cautioned that diminishing funding could jeopardize this progress. Addressing the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), he noted that 94 percent of governments now perceive UN development support as effective, with a significant increase in the recognition of Resident Coordinators’ roles. The UN Development System reported significant achievements in 2025, including providing food assistance to 121 million people and vaccinating 191 million children. Despite these successes, the Secretary-General warned that declining development financing is leaving the UN system under-resourced, urging Member States to provide more stable and flexible funding to meet the 2030 deadline.
Cindy McCain Departs WFP, Carl Skau Takes Helm
Secretary-General António Guterres commended Cindy McCain for her leadership at the World Food Programme (WFP), crediting her with transforming the agency into a more agile and effective organization in combating global hunger. Under her tenure, WFP sustained life-saving operations for nearly 100 million people annually, strengthened accountability, advanced humanitarian diplomacy, and expanded partnerships. Carl Skau, who has served as WFP’s Deputy Executive Director, has been appointed to lead the agency. With extensive operational expertise, Skau is positioned to guide WFP through the significant challenge of acute food insecurity affecting over 360 million people globally.
UN Experts Condemn Child Marriage Legitimation in Afghanistan
A panel of UN independent child rights experts has strongly condemned the de facto Taliban authorities in Afghanistan for a new decree that legitimizes child marriage and interprets a girl’s silence as consent. This policy, which allows the marriage of girls upon reaching puberty, is described as a grave violation of international human rights law and incompatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The experts stated that any framework normalizing child marriage violates children’s rights and undermines their dignity and future opportunities. This decree is seen as part of a broader pattern of discriminatory measures by the Taliban, impacting girls’ education and women’s rights.
