Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Gaza: UN, partners continue to provide live-saving aid
OCHA says that the UN and its partners continue to provide life-saving assistance in the Gaza Strip.
Since last month, OCHA’s humanitarian partners have screened more than 100,000 children under the age of five for malnutrition, enrolling those who need it for treatment. They also continue to distribute nutrient supplements to infants and young children.
UNRWA reports that more than half a million people across the five governorates have received blankets, mattresses, floor mats, clothes, kitchen items and tarpaulins for rain protection.
West Bank: tens of thousands of people remain displaced in Jenin and Tulkarm
OCHA says that tens of thousands of people remain displaced in Jenin and Tulkarm as the ongoing Israeli forces’ operation has entered its sixth week.
On 25 and 26 February, OCHA and its partners led a mission to assess the needs of people displaced in Jenin and Tulkarm. Many of these families have been displaced multiple times. They lost their livelihoods and are no longer able to cover the basic needs of their families. Access to food is limited, with some displaced people reporting a reduction in meals consumed per day.
Children in schools have lost more than one month of learning and have been subjected to high levels of anxiety and distress.
In a report published yesterday, partners called for the protection of children and their right to live and access, education, healthcare and other basic services.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers continue to attack Palestinian communities across the West Bank.
Since 2020, settler-related incidents targeting Palestinian Bedouin and herding communities increased nearly sevenfold. Documented incidents rose to 330 in 2024 compared to 50 in 2020.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
North Kivu: new displacement amid ongoing fighting in Beni Territory
OCHA reports a deadly escalation in attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group in recent days in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to local authorities, ADF attacks killed at least 23 civilians in several villages of Ituri Province on 25 and 26 February. Dozens more people were kidnapped in the raids, while other villagers fled to neighbouring areas for safety.
ADF attacks were also reported in Beni Territory of North Kivu Province on 26 February, killing 17 civilians.
In South Kivu Province, insecurity remains a major concern, including in the provincial capital, Bukavu, where local medical sources report that explosions yesterday at an M23 rally killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more in Bukavu city centre.
Humanitarian partners temporarily suspended assessments in the area following the explosions, but these have now resumed.
Local authorities in South Kivu also estimate that more than 125,000 people have been displaced since early February amid clashes in the south-east of Bukavu.
Most of these people have sought shelter in schools, churches and soccer fields, and ongoing clashes in the area are hindering humanitarian access.
#Syria
Aid operations continue to scale up as security, logistics and funding situation permit
OCHA says that the UN and its humanitarian partners in Syria continue to assist people in need, scaling up support, including early recovery efforts, as logistical, security and funding conditions permit.
Over the past two weeks, partners have removed more than 8,000 cubic meters of debris in the city Idleb and generated over 570 income opportunities, including cash-for-work programs. Four solar micro-grids were installed in market areas in cities of Deir-ez-Zor and Aleppo, providing electricity in a cost-effective and environmental-friendly way.
To better inform the response, OCHA is continuing to conduct weekly assessment missions. Earlier this week, OCHA led two missions to visit schools, damaged homes and medical facilities in Lattakia and Tartous, accompanied by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other partners.
Yesterday, OCHA also completed the first UN cross-border mission to Ma'arrat An Nu'man in Idleb, a sub-district close to former frontlines. The team visited a bread distribution site and the damaged national hospital with non-governmental organizations and the Health Directorate and also spoke with returnees at the village of Telamnas.
In 2019, more than 150,000 people fled their homes in Ma'arrat An Nu'man due to airstrikes and other hostilities, resulting in the widespread destruction of homes, facilities, and infrastructure. As of today, some 7,000 people have returned, according to local authorities.
Since the start the year, the UN has completed 78 cross-border missions to Syria – 781 missions in total since the 2023 earthquakes – mostly to monitor projects, conduct assessments, and engage with field partners and communities.
Trucks carrying UN aid – including more than 5,000 metric tons of aid in two weeks – continue to cross from Türkiye. This afternoon, 31 trucks carrying more than 200 metric tons of food supplies from the World Food Programme, along with hygiene and health supplies from UNICEF, crossed into Syria through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing, bringing the total number of trucks to over 506 since the start of 2025.