Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Yemen, Somalia, Haiti
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Casualties reported after attack on European Gaza Hospital
OCHA reports that hostilities in Gaza intensified overnight, with an attack by Israeli forces on the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis killing and injuring a number of people. A team from the World Health Organization (WHO) was inside the hospital during the attack. The hospital premises were hit again this morning, reportedly leading to additional casualties.
These attacks not only further degrade Gaza’s already decimated healthcare system, but also further traumatize patients and medical staff at these facilities. Since October 2023, WHO has documented at least 686 attacks impacting healthcare in the Strip.
Escalating military activities and increasing explosive ordnance contamination are heightening safety risks for civilians, including aid workers. OCHA stresses once again that civilians and healthcare facilities must always be protected.
In North Gaza, two new displacement orders – affecting eight neighbourhoods – were issued since last night, following Palestinian rocket fire. Humanitarian partners have already observed some displacement. In less than two months, since 18 March, more than 436,000 people are estimated to have been displaced to various areas of Gaza. OCHA reiterates that whether they leave or stay, civilians must be able to access the essentials for their survival.
The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating as the full blockade of Gaza continues to prevent the entry of all cargo, including aid. This has led to dwindling stocks in local markets and rising prices of the few supplies that remain available. During the first week of May in Gaza city, a single 25-kilogram bag of wheat flour was being sold for the equivalent of more than US$415. This represents an increase of more than 3,000 per cent compared with the last week of February.
The blockade is also hampering the provision of hot meals in Gaza, with only about 250,000 individual meals now being provided each day through some 65 community kitchens. This is compared to 25 April – less than three weeks ago – when 180 community kitchens were producing nearly 1.1 million meals on a daily basis.
Humanitarian partners have pre-positioned more than 171,000 metric tons of food in the region, which are ready for delivery as soon as the blockade on the entry of supplies is lifted. This amount is enough to sustain Gaza’s entire population of about 2.1 million people for up to four months.
OCHA continues to call for the immediate lifting of the blockade of Gaza imposed more than 70 days ago, which would include allowing the commercial sector to resume. The UN and its humanitarian partners stand ready to deliver at scale as soon as the crossings reopen for the entry of aid. It is urgent that all Member States with influence ensure that international law is respected and humanitarian operations are enabled without further delay.
UN Relief Chief urges action to prevent genocide
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, briefed the Security Council yesterday afternoon on Gaza, warning that Israel is “deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
He noted that every single one of the 2.1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face the risk of famine, and one in five face starvation.
Fletcher stressed that the UN and its partners are desperate to resume humanitarian aid at scale across Gaza – in line with the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality – but said Israel denies access, placing their objective of depopulating Gaza before the lives of civilians.
“For anyone still pretending to be in any doubt, the Israeli-designed distribution modality is not the answer,” Mr. Fletcher said, noting that it makes aid conditional on political or military aims, and it makes starvation a bargaining chip.
The Under-Secretary-General called on the Israeli authorities to stop killing and injuring civilians, lift the brutal blockade, and let humanitarians save lives. He appealed to Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups to release all hostages immediately and unconditionally, and to stop putting civilians at risk during military operations.
Fletcher also urged the Council to prevail: “Will you act – decisively – to prevent genocide and ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead that ‘we did all we could?’”
#Yemen
Malnutrition, aid cuts taking toll in Yemen, UN Relief Chief warns
Under-Secretary-General Fletcher told the Security Council today that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is deteriorating – and those most in peril are the country’s children. He welcomed the cessation of hostilities in the country and the Red Sea between the United States and the Houthis but stressed that “Yemen is not out of the woods.”
Half of the country’s children – some 2.3 million – are malnourished, more than a quarter of them severely, leaving them vulnerable to deadly infections such as pneumonia and diarrhea – at a time when funding shortfalls are having dramatic consequences, with this year’s humanitarian response plan barely 9 per cent funded.
Fletcher warned that as resources shrink, nearly 400 health facilities – including 64 hospitals – will stop operating, impacting nearly 7 million people.
“The cuts are, as I’ve described, biting hard,” he said. “People are dying.” The Under-Secretary-General urged the Council to provide scaled-up, flexible funding to sustain critical aid operations.* He also called for action to ensure respect for international humanitarian law – including protection of civilians and humanitarian access to all those in need – and backing for efforts towards lasting peace in Yemen.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Yemen with urgent support.
#Somalia
Flooding in Banadir kills several, destroys infrastructure
OCHA reports that torrential rains in Banadir region, in south-east Somalia, have triggered deadly floods, affecting thousands of people.
According to authorities, nine people were killed and more than 24,000 were affected in the wake of devastating floods on 9 May in Banadir. Key infrastructure was destroyed and shelters in displacement sites were swept away.
The Federal Government is leading the response, and the UN and its partners are supporting and delivering food, shelter items, hygiene kits and cash.
Since mid-April, flash floods caused by heavy seasonal rains have claimed 17 lives and affected more than 84,000 people across Somalia.
Despite heavy rains in most areas of the country, dry and hot conditions have persisted in parts of northern regions.
OCHA warns that the flooding comes at a time when severe funding cuts have forced humanitarian partners in Somalia to scale back or even close critical programmes. The $1.4 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is only 11 per cent funded, with $158 million received to date.
#Haiti
Humanitarians scale up aid for displaced communities
The UN and its partners continue to support thousands of people who fled violence in Haiti’s Centre Department in the first two weeks of April.
More than 50,000 people who were uprooted by clashes in the department continue to live in informal sites or with host families, with limited access to essential services.
Since the beginning of the crisis, UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – together with partners – have distributed hygiene supplies, blankets and other essential supplies to more than 1,800 displaced families. The World Food Programme has supplied more than 80,000 hot meals, and partners have delivered over 145,000 litres of clean water.
Mobile clinics supported by UNICEF and WHO have provided more than 2,200 health consultations. WHO delivered 1.5 tons of medicine to local health facilities. Nearly 300 children have been screened for malnutrition, with dozens now receiving treatment. Psychosocial and recreational activities have reached more than 1,400 children.
IOM teams are being deployed to nine displacement sites to help improve the organization of services and support local authorities in managing site conditions.
OCHA continues to support coordination efforts on the ground to help ensure that humanitarian action is aligned, needs-driven and responsive.
Despite these efforts, humanitarian needs remain high, particularly in areas where fighting and the presence of armed groups limit humanitarian organizations’ access. Additional support is urgently needed to sustain and expand the response: Less than 8 per cent of the more than $908 million needed for this year’s humanitarian appeal has been received to date.