Daily Peace and Crisis Report — Saturday 18 Apr 2026

Compiled April 18, 2026, 08:06 AEST | Institute for Peace and Active Non-violence (IPAN)

Summary:

• The Middle East remains the epicentre of global conflict, with a fragile 10-day Israel–Lebanon ceasefire taking effect while US–Iran nuclear negotiations intensify and the Strait of Hormuz reopens to commercial shipping.
• Gaza continues to suffer under ongoing Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire framework; over 72,300 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with UN Women reporting more than 38,000 women and girls among the dead.
• Russia launched one of its largest drone and missile barrages of the war against Ukraine on 15–16 April, killing at least 17 civilians and injuring over 100, as peace negotiations remain stalled ahead of an April 30 deadline.
• Sudan enters its fourth year of civil war as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with nearly 34 million people in need and drone attacks accounting for 80 per cent of child casualties.
• South Sudan faces the risk of full-scale famine as fighting intensifies in Jonglei State, with 7.5 million people requiring food assistance.
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo and M23 rebels have signed a peace monitoring agreement in Switzerland, offering a cautious step toward de-escalation in eastern DRC.
• UN peacekeeping missions face mounting strain from US-led funding cuts, with the peacekeeping chief warning of dangerous "blind spots" in conflict zones worldwide.

1. Middle East: Iran War, Lebanon Ceasefire & Hormuz

A 10-day cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon took effect at 5:00 PM ET on 16 April 2026, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump. The ceasefire, described by Trump as a "gesture of goodwill," opens the door to longer-term negotiations, though it explicitly excludes a formal disarmament of Hezbollah — a core Israeli demand that Lebanese officials have rejected. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the truce as an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement," while Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed it. An Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Ghaziyeh killed at least seven people and wounded 33 in the hours before the ceasefire took effect. Al Jazeera; AP

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz "completely open" for all commercial vessels for the duration of the Lebanon ceasefire, a significant development after weeks of disruption that had sent global oil prices surging. Three Iranian oil tankers carrying five million barrels of crude became the first loaded vessels to transit the strait since the US naval blockade came into force. However, President Trump stated the American blockade on Iranian ports would remain in place until a comprehensive peace deal is concluded. AP; Al Jazeera

US–Iran nuclear negotiations are described as "very close" to a deal by Trump, with the next round of talks potentially scheduled for Islamabad over the weekend. Key sticking points remain, including the duration of any suspension of Iranian nuclear enrichment activities — the US proposed a 20-year halt, while Iran has suggested three to five years — and the future of Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran has pledged never to build nuclear weapons but has not formally responded to US terms. Reuters; BBC

France and the United Kingdom led talks in Paris among allied nations to establish a multinational force to secure trade through the Strait of Hormuz after the war ends. The Iran conflict, now in its 49th day, has disrupted global oil and food supply chains, with the UN warning that fuel prices in Sudan have already risen 24 per cent as a direct consequence. Al Jazeera; UN News

2. Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Violence in the Gaza Strip continues despite the US-brokered ceasefire framework announced in October 2025. Between 8 and 15 April 2026, 29 Palestinians were killed and 105 injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, bringing the total casualty toll since the ceasefire announcement to 765 fatalities and 2,140 injuries. The overall death toll since 7 October 2023 stands at 72,315 Palestinians killed and 172,250 wounded, according to UNRWA. OCHA; UNRWA

UN Women released a landmark report on 17 April warning that the Gaza war has inflicted a disproportionate toll on women and girls. More than 38,000 women and girls have been killed by Israeli air bombardment and ground operations since October 2023 — over half of the total confirmed death toll. "Where is the humanity?" asked Sofia Calltorp, UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Action, at a press briefing in Geneva. UN Women

Humanitarian aid inflows into Gaza declined by 37 per cent between the first and second three-month periods following the October 2025 ceasefire, from over 167,600 metric tons to less than 105,000 metric tons, according to the UN 2720 Mechanism Dashboard. The Zikim Crossing was reopened on 12 April, providing critical direct access to northern Gaza, while scanning capacity at Ashdod Port remains impaired. Rodents and pests now affect 81 per cent of assessed displacement sites, with over 70,000 cases of ectoparasitic infestations reported in 2026. OCHA

