MIDDLE EAST LIVE 20 March: Energy shocks deepen as strikes hit infrastructure

20 March 2026 Peace and Security

The crisis in the Middle East continues, with strikes and counter-strikes reported across the region, driving civilian casualties, displacement and rising humanitarian needs. Energy assets in Gulf States continue to be hit, with serious long-term damaged reportedly sustained at Qatar's Ras Laffan gas hub. Oil prices remain above $100 a barrel, underscoring the growing global economic impact. 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

A long line of colorful autorickshaws waits on a paved road in Sri Lanka to refuel during a fuel shortage crisis.

Middle East war shockwaves ripple through Asia-Pacific fuel and supply chains

19 March 2026

Peace and Security

The fallout from the war in the Middle East is rippling far beyond the Gulf, disrupting fuel supplies, shipping routes and supply chains across Asia and the Pacific, with some of the region’s most vulnerable economies already feeling the strain through rising prices, rationing and threats to jobs, food security and remittances.

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.

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.