Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Gaza: Humanitarian Country Team stresses need for principled aid delivery
The Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory – which brings together about 15 UN entities and some 200 NGOs, both international and local – issued a statement yesterday reaffirming their position and warning that the new militarized distribution system does not meet the needs of people in Gaza, puts them at risk, and runs contrary to humanitarian principles.
“Israeli authorities have undermined the capacity of our teams to deliver genuine, principled humanitarian assistance that would reach the most vulnerable groups,” the statement read.
Despite these challenges, the UN and its partners continue to deliver aid where possible. Once again, the Humanitarian Country Team reiterated that fundamental humanitarian principles are non-negotiable.
On the ground, OCHA warns that air strikes and other attacks continue across the Strip. There are reports that scores of people were killed and hundreds injured over the past 24 hours, including children and other civilians.
Earlier today, as attacks intensified, Israeli authorities ordered the medical team in Al Awda Hospital in North Gaza to evacuate. Efforts are ongoing to evacuate patients and medical staff.
Al Awda Hospital is the only remaining partially functioning hospital in North Gaza. The facility is currently overwhelmed with injuries and critically low on supplies. Ongoing hostilities over the past two weeks have damaged the hospital, disrupted access, and created panic, deterring people from seeking care.
Despite intense insecurity, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners reached the hospital twice in the past week – on 24 and 27 May – to assess the situation and transfer 57 critical patients to Al Shifa Hospital. The team also assisted an amputee who had been stranded near the hospital without food, water or companions.
WHO reports that during the first mission, the team was exposed to nearby air strikes, shelling and gunfire.
Yesterday in Khan Younis, the Ministry of Health reported that the Red Cross field hospital in Al Mawasi was hit, causing injuries and spreading fear among patients. The Ministry said that after 600 days of hostilities, the health sector is paying dearly: Intravenous chemotherapy treatment has stopped, leaving 11,000 cancer patients without adequate care, including 5,000 who have urgent referrals for treatment abroad.
OCHA reports that the UN continues to send supplies to Gaza every day. Yesterday, this included flour, ingredients for community kitchens, and medical items.
However, a UN attempt to collect cargo from the crossing yesterday was denied by Israeli authorities.
The quantity of supplies being allowed into Gaza is just a trickle of the aid required to meet the immense needs of 2.1 million people, at a time when populations across the Strip are at risk of famine.
West Bank: Palestinian homes demolished amid ongoing Israeli operations
OCHA reports that demolitions and the threat of demolition of Palestinian property in the context of Israeli forces’ operation in northern areas of the West Bank continue unabated.
Today, demolition operations continued in Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm city, where Israeli forces have been active since 5 May. As of yesterday, nearly 50 residential units marked for demolition at the start of the month had already been destroyed. Residents were briefly allowed to enter the camp to collect personal items.
In Tulkarm camp, the Israeli military informed the Palestinian District Coordination and Liaison Office yesterday that 58 residential buildings in the camp are now scheduled for imminent demolition. OCHA reports that residents were given only four hours to retrieve personal belongings from their homes.
OCHA warns that these operations are sweeping in scale – marked by mass forced displacement and the extensive destruction of Palestinian property and humanitarian infrastructure – and further fueling needs among affected communities.
According to the latest update from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as of the end of April, tens of thousands of people have been displaced in the context of operations by Israeli or Palestinian forces in the West Bank.
The UN and its partners continue to support displaced families, including by providing food, water and sanitation assistance, health services, psychosocial support and cash assistance.
#Yemen
Hodeida ports capacity diminished by attacks
OCHA reports that multiple recent attacks on the ports in Yemen’s Hodeida have reduced their capacities.
These ports are vital for bringing commercial imports – including food and medicine – as well as humanitarian supplies into Yemen.
OCHA warns that potential reductions in port capacity and constraints on pipelines of food, fuel or medicine are extremely concerning, particularly at a time when 19.5 million people in Yemen need humanitarian assistance and rely on these lifelines.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly appealed for de-escalation and respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and the infrastructure they rely on for their basic needs.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sexual violence poses growing threat in eastern DRC
OCHA warns that sexual violence is on the rise in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Across the country, humanitarian partners have reported more than 67,000 cases of gender-based violence between January and April of this year. This represents a 38 per cent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
Only 58 per cent of the victims of the documented cases received appropriate medical care within the critical 72-hour timeframe.
More than 90 per cent of the reported cases nationwide are in the conflict-affected eastern provinces, where the response is further hindered by insecurity and aid cuts.
According to partners working in health, several health facilities in South Kivu province are facing shortages of post-exposure prophylaxis kits, mainly due to security constraints.
In addition, several partners involved in responding to gender-based violence in South Kivu have closed their programmes since March due to aid cuts.
In South Kivu’s Uvira territory alone, local authorities have documented more than 100 cases of sexual violence from February to April 2025, with further attacks being reported in May.
#Sudan
Cholera, conflict-driven displacement deepen needs
OCHA reports that humanitarian needs in Sudan continue to grow, driven by the rapid spread of cholera and continued displacement due to the ongoing conflict.
Cholera cases are surging in Khartoum state, posing a grave threat to children. WHO has attributed the spike to damaged water infrastructure, the movement of people, and a lack of safe water. Partners warn of mounting pressure on an already overstretched health system in Khartoum.
On the ground, partners working in health have also raised concerns over significant discrepancies in official data, making it difficult to assess the true scale of the outbreak. Partners in the state reported an 80 per cent rise in suspected cases over the past two weeks, pushing the cumulative total beyond 8,500 – a number that has likely continued to grow.
With support from the UN and its partners, cholera vaccinations began on Tuesday in Jebel Awlia, the hardest-hit locality in Khartoum. WHO has also delivered more than 22 metric tons of cholera and emergency health supplies to reinforce local response efforts.
UNICEF is implementing a multi-pronged cholera response in Khartoum, focusing on high-risk communities and critical water infrastructure. This includes providing water treatment chemicals and the delivery of a generator to sustain operations at the Al Manara water treatment plant, which serves more than 1 million people.
In neighbouring River Nile state, health authorities have reported 90 cholera cases and three deaths in the past two weeks – many linked to people who are fleeing from Khartoum.
Meanwhile, in North Darfur state, the International Organization for Migration reports that conflict has forced some 1,400 people to flee Abu Shouk camp and El Fasher town over the past week. Most have sought refuge within El Fasher, while others have moved to the localities of Tawila and Kutum in the state.
In South Darfur state, local authorities report that nearly 60,000 displaced people in the capital, Nyala, urgently need assistance. Many are sheltering in public buildings or sleeping in the open. OCHA is coordinating with partners to determine the most effective response.
Humanitarian organizations are doing all they can, but they cannot meet the rising needs alone. Local partners continue to report harassment and interference. OCHA calls on all parties to facilitate the vital work of humanitarian workers on the ground, as well as safe and sustained access – and urges donors to step up support for aid operations across Sudan.*
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.