MIDDLE EAST LIVE 19 March: Civilians bear the brunt as strikes and displacement rise

A young child warms their hands over a small fire built from concrete blocks in a parking lot, with tents and other displaced people visible in the background in Beirut, Lebanon on March 9, 2026.

A young child warms himself over a small fire in a Beirut parking lot hosting displaced families from southern Lebanon and other parts of the country.

MIDDLE EAST LIVE 19 March: Civilians bear the brunt as strikes and displacement rise

19 March 2026 Peace and Security

Ongoing strikes across the Middle East stemming from the US-Israeli bombing of Iran and subsequent counterstrikes in the Gulf by Tehran continue to drive humanitarian needs, civilian casualties and mass displacement. Concerns are also growing over maritime security, the economic crisis centred around the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, attacks on healthcare and the protection of critical infrastructure, including nuclear facilities. Stay with us for live updates from across the UN system. App users can follow coverage here.

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News Tracker: Past Stories on This Issue

Smoke rises from a building hit by bombing on March 12, 2026, in the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon.

MIDDLE EAST LIVE 18 March: Lebanon displacement tops one million as nuclear safety concerns raised

18 March 2026

Peace and Security

The crisis in the Middle East continues, with ongoing strikes and rising humanitarian needs. The UN nuclear watchdog reported Wednesday that a projectile struck the site of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, although no casualties have been reported. In Lebanon, the humanitarian situation is worsening, with hundreds reported killed and more than one million people displaced. UN agencies are scaling up emergency assistance despite mounting challenges. Stay with us for live updates from across the UN system. App users can follow coverage here.

Nils Melzer, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, speaking at a formal meeting.

Middle East war risks undermining Syria’s fragile recovery, Security Council hears

18 March 2026

Peace and Security

The international community must step up efforts to support Syria amid the current conflict raging in the Middle East, two senior UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday.