Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Bombardment and blockade deepen needs in Gaza
OCHA reports that hostilities continue unabated across the Gaza Strip, causing further civilian casualties, widespread destruction and mass displacement.
OCHA reiterates that under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, not targeted.
In addition to the ongoing bombardment, repeated displacement orders have forced many families to flee, disrupted access to essential services and hampered humanitarian operations. Partners working in health report that immunization services at 13 delivery points were interrupted due to these displacement orders.
The total Israeli blockade on Gaza, now nearing two months, continues to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial goods. Critical supplies – including food – are running out, pushing more than 2 million people deeper into hunger.
UNICEF warns that children in Gaza are being denied routine vaccinations due to relentless hostilities, forced displacement and the aid blockade.
Humanitarian partners report that access to essential healthcare remains extremely limited for people across Gaza, particularly the most vulnerable groups. For instance, more than 150,000 women are at risk or living with serious conditions, such as hypertension or cancer, without adequate medical support.
The fuel situation is rapidly deteriorating. With accessible benzene nearly depleted and diesel reserves critically low, remaining fuel is being prioritized for health, water, sanitation and telecommunications services to sustain life-saving operations.
Humanitarian partners have made repeated attempts to retrieve fuel from areas that are currently inaccessible – either because they are under active displacement orders or located in “no-go” zones that require humanitarians to coordinate with Israeli authorities. However, efforts to access these areas are routinely denied.
Just today, the Israeli authorities denied an attempt by UN agencies to retrieve fuel from Rafah.
Overall, the UN and its partners attempted five coordinated movements today, but four of them were denied. The only exception was related to staff rotation, not deliveries.
Despite these challenges, humanitarian partners across the Gaza Strip continue to reach people as access allows, using the limited supplies that remain.
Over the past week, in Gaza governorate, OCHA and its humanitarian partners conducted assessments in four displacement sites that were hit by air strikes. They provided cash assistance to at least 140 families in these sites.
Farther south, in Khan Younis, humanitarian partners mobilized assistance for another displacement site in the Mawasi area, distributing tarpaulins and shelter kits to affected families. Families at this site have been referred to partners to provide them with urgent cash assistance. Other partners working in health carried out an assessment and are now mobilizing psychosocial support, particularly for children.
Response efforts are ongoing, but without the immediate reopening of crossings, the entry of both humanitarian and commercial supplies, and the reinstatement of a permanent ceasefire, these efforts cannot be sustained.
#Afghanistan
UN Relief Chief visits Kandahar
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, was in Kandahar today – in southern Afghanistan – where he met the de facto provincial governor, Mullah Shirin Akhund, to discuss the urgency of addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis, with the arrival of a growing number of Afghan returnees from Pakistan driving needs even higher.
Fletcher visited a reception centre, where the UN and humanitarian partners are providing support, including health checks and cash.
The Under-Secretary-General also visited the Mirwais Regional Hospital, where medical teams are doing everything they can to sustain critical care, including for mothers and newborns, despite brutal funding cuts. Mr. Fletcher warned that in the face of dwindling resources, facilities are overcrowded, and doctors are having to make impossible choices about which patients to prioritize.
Across Afghanistan, more than 400 health facilities have been forced to close so far – denying over 3 million people access to primary healthcare.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
Deadly fighting displaces civilians in eastern DRC
OCHA reports that continued clashes in parts of South Kivu province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, are impacting civilians and humanitarian operations.
In Walungu territory, according to local authorities, new fighting yesterday resulted in at least 10 civilian casualties and people being forced to flee. The violence has disrupted both economic activities and humanitarian operations in the area.
In Kalehe territory, Minova hospital has reported multiple cases of rape and physical assault in recent days amid deteriorating security conditions. Meanwhile, in Fizi territory, intense fighting between 19 and 23 April led to the looting of health centres and the burning of several school facilities, critically undermining access to essential services, according to local authorities.
Once again, OCHA calls on all parties in South Kivu province to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to ensure safe, unimpeded humanitarian access to affected communities.
In North Kivu province, more than 20,000 people reportedly returned to villages in Masisi territory between February and March, according to local authorities. These families had previously been registered in several displacement sites in the towns of Goma and Nyiragongo. While exact numbers require verification, partners on the ground stress that there is an urgent need to provide these people with shelter, education, food and basic services.
In Walikale territory, local humanitarian partners report a cycle of displacement and precarious returns. For example, following clashes in the town of Kibati on 13 April, approximately half of the displaced people there returned home, only to be forced to flee again during renewed violence on 22 and 23 April. This repeated displacement highlights the extreme vulnerability of civilians in conflict-affected areas and underscores the urgent need for enhanced protection measures.
#Haiti
Armed violence hampers Haiti aid response
OCHA reports that armed groups’ activities continue to fuel violence, displace families and disrupt humanitarian operations across multiple departments in Haiti.
According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 200,000 people were living in spontaneous displacement sites across Haiti as of 25 April. The number of sites nearly doubled between March and April – from 119 to 228 – largely due to more people being forced to flee following armed attacks in Centre Department. More than 90 per cent of displaced people in sites remain concentrated in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
In the commune of Kenscoff in the Ouest Department, armed attacks between 18 and 20 April displaced nearly 1,000 people, with half of them finding shelter with families, while others moved to three newly established sites. Police vehicles were set on fire and multiple security incidents resulting in casualties were reported, according to partners.
Ongoing insecurity continues to impact humanitarian operations. Between 21 March and 25 April, a humanitarian partner recorded 15 incidents affecting NGOs, including trucks being blocked, supplies burned, crossfire incidents, and attacks against NGO vehicles despite visibility measures.
Access to critical roads remains extremely limited, forcing reliance on costly air transport. OCHA is working with all parties to sustain access for relief supplies and personnel movements into affected areas. OCHA is also coordinating with its partners to strengthen efforts for an effective, targeted humanitarian response, as security conditions and funding allow.*
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Haiti with urgent support.