Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Myanmar

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA warns that civilians are facing heightened pressure to relocate yet again within the Gaza Strip. Today, the Israeli authorities ordered those staying in Al Bureij area of Deir al Balah governorate to move west, citing rocket fire into Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities continue to deny UN attempts to coordinate aid workers’ movement within Gaza. Today, 6 out of 10 coordination attempts were outright rejected. Of the remaining four, only two went ahead fully, while the other two encountered serious impediments.

Among the rejected attempts today was our plan to deliver supplies to the besieged areas of North Gaza governorate. OCHA says that the denial of humanitarian assistance, especially to survivors who remain in North Gaza, is a push factor for further displacement.

Most people across the Gaza Strip have already been displaced multiple times. They are often forced to flee amid intense bombardment with almost none of their belongings. Also, people are pressured to move into unsafe areas that lack the basics for human survival.

Amid this situation, humanitarian organizations are doing everything they possibly can to support people in wherever they are.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 55 patients and 72 companions were evacuated from Gaza on Tuesday for medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates. Over 5,300 patients have been evacuated abroad since October 2023, leaving over 12,000 patients still awaiting evacuation.

In a social media post by the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, he referred to the slow pace of evacuation saying that, at this rate, it would take 5 to 10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients, including thousands of children.

And, in another social media post, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East or UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini noted that the Israeli Knesset bill to ban the agency from operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is due to come into effect in less than four weeks. Lazzarini emphasized that UNRWA’s teams are meanwhile committed to stay and deliver.

Since October 2023, UNRWA has provided 6.7 million medical consultations in Gaza – over 1,600 consultations per day. Some 730,000 people have received mental health and psychosocial support, thanks to UNRWA. And, with partners, the agency vaccinated 560,000 children under the age of 10 against polio. In addition, nearly 2 million people have received food assistance, hundreds of thousands of displaced people have stayed in UNRWA shelters and, since the summer, UNRWA’s teams have reached 18,000 children with learning activities.

We stress once again that UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response and is irreplaceable. A collapse of its operations – should the new legislation take effect – would lead to immense suffering for people already enduring extreme hardship.

#Lebanon

The UN and humanitarian partners continue to provide critical support to those still displaced or returning to their communities following the cessation of hostilities.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that nearly 124,000 people remain displaced, while 4,370 people remain in 42 shelters.

Meanwhile, the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports that at least 27 civilians, including 4 women and 3 children, have been killed in Lebanon since the cessation of hostilities began on 27 November. 

Violations of the ceasefire persist. Israeli forces continue operations north of the Blue Line, with reports of airstrikes, house demolitions, and movement restrictions. 

Access to agricultural land remains restricted, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Nearly 40 per cent of agricultural households in Bekaa and Baalbek-El Hermel governorates, in the east of the country, have been affected, and many urgently requiring assistance to restore productive capacity.

On cross-border movements with Syria, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that 90,000 people, including 20,000 Lebanese nationals, have arrived in Hermel in northeastern Lebanon. Of these, more than 39,000 are living in 175 collective sites and are in urgent need of assistance.

#Myanmar

The humanitarian crisis is deepening in Myanmar. Conflict persists in many parts of the country, and the fighting in Rakhine has recently escalated.  

Civilians continue to face extreme protection risks, acute food insecurity and a near collapse of critical public services. 

Conflict has driven more than 3.5 million people from their homes, marking a staggering increase of nearly 1.5 million internally displaced persons compared to last year. 

At the end of 2024, the nearly US$1 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan was funded at only at 36 per cent. In 2025, humanitarian needs in Myanmar are expected to reach unprecedented levels, with nearly 20 million people in need of assistance, compared to last year’s 18.6 million. 

The 2025 humanitarian response plan aims to reach 5.5 million people with life-saving assistance, requiring funding of $1.1. billion. 

In the first three quarters of 2024, humanitarian partners reached nearly 3 million people despite access and resource constraints. When the numbers are final, we expect to have reached 3.9 million people by the end of 2024.