This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

Ukraine: UN human rights office probe highlights civilians’ harrowing plight

Almost 76 days have elapsed since Russia invaded Ukraine, leaving countless civilians caught up in the horror of war, UN rights investigators said on Tuesday.

In its latest update, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine confirmed that more than 3,380 civilians have been killed since 24 February.

The true number of victims will likely be many thousands more, once it is safe enough for the rights monitors to access places like the devastated southern port city of Mariupol, said head of mission Matilda Bogner:

“During my recent visit to towns north of Kyiv, we documented a number of cases of sexual violence. In one town that we visited a woman was raped and killed allegedly by a Russian soldier. The same soldier then attempted to rape her neighbour. This woman’s husband intervened but was then shot by the soldier. He later died.”

Many Ukrainians continue to search for missing relatives and friends – mainly younger men – some of whom may have been taken to Belarus and then Russia, Ms. Bogner said. 

Afghanistan’s hunger crisis is deepening, action is needed now, warns WFP

In Afghanistan, more than 19 million people face acute hunger – that’s one in two people in the country, UN humanitarians warned.

Amid continuing restrictions against women and girls, many Afghan families are even less able to help themselves.

Here’s Anthea Webb, the World Food Programme’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia:

“In any situation where such an important portion of the population that women represent are unable to go to work, both because they have lost their jobs or because they are afraid to leave their house or because of newly imposed restrictions, that is bound to have a disproportionate effect on the families’ ability to feed themselves.”

Even before the Taliban takeover last August, drought triggered dire food insecurity across the country.

And although a food emergency has been averted, more than 20,000 people in north-eastern Ghor province are facing “catastrophic” levels of hunger.

So far this year the World Food Programme has reached more than 16 million of the most needy people in Afghanistan, making it the world’s largest humanitarian food operation.

Sri Lanka: Bachelet urges restraint, dialogue as violence escalates

To Sri Lanka now, and a call from UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to the authorities to prevent further violence, “after supporters of the Prime Minister attacked” and reportedly killed “peaceful protesters in Colombo”. 

The development followed months of turbulence linked to the economic crisis, which has left most people struggling to survive, according to the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Ms. Bachelet said that she had been “deeply troubled by the escalation of violence. During the flare-up seven people died, including a Member of Parliament, and over 250 were injured. 

Daniel Johnson, UN News