As skies grow more dangerous, UN aviation chief pushes for urgent safeguards for commercial flights
The head of the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization, Juan Carlos Salazar, has issued a stark warning: military threats—drones, missiles, and GPS jamming—are putting commercial airliners in greater danger than ever before. Speaking at the 2026 World Overflight Risk Conference in Malta, Salazar urged nations to act now to prevent a catastrophe. He called for three immediate steps: faster intelligence sharing about threats to civilian planes, better risk assessments to close airspace when needed, and stronger communication between military and civilian authorities to avoid misidentifying passenger jets as targets. ICAO is finalizing a Global Crisis Management Framework and updating safety manuals, but Salazar reminded delegates that under the Chicago Convention, firing on civilian aircraft is already illegal.
Meanwhile, in Somalia, drought is driving a displacement crisis. The International Organization for Migration reports that nearly 62,000 people have been forced from their homes since January—a 22 percent jump in drought-related displacement compared to last year. Even if the rainy season helps, experts predict another 125,000 could flee by June as water sources vanish and livestock die. Families are streaming into overcrowded towns with little clean water or sanitation, raising the risk of disease. IOM is providing emergency aid, but warns that long-term investment in water infrastructure is needed to help Somalis stay on their land.
In Ethiopia, a new solar-powered irrigation project offers a glimmer of hope. The World Food Programme and the Ethiopian government have launched the IFTIIN initiative—meaning “light” or “hope”—in the Somali Region. Built along the Shebelle River in Gode, the system allows year-round farming in an area that once relied on erratic rainfall. The project supports about 85,000 people with 17 irrigation schemes, 13 livestock ponds, and 29 dykes to prevent flooding. Farmers are also being connected to markets, and between 2024 and 2025, local growers earned nearly $290,000 from their harvests. WFP says the goal is to help communities withstand climate shocks and reduce dependence on emergency food aid.