Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Gaza: UN, partners seize every opportunity to scale up aid

OCHA says that the UN and its humanitarian partners on the ground continue seizing every opportunity to scale up the provision of life-saving aid to people in need in Gaza.

Food security partners report that, as of the third week of February, some 860,000 cooked meals prepared in around 180 kitchens were being distributed daily - an increase of more than 10 per cent compared to 780,000 meals in the second week of February.

The World Food Programme (WFP) says that subsidized bread is now available at 24 retail shops in the South so families have safe access to basic staples without overcrowding.

As part of daily production, WFP continues to deliver an average of 54,000 free bread bundles to families every day. The market relies heavily on WFP wheat flour as the main or only source of wheat flour in Gaza.

At least four food distribution points have been re-established in North Gaza Governorate to ease the burden on families forced to travel long distances for food with increased transport costs and protection risks.

Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided supplies to three hospitals and five health partners that will serve 250,000 people across the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, in Gaza city, this week WHO supported the expansion of the triage and emergency department capacity in Al-Shifa hospital with tents and an additional 20 beds.

UNICEF also delivered essential health kits, pediatric medicines and newborn supplies for more than 20,000 people to Al Awda Hospital in North Gaza.

The polio campaign concluded yesterday, reaching more than 600,000 children under 10 years of age.

For the past two days, work towards improving access to water and sanitation continued. Two water points were established and expanded in North Gaza governorate. Two sections of water networks were also repaired to support long-term water provision to communities in Khan Younis.

As of yesterday, more than 100,000 students have enrolled in school following the start of the new academic year on 23 February. To date, 165 public schools across Gaza have reopened. For most students, this will be their first time returning to in-person learning in 16 months.

Today, 715 trucks entered Gaza, while 942 crossed into the Strip on Sunday, according to information obtained by the UN on the ground through interactions with the Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire deal.

West Bank: Situation remains alarming

In the West Bank, Israeli forces’ operations continued in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas, leading to further casualties and displacement, and hindering access to healthcare, water, electricity and other critical services.

The situation across the West Bank is deeply alarming. OCHA once again stresses that international law must be respected and civilians must be protected.

#Sudan

Conflict takes ‘appalling’ toll on civilians in North Darfur state’s El Fasher

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, today stressed in a statement the continuing appalling impact of the conflict on civilians, including in the El Fasher area in North Darfur State. 

As Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, said in her statement to the Security Council yesterday, the situation in El Fasher, and in nearby the Zamzam displacement camp in particular, has continued to deteriorate, with civilians killed and injured and key humanitarian organizations forced to suspend critical life-saving operations in recent days.

OCHA reiterates that international humanitarian law must be respected across Sudan. Civilians, including humanitarian workers, must be protected and humanitarian operations must be facilitated by all parties.

#Ukraine

Three days of hostilities in Donetsk result in civilians casualties, damaged homes

OCHA says that Ukraine's Donetsk region has been the focus of hostilities over the past three days, impacting civilian and civilian infrastructure.

According to local authorities, attacks on the cities of Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk have caused civilian casualties, including among children. They also damaged more than 100 homes, as well as two educational institutions and several shops, and have disrupted basic services.

Aid workers are providing emergency assistance, including by distributing shelter materials.

More than 40,000 people, including more than 200 children, remain in 17 communities in areas of active hostilities, while evacuations continue in the Donetsk region.

Since the launch of the mandatory evacuation of children with their families from high-risk areas in April 2023, more than 13,000 children have been evacuated from more than 250 towns and villages in Ukraine-controlled parts of the region, according to authorities.

As the security situation continues to deteriorate, authorities urge residents to leave for safer regions, either through Government-led evacuations supported by humanitarian organizations or on their own.

More than three years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, more than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine-controlled areas of the Donetsk Region, while approximately 300,000 people remain.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

UN, partners launch $2.5 billion Humanitarian Response Plan to support 11 million people

OCHA reports that the UN, partners, and Congolese Government, jointly launched the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan today in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

The plan seeks US$2.5 billion to provide life-saving assistance and protection for 11 million people, including 7.8 million internally displaced people.

For years, the DRC has faced a complex humanitarian crisis, driven mainly by conflicts, natural disasters, and epidemics. Escalating violence in the east in recent months has pushed this crisis to unprecedented levels, severely aggravating humanitarian needs. 

The Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Bruno Lemarquis, said that all warning signals are flashing red. Yet, despite immense challenges, humanitarian action has continued to prove its effectiveness in saving lives every day. Adapting humanitarian operations to the dynamic crisis in the East, the goal remains to deliver vital aid to the most vulnerable people, wherever they are.

Last year, humanitarian partners mobilized $1.3 billion – a record amount – and assisted more than 7 million people.

The humanitarian community is grateful for donors’ generosity and hopes this can be sustained. Humanitarian organizations are urgently calling on everyone to do everything they can to provide the funds, access and support needed to support people in need in the DRC this year.