Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan

A child being evacuated for medical treatment from Gaza. Photo: World Health Organization

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Senior UN official discusses challenges to aid delivery with partners

Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, the Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, is on a two-day visit to Gaza Strip.

In Deir al Balah, he met with UN agencies and partners to discuss the challenges to humanitarian access and delivery they continue to face. He heard their concerns about continued security incidents near the so-called “Yellow Line,” which have resulted in civilian casualties.

South of Gaza city, Dr. Alakbarov visited the Abu-Jarad dumping site for solid waste and a debris crushing site. Humanitarian partners have been using this site to dispose of solid waste given access restrictions to Gaza’s main landfills. Dr. Alakbarov also went to the Rafah checkpoint and saw people returning to Gaza.

Tomorrow, Dr. Alakbarov will visit the field hospital in Al Mawasi, where the UN and its partners are helping patients to go to Egypt through the Rafah crossing.

Overall, since the ceasefire and as of this Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has facilitated the evacuation of more than 740 patients - including 432 children – through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings. However, 18,500 patients – including 4,000 children – still urgently need to be medically evacuated for specialized treatment unavailable in Gaza.

To reduce reliance on evacuations, WHO continues to call for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of Gaza’s health system, including allowing more medical supplies in, restoring damaged facilities and expanding essential services. It also urges reopening medical referrals to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; greater acceptance of patients by Member States for treatment abroad; and ensuring patients are able to return to Gaza after their treatments are completed.

#Sudan

Escalating clashes in North Darfur State claim civilian lives

OCHA is deeply concerned by the harm civilians are increasingly being subjected to as fighting intensifies in North Darfur State.

The International Organization for Migration reports that nearly 2,700 people were displaced following attacks on Misteriya town in the locality of Kebkabiya in recent days. A local organization, the Sudan Doctors Network, says that 28 civilians were killed and 39 others were injured in these attacks.

Further attacks have also been reported in the town of Tina in Sudan, just near the border with Chad. The deteriorating security situation in the area has forced the closure of a hospital supported by Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) just across the border in Chad. MSF’s moved to another new hospital site nearby and around 40 patients were relocated over the weekend, in coordination with the Chadian authorities.

OCHA once again reiterates its calls for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and for parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.