Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Despite challenges, aid reaches more than 2 million people across Gaza
OCHA says that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to deliver critical support to the more than two million people across the Gaza Strip, despite bureaucratic impediments.
The UN’s partners leading on emergency shelter assistance report that, since 18 February, they have reached more than 7,700 families with tents, tarpaulins, sealing-off kits, mattresses, kitchen utensils, clothes and vouchers.
Partners reiterate the urgent need to transition to longer-term housing solutions to protect displaced families from the elements and restore privacy and dignity, as emergency shelter materials provide only temporary protection.
Education partners continue to enhance learning spaces. In the past two weeks alone, they have expanded or improved 160 temporary learning sites, reaching approximately 100,000 children.
The entry into Gaza of most learning materials remains restricted, delaying efforts for all children to continue their education. Students with disabilities face even greater barriers, as assistive devices are largely being prevented from getting in.
Humanitarian operations, which require coordination with Israeli authorities, continue in Gaza. Between 20-22 February, the UN coordinated 20 operations to pick up food, fuel, hygiene kits, medical supplies and other items from the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings, carry out medical evacuations through Rafah, and support people returning home.
#Sudan
Fatal drone strikes kill civilians and stop flow of critical aid in Sudan
OCHA is alarmed by continuing reports of attacks preventing supplies from reaching people in desperate need in the Kordofan region.
In recent days, authorities reported a strike on a convoy transporting food to Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan, with three civilians reportedly killed in the attack.
Needs in Kadugli and Dilling have reached catastrophic levels. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification recently classified Kadugli as in being in famine, warning of similar conditions in Dilling. Rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained access to both locations, and across the broader Kordofan region is critical.
In a press release last week, Médecins Sans Frontières says it treated nearly 170 patients for injuries relating to drone attacks over the first two weeks of February. Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted over the weekend that five attacks on health care in Sudan have already been reported this year, killing 69 people and injuring 49.
OCHA reiterates its calls for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as for the 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.
#South Sudan
UN humanitarian chief spotlights need for protection of civilians
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, continues his visit in South Sudan. Today, he met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior and several Government ministers. In the meetings, Mr. Fletcher advocated for peace, humanitarian access and the protection of civilians and aid workers.
On 20 February, Fletcher travelled to Malakal in Upper Nile State, where he met representatives of the 45,000 people living in protracted displacement at a former protection of civilians site, which is now under Government responsibility. At the Bulukat Transit Centre, he spoke to South Sudanese families forced to return due to the war in neighbouring Sudan. People told him they want peace and security – and urgent support to rebuild their lives with dignity.
On Saturday, Fletcher travelled to opposition-held Akobo town in Jonglei State, which now hosts some 42,000 internally displaced people who have fled the fighting in Nyirol, Uror, Nasir and Ulang counties. He visited Akobo County Hospital, where doctors are working around the clock to treat people injured by the fighting. He met an 18-month-old child and a 70-year-old grandmother with gunshot wounds, and stressed in a social media post that civilians should never be a target. He also made a stopover in Bor and met humanitarian staff who have been relocated from Ulang county in Upper Nile due to the deteriorating security situation.
In Juba yesterday, he engaged with the diplomatic corps and with NGO representatives and religious leaders, who called for peace and accountability, and urged the Government to do more.
UN OCHA footage from the visit available on https://media.un.org/unifeed/en/asset/d353/d3537879
#Ukraine
Continued attacks across Ukraine leave thosands freezing
Over the past three days, continued attacks across Ukraine have caused civilian casualties and further damaged homes and energy infrastructure.
Between 20 February and this morning, authorities report that nearly 20 civilians were killed and 90 injured, including 10 children.
Homes, schools, a church and critical infrastructure were damaged, along with energy infrastructure, leaving thousands more people without electricity and heating.
Health and education facilities have not been spared. Since February 2022, the WHO has verified more than 2,880 attacks on health care in Ukraine, while over 1,700 education facilities have been damaged or destroyed, according to UNICEF.
Humanitarian organizations mobilized emergency shelter, hot meals, psychosocial support and cash assistance.
Meanwhile, evacuations continue with nearly 860 people, including more than 280 children, having recently been moved from front-line communities in the Donetsk region.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Ukraine with urgent support.