Global crises persist in Europe, Africa and Middle East

By Nathan Morley

Conflicts and humanitarian emergencies continue across the Middle East, Ukraine and Africa.

As the world waits for a reported U.S.–Iran agreement to take effect, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz remain a central concern.

UN economists warn that global stocks of fuel and fertilizers are at “dangerously low levels,” raising concerns about reduced food production.

Strategic fuel reserves have fallen to 357 million barrels per day, among the lowest since the early 1980s.

A northern‑hemisphere heatwave linked to El Niño is adding pressure, and any further restriction of traffic through Hormuz could lead to sharper global shortages.

Four months of violence and displacement are having a severe impact on women and girls. UNFPA reports that more than 1.4 million people — over 20 percent of the population — are now displaced, including an estimated 16,000 pregnant women.

Damage to health facilities is limiting access to maternal and reproductive care, and overcrowded shelters are leaving many women reluctant to seek treatment.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine shows no sign of abating.

Ukraine launched another strike on Moscow on Monday as it seeks to pressure President Vladimir Putin to end the four‑year war.

A drone attack last week damaged an oil refinery in one of the largest strikes on the capital since Russia’s full‑scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

UN monitors say May 2026 recorded the highest monthly civilian casualty toll in four years. 

In Sudan, heavy fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has entered its fourth year, with widespread violations of international law, including systematic sexual violence.

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The UN Human Rights Council says both sides continue to inflict severe suffering on civilians, using drones against critical infrastructure and, most recently, striking civilians attending a funeral.

Between January and May 2026, more than 1,000 civilians were killed by drone attacks, accounting for 80 percent of all conflict‑related civilian deaths so far this year.