Additionally, some 117,000 people have sought refuge in another country, Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for the UN secretary-general, told a daily briefing, citing the UN Refugee Agency.
Dujarric said that, according to UN humanitarians, the Middle East region is home to some of the largest numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance globally. “The recent escalation risks deepening civilian suffering and causing further damage to already fragile civilian infrastructure.”
The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are continuing to provide humanitarian aid to people impacted across several countries and remain ready to ramp up response in support of national authorities where needed, he said.
People search for daily necessities from damaged buildings in Tehran, Iran, March 12, 2026.
According to Wildlife SOS, the elephant, named Veer, had reportedly endured years of exploitation, including being used as a “begging” elephant on the streets, a practice that often exposes animals to harsh conditions, overwork and inadequate medical care.
Responding to the urgent situation, Wildlife SOS mobilized a specialized veterinary team late last month to rescue the injured animal and transport him to safety.
The remarkably tall, exceptionally calm and endearingly curious Veer would keep peeping and popping out his trunk over the ambulance every few minutes. Photo by Wildlife SOS
For the mission, the organization deployed its newly commissioned elephant ambulance, marking the vehicle’s first field rescue. Designed specifically for long-distance elephant transfers, the ambulance is equipped with advanced safety and stabilization systems to ensure the safe transport of injured elephants.
The vehicle includes specially designed access points that allow veterinary technicians to administer medication and monitor vital signs while maintaining a safe distance. Inside, the ambulance is structured to provide stability and reduce stress for the animal during travel. Since elephants must remain standing during transport, supportive straps and harnesses allow them to shift weight away from injured limbs.
“This rescue represents both urgency and hope,” said Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS USA. “For decades, ‘begging’ elephants have endured unthinkable physical and psychological trauma. With our new elephant ambulance and expert veterinary team, we are able to respond faster and more safely than ever before.”
Veer displayed no unrest around the Wildlife SOS team, and remained engrossed with the abundance of food offered to him. Photo by Wildlife SOS
Upon reaching Veer, the medical team conducted an examination and provided immediate treatment before beginning the transport. Because elephants must stand while the vehicle is moving, the team made regular stops during the multi-day journey so the animal could rest and lie down.
Veer was eventually transported to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, located at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, where he will receive specialized treatment and long-term care.
Wildlife SOS is also spearheading an international campaign to end the exploitation of elephants used for street begging in India. The initiative aims to rescue and rehabilitate all such elephants by 2030, many of whom suffer from chronic injuries, malnutrition and untreated illnesses.
The organization currently cares for more than 30 rescued elephants at its conservation facility.
“Veer’s rescue is a powerful reminder of why this work matters,” Sharp said. “Because of our supporters, he now has access to the specialized treatment and long-term care he urgently needs.”
A brighter chapter has opened up in Veer’s life, filled with nourishing care and affection. Photo by Wildlife SOSVeer was offered a lot of cucumbers to keep up his hydration levels. Photo by Wildlife SOSWhile the team faced an unexpected turn of events when the ambulance tyres sunk into the mud, caregivers made the best of the situation by creating a mud bed for Veer to aid his sleep. Photo by Wildlife SOSThe remarkably tall, exceptionally calm and endearingly curious Veer would keep peeping and popping out his trunk over the ambulance every few minutes. Photo by Wildlife SOSWildlife SOS rushed to prepare the animal ambulance by sanitising it thoroughly and stocking it with fresh edibles for the elephant thereafter. Photo by Wildlife SOSThe gentle giant was forced to walk on concrete roads, bearing goods on his back under the scorching sun. Photo by Wildlife SOS
In a statement released on Thursday, the federation highlighted that the appointment ‘reflects Rwanda’s continued commitment to strengthening football structures and achieving excellence on the continental and global stage’.
Coach Constantine is set to take charge of the Amavubi squad on Monday, March 16, 2026, and will immediately begin preparations with the existing team ahead of the FIFA Series Tournament scheduled later this month in Kigali City.
FERWAFA announced that further details regarding technical plans, strategic objectives, and the roadmap for the teams will be shared during an official press conference planned for next week.
Stephen Constantine previously served as the team’s head coach between 2014 and 2015 before leaving to take charge of the India national football team.
During his earlier stint with Amavubi, Constantine had been tasked with preparing the team for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which was hosted in Rwanda. After his departure, Rwanda went on to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament.
He returns to Rwanda at a time when the country is ranked 131st in the FIFA rankings, compared with 68th when he left the role, the highest position Rwanda has ever achieved in its history. During his tenure, Amavubi remained unbeaten at home.
