Daily Peace and Crisis Report

Compiled February 21, 2026, 08:02 AEDT

Gaza/Palestine

The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to deepen, with independent analysis suggesting the death toll has surpassed 75,000. A study published in The Lancet Global Health estimates 75,200 violent deaths occurred between October 7, 2023, and January 5, 2025, a figure 34.7% higher than the Gaza Ministry of Health's reported 49,090 for the same period (Al Jazeera). The Gaza Health Ministry's latest figures, as of February 16, 2026, report at least 72,063 fatalities and 171,726 injuries since the conflict began (OCHA). The UN Human Rights Office has also raised concerns about ethnic cleansing and has documented at least 463 deaths from starvation, including 157 children (OHCHR).

In the West Bank, violence persists. Between February 3 and 16, 2026, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, bringing the total to nine killed in 2026. Since October 7, 2023, 17 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to cross the Barrier (OCHA).

Internationally, U.S. President Donald Trump convened the first meeting of his "Board of Peace" on February 19, 2026, announcing $7 billion in pledges for Gaza's reconstruction and a $10 billion U.S. contribution. The board, which includes Israel and several Arab states but no Palestinian representative, aims to oversee the fragile ceasefire and future stabilization efforts (NPR).

Russia/Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has now entered its fourth year, with civilian harm demonstrably worsening in 2025 and 2026. Since February 2022, over 15,172 civilians have been killed and 41,378 injured. In 2025 alone, there were 2,526 civilian deaths and 12,162 injuries, a 31% increase from 2024 (ReliefWeb/OHCHR). Recent fighting has been intense, with Russian forces launching 448 attacks on 34 settlements in the Zaporizhia region in a single day, injuring a six-year-old child (Al Jazeera). A recent study suggests the combined military casualties for both sides could be as high as 1.8 million, potentially reaching 2 million by spring 2026 (CSIS).

Sudan

As Sudan's civil war marks 1,000 days, the conflict has created the world's largest displacement and hunger crises. Death toll estimates vary widely, with some suggesting as many as 400,000 have been killed since April 2023 (CFR). In El Fasher, Darfur, a UN-backed fact-finding mission found "hallmarks of genocide" in atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late 2025 (UN Press). The UN reports that between 10,000 and 15,000 people were killed in El Geneina, West Darfur, in 2023 due to ethnic violence by the RSF and allied militias. Over 30 million people in Sudan now require humanitarian assistance.

Other Crises

Somalia: The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that its life-saving food and nutrition assistance could halt by April 2026 due to a severe funding shortfall. The country is facing a national drought emergency, with 4.4 million people facing crisis-levels of food insecurity. WFP urgently requires $95 million to continue its operations (WFP).

Haiti: A UN report has detailed the brutal and widespread trafficking of children by gangs, warning that their actions threaten the country's future. Over 500,000 children are estimated to be living in gang-controlled areas (OHCHR).

Yemen: Tensions are escalating between the Houthis and the US, raising fears of renewed conflict. On February 20, one person was killed and 11 were injured after security forces dispersed a protest in Aden (Al Jazeera).

Myanmar: The civil war continues with significant civilian casualties. In Kyaukphyu township, over 150 civilians, including 15 children, have been killed or injured in the past year (BNI).

DRC: Clashes between pro-government forces and armed rebels in North Kivu province killed at least 50 civilians in January 2026 (TRT World).

Statistics Table