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Escalating Outbreak in Eastern DRC Claims Another Young LifeIn the mining town of Mongbwalu, Sadiki Patrick, a 40‑year‑old father, lost his 15‑year‑old daughter Judith to the latest Ebola flare‑up. The tragedy underscores the human cost of a disease that has resurfaced 17 times in the past 50 years.Seventeenth Ebola Outbreak Highlights Systemic GapsAuthorities identified Mongbwalu as the epicentre of the new strain. Health workers report daily deaths, delayed hospital access, and insufficient qualified staff. International experts from the Africa CDC have deployed to Bunia to bolster response efforts.Numbers Reveal a Growing Crisis>500 suspected Ebola cases recorded by the Congolese Ministry of Health.>130 confirmed deaths linked to the current outbreak.Average of one outbreak every three years over the last five decades.Previous 2018‑2020 Zaire strain outbreak killed more than 2,300 people.Underlying Drivers: Healthcare, Conflict, and EnvironmentDoctors such as Francine Mbona Pendeza point to unsafe food practices, lack of clean water, and remote, under‑resourced clinics as key accelerants. Rodriguez Kisando adds that out‑of‑pocket costs block access to care, while geopolitical analyst Gloire Koko links the epidemic cycle to armed conflict that hampers humanitarian operations. Environmental factors—deforestation and wildlife contact—create a “natural habitat” for pathogens, according to virologist Alphonsine Muhoza.Path Forward: Strengthening Surveillance and Community ResilienceSave the Children’s DRC director Greg Ramm warns that without a proactive health communication strategy, the outbreak could spiral. Experts call for:Expanded primary‑care facilities in remote areas.Free or subsidised treatment to eliminate cost barriers.Community education on safe food handling and water hygiene.Enhanced surveillance systems, leveraging data collection and risk communication teams already on the ground.While virologist Jean Jacques Muyembe acknowledges past surveillance failures, he remains confident that “we will get it under control” with coordinated effort.

The Tragedy of the 'Ceasefire': Child Casualties in LebanonThe temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has failed to provide the safety and stability promised to civilians, with Save the Children reporting a devastating toll on the region's youth. Despite the cessation of active combat, Israeli air strikes have persisted, creating a grim reality where children are not safe even under a declared truce.22 children killed and 89 injured in the first 25 days of the ceasefire.Since the escalation began on March 2, nearly 200 children have been killed.More than 1 million people have been displaced by the ongoing violence."I just want the war to end so I can go home to my village and sleep in my own bed," said Tala, a 10-year-old displaced from southern Lebanon, highlighting the profound psychological and physical toll on the youngest victims.Displacement Crisis: The Human Cost of Shelter ConditionsThe humanitarian impact extends beyond immediate casualties to a massive displacement crisis, with conditions in collective shelters deteriorating rapidly. The influx of families has overwhelmed existing infrastructure, creating a breeding ground for disease and exacerbating the suffering of those forced to flee their homes.125,000 people are currently living in collective shelters.44,800 children (36% of occupants) are among those seeking refuge.Shelter conditions are critical due to overcrowding and inadequate sanitation.Save the Children’s director for Lebanon, Nora Ingdal, noted that "attacks on civilians have not stopped – it has simply continued under another name," emphasizing that the violence is far from over.Diplomatic Deadlock: The Failure to Disarm HezbollahWhile humanitarian agencies sound the alarm, diplomatic efforts in Washington are struggling to bridge the gap between the conflicting demands of the parties involved. The core issue of Hezbollah's disarmament remains a stumbling block, threatening to derail the peace talks scheduled for Thursday and Friday.Direct talks between Lebanon and Israel are set to take place in Washington, DC.The primary objective is the disarmament of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has stated the group will not surrender its weapons.The stalemate suggests that without a resolution on the status of Hezbollah's arsenal, the "ceasefire" will likely remain a temporary pause rather than a pathway to lasting peace, leaving millions of civilians, particularly children, trapped in a cycle of fear and displacement.The Path Forward: Negotiations vs. RealityThe upcoming talks in Washington face a steep uphill battle. The international community's push for disarmament is directly opposed by Hezbollah's leadership, who view their weapons as essential to the country's defense and political standing. Unless a compromise is reached on this fundamental issue, the "ceasefire" will likely remain fragile, and the cycle of violence is likely to continue.

