UN News
UN News - Global perspective Human stories

Global perspective Human stories

UN warns of worsening human rights crisis in Mali after deadly attacks

The human rights situation in Mali is rapidly deteriorating following coordinated attacks by armed groups across the country, with civilians killed, displaced and cut off from food and aid, UN rights office OHCHR said on Tuesday.

5 May 2026

Human spread of hantavirus not ruled out on cruise ship

Hantavirus victims on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean may have been infected prior to joining the cruise and human-to-human transmission on board cannot be ruled out – although it is rare - the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

5 May 2026

In Lebanon, the same fears and dangers persist despite ceasefire: UNHCR

Death and destruction have continued unabated in Lebanon while communities are still unable to return to their homes despite a ceasefire that began on 17 April, humanitarians said on Tuesday.

5 May 2026

Education or food? Funding shortfalls force Sudanese refugees in Egypt to ‘make very difficult decisions’

Civilians who have fled the war in Sudan and sought shelter in neighbouring Egypt could potentially face a new battle – the loss of critical services that ensure their survival, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has warned. 

5 May 2026

UN leads call to prepare ‘for when digital systems fail’

It can be annoying when the wifi signal is cut, but what about if everything digital we rely on were to crash suddenly – from satellites to life-support systems in hospitals?

5 May 2026

Safe pathways key to reducing risk for migrants

Restricting migration does not stop people from moving. It often pushes them into more dangerous routes.

5 May 2026

World News in Brief: Gulf tensions rise, Gaza health needs ‘staggering’, skills gap threat

The UN has expressed deep concern over escalating security incidents in the Gulf, warning that recent attacks risk undermining efforts to maintain regional stability.

5 May 2026

LIVE: 2026 World Press Freedom Day

Media freedom is not a given and its absence frequently leaves communities and vulnerable individuals in danger. To mark World Press Freedom Day, we’ll be hearing from UN agencies, along with war correspondents and reporters who face major obstacles trying to do their job. The aim is to get a better understanding about what press freedom means in practice and why it is worth defending.  

4 May 2026

Uncertainty continues over safety in the Strait of Hormuz

Amid claims and counter-claims of strikes and confrontations in the crucial Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the United States, UN maritime officials continue to urge vessels to exercise “maximum caution”.

4 May 2026

WHO leads response to cruise ship hantavirus outbreak

An outbreak of deadly hantavirus aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has triggered an international public health response.

4 May 2026