Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Sudan, Ukraine

#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Humanitarian aid continues to move into the Gaza Strip as part of a prepared surge to increase support to survivors. Today, 915 trucks crossed into Gaza, according to information received through engagement with Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire agreement.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said that after 15 months of relentless war, the humanitarian needs in Gaza are staggering, and there is no time to lose. He urged all countries with influence over the parties to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches those who need it most.
OCHA says aid workers are ramping up the delivery of critical necessities, including food, shelter, clean water and other essential supplies.
The entire population of Gaza – more than 2 million people – depends on these essentials.
Children account for about half of the Strip’s population, with many surviving on just one meal a day. Humanitarian partners working on children’s welfare say the provision of food, water and medical supplies is being prioritized.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have a 60-day plan to increase bed capacity across some hospitals in the north and south – and to deploy professional health workers from abroad. WHO notes that some 30,000 people in Gaza have sustained life-changing injuries and need specialized care.
Partners are also focused on opportunities for early recovery to restore damaged infrastructure and livelihoods.
#Syria
OCHA is concerned by intensified hostilities in north-east Syria in recent days.
According to humanitarian partners, between 16 and 18 January, at least three civilians were killed and 14 others injured in shelling and other attacks affecting Menbij, Ain al-Arab and other villages in the vicinity of Tishreen Dam in eastern Aleppo. Ambulances and other civilian objects were also affected.
Partners also reported that some shops in the main market were damaged when an improvised bomb detonated inside a car in Menbij on 17 January.
These incidents have forced people from their homes in Menbij, according to partners, and continue to impede humanitarian access. This also affects repairs to the Tishreen Dam, depriving over 410,000 people of water and electricity for six weeks now. Shops and small businesses recently damaged in the fighting also urgently require repairs.
Further east, hostilities were also reported in the governorates of Ar-Raqqa and Al-Hasakeh, affecting water stations and other civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, the situation remains dire for more than 24,000 displaced people who remain in over 200 emergency collective centers across north-east Syria.
OCHA reiterates that all parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians. Whether they leave or stay, civilians must be protected and able to access the essentials for their survival. The parties must facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian operations.
Meanwhile, the UN and humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance, including food, cash, winter and health support, as conditions permit.
More than 3.2 million people across the country have received bread assistance since 27 November and over 400,000 were provided with food aid.
Last Friday, the UN dispatched 11 trucks carrying 286 metric tons of food aid from the World Food Programme (WFP) from Türkiye to northern Aleppo, crossing through the Bab Al-Salam border crossing.
#Sudan
OCHA warns that the humanitarian situation remains dire in Aj Jazirah State, Sudan.
People in the state capital Wad Medani are grappling with shortages of food, water and health services, as well as severe malnutrition.
Immediate access to clean water remains critical, as most water stations are not functioning, forcing people to rely on unsafe water sources and raising health risks.
Today, WFP was able to reach Wad Medani with the first delivery of assistance in over a year.
Eleven trucks arrived with 260 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies – enough for more than 20,000 people.
Humanitarian partners are also planning to carry out a needs assessment to inform broader response efforts in the city.
Wad Madani is among 17 areas at risk of famine in Sudan, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
Given the scale of needs, OCHA once again calls for additional resources for the response and stresses the need for civilians to be protected, amid reports of shootings, movement restrictions, and gender-based violence in the area.
#Ukraine
OCHA reports that new attacks in Ukraine over the weekend impacted civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Between 17 and 20 January, according to local authorities, attacks in the densely populated cities of Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia caused nearly 40 civilian casualties, including children. The hostilities disrupted basic services and damaged civilian infrastructure.
Local authorities report that dozens more people were killed and injured in front-line areas in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
Humanitarian workers swiftly responded wherever security permitted. In Kyiv, they provided aid at attack sites, offering building materials to cover shattered windows and psychological and legal support to affected residents. In Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia, humanitarian organizations delivered first aid, mental health support, legal assistance, and materials for emergency repairs.
On 17 January, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, allocated US$70 million from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund to support the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. The funds will aid newly displaced people, provide essential services in front-line areas, and strengthen local organizations, including those supporting women’s rights, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities.
Last week, two inter-agency convoys delivered essential aid to frontline areas, including Pokrov in Dnipropetrovska and communities in Kherson, both regions heavily affected by hostilities in the east and south of Ukraine. Supplies included food, medicine, hygiene kits, blankets, and solar lamps for residents, many of whom are older or have disabilities. Access remains severely restricted due to security concerns.