Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Syria

#Gaza

Telecommunications and internet services in southern Gaza have been partially restored following the longest shutdown since the onset of the crisis. These recurrent interruptions and the lack of electricity hinder access to vital information and severely affect humanitarian relief efforts.

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) continues to provide health care to displaced people at shelters.

Since the beginning of December, the World Food Programme (WFP) also distributed high energy biscuits to about 600,000 internally displaced people in designated shelters. In addition, WFP has distributed food parcels or wheat flour to about 110,000 IDPs during the past two week.

Between the 12 and 17 December, only two of our humanitarian partners were able to operate in the northern area of Gaza due to the security situation. They distributed food to more than 46,000 internally displaced people in shelters. In the south, 11 of our partners have provided food to some 2.5 million people over the past week.

UNICEF delivered nutrition supplements for more than 60,000 children inside shelters, as well as supplements for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

On shelter, last week, our partners distributed 2,300 kitchen kits, nearly 57,000 blankets and more than 27,000 mattresses in the south. But there is still a significant shortage of shelter materials ahead of the winter, including tents and plastic sheeting.

The amount of aid crossing into Gaza does not meet a fraction of the needs. We need uninterrupted and unconditional flows of basic commodities into Gaza – for that we need the conditions to deliver aid safely inside Gaza wherever people need our support.

#
Sudan

OCHA is alarmed by the ongoing fighting in Wad Medani, in the southeastern state of Aj Jazirah.

At least a quarter of a million people have fled the state, according to initial reports from the International Organization for Migration. Many are being displaced for a second time, having come here after fighting broke out in the capital Khartoum earlier this year.

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, is calling on the parties to stop the violence – saying civilians are fleeing in terror from what was once a place of refuge.

In a social media post, Mr. Griffiths said humanitarian operations are also in jeopardy.

Wad Medani is a key humanitarian hub – and the violence is undermining our ability to respond there and in the wider region.

Humanitarian field missions within and from Aj Jazirah state are still suspended.

OCHA warns that if the fighting continues, aid distribution to 2 million people – about a third of the state’s population – will be compromised.

Aid organizations have reduced their footprint in Wad Medani due to the fighting – with staff relocating to neighbouring states but prepared to return once the security situation allows.

They are also concerned about the threat of looting and further destruction of humanitarian warehouses and supplies. We continue to call on the parties to the conflict to protect and respect these supplies and facilities.

#Syria

We are alarmed by the impact of ongoing hostilities in northwest Syria. Nearly 40 per cent of those killed in the violence since 5 October are children – as the number of civilian casualties continues to climb.

Over the weekend (between 15 and 17 December), at least seven people – including a pregnant woman – were killed when shelling struck residential and front-line areas in Idleb and western Aleppo. Nearly two dozen others were injured, with a displacement camp and vegetable market affected.

This comes just a week after nine civilians – including three children – were killed during shelling in Idleb City and the town of Sarmin on 9 December.

Overall, since 5 October, the escalating violence in northwest Syria has killed at least 99 civilians with more than 400 others injured, according to local health authorities.

We and our partners continue to do all we can to help those affected by the hostilities, including by supporting health facilities that are providing treatment to civilians.