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

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Killing of UNRWA staff member sparks UN call to protect civilians

OCHA reports that one UNRWA staff member was killed in central Gaza, bringing to 589 the death toll among aid workers in Gaza since October 2023, including 397 UN staff.  

OCHA reiterates that under international humanitarian law, civilians – including aid workers – and civilian infrastructure must be protected and should not be a target.    

On the education front, over the past few days, the UN and its partners have taken additional stationery, pens, erasers, and toys into Gaza. These will provide a better learning environment for thousands of boys and girls.  

Meanwhile, humanitarian partners continue to expand learning through temporary learning spaces - last week, they established four new learning spaces, serving more than 5,500 schoolchildren. There are now some 450 temporary learning spaces operating across Gaza.  

Between 29 January and 4 February, child protection partners provided much needed winter assistance, psychosocial support and safe spaces to more than 6,500 children and caregivers. Nearly 3,800 vulnerable children received warm clothing – help that families say they urgently needed. 

 In the West Bank, humanitarian partners report that yesterday Israeli authorities demolished several structures in Al Bustan area of Silwan, in East Jerusalem. OCHA warns that evictions and demolitions generate or deepen humanitarian needs among Palestinian families. 

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

#Sudan

Drone strikes hit civilians, humanitarian facilities

OCHA warns that escalating aerial attacks are putting civilians into further danger and are directly hitting humanitarian and public infrastructure in Sudan.

According to the Sudan Doctors Network, a drone strike at dawn today hit a mosque in the city of Al-Rahad in North Kordofan State, reportedly killing two children and injuring 13 others – all students.

Last night, the World Food Programme warehouse in Kadugli, the state capital of South Kordofan, was struck by suspected rockets, significantly damaging buildings and mobile storage units.

 In the city of Dilling in South Kordofan State, a drone attack struck a primary school last night, reportedly injuring one person.

 In recent days, drone strikes have also been reported in other parts of the states of South, North and West Kordofan, close to key supply routes linking the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan to Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan. This is endangering civilians, including humanitarian workers.

In South Kordofan, the UN and its partners have distributed nearly 600 metric tons of food to close to 70,000 people. However, the continued arrival of families who have fled their homes is depleting what limited stocks are available. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 115,000 people have been displaced across the Kordofan region since late October.

Meanwhile, in Central Darfur, airstrikes reportedly hit residential areas of the state capital Zalingei yesterday, killing and injuring civilians.

Once again, OCHA stresses that civilians and civilian infrastructure – including schools, places of worship and humanitarian facilities – must be protected, in line with international humanitarian law.

All parties must also ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access so life-saving assistance can reach people in urgent need across Sudan.

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

#Ukraine

UN aid reaches civilians on front line

OCHA reports that today a humanitarian convoy reached the front-line community of Pokrovske in Ukraine’s Dnipro region, delivering critical medical and hygiene supplies.

Access to the town has been extremely difficult due to continued fighting. Of the 10,000 people who lived there before the start of the full-scale war, only around 500 remain, most of them older people and people with disabilities.

According to authorities, between yesterday and this morning, hostilities across the country have caused nine civilian deaths and over 45 injuries. Ten children were among those injured. The regions of Donetsk, Dnipro, Sumy and Kherson were hardest hit.

In the region of Zaporizhzhia, a hospital and a pre-school were damaged, and thousands of people were left without heating after an attack.

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

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

 As cholera outbreak worsens, UN releases emergency funds

OCHA warns that the spiraling cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) demands an immediate scale-up of the response.

It is reportedly the country’s worst outbreak in a quarter of a century. Since the start of the year, more than 1,300 suspected cases and 35 deaths have been reported.

The Government, the UN and its partners are continuing to provide support, but there are still major gaps. Water, sanitation and hygiene services are critically underfunded, health workers are overstretched, supplies are running low, and access to treatment facilities remains difficult.

On Monday, $750,000 was allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) so humanitarian partners working in healthcare can swiftly expand life-saving assistance and curb transmission rates.

This marks the fourth CERF allocation for so-called anticipatory action since early 2025, releasing funds to stay ahead of predictable disaster and save more lives. Last year, the DRC recorded more than 71,800 suspected cases and over 2,000 deaths. 

 The UN and its partners urgently need more and flexible funding to bolster health services, ensure there are enough supplies and monitor areas affected by cholera.