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

Occupied Palestinian Territory

The acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, told the Security Council that conditions in the Gaza Strip are unfit for human survival.

In her briefing, Msuya said the latest offensive that Israel started in North Gaza last month is an intensified, extreme and accelerated version of the horrors of the past year. The Under-Secretary-General noted that as the fighting there continues, Israeli authorities are blocking humanitarian assistance from entering North Gaza, where some 75,000 people are running out of water and food.

Msuya called on the parties to facilitated unimpeded humanitarian access, saying civilians must have their essential needs met and must be protected.

OCHA reports that yesterday and today, six attempts to deliver life-saving assistance to besieged areas in North Gaza governorate were blocked.

The three missions planned for yesterday aimed to bring food and water to Jabalya, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. Today's missions were meant to deliver food and water into Beit Lahiya and Jabalya, and to provide protection and psychosocial support for children in Jabalya.

Every attempt by the UN to access these areas with food, water and health missions this month was either denied or impeded. We have submitted four additional requests to the Israeli authorities to reach these areas tomorrow with life-saving assistance.

OCHA reports that across Gaza, Israeli bombardment from the air, land and sea continues to be reported, causing further death, displacement and destruction. In central Gaza, Israeli military operations in An Nuseirat refugee camp in Deir al Balah intensified considerably earlier this week, with reports of people appealing to rescue teams to be evacuated following the sudden advancement of forces amid heavy fire.

Meanwhile, OCHA warns that repeated displacement is leaving people increasingly vulnerable, as critical resources are progressively exhausted.

As of yesterday, about 79 per cent of the Gaza Strip remains under active evacuation orders. Palestinians continue to be directed to areas in and around Al Mawasi, in southern Gaza, that lack basic infrastructure and essential services.

OCHA reports that efforts to scale up the humanitarian response in southern and central Gaza continue to be hindered by active hostilities, deepening insecurity and significant access impediments. Partners working to tackle food insecurity report that in central and southern Gaza, more than 100 kitchens producing about 400,000 meals per day are at constant risk of shutdown.

Lebanon

OCHA says displacement orders followed by airstrikes continue to drive panic among civilians in Lebanon. Once again, OCHA stresses that warnings and displacement orders must be clear and allow sufficient time for civilians to safely leave.

The conflict is also taking a heavy toll on children, with UNICEF warning that nearly every child in Lebanon has been affected. Many have experienced bombardment and lost their loved ones, homes and access to education.

UNICEF and its partners are mobilized and providing support, including psychological first aid to several thousand displaced children. They are also working to reunite unaccompanied children with families.

Meanwhile, health partners warn that continued attacks on health-care facilities and personnel are critically impacting services. The World Health Organization says 142 health workers have been killed on duty since October 2023.

Despite the challenges, the UN and health partners continue to support the response. They have connected about 960 collective shelters with primary health-care centers to ensure that displaced populations continue to receive essential health services.

Somalia

Turning to Somalia, the Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, has allocated US$5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund for early action for drought in Somalia.

Somalia faces a 70 percent likelihood of La Niña-induced drought and reduced rainfall, according to national authorities and partners.  

The new allocation will support more than 130,000 people, focusing on protection, food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. The funding will complement a $5 million anticipatory action allocation from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund.

The most affected areas are central and southern Somalia, as well as Puntland. Rural communities face a heightened risk of severe food insecurity due to reduced water access and low crop yields.