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

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA says that the UN and its partners seize every opportunity afforded by the ceasefire to scale up the provision of water, food, shelter, health, sanitation, hygiene, clothing, education and other assistance to the people of Gaza.

Today, 801 trucks entered Gaza, according to information obtained by the UN on the ground through interactions with the Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire deal.

In the first two weeks of the ceasefire, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reached 1.2 million people with food. The agency opened 37 new shelters for people returning to the north, providing tents, blankets, plastic sheeting and warm winter clothing. UNRWA has repaired water wells and provided water and waste disposal services to nearly half a million people in and around its shelters. As of last week, UNRWA was hosting about 120,000 people in 120 shelters, including more than three dozen that opened since the ceasefire.

Overall, at least 644,000 people across Gaza have received shelter assistance since the ceasefire came into effect, including tents, sealing-off materials and tarpaulins from our partners. 

Meanwhile, partners involved in healthcare have been relocating medical facilities to accommodate families on the move. They have also established mobile clinics and new medical points and supported the expansion or re-activation of services at existing facilities.

Since the ceasefire took effect, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been able to bring in supplies for 1.6 million people. WHO has also expanded its operations and pre-positioned supplies at health facilities. In a media briefing today, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that since the ceasefire, WHO has supported the medical evacuation of 414 patients requiring treatment outside Gaza, alongside 588 companions.

The UN Population Fund and its partners are providing more medicines, treatments, outpatient visits and services – and they are distributing more infant warmers, postpartum kits and dignity kits. Last week, partners established a new women’s shelter in Gaza city to address the risks of gender-based violence. It is run by a solar power system to ensure uninterrupted services.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has reached more than 10,000 children under the age of 2 since the ceasefire with ready-to-use complementary foods.

OCHA stresses that the ceasefire must hold, noting how crucial it is to sustain the humanitarian scale-up in Gaza.

Meanwhile, OCHA reports that ongoing operations by Israeli forces in northern areas in the West Bank continue to cause civilian casualties and displacement, as well as damage to infrastructure.

Today, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, visited Balata refugee camp in Nablus. He met with students whose access to education has been disrupted by Israeli operations.

In a video message from Balata, Hadi expressed his commitment to supporting the education sector in the West Bank and Gaza.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

OCHA reports that clashes in South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continue, leading to more displacement.

Local partners reported fighting early this morning in Ihusi locality about 70km north of the provincial capital Bukavu, with people fleeing to nearby towns and islands in Lake Kivu.

Transport connections to some of these areas are strained due to the conflict, raising challenges for partners to move food and other goods.

Meanwhile, in North Kivu, the UN and its humanitarian partners are continuing assessments and providing emergency relief as security allows. 

Humanitarian partners are also working with the national electricity company to restore the power supply between the provincial capital Goma and South Kivu’s capital Bukavu. Some electricity and water services have resumed in Goma, but major gaps persist in these and other basic services.

In Ituri province, north of North Kivu, local authorities report that attacks since 8 February have killed at least 59 civilians in Djugu. Many others are wounded or missing. The attacks also caused significant displacement.

OCHA reiterates that all parties must protect civilians and allow access to the essential services they need to survive.