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

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA reports that the hunger crisis across the Gaza Strip continues to worsen amid critical supply shortages, severe access restrictions and violent armed looting.

In central and southern Gaza, OCHA reports that as of Sunday, humanitarian partners had exhausted all supplies at their warehouses, at a time when Israeli authorities continue to deny most requests to bring food assistance from the Erez West crossing to areas south of Wadi Gaza. 

Meanwhile, about 120,000 metric tons of food assistance – enough to provide rations to the entire population for more than three months – remains stranded outside Gaza.

Humanitarian partners warn that if additional supplies are not received, the distribution of food parcels to hungry families will remain extremely limited. More than 50 community kitchens providing over 200,000 meals a day to people in central and southern Gaza would also be at risk of shutting down in the coming days.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports, that as of Monday, only five of 20 bakeries supported by WFP remain operational across the Strip – all of them in Gaza governorate. To stay up and running, these bakeries rely on continued fuel deliveries by partners from southern Gaza.

OCHA warns that the lack of fuel to power generators is also crippling Gaza’s decimated health system, putting the lives of patients at risk.

Despite ongoing challenges, OCHA says the UN and partners are working to reach people throughout the Strip with critical support. Across Gaza between 22 December and yesterday, 8 January, partners report that some 560,000 people received primary and secondary healthcare services.

Meanwhile, ongoing attacks and hostilities in North Gaza governorate have severely disrupted healthcare services for survivors remaining there. Access to Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya – the only hospital in North Gaza governorate that is still partially functioning – is extremely limited.

OCHA reports that Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts, including the most recent attempt yesterday, to reach North Gaza governorate. 

And across the Strip yesterday, out of 15 coordinated humanitarian movements, the Israeli authorities facilitated only five missions, while four were impeded, three were denied and another three were cancelled due to security or logistical challenges.

As winter continues, partners are working to procure and distribute warm clothing to the most vulnerable children, including newborn babies in hospitals, children with disabilities, and those who have lost their parents. However, efforts to scale up have been severely impeded by delays in receiving approvals from the Israeli authorities, complex procedures and customs clearance processes, and the armed looting of supplies.

#Syria

OCHA reports that restoring the water and electricity supply, among other basic services, remains challenging across Syria due to insecurity and infrastructure damage.

In Aleppo, the Tishreen Dam remains non-operational since it was damaged in conflict a month ago. Clashes continue in the area, cutting off regular water and electricity access for more than 410,000 people in the cities of Menbij and Kobani.

OCHA also reports that ongoing hostilities in parts of Aleppo governorate are resulting in reports of civilian casualties, damage to infrastructure and disruptions to aid operations.

Meanwhile, the UN and partners continue to support the health response by delivering medicine, trauma kits and vaccines. However, health needs remain immense across the country.

Partners say that cases of influenza-like illness are on the rise across the country. They also report that recently released detainees are facing heightened risks of pneumonia, tuberculosis and malnutrition due to pre-existing poor health conditions.

Many health and nutrition facilities in the north-west of the country remain closed, with many having been severely damaged due to shelling in recent months while others have run out of funding.

Meanwhile, in the north-east, medical mobile units are facing a shortage of staffing due to the lack of health workers. Health partners are also reporting critical needs for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

#Ukraine

OCHA condemns yesterday’s deadly attack in Zaporizhzhia City, Ukraine. Authorities reported dozens of casualties when a glide bomb struck vehicles, a tram and an industrial facility. 

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, said the attack marked yet again the intolerable killing and injuring of civilians in the country.

Humanitarian partners and first responders in Zaporizhzhia mobilized emergency assistance, including first aid. Humanitarian workers also helped transport the injured to hospital, clear debris, and provide psychological assistance to people affected by the attack.

Hostilities in other front-line areas of southern and eastern Ukraine yesterday also damaged homes and energy infrastructure, further impeding people’s access to basic services, including in the Dnipro and Kherson regions.

#Mozambique

OCHA reports that UN humanitarian operations have resumed in parts of the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. This comes after a temporary pause last month due to post-election violence and protests.

Aid operations have resumed gradually since 2 January following engagement with authorities and local communities.

The UN and partners are helping people in Cabo Delgado impacted by Cyclone Chido, which made landfall in Mozambique in mid-December.

Since then, more than 131,000 people in Cabo Delgado have received food assistance. The World Food Programme is relying on food stocks in the cities of Pemba and Nacala.

At least 450,000 people in the country were impacted by Cyclone Chido. The UN and partners – together with the Government – launched a Flash Appeal for US$88 million on 24 December.

Conflict and climate shocks continue to drive humanitarian needs in Mozambique, with the rainy season posing further risks. This year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the country calls for $352 million to support more than 1 million people.

Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has registered almost 5,000 people who have sought asylum in either Eswatini or Malawi. UNHCR is working with the host governments to support the response with partners and updating preparedness plans.