In the seven matches played during that period, the team lost only one, against Congo national football team, while drawing two games against Burundi national football team and Morocco national football team.
In 2025, Constantine expressed his continued appreciation for Rwanda after defeating Nigeria national football team on their home ground. He described Rwanda as a country that has made progress in football with talented players.
Stephen Constantine has been confirmed as new Amavubi head coach.
Data shared with IGIHE shows that between January 1 and March 11, 2026, disasters including lightning strikes, landslides and floods claimed lives in different parts of the country.
Among the victims, 14 people were killed by lightning, while five died in fires. Floods and landslides each killed three people, while two people died after houses collapsed. One person lost their life in a disaster linked to mining activities.
MINEMA also reported that besides the fatalities, 75 people have been injured since the start of the year, while 297 houses were damaged.
The disasters also destroyed crops on 220 hectares of land, killed 25 cows and nine other livestock, and damaged public infrastructure.
According to the ministry, the incidents also destroyed eight school classrooms, 14 roads, 22 electricity lines, and 22 bridges. In addition, one church and one market were damaged.
Recently, Rwanda’s Meteorological Agency warned that March 2026 is expected to receive above-average rainfall, which could increase the risk of disasters.
The meteorological agency said rainfall during the month could be slightly higher than the usual average, increasing soil moisture levels.
While this may benefit agricultural activities at the beginning of the Season B planting period, it could also bring strong winds and thunderstorms capable of triggering disasters, especially in areas where the ground is already saturated.
Forecasts indicate that rainfall between 100 and 350 millimeters is expected in the first and second ten-day periods of March, slightly above the usual average for those periods. Between March 21 and 31, rainfall is expected to return to normal levels ranging between 89 and 292 millimeters.
The Minister in charge of Emergency Management, Albert Murasira, recently urged residents to take precautions against disasters linked to heavy rains, particularly those living in high-risk zones.
He also called on people living in wetlands and high-risk zones to relocate to safer areas to avoid putting their lives in danger, stressing that long-term measures are being implemented to ensure communities do not settle in hazardous locations.
MINEMA has reported that disasters claimed 28 lives in Rwanda since start of 2026.
From March 9 to 11, 2026, Kigali hosted a meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference bringing together bishops from both countries to discuss cooperation and ways to address challenges affecting communities, particularly Christian faithful.
Speaking to the media, Bishop Joachim Ntahondereye of Muyinga Diocese and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Burundi, encouraged believers from both nations not to lose hope despite the prolonged border closure.
“Our message to Christians in Rwanda and Burundi at a time when the border between the two countries is closed is that they should not lose hope because no rain falls without eventually stopping,” he said.
“As the saying goes, every rain passes. The issues that led to the closure of the border will also pass, and people will once again travel, cooperate and support one another as they used to.”
Bishop Ntahondereye also urged those who have the means to continue using air travel, which remains open between the two countries, so they can keep sharing ideas, develop joint initiatives and help strengthen peace between Rwanda and Burundi.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Rwanda, said the arrival of Burundian bishops in Kigali by plane was itself a sign that the people of the two nations remain closely connected despite the border closure.
“It is strong testimony that we must work together to find solutions,” Cardinal Kambanda said. “We must do so as people who understand one another, because we have more to gain from living in harmony than from living in conflict.”
Burundi closed its land borders with Rwanda in January 2024, citing security concerns. Although air travel between the two countries has continued, the closure has significantly disrupted cross-border trade and movement of people who have long relied on ties between the neighboring nations.
Bishop Joachim Ntahondereye of Muyinga Diocese and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Burundi, encouraged believers from both nations not to lose hope despite the prolonged border closure.Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Rwanda, stressed the need for people from both countries to remain connected. Eight Catholic bishops from Burundi spent three days in Rwanda.
In a new assessment, the council estimates that disruptions to air travel, declining traveller confidence and reduced regional connectivity are costing the sector about $600 million per day in international visitor spending.
“Travel & Tourism is the most resilient of sectors,” the WTTC said, noting that losses across the region currently average “around US$600 million per day.”
The Middle East plays a significant role in global travel flows, accounting for roughly 5% of international tourist arrivals worldwide and 14% of global transit passenger traffic. As a result, any instability quickly reverberates across the international travel network.
Major aviation hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama, which together normally process more than half a million passengers daily, have experienced temporary closures and operational disruptions as tensions escalate. The WTTC had projected that international visitors would spend about $207 billion in the Middle East in 2026, meaning even short-term interruptions could translate into significant economic losses for airlines, airports, hotels and other tourism services.
Despite the challenges, the organization says the sector has historically shown strong resilience, with tourism demand often rebounding within months when governments and industry coordinate efforts to restore traveller confidence and ensure safety.