The Unseen Threat: Landmine Crisis Persists in Post-Truce YemenDespite a ceasefire agreement in April 2022 that largely stopped fighting between Yemen's government and Houthi forces, the country continues to face a deadly crisis from landmines and explosive remnants of war. These hidden "sleeping killers" have turned fields, roads, and villages into areas of ongoing danger, claiming the lives and limbs of civilians, particularly children, long after the formal cessation of hostilities.Personal Stories of Loss and SurvivalIn August 2023, 13-year-old Enaya Dastor was tending to her goats near her village in central Yemen's Taiz governorate when she stepped on a landmine. The explosion resulted in the amputation of her left leg, leaving her with a lifelong disability. "Landmines are sleeping killers, waiting for the innocents to step on them or move them without caution. That is how they wake up to shed blood and take human souls," Dastor told Al Jazeera.Similarly, Mohammed Mustafa lost his left leg in a landmine explosion in Taiz's Maqbna district in 2018 when he was just 20 years old. After a five-hour ambulance ride to reach medical care, he awoke in the hospital to find his leg amputated up to the knee. Despite his injuries, Mustafa has rebuilt his life as a member of the Yemeni Amputee Football Federation, a father, and a small business owner.Alarming Statistics of Child VictimsThe scale of the landmine crisis is particularly devastating for Yemen's youngest population. According to Save the Children, landmines and explosive remnants of war have killed at least 339 children and injured 843 since the 2022 truce. The organization found that nearly half of child casualties related to the conflict were due to these hidden explosives.A 2022 study by Yemeni human rights groups revealed that 534 children and 177 women were killed by mines between April 2014 and March 2022. Additionally, 854 children, 255 women, and 147 elderly people were injured during the same period across 17 Yemeni provinces, with Taiz recording the highest number of incidents. In the first half of 2025 alone, 107 civilians were killed or injured, most of them children, including five who died while playing football on a dirt field in Taiz.De-mining Efforts Face Significant ObstaclesDespite ongoing de-mining efforts, Yemen faces numerous challenges in addressing the landmine crisis. Project Masam, a de-mining team funded by Saudi Arabia, reported removing 549,452 mines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices by March 2026, clearing explosives from 7,799 hectares of land. The Danish Refugee Council has cleared more than 23,302 square meters of Yemeni land from mines and explosive remnants.However, Adel Dashela, a Yemeni researcher focusing on conflict and peace building studies, highlights several obstacles to effective de-mining: "The mines have been planted indiscriminately in different areas, and some of the territories are under the control of different armed groups, which makes them inaccessible to de-miners." Other challenges include the lack of clear maps, shortage of qualified local personnel, and insufficient modern equipment for detecting explosives. Additionally, natural phenomena like the flash floods Yemen experienced in August 2025 can sweep explosives from one area to another, complicating clearance efforts and exposing more people to risk.Humanitarian Crisis Without ResolutionThe persistence of landmines in Yemen represents a complex humanitarian crisis that extends beyond the physical dangers they pose. The presence of these explosives prevents displaced families from returning to their homes, disrupts agricultural activities, and hinders economic recovery in affected areas. For many survivors like Enaya Dastor, the physical injury is accompanied by the loss of home and community, as her family was forced to flee their village and has not returned since the explosion.The landmine crisis also reflects the broader challenges of post-conflict recovery in Yemen, where no final peace agreement has been reached to end the war that began in 2014. Without a comprehensive political solution, the country remains divided, making coordinated de-mining efforts and long-term recovery planning extremely difficult.Hope Amidst Crisis: Survivors Determined to RebuildDespite the devastating impact of landmines on their lives, many Yemeni survivors demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination to rebuild their futures. Enaya Dastor, who lost her leg at age 13, remains focused on her education and aspirations: "Today, I am in tenth grade, and I will finish high school in two years. After that, I will enrol in law college and will graduate as a lawyer. I want to defend those who face injustice.""The injury has changed how I move or walk, and separated my family from our home," Dastor said. "But it cannot disable my mind or stop my dreams." Her determination, along with the efforts of de-mining organizations and the international community, offers a glimmer of hope for Yemen's future, though the path to a mine-free country remains long and uncertain.

