UN News Today 30 March 2026 |

Peacekeeper killed in Israeli-Hezbollah clashes in Lebanon 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the killing of a UN peacekeeper amid hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon on Sunday. 

The Indonesian blue helmet served with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Another peacekeeper was critically injured and airlifted to a hospital in the capital, Beirut, where he is recovering. 

The development comes as the conflict in the Middle East enters a second month following US-Israeli bombing of Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran on several countries in the region. 

Here’s UNIFIL Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel, speaking from the mission’s headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon. 

“We’ve launched an investigation to determine what happened, and expert peacekeepers have been on scene to examine the evidence. There will be a process that unfolds that involves also talking to the parties for any information that they may have. So that process will take place, and it will take some time.  And depending on the result, if we find a party responsible, we will let them know and we will formally protest that to them.” 

The Secretary-General called on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times. 

Yemen: UN envoy decries Houthi decision to attack Israeli 

Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has expressed concern after Houthi rebels said they will engage in the regional war by launching attacks against Israel. 

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been battling Yemeni Government forces, who are backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for control of the country for more than a decade.  

Mr. Grundberg warned that “this escalatory action” risks drawing Yemen into the Middle East war.  

The move would only make it harder to resolve the conflict in Yemen, deepen the economic consequences, and prolong the suffering of civilians. 

He stressed that no single actor has the right to unilaterally drag the country into a wider conflict. 

The UN envoy is engaging with Yemeni, regional and international stakeholders.  He urged all parties, particularly the Houthis, to use diplomatic and mediation channels to de-escalate and prevent further regional spillover. 

UN urges action to transform inefficient food systems 

Every year, the world throws away roughly a billion tonnes of food that is absolutely safe to eat. Around 60 per cent of food waste happens at the household level while the rest comes mostly from food service and retail. 

The issue is in the spotlight on Monday, the International Day of Zero Waste. 

The staggering amount of edible food that we toss out is the result of inefficient food systems – from production to distribution to consumption.  

As “Zero Waste Starts on Your Plate,” the UN is calling for transforming food systems to be more efficient, resilient and sustainable. 

For example, governments can advance climate and biodiversity plans along with national policies that support these objectives. 

Businesses can set measurable food waste reduction targets and integrate them into existing sustainability commitments. 

Meanwhile, consumers can improve how they buy, store and prepare food to both cut waste and save resources. 

Dianne Penn, UN News.