Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ukraine
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Escalating hostilities fuel further suffering in Gaza
OCHA warns that Israeli air strikes, shelling and gunfire have further intensified over the past three days in Gaza. Reports keep coming of civilians killed and injured in what remains of their homes or in displacement sites.
Today, medical teams have reported the deaths of more than two dozen people following another incident where those seeking food at new militarized sites were reportedly shot at. Initial reports point to some 90 trauma injuries today alone. According to the UN Human Rights Office, this is the third day running where people have been killed around such distribution hubs, following similar incidents last week.
OCHA stresses that starving people must not be forced to risk their lives to access food.
Meanwhile, partners on the ground in Gaza are reporting a sharp rise in child labour, early marriage and family separation. This is all driven by hunger, displacement and economic turmoil. Children are increasingly exposed to violence and exploitation during chaotic distributions of basic supplies – including in crowds, when people take flour directly from trucks. Children with disabilities are often those who are worst affected.
In Khan Younis, a safe space for women and girls had to suspend its services in recent days after the area was placed under a displacement order. Partners report that as a result, about 1,000 women and girls have lost access to essential support – including services for survivors of gender-based violence, psychosocial care and help with referrals.
OCHA reports that just yesterday, Israeli authorities issued another displacement order, this time covering four neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, where about 45,000 people were thought to be staying.
Meanwhile, the UN and its humanitarian partners are making the most of the limited opening that began last month, after nearly 80 days of complete blockade. However, OCHA reiterates that the supplies coming into Gaza are still just a trickle and nowhere near enough to meet the immense needs on the ground.
The humanitarian community has enough supplies lined up and ready, close to Gaza – but only limited amounts are actually reaching the people who need them due to conditions on the ground.
Specifically, OCHA warns of bottlenecks in Kerem Shalom, the only crossing point Israeli authorities are allowing for aid into Gaza. Since 17 May, only half of the pre-cleared supplies submitted for a second and final Israeli clearance has made it through to the Palestinian side.
In total, the UN and its partners submitted more than 1,200 pre-cleared truckloads for final Israeli clearance, a process often referred to as manifesting. Fewer than 80 per cent of those – just over 940 truckloads – were approved and sent from warehouses in Israel. After undergoing scanning, offloading, reloading and being shuttled forward, just over 620 truckloads have made it to the Palestinian side.
The UN and its humanitarian partners do not have visibility over that part of the pipeline because Israeli authorities have not allowed them to deploy monitors at the crossing.
Of the supplies scanned in Kerem Shalom, humanitarian teams have managed to collect about 370 truckloads and bring them closer to where people need them inside Gaza. That includes food – mainly flour – as well as medical and nutrition items.
OCHA reiterates that access to both sides of Kerem Shalom is tightly controlled by the Israeli authorities. Inside Gaza, any movement to or from the crossing requires driving through militarized zones where bombing continues. Teams must remain flexible to avoid areas where looting is likely – but they have so far been expected to only follow routes that are approved by the Israeli authorities.
Meanwhile, humanitarian movements that require coordination with Israeli authorities continue to be denied across the Gaza Strip. Yesterday, 10 of 13 attempts to coordinate such movements were rejected. Those included the collection of supplies from Kerem Shalom, as well as other life-saving operations such as trucking water to North Gaza or relocating fuel stocks to where they are needed.
OCHA warns that without immediate access to fuel that is already inside Gaza but located in hard-to-reach areas that are either militarized or subject to displacement orders, more critical services will have to suspend operations soon.
Meanwhile in the West Bank, OCHA reports that yesterday, Israeli forces in the Ramallah area shot and killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy accused of throwing objects towards a road. OCHA warns that this reflects a wider pattern where lethal tactics are used, raising concerns over use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards.
After the killing, Israeli forces withheld the child’s body, raided a nearby home, and confiscated video recordings that documented the incident, according to the family.
#Syria
Explosive hazards pose lethal risks to civilians
OCHA reports that explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten the safety of civilians across Syria.