Immediate Aftermath of the Beit Lahia Air StrikeAn Israeli air strike targeted a group of civilians near the Al‑Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia, killing five Palestinians, including three children. Their bodies were transferred to Al‑Shifa hospital in Gaza City, confirming the fatalities.Casualty Figures and Broader Conflict Data5 people killed in this strike (3 children).Since the October cease‑fire, Gaza’s health ministry reports 786 Palestinians killed, with 32 deaths recorded in April alone.Over the two‑year war, more than 20,000 children have been killed, according to a Save the Children report.38,000 women and girls killed between October 2023 and December 2025, per UN Women.Israel is accused of 2,400 cease‑fire violations since October, including targeted strikes and blockades.Humanitarian and Political RamificationsThe strike intensifies scrutiny of Israel’s compliance with the cease‑fire agreement brokered by the United States. International bodies, including the United Nations, have repeatedly described Gaza as a “graveyard for children.” The ongoing restrictions on food, medicine, and shelter exacerbate an already desperate situation for the 2.4 million residents of Gaza.Potential Trajectory of the ConflictWith civilian casualties mounting and cease‑fire breaches continuing, pressure is likely to increase on diplomatic fronts. Humanitarian organizations may intensify calls for unrestricted aid access, while regional actors could push for renewed negotiations. However, without a clear mechanism to enforce the cease‑fire, further strikes on civilian areas remain a distinct risk.

The Barbed-Wire Blockade in Umm al-KhairIsraeli settlers have erected a barbed-wire fence in the village of Umm al-Khair, effectively trapping 55 Palestinian children away from their classrooms for over two weeks. This physical obstruction, occurring amidst a broader backdrop of intensified violence, has forced students to hold daily protests and study in makeshift outdoor classrooms.Location: Umm al-Khair, Hebron governorate.Duration: Fence erected on April 14, blocking access for 10 days (cumulative school absence now nearly 2 months).Protest Method: Daily peaceful sit-ins and outdoor classrooms.Consequences: Students exposed to tear gas during demonstrations.The Statistics of a 'Lost Generation'The current blockade is not an isolated incident but part of a grim trend affecting Palestinian youth. Aid organizations warn that the cumulative effect of violence and obstruction is creating a generation deprived of education.Current Blockade: 55 children currently unable to attend school.Recent Fatalities: Two children were killed by Israeli settlers this week alone.Overall Casualties: Over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, including more than 230 children.Save the Children’s regional director, Ahmad Alhendawi, warned that the blockade represents a 'worrying attack on children’s right to education' and that the region is at risk of seeing a 'lost generation' emerge due to the collapse of safety and schooling.The Erosion of Educational Rights in Occupied TerritoriesThe situation in Umm al-Khair underscores the deepening crisis in the occupied West Bank. The community's struggle was previously highlighted in the 2024 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, yet international attention has failed to halt the violence or land seizures.Israeli settlements and outposts built on occupied Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law. The recent violence has intensified following the establishment of a nearby outpost days after the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen. Furthermore, the road remains blocked despite schools across the West Bank being shut for 40 days following the launch of the war on Iran.Escalation of Settler Violence and International InactionThe blockade comes as settler violence reaches new heights in 2026. The most recent incident involved 16-year-old Mohammad Majdi al-Jaabari, who was killed while cycling to school after being struck by a vehicle belonging to a security convoy escorting Israeli Settlement Minister Orit Strock.With children reporting harassment and attacks while traveling to school, the future of educational access in the West Bank remains precarious. The combination of military operations, movement restrictions, and settler aggression suggests a continued deterioration of the safety and rights of Palestinian children.

Sanaa, Yemen – At 7 a.m., 14‑year‑old Qasim wakes, grabs a one‑metre‑by‑half‑metre white sack and heads out to collect plastic bottles, hoping to fill it by 11:30 a.m. A full sack can bring in up to 1,500 Yemeni riyal (≈ $3), which the family uses for daily meals. When Qasim returns home, he can briefly be a child again, playing football with neighbours. By evening, his 12‑year‑old brother Asem takes over the bottle‑collecting, selling the haul at night to cover dinner costs. For the siblings, school is a luxury they cannot afford. "I was in fourth grade in 2024, but I stopped because I needed to help my family," Qasim told Al Jazeera, wiping his cheeks. "Sitting in a classroom would not feed me," he added. The conflict that began in 2014 between Iran‑backed Houthis and the Saudi‑backed government has devastated Yemen’s education system. UNICEF estimates that 3.2 million school‑aged children are out of school, with another 1.5 million displaced children at risk of permanent dropout. Even though a cease‑fire was declared in April 2022, the war’s economic fallout persists. During the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, Yemen’s Minister of Planning Waed Badhib said the war has cost the national economy **over $250 billion** and pushed unemployment to **35 %**. Parents like Qasim’s father, 48‑year‑old daily‑wage worker Abdu, no longer see education as a viable path. "Seeing a hungry child hurts more than seeing a child drop out," he said, noting that many university graduates now work as construction guards or porters. Experts warn that this short‑term coping strategy harms long‑term prospects. Mahmoud al‑Bukari, a Taiz academic, explained that forcing children into work “creates further social and economic problems for both individuals and society.” Sociology professor Afrah al‑Humaiqani stressed that denying education violates children’s rights and breeds anxiety, undermining future economic development. Infrastructure damage compounds the crisis: more than 2,400 schools are destroyed, partially damaged, or repurposed (Save the Children). Remaining classrooms are overcrowded, and teachers—many unpaid for years—are demotivated, leading to a decline in teaching quality. Fatima Saleh, a teacher in Sanaa, described educators as the "engine" of learning. "When that engine falters, students lose interest and drop out," she said, noting that unpaid salaries force many teachers to quit or seek other work. Journalist Mohammed Abdu al‑Samei argues that the cease‑fire alone cannot revive education without addressing the underlying economic collapse. International aid has also dwindled, leaving a critical funding gap for programs that once kept children in school. For Qasim, returning to a classroom is no longer realistic. He now aims to acquire a trade—painting, carpentry, or welding—to earn a living, saying, "I will not return to the classroom, but I will learn a skill that helps my family."

