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Daily Wrap 17 April 2026

MIDDLE EAST LIVE 17 April: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire begins; Iran announces opening of Strait of Hormuz 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. He also welcomed Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open to commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire, calling it a step in the right direction. Stay with us for live updates. App users can follow coverage here. Read more Peace and Security Sudan: Three quarters of women feel unsafe as war rages on Across war-torn Sudan, women and girls “are telling a consistent story of continued experience of danger, and risks for gender-based violence” whether when fleeing to safety or arriving at displacement camps, a senior official with the UN reproductive and sexual health agency UNFPA said on Friday. Read more Women World News in Brief: Myanmar amnesty, rising needs in Afghanistan, another power loss at Ukraine nuclear plant Authorities in Myanmar released the country’s ousted president from prison on Friday, along with some 4,000 other people, as part of an amnesty to mark the traditional New Year festival. Read more Peace and Security More than half of Haitians continue to face food crisis 5.8 million Haitians, or roughly 52 per cent of the population, are facing crisis levels of food insecurity, or worse. Of those, more than 1.8 million are dealing with emergency levels, which means they are exhausting their last assets and unable to meet even basic food needs. Read more Humanitarian Aid UNESCO grants ‘enhanced protection’ to cultural heritage sites in the Middle East   Since the Middle East war started on 28 February, several sites of major cultural significance have come under attack in Israel, Iran and Lebanon. Ensuring their protection is the task of the UN agency for education, science and culture, UNESCO.  Read more Culture and Education ‘Slaughtered like goats’: Despair and abandonment in South Sudan Senior UN officials painted a sorry picture of South Sudan on Friday at the Security Council, describing political turmoil, rising violence, hunger and disease, amid budget cuts that are limiting the ability of the UN peacekeeping mission to protect civilians. Read more Peace and Security As the ‘world court’ turns 80, Guterres says law must prevail over force The world is at a “moment of crisis” and countries must reaffirm commitment to international law amid rising violations and geopolitical tensions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at an event on Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).  Read more Law and Crime Prevention Shockwaves of Middle East war reach Caribbean as food prices soar Six weeks since war erupted in the Middle East, the shockwaves have spread to the Caribbean region, already pushed to the brink, amid fears of a looming El Niño-linked climate disaster. Read more Climate and Environment Record number of Rohingya refugees died at sea in 2025: UNHCR In 2025, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, making it the deadliest year on record in South and Southeast Asia, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. Read more Peace and Security More than 38,000 women and girls killed in Gaza war, UN gender equality agency reports 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. Read more Women

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