Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
More community kitchens close in Gaza as supplies dwindle
OCHA continues to warn of a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, driven by the Israeli-imposed complete blockade on the entry of humanitarian and commercial goods, as well as ongoing hostilities.
Partners working on food report that today, about 454,000 daily meals have been prepared and delivered through more than 90 community kitchens. Yesterday, the total was about 838,000 meals through nearly 130 community kitchens. This is a 46 per cent reduction of almost 400,000 daily meals overnight.
Since late April, more than 80 kitchens have been forced to shut down due to the lack of supplies, a number that is rising by the day. This is fueling widespread hunger in Gaza, as the cooked meals provided by these kitchens constitute one of the last remaining lifelines for the population.
Partners also report that there are no tents left for distribution – and other shelter supplies such as tarpaulins are also nearly exhausted. The few remaining items are set to be delivered soon. Recently, partners distributed shelter items to 200 households in Khan Younis and 500 shelter repair kits in Gaza city for returnees to damaged homes.
In Jabalya, in North Gaza governorate, efforts are underway to reduce public health risks associated with recent flooding. The UN is supporting the municipal water utility in making emergency repairs to the Al Saftawi stormwater system and the sewage lagoon drainage infrastructure.
The UN also supported the relocation of medical equipment from Durrah Hospital to Rantissi Hospital in Gaza city, helping ensure the continuity of critical services amid ongoing disruptions.
However, health partners stress that the response requires 1.33 million litres of fuel per month. Due to severe shortages, fuel is being prioritized for hospitals, field facilities and ambulances, while the supply for primary health centres and medical points has been reduced by over 50 per cent.
Today, a UN team led by OCHA retrieved more than 400,000 litres of fuel from a fuel station in Rafah, after the Israeli authorities facilitated their efforts to reach it. This is the first time the UN has been allowed to retrieve fuel from Rafah in nearly three weeks – since 18 April. However, this is a small fraction of what is urgently needed, as the Israeli authorities continue to routinely deny humanitarians access to much of the available reserves.
The UN and its partners remain committed to delivering critical, life-saving assistance to a population trapped and worn down by relentless hostilities and deprivation. But this response is not sustainable. The fate of Gaza and its children depends on immediate and concrete action to stop the killing, displacement and extreme hunger.
OCHA reports that UN teams and partners on the ground continue to engage daily with the Israeli authorities and anyone with influence over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Their focus is on how to fully lift the blockade and facilitate principled humanitarian operations that leave no person in need behind.
#Syria
Explosive ordnance imperils civilians on the move in Syria
OCHA reports that across Syria, people continue to be on the move. More than 670,000 people have been displaced since November 2024, while over 1 million people have returned to their areas of origin.
Explosive ordnance contamination – including unexploded ordnance, mines, improvised explosive devices and other explosive remnants of war – continues to have a deadly impact throughout the country. Since 8 December 2024, more than 900 civilian casualties have been reported, including 367 deaths and 542 injuries. Children represent over one third of these casualties.
The UN and its partners continue to deliver aid across Syria, despite major funding constraints. This includes distributing support to displacement sites, creating livelihood opportunities, restoring water supplies, and providing food and nutrition assistance.*
The humanitarian appeal seeking US$2 billion to support 8 million people between January and June is only 10 per cent funded, with $203 million received to date.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Syria with urgent support.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
Funding cuts force humanitarians to reprioritize DRC response
OCHA reports that due to critical funding shortfalls, the humanitarian community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reprioritized its response plan.
This year’s full humanitarian response plan aims to assist 11 million people across the DRC at a cost of roughly $2.5 billion.
Within that plan, humanitarian partners have recently completed a strict prioritization review, identifying life-saving interventions to help 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people at a cost of $1.25 billion – approximately half of the full plan’s requirements.
Yet as of today, just over $245 million has been received – just half the amount secured by this time last year, despite escalating needs in the wake of the crisis in the east of the country.
Aid is decreasing, but needs are not, with more than 21 million people in need of assistance this year.
OCHA also calls for greater protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas and more support to prevent the collapse of essential services and address the root causes of the crisis.
The humanitarian situation remains dire. The Congolese Government has officially declared a cholera outbreak in six provinces: Haut-Katanga, Tanganyika, South Kivu, North Kivu, Tshopo and Kongo Central. As of 5 May, more than 18,000 cholera cases and 364 deaths have been reported since January, according to health authorities.
Health authorities – supported by partners – are providing care to patients. However, they face shortages of medical supplies, among other challenges. Authorities have requested more support from partners, including in strengthening epidemiological surveillance, ensuring access to clean water, and distributing hygiene kits in the most affected areas.
#Haiti
UN, partners support displaced children in Centre Department
OCHA warns that a recent wave of armed violence in Haiti’s Centre Department is putting thousands of children at risk. Since mid-April, more than 50,000 people have been displaced, including an estimated 15,000 children.
Most displaced families have taken shelter in rural areas or in temporary sites with little access to essential services. In response, the UN and its humanitarian partners are providing psychosocial support and child protection services in the most affected areas. So far, more than 1,400 children have benefited from individual counseling and recreational activities in safe environments.
Field teams are also identifying and referring children who have been separated from their families, subjected to gender-based violence, or exposed to other protection risks – including forced recruitment by armed groups. At least 150 such cases have been referred to specialized services for care and support.
OCHA continues to lead coordination efforts and support partners to deliver life-saving protection services for the most vulnerable children. However, additional funding is urgently needed to meet rising needs, especially with the hurricane season approaching and displacement continuing to increase.
Even before the recent escalation of violence in Haiti, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had identified more than $44 million in funding that is needed for child protection efforts alone. Yet the overall appeal for Haiti this year is severely underfunded, with less than $68 million received of the more than $908 million required to date – just over 7 per cent.