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a staggering number of births, with 5.6 million children born since the start of the war in April 2023. This translates to 5,000 children a day being born in a country where millions are struggling to survive on just one meal a day.Save the Children has warned that these children are born in overcrowded shelters, under-equipped or damaged health facilities, or while their families are on the move. The charity's country director for Sudan, Mohamed Abdiladif, emphasized that children have a right to receive care and protection, even in conflict.The conflict, which began on April 15, 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 12 million, and spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. Both sides have been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, while the RSF has been implicated in atrocities in the vast Darfur region.The healthcare system in Sudan has been pushed to the edge, with widespread violence and attacks on civilian infrastructure straining the country's already fragile healthcare system. The rate of maternal deaths during childbirth has increased by more than 12 percent, from 263 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 295 per 100,000 in 2025.Save the Children has called for all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and allow access to reach families in urgent need of assistance.

Despite a United Nations-led ceasefire in Yemen, which largely reduced hostilities four years ago, nearly 1,200 children have been killed or injured due to shelling, gunfire, landmines, and other explosive remnants of war. According to Save the Children, since the truce brokered on April 2, 2022, at least 339 children have been killed and 843 injured, with some suffering life-altering injuries.The United Kingdom-based humanitarian organization found that 511 child casualties, nearly one in two, were due to landmines and explosive remnants of war. Data from the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project (CIMP) suggested that children were more than three times more likely than adults to be killed or injured by explosive remnants. Save the Children attributed this to a lack of mine risk awareness and increased exposure due to child labor.“These figures are a reminder that beyond the front lines, the war on children continues in their homes, schools and areas where they play and help their families tend to land,” said Rishana Haniffa, Save the Children’s country director in Yemen. “Amid escalating wider regional tensions, there is a real risk of triggering a wider confrontation in Yemen and the Red Sea that could undermine hard-won progress to reduce armed violence in the country in the past four years, exposing children to even more harm.”The conflict in Yemen has also led to significant psychological distress in children, with blast injuries causing permanent disabilities, including injuries to the spine, amputation of limbs, and loss of sight and hearing. Children have experienced difficulty sleeping, daily fear, and anxiety, with some, like Kamal, undergoing life-changing surgery.

A staggering 4.9 million children died in 2024, with the majority of these deaths being preventable, according to a new UN report. The report warns that aid cuts could hinder the global goal of ending preventable child deaths. Progress towards ending preventable deaths of children under five by 2030 has slowed by 60% since 2015. UN experts are calling for sustained investment in health systems to reach this target. “No child should die from diseases that we know how to prevent,” said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell. “But we see worrying signs that progress in child survival is slowing – and at a time where we’re seeing further global budget cuts.” The report highlights that Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have persistently had the worst rates of child death, largely due to newborn deaths. The most common causes of death were premature birth, pneumonia, and trauma during birth. Infectious diseases, including malaria, were also a major cause. 100,000 children died directly from severe acute malnutrition – with the highest numbers in Pakistan, Somalia, and Sudan. Aid cuts are threatening to close lifesaving facilities, humanitarian workers warn. “We are not moving far enough or fast enough and leaving 5 million [children] under the age of five vulnerable,” said Abdurahman Sharif, senior humanitarian affairs director at Save the Children. Aid cuts have affected 6,600 health facilities, with a third forced to close. Experts warn that without sustained investment, progress in reducing child deaths will slow further, and gains could begin to reverse.