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

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

UN relief chief alarmed by suspension of aid into Gaza

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, has said that Israel’s decision to halt aid into Gaza is alarming.

In a social media post yesterday, he stressed that international humanitarian law is clear: We must be allowed access to deliver vital life-saving aid.

Fletcher said we cannot roll back the progress of the past 42 days. We need to get aid in and the hostages out, and the ceasefire must hold.

Since yesterday, the Kerem Shalom, Erez and Zikim crossings have been closed for cargo. This means that vital humanitarian assistance, including thousands of tents, remains undelivered.

OCHA underscores that the ceasefire had allowed the UN and its partners to scale up the delivery of life-saving assistance to the people of Gaza, including shelter assistance, medical aid, water and food – allowing nearly everyone in the Strip to receive food parcels.

Humanitarian partners report that following the closure of the crossings into Gaza yesterday, flour and vegetable prices increased by more than *100 per cent, in some cases. Partners are currently assessing what stocks remain available.

UNICEF warns that the stoppage of aid deliveries into Gaza will quickly lead to devastating consequences for children and families who are struggling to survive. The agency said that between 19 January and 28 February, almost 1,000 UNICEF trucks had crossed into Gaza, carrying clean water, medical supplies, vaccines, therapeutic food and other materials. Since the start of the ceasefire, UNICEF and partners have provided warm clothing to 150,000 children and increased daily water distribution for nearly half a million people in more remote areas.

Nearly a quarter of a million children and thousands of pregnant and breast-feeding mothers have received nutritional supplements since the ceasefire took effect. Moreover, partners say fewer children are currently enrolled at malnutrition treatment sites.

Meanwhile, over the past two weeks, in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, partners have distributed vegetable seed kits for gardening. This will help communities eat a more diverse diet.

Partners working in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector say that more than 1,500 water distribution points are operating across Gaza. This is double the number at the start of the ceasefire. However, partners report that pipes and spare parts for maintenance are urgently needed

Across Gaza, more than 100 public schools have reopened, accommodating some 100,000 students. In Gaza city and North Gaza, partners will use tents to ensure children can continue learning, and pallets will be recycled into furniture to support learning spaces.

Today, OCHA teams visited a displacement site in Khan Younis, where about 1,200 people are staying. These communities have not been allowed to return to their homes, which are located in the buffer zone. OCHA is working to mobilize assistance to meet their needs, which include food, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene support.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, OCHA reports that ongoing operation by Israeli forces continues to drive humanitarian needs in northern areas. Humanitarian partners continue to face movement restrictions in reaching people in need.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

Fighting impacts schools and health centres in eastern DRC

OCHA remains deeply concerned by increasing violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including incidents affecting health facilities and schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In North Kivu, local humanitarian sources report that armed men raided at least two hospitals between 1 and 3 March in the provincial capital, Goma, abducting dozens of patients, including several in critical condition. As of today, only a small number of patients have been released.

In South Kivu, local authorities report that four schools in Fizi Territory, about 250 kilometers south of Bukavu, have recently been converted into military camps, disrupting education for more than 2,000 students.

Meanwhile, humanitarian partners are also reporting that large numbers of people are still on the move in eastern DRC.

Ongoing clashes in the Mweso area of North Kivu, about 100 kilometers northwest of Goma, are forcing more people to flee their homes, although estimates are not available yet.

Last week, fighting in South Kivu’s Fizi Territory displaced nearly 11,000 people.

In areas where violence has subsided somewhat, displaced people are returning. Some 17,000 people have recently returned to the Karuba area of North Kivu, about 40 kilometers northwest of Goma. Since late January, nearly 90,000 people have returned to this area despite dire conditions, including almost no clean drinking water.

The humanitarian response in areas around Goma is picking up again, with medicine being provided to health facilities. On Friday, the World Food Programme began distributing food to 200,000 people in surrounding areas. Plans are also underway to restore the water supply.

#Sudan

Funding shortfalls force closure of health centres in east

Three health centres in Sudan that had been providing health services to some 30,000 people in the east of the country have now been forced to close. That’s according to the international NGO Alight, citing the halt to US funding.

Humanitarian partners on the ground in Kassala State said those health centres were serving people who had difficulty accessing primary healthcare services.

This is just one example in one location of critical services that have been suspended. Large numbers of national and international NGOs providing life-saving assistance across Sudan rely on US funding.

The US has been by far the largest source of funding for humanitarian operations across Sudan for many years, and we and our partners are alarmed about the impact a halt to funding will have on millions of women, children and other vulnerable people in need.

Sudan’s health system has been decimated by nearly two years of conflict, and diseases continue to spread. UNICEF warns that a worsening cholera outbreak in White Nile State is putting nearly 300,000 children at risk in the state capital Kosti.

Health authorities report that at least 65 people have died – including 10 children – with more than 2,100 cases reported since January.

The UN and its partners are scaling up our efforts to prevent the further spread of the disease by providing water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and raising awareness of the risks. UNICEF has also supplied fuel and water treatment chemicals.

UNICEF reports that the cholera outbreak followed hostilities that damaged the main water treatment plant, disrupting safe water access for 150,000 people.

#Syria

Displaced Syrians receive support in northern areas

More than 656,000 people who fled their homes in Syria since November of last year remain displaced, the majority in the governorates of Idleb and Aleppo, according to OCHA and its partners.

This marks an increase of 39,000 people in the past two weeks, particularly in the governorates of Al-Hasakeh, Homs and Hama.

And this is in addition to the 7 million people already internally displaced across Syria.

Since December, nearly 1.2 million people have now returned to their areas of origin in Syria. This includes nearly 900,000 people who had been internally displaced in November and December, as well as 300,000 people from other countries.

As security, logistical, and funding conditions permit, the UN and its partners continue to assist returnees and those who are not yet able to return under safe and dignified conditions.

Across Syria, partners are providing legal counseling and psychosocial support, among other protection services, in community centers and safe spaces. Over the past two weeks, more than 1,400 children and 600 caregivers received mental health and other support.

Humanitarian assistance continues to be provided in displacement camps in northern Syria, where more than 2 million people still reside.

Since December, fewer than 100,000 people have reportedly left camps in the north-west, citing insecurity, damaged homes, inadequate services and the threat of unexploded ordnance as key barriers to return.

#Ukraine

Dozens of casualties reported due to attacks in front-line areas

OCHA reports that attacks in front-line regions in Ukraine over the weekend reportedly resulted in some 70 civilian casualties, including children, according to local authorities.

Humanitarian organizations rushed to respond, providing emergency support to families affected by the attacks. Aid groups distributed hot meals, blankets and emergency shelter kits to cover damaged windows and provided legal consultations and psychological assistance.

The attacks in the regions of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Odesa, Kherson, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia damaged numerous homes and schools, as well as gas pipelines, port infrastructure and a civilian ship, according to local authorities.

Three hospitals were also damaged. In Kharkiv, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that five patients were injured while receiving overnight care. Nearly 60 patients were evacuated from the hospital there after the attack.

As hostilities continue, health services in Ukraine remain under threat. In January and February, WHO verified 52 attacks on healthcare facilities across the country.

*Asterisks indicate that a figure, sentence, or section has been rectified, added, or retracted after the initial publication of this update.