Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Cuba, Ukraine

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA reports that hostilities continue across the Occupied Palestinian territory, with people —many of whom are women and children — killed and mass displacement occurring daily.

OCHA says the scale of destruction is overwhelming, affecting nearly every area of the Gaza Strip.

In the north, intense hostilities continue, especially in Jabalya, Beit Lahya and Beit Hanoun.

OCHA reports that the third floor of Kamal Adwan Hospital was bombed today, destroying medical supplies delivered just five days ago during a joint mission led by the World Health Organization, with support from OCHA.

Hospitals are under assault and rescue teams are unable to work due to the arrests of personnel and the confiscation of essential equipment, including ambulances and a fire truck.

Meanwhile, forced displacement continues to be reported. According to humanitarian partners, some 300 Palestinians – including women, children and the elderly – were displaced today from the north to the south through the Al Rashid checkpoint. Within northern Gaza, Palestinians staying around the Indonesian hospital and Tal Al Arabi school in the Al Fakhoura area were displaced today to Beit Lahya.

Since the start of this latest ground operation in the north on 6 October, about 100,000 people have been displaced from North Gaza Governorate to Gaza city.

OCHA says that aside from limited missions, almost no aid operations have been permitted into North Gaza, where dwindling supplies, high casualties, frequent strikes on healthcare facilities and widespread displacement are worsening the humanitarian situation crisis. The siege surrounding Jabalya refugee camp and nearby areas remains in effect.

In the West Bank, OCHA also resports that three Palestinians were killed during Israeli raids in Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps yesterday and today. One of the raids involved an airstrike, armed clashes and extensive infrastructural damage, with medical teams facing prolonged access delays while water, electricity and internet networks were disrupted.

Since 7 October 2023, 736 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in addition to two who died of wounds sustained before that date. At least 12 of these deaths were caused by Israeli settlers, while the majority were attributed to Israeli forces.

During the same period, 23 Israelis – comprising 16 members of Israeli forces and six settlers – were killed by Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

In Israel, attacks by Palestinians from the West Bank resulted in the killing of 16 Israelis and eight Palestinian perpetrators.

OCHA reiterates that civilians must be protected and that any use of force by Israeli forces in the West Bank must follow internationally recognized law enforcement standards.

Meanwhile, between 1 and 28 October, OCHA has documented nearly 270 settler-related incidents affecting Palestinians and their property, with more than half directly linked to the olive harvest. During this period, more than 1,000 mostly olive trees were burned, sawed-off or otherwise vandalized, and harvesting tools were stolen.

The UN Human Rights Office, in coordination with OCHA and humanitarian partners, are currently providing training in 70 West Bank communities affected by settler attacks and access restrictions during the current olive harvest season which started this month.

#Lebanon

OCHA reports that people continue to be killed, injured and displaced by airstrikes, hostilities and displacement orders in Lebanon.

Today, the Israeli army issued new displacement orders for several villages and Rashiedeh Palestinian refugee camp in the south of the country. This is the first time the Israeli army has called for the evacuation of a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon.

Also, today, the Israeli army issued displacement orders for the second time in two days to residents in Baalbeck to evacuate immediately.

OCHA says that yesterday’s displacement orders and airstrikes in Baalbek and surrounding areas have forced thousands of people to flee the area, with displacement continuing today. Many of the uprooted people spent the night in their vehicles, facing harsh conditions as they search for safety.

Yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, visited Akkar Governorate, which currently hosts around 70,000 people who have been forced to flee. He met with the governor and displaced families, who stressed the urgent need for health care, waste management and shelter support, among others. Riza warned that the new influx triggered yesterday would further strain Akkar’s limited resources.

As in many conflicts, children and woman in Lebanon bear the brunt of the ongoing hostilities.

In a statement today, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warned about the devastating physical and emotional impacts of the conflict on children. Russell said that since 4 October of this year, at least one child has been killed and 10 injured daily.

For its part, the UN Population Fund says the conflict is also impacting more than 10,000 pregnant women including 1,300 expected to give birth soon amid significant infrastructure damage and a strained health system.

#Cuba

In the wake of Hurricane Oscar, OCHA confirms the release of US$3.5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to address urgent needs in the areas of shelter, health, food and water.

This allocation follows an earlier release of an Emergency Cash Grant from OCHA of $100,000 to immediately deliver essential items.

A week of heavy rains following the storm continues to hamper recovery efforts in Guantanamo provimce. The death toll has risen to eight with two reported missing, according to authorities. Nearly 150,000 people in the affected areas urgently need assistance.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichón, together with OCHA, the World Food Programme and UNICEF, as well as authorities and first responders, visited areas affected by the hurricane over the past couple of days. They reported that widespread flooding is making rescue operations and people’s ability to access to essentials – such as water, food and health services – extremely challenging, with ongoing power outages and damaged roads further disrupting communications and the response.

The UN is supporting the Government-led response, including through distributing pre-positioned food, medicine and hygiene kits, among other supplies.

Assistance will further expand tomorrow when a $33 million Action Plan is launched. This new Action Plan aims to reach 478,000 people over the next 18 months.

#Ukraine

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, today strongly condemned the deadly attack in Kharkiv City last night. According to local authorities, 3 civilians were killed, including two children and dozens more people were injured.

First responders and humanitarian organizations provided first medical and psychological aid, distributed hot meals and shelter materials.  

In the last 24 hours, scores of civilians have been killed and injured across the country amid attacks in Kharkiv, Kherson, Donetsk, Sumy and Dnipro regions, damaging civilian infrastructure, as reported by local authorities and aid workers.

This latest wave of attacks comes just one day after Schmale briefed Member States and urged support for Ukrainians who are facing increased risks, displacement and uncertainty, as winter approaching.  

The continued damage to energy infrastructure due to relentless attacks could increase the challenges civilians will face as winter looms.

The UN and partners are working closely with the Government to assist 1.8 million people this winter. Schmale called for early funding of the winter response plan to ensure timely life-saving assistance, especially for front-line areas.