Today's top news: Myanmar, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia

#Myanmar

UN, partners call for $275 million to support earthquake response

Two weeks after Myanmar was hit by two earthquakes, the UN and partners have launched a US$275 million addendum to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to reach 1.1 million people with urgent aid.

The devastating earthquakes have pushed 2 million people into critical need of assistance and protection. This is in addition to the 19.9 million people who were estimated to need humanitarian aid prior to the disaster.

UN agencies, partners and Member States have rapidly mobilized aid – including medical care, shelter, safe water, hygiene kits and food – working closely with local organizations to reach those affected. However, more needs to be done, and additional funding is crucial to make this happen.*

To further strengthen efforts on the ground, Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher allocated an additional $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund for the earthquake response, on top of the $5 million already provided.

The UN calls for solidarity from the international community to support the people of Myanmar during this emergency and help humanitarians scale up assistance to the most vulnerable.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Myanmar with urgent support. 

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Civilians in Gaza running out of aid, space for survival

OCHA reports that daily displacement orders – combined with intense bombardment and a complete closure on cargo entry – are steadily eroding what little space remains for civilians to survive in Gaza.

Earlier today, Israeli authorities issued two new displacement orders covering vast areas in northern and southern Gaza. Together, these areas span more than 24 square kilometres.

Several medical facilities and storage sites containing critical supplies are located within the newly designated displacement zones. OCHA warns that this could have life-threatening consequences for people in urgent need of care.

With this latest development, OCHA reports that more than two thirds of the Gaza Strip is either under active displacement orders or designated as “no-go” zones – areas where humanitarian teams are required to coordinate their movements with Israeli authorities. The remaining space left for Palestinians is fragmented, unsafe and barely livable following 18 months of hostilities, which are ongoing. Overcrowded shelters are in terrible condition, service providers are struggling to operate, and resources are being depleted.

OCHA notes that today marks 40 days since Israeli authorities imposed a full closure on the entry of cargo into Gaza. Since then, no one – including the UN and its humanitarian partners – has been permitted to bring in supplies, regardless of how critically needed those items may be.

Everything is running extremely low: Bakeries have shut down, life-saving medicines have run out, and water production has been drastically reduced.

Israel, as the occupying power, has clear obligations under international law, and these include ensuring food, medical care and public health services are available.

Meanwhile, attacks across Gaza continue unabated. In recent days, OCHA has received reports that several humanitarian assets and their immediate surroundings have been hit. These include a clinic, a water tanker and tents sheltering displaced families. Windows of a UN guesthouse were also damaged.

At the same time, the Israeli authorities continue to deny the UN’s efforts to coordinate humanitarian movements. Yesterday and today, six out of 10 such attempts were blocked outright. The few movements that were facilitated involved only staff – not the delivery of aid.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, OCHA’s latest reporting points to ongoing violence, destruction and displacement in many areas.

In just two weeks – the last week of March and the first week of April – Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including two children, and injured at least 130 others.

At least three of the fatal incidents involved shooting at children or adults who were reportedly throwing or wielding stones or, in one case, attempting to enter East Jerusalem without a permit. Another deadly incident involved an exchange of fire.

During the same two weeks, OCHA documented the demolition of more than 100 structures across the West Bank for lacking Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain. This led to the displacement of more than 120 Palestinians, mostly children – and otherwise affected over 200 people.

OCHA reports that more than 30 of those losing their homes had already been displaced in early February following settler violence where they lived, in the Ein al Hilwa area of the Jordan Valley.

In this context, OCHA says nearly half of more than 40 settler attacks resulting in damage or casualties during that two-week period affected Bedouin and herding communities, who are among the most vulnerable across the West Bank.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Palestinians remain displaced and unable to return to their homes in northern parts of the West Bank, where Israeli force continue their operations.

The UN and its partners are responding to the deepening needs of people in affected areas, including by providing water, food, hygiene kits and other essential items to displaced families.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Fighting forces civilians to flee in eastern DRC

OCHA reports that clashes in parts of the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to force people out of their homes and hinder critical humanitarian operations.

In South Kivu province, heavy fighting between armed groups in Kalehe and Kabare territories yesterday displaced an estimated 11,000 people, many of whom are now sheltering with host families, according to local partners.

Local partners also report that violence has blocked access to the Bukavu-Kalehe road, a vital humanitarian corridor, for over 24 hours now. Humanitarians stand ready to conduct needs assessments once security conditions permit.

In neighbouring Tanganyika province, local authorities report that following clashes in Kalemie territory, civilians were injured and dozens of homes were burned, with residents fleeing violence into the bush or nearby communities.

The UN continues its engagement with armed group leaders to secure sustained humanitarian access to those in need.

#Colombia

Armed violence hampers aid to civilians in Colombia

OCHA warns that fighting between non-state armed groups in Colombia is taking a growing toll on civilians since the start of the year.

During the first three months of 2025, more than 587,000 people have been affected by confinement and severe movement restrictions due to armed violence by these groups. Entire communities have been barred from leaving their homes to access essential services such as healthcare, food and safe water – and authorities and humanitarian partners have been unable to reach them with critical support.

This figure is already higher than the total recorded for all of last year.

The UN and its humanitarian partners are doing everything possible to access areas where communities are confined, especially in the Pacific region – including Chocó and Cauca – and along the border with Venezuela, such as the Catatumbo region in Norte de Santander.

Earlier this week, Colombia marked the National Day of Memory and Solidarity with the Victims of the Armed Conflict. Some 9.8 million people in the country have been seriously impacted, including 2 million since the 2016 peace agreement.