Since 8 December 2024, more than 1,000 casualties have been reported, including more than 400 deaths and nearly 600 injuries. Children represent over one third of these casualties.
The humanitarian community is calling for urgent support to expand risk education, professional clearance operations, and assistance for survivors.
The UN and its partners continue to deliver aid across the country despite a severe funding environment, reaching some 2.5 million people per month.*
Since the beginning of the year, 1,185 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies have crossed from Türkiye to Syria – six times the number during the same period last year. In May, this assistance benefitted more than 1 million people.
Meanwhile, OCHA reports that while nearly 16 million people need urgent humanitarian health support, Syria’s health system remains under severe strain, with only 59 per cent of hospitals and 46 per cent of primary healthcare centres fully functional. Essential medicines are limited, treatment costs are out of reach for many families, and overcrowded shelters are heightening the risk of disease outbreaks.
The humanitarian response plan for Syria requires US$2 billion until the end of June to support 8 million people in need. However, it is less than 12 per cent funded to date, with $236 million received.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Syria with urgent support.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
Civilians forced to flee deadly fighting in Ituri
OCHA reports that continuing violence in Ituri province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, continues to displace and endanger civilians.
Just yesterday, at least six civilians were killed and several others injured following armed clashes in Djugu territory, according to local authorities.
Since the beginning of May, fighting in the province had already displaced more than 12,000 people who fled to the Rhoe displacement site, 70 kilometres north of the provincial capital Bunia. The site was already operating beyond capacity before these new arrivals, hosting nearly 45,000 displaced people, despite an initial capacity of 40,000 people.
Humanitarians warn of the heightened risk of waterborne diseases in the camp, as more than 80 per cent of organizations working on water, sanitation and hygiene there had to suspend their operations due to funding shortages.
The $2.5 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the DRC is only 11 per cent funded at $282 million, drastically limiting the ability of aid organizations to deliver critical assistance.
#Sudan
UN Relief Chief urges accountability after attack on UN aid convoy
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, described yesterday’s attack on a UN humanitarian convoy in Sudan’s North Darfur state as “appalling,” stressing the need for accountability and protection for humanitarian workers.
The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF condemned the attack near Al Koma in a statement today, saying five members of the joint convoy were killed and several more people were injured, with multiple trucks burned and critical humanitarian supplies damaged.
In a social media post, Fletcher expressed full support to the courageous WFP and UNICEF staff carrying out such vital work in tough conditions.
The Acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Kristine Hambrouck, noted that the convoy was made up of 15 trucks carrying life-saving food, nutrition and other essential supplies for children and families facing famine. The convoy was awaiting clearance to proceed to the state capital El Fasher when it was targeted.
“This was a deliberate assault on civilians who were risking their lives to help others. It is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law,” she said in a statement. “Humanitarian workers and operations are protected under international law. Attacking them is not only unlawful – it is inhumane.”
Hambrouck also called for an immediate and independent investigation.
#Ukraine
Attacks kill, injure civilians in Sumy city
OCHA reports that air strikes and hostilities over the past 24 hours caused dozens of civilian casualties across Ukraine. Local authorities report at least 60 civilian casualties, including children, as well as extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.
In Sumy city centre, air strikes killed at least three civilians and injured another 20 people, including a child in a critical condition, according to the local authorities. The strikes also damaged a hospital and residential buildings.
Four civilians were also injured in attacks in the Sumy region. Local authorities and aid organizations report that more than 50 civilians were evacuated from border areas in the past 24 hours.
The regions of Chernihiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kherson also suffered attacks, causing multiple civilian injuries. Humanitarian organizations are mobilized and providing support – including hot meals, construction materials for quick repairs and psychological support.
In the town of Izium in the Kharkiv region, a strike damaged an international NGO warehouse storing food kits from WFP. No aid workers were injured, but the strike destroyed humanitarian supplies and damaged vehicles.