Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine, Haiti
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Hostilities and cargo closure disrupt aid operations in Gaza
OCHA reports that as hostilities continue across the Gaza Strip, the Israeli closure of all crossings for incoming cargo has entered its 20th day – the longest such shutdown since 7 October 2023, when crossings were also completely closed over a two-week period.
This latest closure is having a devastating impact on people already facing catastrophic conditions. Each passing day further erodes the progress made by the UN and its humanitarian partners in the six weeks after the ceasefire.
Beyond the depletion of stocks, OCHA warns that humanitarian operations are now being severely hampered by hostilities. Civilians, including aid workers, and civilian assets have come under attack.
The UN is seeking concrete assurances for the safety of its staff and operations in Gaza, following the killing of six UN personnel and injury of several others this week, including in the attack on a clearly designated UN compound. As Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said Wednesday, “on their behalf and for those who continue the work, we demand answers.”
As attacks continue across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, OCHA warns that the steady flow of trauma injuries is putting even more pressure on an already shattered healthcare system.
Humanitarian partners estimate that more than 120,000 Palestinians – about 6 per cent of the surviving population in Gaza – have been displaced once again this week, driven by intensified attacks and new Israeli evacuation orders across the Strip.
A new evacuation order covering areas in northern Gaza was also issued today, following reports of rocket fire by Palestinian armed groups.
Movement restrictions deepen humanitarian needs in West Bank
In the West Bank, OCHA has released the findings of a rapid survey of movement obstacles across the occupied territory. It recorded nearly 850 checkpoints, gates and other physical obstacles – the highest number documented in any of the 16 surveys OCHA has conducted over the past two decades.
These obstacles restrict and monitor Palestinian movement throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the H2 area of Hebron – either on a continuous or intermittent basis.
In just the past three months, three dozen new movement obstacles have been established – most of them following the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire in mid-January. Road gates account for a third of all obstacles, and most of them are frequently kept closed.
OCHA warns that movement restrictions leave Palestinians queuing for hours at checkpoints or force them to take long detours. They also severely impede Palestinian access to basic services and workplaces, deepening humanitarian needs.
Meanwhile, operations by Israeli forces in urban areas of the north continue, leaving tens of thousands of displaced people unable to return to their communities. Despite ongoing access and funding constraints, the UN and its humanitarian partners are doing all they can to deliver life-saving assistance to those in need.
However, just over 4 per cent of the roughly US$4 billion required this year to meet vast needs across the Occupied Palestinian Territory – in the West Bank and in Gaza – has been received to date.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
Deadly violence in eastern DRC displaces civilians
OCHA reports that clashes continue in parts of the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, leading to more civilian deaths and displacement in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In North Kivu province, fighting continued yesterday in several areas of Walikale territory, damaging a humanitarian partner’s logistics base and other civilian infrastructure.
The UN and humanitarian organizations in the area have relocated staff to Kisangani, the capital of the neighbouring province of Tshopo.
In South Kivu province, local authorities report that people from the localities of Burembo and Fizi-Centre have fled fighting among armed groups in several waves since 5 March. Displaced families urgently need food and healthcare, according to local humanitarian sources.
In Ituri province, local sources reported yesterday that clashes in the town of Fataki in the territory of Djugu continue to displace people. On 19 March, a civilian was killed and some 30 homes were vandalized, forcing people to flee to safe locations, according to local authorities.
Since 18 March, many humanitarian partners have suspended their activities in Fataki due to the ongoing insecurity.
OCHA reiterates that all parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in military operations.
#Ukraine
Children injured by hostilities in central, southern Ukraine
OCHA reports that attacks over the past two days have had a devastating impact on children in Ukraine.
Yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, condemned an attack in the central Ukrainian city of Kropyvnytskyi, in which children were among many civilians injured. Apartment buildings were also damaged. Mr. Schmale stressed that international humanitarian law is clear: Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
Today, authorities and humanitarian partners confirmed that hostilities across multiple regions killed a dozen civilians and injured many others, with widespread damage to homes. In Odesa, a large-scale drone attack injured children and damaged shops, warehouses and vehicles.
Most casualties were reported in the Donetsk region, while in the Kharkiv region, local authorities report that intensified hostilities disrupted electricity in Kupiansk town and neighbouring villages.
Amid relentless hostilities, evacuations from high-risk areas continue, with scores of people leaving front-line areas each day. Humanitarians are supporting the most vulnerable – especially families with children and people with limited mobility – through medical evacuations, psychosocial support and basic items. Most evacuees have remained within their home regions, while some have been relocated to central and western Ukraine.
OCHA reports that heavy fighting in early 2025 continued to restrict humanitarian access and pose major risks to aid workers. In the first two months of the year, seven humanitarian staff were injured in six separate incidents near the front line. Attacks also damaged humanitarian assets and facilities in the Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv and Sloviansk regions, further hampering the response.
#Haiti
US funding suspension undermines action against HIV in Haiti
OCHA warns that the recent United States funding freeze is having disastrous effects on the overall HIV response in Haiti, including treatment and prevention.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reports that due to the freeze, most pre-exposure prophylaxis services – which are key to reducing HIV infections – had to be suspended, affecting 80 per cent of interventions, with the exception of pregnant and lactating women.
The National HIV Program estimates that at least 35,000 people living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral treatment are being affected by the freeze on USAID-funded health services. The National HIV Program foresees an increase between 30 and 50 per cent in new HIV infections in the absence of prevention activities.
HIV/AIDS affects an estimated 140,000 people in Haiti.
The funding freeze has also suspended the bulk of community-based interventions, increasing vulnerability to stigma, discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence, while severely affecting access to healthcare, education, nutrition, shelter and psychosocial support.
The health sector, as part of the broader humanitarian response, needs $43.5 million to address the urgent needs for healthcare services and support to vulnerable people in Haiti. The Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and UNAIDS are exploring alternatives to ensure health services can continue.