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

A Palestinian man observes the rubble of his destroyed property following the demolition of 12 structures by Israeli forces in the Az Za’ayyem Bedouin community, Jerusalem, on 3 March 2025. Photo: OCHA

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Dire situation in northern West Bank amid ongoing operation by Israeli forces

OCHA warns that the operation by Israeli forces in the northern West Bank continues to have dire humanitarian consequences.

In Tulkarm, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that the Israeli authorities have started demolishing more than 16 buildings in Nur Shams refugee camp, after destroying more than two dozen homes in the area over the past week.

Demolitions in the Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps are taking place while most of the camps’ residents – tens of thousands of people – are displaced and unable to return.

Displaced Palestinians staying at public shelters in Jenin and Tulkarm lack water, medicine, bedding, sanitation facilities, and hygiene and cleaning materials. This is according to a new assessment by OCHA, UNRWA and its partners last week of nearly a dozen public shelters. Less than half of the people our teams interviewed said they could afford food, with many reducing or skipping meals. Children are also unable to attend school.

Since the start of the operation by Israeli forces in January, the UN and its partners have been providing life-saving assistance to affected people. Food parcels and meals are being distributed to families every day. More than 5,000 families have received cash assistance to help meet their basic needs. Bedding and dignity kits have been provided. Water storage tanks and mobile latrines have also been delivered to Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas.

Meanwhile, access restrictions continue to hinder Palestinians’ movement across the West Bank. OCHA reports that the closure of the Tayaseer checkpoint since February has restricted the movement of more than 60,000 Palestinians between the northern Jordan Valley and the rest of Tubas governorate. Access to markets, workplaces and services has been severely constrained.

Today is the first Friday of Ramadan – and access restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities have prevented thousands of Palestinian worshipers from reaching holy sites. While the Israeli authorities have allowed Palestinians access to East Jerusalem and the H2 area of Hebron, they have imposed restrictions based on age and gender, with the condition that people entering East Jerusalem possess Israeli-issued permits. Israeli authorities have also set up hundreds of metal barriers to tightly control people’s movements.

OCHA has deployed teams to monitor people's movements through the checkpoints to identify potential protection risks and possible measures for Palestinians seeking to cross, with particular attention to the most vulnerable such as children, pregnant women and older people. Initial information indicates fewer people crossed and fewer checkpoints opened this year, compared with Fridays in 2024.

Meanwhile, OCHA that it has been almost one week since the crossings into the Gaza Strip were closed, preventing aid from entering – with dire consequences for civilians who have endured months of immense suffering.

It is critical that humanitarian assistance is allowed to enter the Strip without delay. Under international humanitarian law, Israel, as the occupying power, is required to ensure that people’s essential needs are met, including by facilitating aid into and across all areas of Gaza.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

Malnutrition, cholera increases reported in areas of eastern DRC

OCHA warns that conditions in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are worsening as the fighting continues.

In South Kivu Province, there has been a sharp increase in cholera cases. Health authorities in Uvira, the province’s second-largest city, have recorded more than 200 new cases and two deaths over a two-day period.

Health facilities in Uvira urgently need more medical supplies to contain the spread in the communities. Insecurity and logistical constraints are hampering the arrival of critical stocks from the provincial capital, Bukavu. Despite the challenges, the UN and its partners continue to respond to the outbreak.

The UN is carrying out assessments to determine the needs of displaced communities as the security situation permits. Over the past week, clashes have continued to drive people from their homes. Between 1 and 3 March, more than 11,000 people were reportedly displaced by fighting in Kabare territory, some 25 kilometres north of Bukavu.

Meanwhile, in North Kivu Province, humanitarian partners warn that malnutrition is on the rise due to insecurity, displacement and rising food prices.

Nearly 18,000 children in Lubero Territory are suffering from acute malnutrition – particularly in areas where returnees are arriving. One of our partners has set up emergency nutrition centres to treat severe cases with therapeutic food, but funding shortfalls are constraining the response.

Across North Kivu, hundreds of thousands of families who have been newly displaced or are returning to their communities are in urgent need of assistance. The UN and its partners are doing all we can to provide critical support as the response in the province is picking up and reaching more areas.