UN News Today 12 June 2026 |

UN chief Guterres warns of consequences if Middle East crisis spirals again

Amid reports of a possible new deal to halt hostilities between Iran and the United States, the UN Secretary-General has once again expressed deep concern at the escalation in the Middle East.

His comments followed the strikes by the US on Iran which for its part targeted neighbouring countries in the Gulf and beyond.

These actions represent a “significant increase in hostile rhetoric”, António Guterres said. 

Instead of violence, the UN Secretary-General urged a return to “full implementation of the ceasefire” and the avoidance of “any further deterioration” that could trigger a full resumption of the conflict.

This would have “unpredictable consequences for the region and the world, especially the most vulnerable countries”, Mr. Guterres said, in a statement issued by his Spokesperson.

DR Congo: Ebola spreads as agencies brace for child infections

The deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is continuing to spread, with a spike in child infections increasingly likely in coming days.

That’s the warning from UN humanitarians who said on Friday that the scale of the emergency is much bigger than what the limited tracking data shows.

With more, here’s Dr Olivier le Polain, from the World Health Organization, WHO: 

“The full scale of the outbreak is not yet clear and we’ll get more clarity as surveillance improves, as testing improves…We’re now at just over 70 per cent in terms of the contacts that are being appropriately traced. That’s a huge improvement from where we were about a week or two ago, but it’s still too low to ensure appropriate control.”

It’s been around three weeks since national health authorities confirmed a new Ebola emergency in eastern DRC.

A total of 676 cases have been reported including 136 deaths from the rare and deadly Bundibugyo species that’s behind this outbreak.

Those leading the response are particularly worried for children as many are malnourished and unvaccinated against preventable illness.

This has made them extremely vulnerable to disease in the resource-rich region where a humanitarian crisis is ongoing, caused by decades of fighting between Congolese forces and armed militia.

Haiti opens first State-supported safe house for survivors of sexual violence

To Haiti, where the first State-supported safe house has opened for survivors of sexual violence, with the help of the UN.

It’s a small but welcome step in supporting victims of an increasing number of attacks whose aim is to terrorize and control communities, gender equality agency UN Women says.

Speaking from Port au Prince, the agency’s Marie Goretti Nduwayo, said that gang violence used to be concentrated in the capital but was “now spreading across the country” and forcing people from their homes.

The result is deep and lasting trauma – mainly for women and girls:

“The violence that they survive, followed them every day and every night, even as they sleep. The memories, of their houses being burnt down or guns following them into the forest of family members and friends killed in front of them…Today extortion at illegal checkpoints atgang-controlled roads, repetitive kidnaping and sexual violence have left women and girls fearing for their safety and leaving them unable to even take part in daily life.”

Ms. Goretti Nduwayo cited data showing that sexual violence surged by 163 per cent in 2025, compared with the previous year.

This includes approximately 1,670 women and nearly 200 girls.

UN Women supports all women and girls in Haiti by working with the authorities to provide lifesaving support and help them rebuild their lives.

This includes Haiti’s first State-backed safe house, which represents an important milestone confronting gender-based violence, the agency insisted.

Daniel Johnson, UN News