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

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA is extremely concerned by reports on an exceptionally high number of casualties in Beit Lahiya area of North Gaza Governorate, which they cannot access.

OCHA says aid workers and emergency responders continue to face extreme challenges in assisting people across the Gaza Strip, often with immense risks to their personal safety.

Since the beginning of the month, at least 14 humanitarian workers and four health workers have been killed and others injured across the Gaza Strip, including some who were off duty.

In total, since October 2023, at least 322 aid workers, including 315 Palestinians and seven foreigners were killed; this includes 237 UN staff, of whom 233 were UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff members, 33 Palestine Red Crescent Society staff and volunteers and at least 52 other aid workers with national and international non-governmental organizations.

On North Gaza, OCHA says that continued attacks and access constraints for humanitarian partners are severely hindering the delivery of lifesaving health services and critical supplies, such as fuel and medicine. Only two – or 10 per cent – out of 20 health service points and two hospitals, Kamal Adwan and Al Awda, remain functional, although partially, hampering the delivery of life-saving health services.

UNRWA health teams have relocated to Gaza city, where only one medical point at a small school remains functional, after the agency’s medical points in North Gaza were destroyed. The World Food Programme and other partners have also lost access to most of North Gaza governorate.

Across the Gaza Strip, October has seen very limited food distribution due to severe supply shortages. As of the last week of October, more than 1.7 million people, or 80 per cent of the population, have not received their monthly food rations in the Strip, compared with 1.4 million people in September and one million in August. People have run out of ways to cope, food systems have collapsed, and the risk of famine persists, necessitating an immediate, at scale resumption of humanitarian and commercial supply flow into the Strip.

Meanwhile, OCHA visited a makeshift displacement site in Deir al Balah, today, hosting more than 2,000 families. Many tents on the site are severely damaged by the sun and not prepared for the upcoming winter. OCHA reports critical water shortage capacity, including tanks and jerrycans. Families also shared the lack of cleaning supplies and essential hygiene items and the need to manage solid waste.

OCHA reiterates that civilians must be protected whether they move or stay, and they must be able to receive the humanitarian assistance they need. This is what international humanitarian law requires.

#Lebanon

OCHA reports that the number of people killed and injured continues to rise, amid ongoing strikes in different parts of Lebanon.

Strikes, last night and today, on the governorates of Baalbek-Hermel and Bekkaa, in the east of the country, at least 60 people were killed and injured dozens, according to local authorities.

OCHA underscores that, under international humanitarian law, parties to the conflict must take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects. Civilians must be protected at all times and wherever they are – whether they leave or stay. 

UN Women also warns that women and girls are particularly impacted by the ongoing crisis, facing grave risks to their health, safety and dignity.

Meanwhile, OCHA says that in addition to fires resulting from airstrikes, more than 20 fires have reportedly erupted across Lebanon in the past week, affecting different governorates, particularly Mount Lebanon in the north of the country.

#Ukraine

OCHA says that attacks last night and today in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, and Kyiv, Ukraine, led to 30 civilian casualties, including healthcare workers. The attacks damaged hospitals, apartment buildings and an architectural landmark building in Kharkiv, according to the local authorities and aid workers. 

Humanitarian partners have mobilized to provide emergency aid and psychological support. They are also distributing emergency shelter materials to cover the damage, as well as blankets and solar lamps.  

Meanwhile, hostilities in the front-line Kherson and Donetsk regions yesterday and today resulted in more than 20 civilian casualties, including two children and two health-care workers. The attacks also damaged a dozen houses, a postal office and other civilian facilities. That’s according to local authorities.