Daily Peace and Crisis Report

Compiled February 23, 2026, 08:05 AEDT

Gaza & Palestine: UN Warns of Ethnic Cleansing as Death Toll Exceeds 72,000

The total death toll in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has reached a staggering 72,072, with 171,741 injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health as of February 22, 2026 (Qatar News Agency). Since the October 10, 2025 ceasefire, 614 Palestinians have been killed and 1,643 injured. A recent UN Human Rights Office report raised grave concerns over potential ethnic cleansing, citing intensified attacks and the methodical destruction of entire neighborhoods (OHCHR). The humanitarian situation remains catastrophic, with only 252 of 611 health service points partially functioning and the main water pipeline from Israel shut down since February 10. In the West Bank, violence continues with 1,053 Palestinians killed since October 2023, including a 19-year-old Palestinian-American man killed by Israeli settlers on February 19, 2026 (Al Jazeera).

Ukraine War: Fourth Anniversary Approaches Amid Stalled Peace Talks

As the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches on February 24, 2026, US-mediated peace talks in Geneva have ended without a significant breakthrough. The conflict continues to exact a heavy toll, with casualty estimates varying widely. According to a January 2026 CSIS report, Russian military casualties are estimated at 1,200,000 (killed, wounded, and missing), with up to 325,000 killed. The same report estimates Ukrainian military casualties at 500,000-600,000, with 100,000-140,000 fatalities (Russia Matters). Civilian deaths are reported at 7,254 in Russia and 15,954 in Ukraine. The conflict has displaced 10.6 million Ukrainians, and escalating drone warfare is reportedly driving a steep rise in civilian deaths (Nonviolent Peaceforce).

Sudan: World's Largest Displacement Crisis Worsens, Famine Looms

Approaching its third year, the war in Sudan has created the world's largest displacement crisis, with 12 million people displaced and 33.7 million requiring humanitarian aid. The death toll is estimated to be between 40,000 and 150,000. Recent drone strikes have intensified the crisis, with at least 57 civilians, including 15 children, killed between February 15-16 (UN News). The UN has found evidence of genocide committed by the RSF and has launched a $1.6 billion appeal to address the regional refugee crisis as famine conditions loom in parts of the country (UN News).

Global Crises: Ceasefire Hopes in DRC, Ongoing Violence in Myanmar, and Deepening Crisis in Haiti

In the **Democratic Republic of Congo**, a US-brokered ceasefire was scheduled to begin on February 18, but analysts remain skeptical given the presence of approximately 120 rebel groups and the control of large territories by the M23 militia (DW). In **Myanmar**, the civil war enters its fifth year with an estimated 90,000 killed, and the country now records the world's highest number of landmine casualties (BLink). In **Haiti**, a deepening security and humanitarian crisis is marked by an "alarming increase" in the recruitment and trafficking of children by armed gangs that control large parts of the country, according to a recent UN report (OHCHR).

Key Statistics