Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ukraine
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Occupation policies drive further displacement in West Bank
OCHA reports that efforts to bridge the gap between the enormous needs on the ground and the ability of the humanitarian community to respond continue, despite multiple constraints and restrictions.
The immunization campaign underway concludes tomorrow, and our partners have so far vaccinated nearly 13,000 children across the Strip against a target of almost 18,000.
A programme, which began earlier this month, to help patients who need limb reconstruction, has recently expanded to include Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, in addition to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. Plans are also underway to include Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza city to help people living in northern Gaza.
So far, the teams have screened around 400 patients, of whom a quarter were identified as having complex injuries which need reconstructive surgery. In a positive development, equipment and supplies for surgery and treatment of some of these patients was allowed to enter Gaza this week, which means some people on waiting lists can be operated on.
With more cold spells expected, winter support continues across the Strip. Since Sunday, our partners leading on shelter reached more than 4,000 families with tents, tarpaulins, mattresses, blankets and kitchen supplies.
OCHA continues to stress the need for sustainable shelter solutions, including repairing damaged homes to provide adequate protection and mitigate the effects of rain and floods.
In the West Bank, OCHA warns of increased forced displacement of Palestinian families due to occupation-related policies and practices.
On Monday, following repeated attacks and threats by Israeli settlers, the remaining 100 residents of the Ras Ein al ‘Auja Bedouin community near Jericho were compelled to leave the area, bringing the number of people displaced from that community this month to about 600. OCHA says that the community is now completely empty.
Settlers had damaged or blocked herders’ access to grazing areas around the community and prevented them from using the nearby spring, severely undermining their livelihoods. This comes on top of livestock theft and frequent attacks resulting in injuries and property damage.
Since the beginning of January, OCHA has recorded the displacement of 688 Palestinians from eight communities due to settler attacks – which is over 40 per cent the number of displaced people in that category for the whole of 2025. It also comes on top of the displacement of another 130 Palestinians this month due to demolitions. OCHA is carrying out assessments and working with humanitarian partners to ensure people receive the support they need.
Since yesterday, Israeli forces have reportedly been demolishing dozens of Palestinian-owned structures in Kafr Aqab area of East Jerusalem. OCHA reminds us that 2025 recorded the highest levels of demolitions in East Jerusalem in nearly two decades of record-keeping, with these latest developments pointing to a continuation of that trend.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza with urgent support.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
UN, humanitarian partners seek $1.4 billion to tackle escalating needs
The UN, its humanitarian partners and the Government, today launched this year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which calls for $1.4 billion.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s most protracted and most neglected humanitarian crises, driven by conflict, displacement, climate shocks and epidemics.
Out of a population of 113 million, nearly 15 million people in the DRC need humanitarian support. But severe funding shortages mean that we will aim to reach 7.3 million of them this year.
Humanitarian partners report that funding shortfalls forced 1,000 nutrition centres to shutter in 2025, denying life-saving care to nearly 400,000 of severely malnourished children.
Some 1.5 million people also lost access to primary healthcare due to health facility closures, shortages of vital medicine and reduced capacity to respond to epidemics.
Food assistance was also affected, with monthly ration cuts by up to 70 per cent in eastern provinces.
Meanwhile, continued fighting in the north-east of the country has further disrupted humanitarian operations in the region.
Without adequate funding, the response won’t match the scale of the needs. Last year, we received less than a quarter of the $2.5 billion we needed to reach people in need.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with urgent support.
#Sudan
Violence in Kordofan forces 88,000 people from their homes
OCHA warns that continued fighting in the Kordofan region is putting civilians in danger and worsening already severe humanitarian needs.
In Dilling, the second-largest city in South Kordofan State, the security situation remains highly volatile, with humanitarian access routes still cut off.
The prolonged isolation of the city has driven the humanitarian situation to crisis levels. Humanitarian partners report that half of Dilling’s civilian population fled last year, while those who remain face critical shortages of food, healthcare and other basic services.
OCHA reports that humanitarian operations in the city are limited, with only a small number of non-governmental organizations working under severe constraints.
Across the Kordofan region, the International Organization for Migration reports that more than 88,000 people were displaced between late October and mid-January because of the conflict.
Meanwhile, violence against civilians also continues in North Darfur State. On Monday, multiple drone strikes on markets and other civilian locations were reported in the towns of Jebel Issa and Mellit.
Civilians were reportedly killed and injured, livelihoods were destroyed, and already fragile health facilities were impacted.
At the same time, people continue to flee into the locality of Tawila. A field visit conducted yesterday by the UN and its partners saw families arriving after fleeing El Fasher. They need food, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition support.
OCHA once again urges all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access. It also calls on donors to step up funding so life-saving assistance can reach more people in need.
#Ukraine
Civilians killed, wounded as attacks hit critical infrastructure
OCHA reports that attacks over the past two days have yet again claimed more civilian lives and caused widespread disruptions to electricity, heating and water supplies.
In the city of Odesa, a massive drone attack yesterday killed several civilians and injured more than 20 others, including children. Residential buildings and energy infrastructure were damaged, leaving more than 60,000 families without electricity. A preschool and a school were also damaged.
Front-line areas also sustained widespread damage to housing and civilian infrastructure, including hundreds of apartments and several schools in the regions of Kharkiv and Sumy.
Still in Kharkiv region, yesterday, a drone strike hit a passenger train in the commune of Barvinkivska, reportedly killing at least four civilians and injuring two others. This is one of the closest railway stations to Donetsk region and is essential for people fleeing hostilities.
Meanwhile, people continue to be evacuated. This month, in the region of Dnipro, authorities evacuated nearly 1,300 children with their families from front-line communities.
Humanitarian partners have provided blankets, flashlights, hot meals, psychological and medical support, including in the city of Odesa.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Ukraine with urgent support.