The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that disruptions to air travel, declining traveller confidence and reduced regional connectivity are costing the sector about $600 million per day in international visitor spending.
The one-day gathering, held under the theme “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact,” brought together policymakers, development institutions, business leaders and investors to discuss ways to accelerate Africa’s participation in global trade while expanding commerce within the continent.
African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa Kennedy Mbekeani said that global developments in recent years had highlighted the need for Africa to strengthen regional integration.
He added that risk perception was often discouraging investment on the continent. “That perception is sometimes intentional,” he said. “They will continue to tell us that Africa is risky so that they can yield as much as they can from us.”
During a panel discussion, Botswanan Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Tiroeaone Ntsima said African countries could benefit from opening borders and jointly financing cross-border projects.
He highlighted the need for stronger coordination between neighboring countries, saying that trade routes and cross-border facilities needed to be simplified to make it easier for businesses and people to move goods.
Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare said fragmentation remained a key obstacle to trade, both between and within countries.
She stressed the need for data to be shared seamlessly between regions and agencies to reduce trade bottlenecks.
Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga said that African economies should support each other through stronger investment and trade ties.
Regional Economic Communities (RECs) were intended to eliminate trade barriers among member states but were often undermined by restrictions imposed by countries themselves, the minister noted.
“The RECs are not performing the way they’re supposed to perform because we are coming up with non-tariff barriers deliberately to choke each other’s trade,” he said.
The minister urged governments and businesses to strengthen cross-border investment and cooperation across the continent.
“We need to encourage inter-country investment and business into business … never compete against each other but complement each other,” he added.
Africa Trade Conference has urged stronger regional integration to boost intra-African trade
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola confirmed during a media briefing that Bozell was called in to explain “undiplomatic remarks” that disregarded established protocols and judicial sovereignty.
Lamola emphasized that while South Africa welcomes active public diplomacy, foreign envoys must respect international etiquette and the country’s sovereignty.
Speaking at a meeting in South Africa’s Western Cape Province on Tuesday, Bozell accused the South African government, led by the ruling African National Congress, of practicing “racial discrimination” against white people.
He also criticized South Africa’s participation in the BRICS mechanism, its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its friendly ties with Iran.
Bozell’s remarks drew widespread criticism in South Africa. The influential black nationalist left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters party called on the government to declare Bozell persona non grata and expel him from the country.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the office in January 2025, relations between the United States and South Africa have remained strained across political, economic and diplomatic fronts.
In March 2025, Trump nominated conservative activist Bozell, a long-time critic of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, as U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Bozell arrived in the country in February this year to take up the post.
Bozell accused the South African government, led by the ruling African National Congress, of practicing “racial discrimination” against white people.
Residents in Tel Aviv reported loud blasts as Israel’s state-owned Kan TV news said debris hit several locations in the area. The country’s rescue service, Magen David Adom, said its teams were on their way to search for possible injuries at sites where missile hits or fragments had been reported.
The attacks followed large-scale Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday night, while Hezbollah targeted northern Israel for hours with rocket barrages.
According to Israeli military officials, Hezbollah militants fired about 100 rockets and several drones at northern Israel, while Iran simultaneously launched several missiles at the north as well as other areas.
Impacts were reported and at least two civilians were lightly injured, Magen David Adom said.
The fights came as the regional conflict, triggered by the U.S.-Israeli joint military strikes on Iran, stretched into its 13th day.
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beiruts southern suburbs on March 11, 2026. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of the Iranian supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes. Israel, which kept up strikes targeting Hezbollah despite a 2024 ceasefire, has since launched attacks across Lebanon and sent ground troops into border areas. (Photo by AFP) /
“You just said it is a little excursion and you said it is a war. So, which one is it?” Trump was asked by one of the reporters traveling with him in the U.S. state of Ohio.
“Well, it’s both,” Trump answered. “It’s an excursion that will keep us out of a war, and the war is going to be, I mean for them it’s a war.”
Addressing House Republicans on Monday, Trump described the military operation against Iran as a “short-term excursion” while later vowing to “go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory.” He has also demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
Though Trump said earlier on Wednesday that the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran will end “soon” because there is “practically nothing left to target,” Axios reported.
U.S. and Israeli officials said that they are preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes in Iran, and that there has been no internal directive on when such strikes might stop, according to the report.
More than 1,300 civilians have been killed and 9,669 civilian sites destroyed in Iran in U.S.-Israeli strikes since Feb. 28, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, said Tuesday.
People attend a protest against U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in San Francisco, the United States, Feb. 28, 2026.
