Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
OCHA calls for reopening of Gaza crossings to cargo and aid
OCHA reports that hostilities continue across the Gaza Strip, with more civilians killed and injured and critical infrastructure damaged. All crossings remain closed for the entry of aid and other supplies essential for people’s survival. Since 2 March, no aid or commercial goods have been allowed into Gaza, marking the longest such closure since 7 October 2023.
Humanitarian partners warn that the nutrition situation is growing more dire by the day due to the depletion of stocks. Although they continue to carry out malnutrition screenings across Gaza, supply shortages and movement restrictions – coupled with active hostilities and other challenges – are hampering their operations. In March, partners were only able to screen about 50,000 children for malnutrition, a decrease of more than a third compared to the previous month.
Partners are also having difficulty accessing remaining stocks of ready-to-use complementary food, which are stored in areas of North Gaza governorate that are difficult to reach due to ongoing hostilities and displacement orders. In March, the distribution of these supplies was half of February’s levels.
Today, more families have fled to Mawasi and areas west of Gaza city, in response to new Israeli displacement orders covering five neighbourhoods in Gaza, Khan Younis and northern Rafah.
Shelters for displaced people are overstretched: Hygiene and sanitation conditions are collapsing, with water lacking and reports of flea and insect infestations.
OCHA warns that these displacement orders leave civilians exposed to hostilities and deprive them of access to services essential for their survival.
Once again, OCHA calls for the immediate reopening of the crossings so that urgently needed cargo and humanitarian aid can enter Gaza.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
Hostilities flare in South Kivu, displacing more people
OCHA warns that civilians, particularly women and girls, are facing extreme risks and harm amid escalating violence in South Kivu province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since yesterday, intensifying clashes in Kalehe territory have forced large numbers of civilians to flee to safer areas. Exact estimates are not yet available as fighting continues.
On 6 April, armed men abducted and raped two women in Kalehe territory, according to local humanitarian partners. This follows at least a dozen verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence and abductions targeting women and girls since early March.
Critical protection programmes, including assistance for survivors, are severely limited due to ongoing insecurity in the area. The true toll of sexual violence is almost certainly much higher than what is reported, as many survivors fear retaliation for coming forward.
Elsewhere in South Kivu, clashes also erupted in Walungu territory on 5 April, forcing more people to flee. A local humanitarian partner estimates that more than 7,000 individuals have fled the area since early March amid recurrent clashes.
Displaced families are sheltering in neighbouring areas and face extreme hardship, with critical gaps in food, water, sanitation and healthcare.
In neighbouring Tanganyika province, heavy rainfall on 2 April triggered catastrophic flooding in Kalemie territory, killing two people and injuring many others. The wounded are receiving medical care at local facilities.
OCHA and local authorities estimate that nearly 16,000 people in Kalemie territory have lost their homes in floods since late March. These families are now residing in overcrowded sites or with host communities and face dire conditions.
#Ukraine
UN Relief Chief urges support for civilians in Ukraine and beyond
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, told the Security Council today that as the world grows more dangerous for civilians, parties to conflict must protect them and the infrastructure they rely on – and called for funding to save lives in Ukraine and elsewhere.
“At its best, this Council, and the Member States here, have upheld that idea – even wars have rules,” Fletcher said. “And yet, on my visits from Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan to Lebanon to Myanmar – from where I returned yesterday – I am seeing the opposite: that not only are we not standing robustly for international law, but in some cases we are supporting its debasement.”
As fighting rages on in Ukraine, the Under-Secretary-General warned that civilians continue to suffer and the humanitarian crisis deepens by the day, with nearly 13 million people across the country in need of support.
“Ultimately, the best protection of civilians is that this war ends,” Fletcher said. “Until it does, the negotiating priority – whether as part of a temporary pause or lasting agreement – must start from the protection and needs of civilians.”