Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Syria, Yemen
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Strikes hit school, refugee camps in Gaza
OCHA reports that the recent escalation in strikes has had a severe impact on civilians, including children.
OCHA has received reports of strikes hitting densely populated sites, including a school and several refugee camps. Among those reported killed were children and at least one medic, who we’re told was struck while attempting to save lives.
In one area east of the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza city, casualties were reported and some 40 families were displaced, reportedly fleeing tank fire in the vicinity. OCHA indicates that most people had been sheltering in two schools. Ambulance teams attempted to reach the area but were only able to go to a location about one kilometre away, where they received injured people and the bodies of those killed. Humanitarian teams said that some of the displaced were able to return this morning as the situation had calmed.
OCHA reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected. They must never be targeted or used to shield military activities. Children and medical personnel are afforded additional protection under international humanitarian law.
Meanwhile, the UN and its partners continue to make the most of the limited re-opening of the Rafah crossing and respond to humanitarian needs across the Gaza Strip.
Yesterday, the World Health Organization supported the medical evacuation of 16 more patients, along with 24 of their companions, through Rafah, for treatment not currently available in Gaza. A similar number of returnees was let in last night.
Colleagues from the UN Development Programme received the returnees near the Israeli checkpoint and transported them to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where OCHA and partners have established a humanitarian reception area. There, returnees can meet protection officers, psychologists and medical staff, and receive water, basic nutrition items, and information on humanitarian services.
As of earlier today, medical evacuations of more patients and companions were ongoing, and further returns are expected tonight.
Correction: the last medical evacuation through Rafah crossing – before the recent re-opening – was in mid-March 2025 and not May 2024, as reported on Monday.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza with urgent support.
#Sudan
UN sounds alarm over deadly drone strikes, famine conditions in Kordofan
OCHA is deeply alarmed by reports of deadly drone strikes in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State.
According to the Sudan Doctors Network, at least 15 civilians, including seven children, were killed yesterday when residential neighbourhoods were hit. Medical sources indicate that a health centre was also struck while patients were receiving treatment.
This follows a series of attacks on the city this week on civilian areas and medical facilities which have reportedly caused further civilian casualties and significantly degraded already fragile health services.
Local sources report that more than half of Kadugli’s medical facilities are no longer functioning after months of siege conditions, shelling and severe shortages.
These incidents come as the humanitarian situation there continues to deteriorate rapidly. Famine conditions have been identified in the city, food prices have surged and malnutrition is deepening. Key humanitarian supply routes into the city remain unavailable.
OCHA reiterates that civilians, medical facilities and humanitarian workers must be protected at all times. Rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access must be ensured so assistance can reach people in need.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the country, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Denise Brown, met this week with displaced families at Al Afad camp in the city of Ad Dabbah, Northern State. Ms. Brown heard consistent accounts of extreme violence, fear and loss after more than 1,000 days of war in Sudan.
OCHA reiterates its call for an end to violence and additional funding to scale up life-saving assistance. This year's humanitarian response plan calls for $2.9 billion to reach more than 20 million people – or two out of every five people – in need across the country.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.
#Syria
Life-saving aid reaches Kobani despite constraints
OCHA reports that the UN and its partners continue to provide humanitarian aid to people in need in the city of Ain Al-Arab, also known as Kobani, in Aleppo Governorate.
Unexploded ordnance on roads and the presence of internal security forces are limiting people’s ability to move.
The city has only about 20 per cent of the water it needs. Humanitarian partners are providing fuel for an emergency pumping station and to truck water to shelters.
The commercial sector has yet to resume fully. Bakeries are open, but face fuel and flour shortages.
Electricity is intermittent at best, as transformers have been damaged and cables disconnected. This is limiting communications and connectivity in the area. Authorities have started repairs, and the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have also requested access for technical teams to be deployed tomorrow.
To date, 52 humanitarian trucks have reached Ain Al Arab, providing food assistance, hygiene items, medical supplies, a mobile clinic and fuel to support water pumping and hospitals.
Aid continues to be delivered in other parts of northeast Syria, including the city of Qamishli in Al-Hasakah Governorate, which is hosting the largest number of people who have been displaced in recent weeks.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Syria with urgent support.
#Yemen
Crucial UN humanitarian flights approved
Turning to Yemen, the Humanitarian Coordinator there, Julien Harneis, said in a statement today that the Houthi de facto authorities approved UN Humanitarian Air Service flights for the month of February.
Mr. Harneis notes that this will allow staff from NGOs to enter and exit Sana’a, which is necessary to provide humanitarian assistance for the millions of people in need in areas controlled by Houthi de facto authorities.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen remains dire. This year, 23 million people – more than half the country’s population – are estimated to need humanitarian assistance, including more than 18 million who will be hungry, and nearly half of the country's children under the age of five who will be malnourished.
It is therefore critical that humanitarian partners are able to reach communities in need.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Yemen with urgent support.