In the West Bank, two Palestinian men were killed by Israeli settlers on 8 and 11 April, raising to 61 the number killed in settler attacks since January 2023. In 2026 alone, 35 Palestinians have been killed and at least 880 injured in the West Bank. More than 2,500 Palestinians have been displaced by demolitions, settler attacks, and evictions in 2026, with settler attacks accounting for 75 per cent of recorded displacement. Hamas–US talks in Cairo on a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire ended "without tangible progress," according to reports. OCHA; Bernama

3. Ukraine–Russia War

Russian forces conducted the sixth largest series of drone and missile strikes of the war throughout 15–16 April 2026, deploying over 700 strike vehicles — including 19 ballistic missiles, 20 cruise missiles, and 659 drones — killing at least 17 civilians and injuring over 100. Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and Kharkiv suffered the heaviest damage. A Russian ballistic missile struck Kyiv's Obolonskyi district in a deliberate double-tap attack against first responders, injuring medics and police officers. ISW; UN News

ISW analysts assessed that Russia likely stockpiled weapons during the Easter ceasefire (11–12 April) to enable the subsequent large strike series. Ukraine and Russia accused each other of thousands of ceasefire violations during the 32-hour Easter truce, with the UK's ambassador to the OSCE stating that Russia's conduct "demonstrates its contempt for peace." The ceasefire was not extended. Al Jazeera; UK Government

Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure, striking terminals at Primorsk, Ust-Luga, Tuapse, and Feodosia, as well as refineries in Bashkortostan and Nizhny Novgorod. Reuters estimates Russia missed out on 40 per cent of its potential oil windfall from the Iran war due to Ukrainian strikes. Russia's defence ministry published a list of European companies involved in joint weapons production with Ukraine, with former president Dmitry Medvedev describing them as "potential targets." Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium collectively pledged over €1.2 billion in drone support to Ukraine this week. Al Jazeera

On the ground, Russia controls approximately 29,157 square miles of Ukrainian territory gained since February 2022 (about 13 per cent of Ukraine), and a total of 45,782 square miles including pre-invasion seizures. According to ISW data, Russia lost 13 square miles in the week of 7–14 April. Ukraine's military intelligence chief warned that Russia is preparing to deploy 20,000 additional troops from strategic reserves, aiming to capture the entire Donbas by September 2026. Ceasefire negotiations remain stalled, with an informal April 30 deadline approaching. Russia Matters; Security Council Report

4. Sudan: Fourth Year of Civil War

Sudan entered its fourth year of civil war on 15 April 2026, with the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) showing no signs of resolution. Nearly 34 million people — 65 per cent of the population — are in urgent need of humanitarian support. Some 14 million have been displaced, including 4.4 million who have crossed into neighbouring countries. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher stated: "This grim and chastening anniversary marks another year when the world has failed to meet the test of Sudan." UN News

Famine has been confirmed in Darfur and the Kordofans, where fighting is heaviest. Drone attacks account for 80 per cent of all child killings and injuries; at least 245 child casualties were recorded in the first three months of 2026, and nearly 700 civilians were killed in drone strikes in the same period. More than 4,300 children have been killed or maimed since the war began. The UN's $3 billion humanitarian response plan for 2026 remains critically underfunded. UNICEF; UN News

The US State Department marked the anniversary by announcing new sanctions and calling for a humanitarian truce. The Iran war's disruption of global shipping routes has compounded Sudan's crisis, driving fuel prices up by over 24 per cent and threatening to push more people into hunger. An international conference on Sudan was held in Berlin on 15–16 April, with UN officials calling for immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and increased funding. US State Department

5. South Sudan: Famine Warning

The UN's humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned the Security Council on 17 April that South Sudan is at a "dangerous crossroads" facing the risk of full-scale famine. More than 7.5 million people will require food assistance in 2026, with emergency levels of food insecurity expected across all 10 states during the lean season through July. Fletcher reported "humanitarian compounds looted and nutrition centres destroyed" in areas surrounding Akobo in Jonglei State, where more than 140,000 people are in dire need. Al Jazeera

Fighting between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition has intensified in Jonglei State, forcing more than 280,000 civilians to flee since late January. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate is up for renewal by 30 April. The Security Council is weighing whether to maintain the mission's full capacity, with analysts warning that any reduction would have "devastating consequences." UN Web TV; PassBlue

6. Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and M23 rebels signed a peace monitoring agreement in Montreux, Switzerland on 16 April, in the ninth round of Qatari-mediated talks. The agreement establishes a mechanism to monitor the existing ceasefire, though fighting has continued in remote highland areas of South Kivu, where humanitarian access remains severely restricted. The UN Security Council met on 15 April to discuss the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region. Al Jazeera; UN News

A UN Security Council resolution called on M23 to cease its offensive, on Rwandan Defence Forces to withdraw from Congolese territory, and on the DRC government to engage in dialogue. Human Rights Watch reported that aid and civilian movements in South Kivu's highlands remain severely hindered, with the council urged to press all parties to facilitate humanitarian access. Human Rights Watch

7. Myanmar

Myanmar's military junta pardoned over 4,000 prisoners on 17 April, including deposed President Win Myint, in what analysts described as a gesture ahead of potential peace talks. However, the lawyer for Aung San Suu Kyi confirmed she was not among those released. The civil war between the junta and anti-military resistance forces remains at a stalemate, with analysts at The Conversation assessing that anti-junta forces may be gaining the upper hand in some regions. Al Jazeera

The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar continues to deepen amid persistent conflict, economic collapse, and the lingering impacts of the March 2025 earthquake. A ReliefWeb situation analysis covering 30 March–5 April 2026 noted worsening food insecurity and displacement. The UN News World News Brief of 17 April highlighted rising needs in Afghanistan alongside the Myanmar amnesty announcement. ReliefWeb; UN News

8. Haiti: Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

More than 5.8 million Haitians — approximately 52 per cent of the population — are facing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse, according to a UN assessment published on 17 April. Of those, more than 1.8 million are in emergency conditions. Mass displacement, economic strain, and gang violence continue to grip the Caribbean nation, compounded by a 40 per cent increase in kerosene prices and a 37 per cent rise in diesel prices in early April. UN News; Reuters

The International Rescue Committee warned that "millions of people in Haiti continue to face a compounding crisis of food insecurity, forced displacement, deadly disease outbreaks, and surging violence." The Iran war's impact on global oil prices is expected to further intensify hunger in Haiti, with the PBS NewsHour reporting that rising fuel costs are threatening to push more households into acute food insecurity. IRC; PBS NewsHour

9. UN Peacekeeping: Funding Crisis

UN peacekeeping missions are under mounting strain from budget cuts and emerging threats, UN Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council on 15 April. Lacroix warned that funding shortfalls are creating dangerous "blind spots" in conflict zones, and stressed that peacekeeping "must remain adaptable and accountable." The cuts, driven primarily by a reduction in US contributions from $17 billion to a $2 billion deal, have created "resource scarcity" that is hampering operations from the Central African Republic to South Sudan. UN News; UN Press

France's delegation to the UN noted "a significant increase in violence targeting not only the most vulnerable populations but also the peacekeepers deployed to protect them." The Security Council renewed the mandates for MINUSCA (Central African Republic) and UNISFA (Abyei) until 15 November 2026. The UNMISS mandate for South Sudan is due for renewal by 30 April. France at the UN

10. International Diplomacy and Human Rights

The International Court of Justice marked its 80th anniversary this week, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres stating that "law must prevail over force" — a pointed remark amid the multiple active conflicts reshaping the international order. Guterres expressed hope that the Lebanon ceasefire could pave the way for broader regional de-escalation. UN News

UNESCO granted "enhanced protection" status to 39 cultural heritage sites in the Middle East on 17 April, recognising the threat posed to irreplaceable historical monuments by the ongoing conflicts in the region. The designation provides legal protection under international humanitarian law against deliberate targeting. UN News

A record number of Rohingya refugees — nearly 900 — died or went missing in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record in South and Southeast Asia, according to UNHCR. The agency called for urgent action to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar and to improve search-and-rescue capacity in the region. UN News

Key Statistics

This report is compiled from publicly available sources for informational purposes. Source bias tags are applied where relevant to assist readers in contextualising information: (Rus) = Russian state-affiliated; (Ukr) = Ukrainian state-affiliated; (Chin) = Chinese state-affiliated. Well-known international outlets (BBC, Reuters, AP, AFP, UN News, Al Jazeera, OCHA) are not tagged. This report does not represent the official position of IPAN.