Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Tropical Storm Jude

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

UN relief chief urges renewal of Gaza ceasefire

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher told the Security Council today that with the resumption of air strikes across the entire Gaza Strip, the people of Gaza are once again living in abject fear, as the modest gains made during the ceasefire are being destroyed.

OCHA reports that waves of Israeli air strikes and bombardments have occurred across the Strip since early morning. Initial and unconfirmed reports indicate that hundreds have been killed, including many children.

Muhannad Hadi, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said the killings were unconscionable, adding that a ceasefire must be reinstated immediately.

In a statement, he said people in Gaza have endured unimaginable suffering, underscoring that an end to hostilities, sustained humanitarian assistance, release of the hostages, and the restoration of basic services and people’s livelihoods are the only way forward.

Fletcher, who briefed the Security Council from Brussels, also called for the renewal of the ceasefire, as well as funding for the humanitarian response. He stressed that humanitarian aid and commercial essentials must be allowed to enter Gaza.

The Under-Secretary-General warned that the ongoing blockade of life-saving aid, basic commodities and commercial goods into Gaza will have a disastrous impact on people who remain dependent on a steady flow of assistance into the Strip. He noted that essential survival resources needed are now being rationed.

The 42-day ceasefire proved what is possible, he told the Council: Aid delivery was enabled, and the response scaled up quickly and effectively. Over 4,000 trucks of aid per week entered Gaza, more than 2 million people were assisted, and polio vaccination targets were exceeded, reaching over 600,000 children.

“We cannot and must not accept a return to pre-ceasefire conditions or the complete denial of humanitarian relief,” Mr. Fletcher said. “Civilians must be protected. Their essential needs must be met. International law must be respected.”

OCHA notes that the Israeli military has ordered people to evacuate areas in Beit Hanoun and Khan Younis. This marks the first evacuation order issued in more than two months – since 15 January. Many people have already been displaced, seeking safety elsewhere.

The area covered by the evacuation order totals about 23 square kilometres – more than 6 per cent of the Gaza Strip – and includes more than a dozen sites sheltering displaced people. The area is also home to three clinics and one field hospital, with additional medical facilities located nearby.

OCHA warns that no guarantees have been provided for the safety, protection and wellbeing of those ordered to leave, let alone for those staying behind.

The World Health Organization says medical evacuations planned for today have been denied and calls for the resumption of such evacuations.

The continued closure of crossings for the entry of cargo – coupled with the latest hostilities – are hindering humanitarian operations. The UN and its partners working in education report that activities have stopped in more than 300 facilities across the Strip, depriving thousands of children of their right to education.

However, aid workers on the ground are doing everything possible to provide assistance to those in need.

#Syria

Humanitarians sustain aid to Syria as UN relief chief calls for solidarity

OCHA reports that the UN and its partners continue to deliver aid across Syria. This includes restoring water supplies, providing food and nutrition assistance, distributing winter aid, and supporting vulnerable mothers and children.

Following recent violence in the coastal areas, UNICEF and its partners provided 20,000 liters of fuel and 30 tons of water disinfection chemicals to restore the water supply to Lattakia governorate last week.

Today, partners began distributing 2,500 hot meals and other food items to displaced people in the city of Banyas.

In the northwest, OCHA says that humanitarian aid continues to enter through the Bab Al-Hawa crossing. On 14 March, 10 World Food Programme trucks carrying more than 240 metric tons of food supplies for 40,000 people crossed into Idleb.

Yesterday, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, attended the Brussels IX Conference, where donors pledged €5.8 billion for Syria and its neighbors. Addressing the conference, Fletcher said that the people of Syria do not need us to be commentators and problem observers – they need us to move with urgency, adding that the price of failure will be much greater for all of us than the cost of success.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

Deadly clashes in eastern DRC drive displacement, needs higher

OCHA reports that fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to claim the lives of civilians and to displace people. 

Violence in both South Kivu and North Kivu provinces is forcing civilians to flee to the neighbouring provinces of Maniema, Tanganyika and Tshopo. The presence of aid workers in these provinces remains very limited, and humanitarian needs have long gone unmet due to a lack of funding.

In Maniema province, our partners report that, as of March 14th, more than 100,000 people had crossed into Lubutu territory from North Kivu’s Walikale territory, adding to 8,000 people who had already arrived in Lubutu since early January.

In South Kivu, humanitarian organizations report that clashes in Walungu Territory between 10 and 14 March killed six civilians and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes temporarily. 

Still in South Kivu, ongoing clashes in the town of Uvira and surrounding villages have forced at least 30,000 people to seek refuge in Fizi territory, since 15 February, according to local authorities. OCHA is concerned about high humanitarian needs in this area.

In North Kivu, partners estimate that 15,000 people have returned to villages in the Rwanguba area of Rutshuru territory since the end of January. The returning families had lived for more than two years in displacement sites in the provincial capital, Goma, or in Uganda. OCHA and its partners are seeking to address urgent needs in the areas of health, including mental health, as well as providing essential household items and food.

In Ituri province, the Fataki General Hospital in Djugu Territory has remained closed since 14 March due to recent clashes and attacks in the area, according to local health sources. The closure cuts off access to health services for nearly 70,000 displaced people in the area, in addition to some 100,000 people in the host community.

#South Sudan

Civilians flee Upper Nile violence

The Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho, today expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in Upper Nile State, emphasizing the urgent need to protect civilians and ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.

Since late February, the violence has displaced about 50,000 people, of whom 10,000 have crossed into Ethiopia. The insecurity has led to the temporary relocation of nearly two dozen humanitarian workers and the closure of the cholera treatment unit in Nasir, worsening the ongoing cholera outbreak.

In a statement, the Humanitarian Coordinator called on all those involved in the fighting to respect and protect the population, humanitarian workers and critical infrastructure – and to facilitate unimpeded access for aid organizations to deliver essential assistance to affected people.

Amid global funding cuts, Gbeho also stressed that resources must be protected so that critical support can continue to be provided to the most vulnerable people. 

The 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, issued late last year, calls for US$1.7 billion to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to 5.4 million people in South Sudan, over half of them children. To date, the appeal is under 11 per cent funded, with less than $175 million received.

#Tropical Storm Jude 

Emergency response underway after storm strikes Southern Africa

OCHA reports that nearly 420,000 people have been affected by Tropical Storm Jude, with thousands displaced across Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique after the storm hit the region between 6 and 16 March.

Jude brought heavy rains and strong winds, leaving a trail of destruction across many parts of the three affected countries. It damaged infrastructure and crops, blocked roads, and disrupted people’s access to essential services.

In Madagascar, education was heavily impacted, with more than 300 classrooms destroyed, leaving over 80,000 students out of school. This storm is the third consecutive severe weather system to affect the country since February.

We and our humanitarian partners are supporting the Government-led response efforts by assisting with search and rescue operations, activating emergency operation centres, and mobilizing resources.

In Mozambique, to respond ahead of the storm, the so-called Anticipatory Action programme was activated, with $6 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund disbursed in record time, three days ahead of Jude’s landfall. The capacity to respond in the country is already overstretched in the wake of two recent Cyclones: Chido and Dikeledi.

In Malawi, the UN and its partners are working with the Government to providing search-and-rescue support, as well as cash, food and shelter assistance.

While the rains are beneficial for agriculture, especially for countries recovering from severe drought, the UN is concerned that the storm may lead to a spike in cholera cases, particularly in Malawi and Mozambique.