UN Warns of West Bank Violence and Madagascar Hunger

Palestinians harvest olives in the West Bank during October.

The UN humanitarian relief chief, Tom Fletcher, has raised alarm over rising violence in the occupied West Bank, where attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and their property continue to escalate.

“Many of these attacks are linked to Palestinians’ attempts to harvest their olive crops,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. “Palestinians have been killed and injured. Their homes and property damaged. Their livestock attacked.”

Fletcher noted that more trees and communities have been affected this year than in the previous six years combined. He stressed that the failure to prevent or punish such attacks violates international law, urging accountability and protection for Palestinian civilians.

The incidents coincide with the annual olive harvest season, a vital source of income for thousands of Palestinian families, now increasingly disrupted by harassment and destruction of farmland.

Madagascar hunger crisis deepens

Madagascar is facing a worsening humanitarian emergency as drought, cyclones and disease outbreaks devastate southern regions, according to the United Nations.

Deputy UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq said conditions in Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est have become “increasingly dire” following successive climatic shocks and the lingering impact of El Niño. Hunger is rising rapidly, with the number of people facing emergency food insecurity in Grand Sud expected to quadruple to 110,000 by January 2026. Nearly 160,000 children are already suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Aid efforts have been severely affected by funding shortages, forcing the closure of life-saving programmes. A new humanitarian response plan seeks $185 million through April 2026, but currently faces a $125 million gap.

Political instability following a recent military takeover has further complicated relief efforts.

Childhood obesity rising in Europe

Only five per cent of children aged seven to nine across Europe consume enough fruits and vegetables, according to the World Health Organization’s latest Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative.

The study found that one in four children in participating countries is overweight, including cases of obesity. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls.

The report identifies increasing reliance on online food ordering as an emerging factor contributing to unhealthy eating habits. It also highlights strong links between diet quality and socioeconomic background, noting that children with parents of higher educational attainment tend to eat healthier.

The WHO said creating healthier food environments and implementing clearer food labelling and taxes on sugary products could help curb rising obesity rates.