Today's top news: Protection of humanitarians, Middle East, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine

#Protection of humanitarians

At Security Council, UN Relief Chief demands action, accountability for aid worker deaths

Addressing the Security Council today on the safety and security of humanitarian workers under Security Council Resolution 2730, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, called for urgent action to better protect humanitarian workers.

He noted that in the last three years, more than 1,000 humanitarians have been killed while carrying out their work, compared to 377 in the previous three years – nearly tripling the death count. Many were killed while traveling in clearly marked convoys on missions coordinated with authorities.

“This is not an accidental escalation; it is a collapse of protection,” he said, underscoring that too often aid workers were killed by Member States of the United Nations.

Fletcher said that the deaths of humanitarians are not because we are reckless with our lives, but that because parties to the conflict are.

“When humanitarians are harmed, aid often stops,” he warned. “Clinics close, food doesn’t arrive.”

 Fletcher reminded the Security Council of its obligation and commitment to uphold international humanitarian law and “to act with much greater conviction, consistency and courage.”

#Middle East

Ceasefire brings much needed respite to region

OCHA hopes the ceasefire will bring some much-needed respite to people, including front-line responders, across the region, following six weeks of intense hostilities.

The hostilities have claimed many lives and caused devastating damage to civilian infrastructure, including electricity, water, energy and transportation facilities.

In Iran, the United Nations and partners, in coordination with the authorities, continue to scale up their response to help refugees and others in the areas of health, water and sanitation, food, and shelter,.

Priority needs include restoring basic services, protecting vulnerable groups, rehabilitating shelters and schools, and providing critical supplies.

#Lebanon

Civilians killed, shelters overcrowded after major strikes

OCHA reports earlier today, the Israeli army launched its “largest wave of strikes” on Lebanon since the start of its offensive, claiming it hit “100 sites and military infrastructure in 10 minutes” across multiple regions simultaneously.

These strikes targeted Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. They massively impacted Beirut, with UN personnel sheltering in UN premises. The number of casualties is unknown, but the Lebanese Red Cross describes the situation as tragic. All hospitals are calling for blood donations.

Authorities have asked people to stay off the streets to ensure access for rescue and medical vehicles.

This morning, a strike on Saida city killed eight people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Renewed displacement orders have been issued for the entire area south of the Zahrani River, as well as southern suburbs of Beirut.

Displacement continues to drive humanitarian needs higher. The UN Refugee Agency and its partners, in coordination with the Government, are supporting people fleeing areas under attack with access to shelter and other essential items.

The UN is concerned by conditions in collective shelters. Overcrowding and limited sanitation facilities have resulted in confirmed cases of scabies and lice, raising health and safety risks, particularly for children and the elderly.

Health authorities have deployed medical teams, and humanitarian partners are providing clean water, as well as medical and shelter supplies, to help contain outbreaks and preserve people’s dignity.

Life-saving aid is under threat, with less than one third of the Lebanon Flash Appeal, which calls for $308 million, funded.

More than ever, calls remain unchanged: de-escalate now; respect international humanitarian law by protecting civilians, including humanitarian and health workers; ensure safe, unimpeded access; and fund the response.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

UN vaccination campaign aims to catch children up on missed shots

OCHA reports aid workers continue to save lives across the Gaza Strip.

Partners working on health report that a five-day vaccination campaign is under way. In a social media post yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that these efforts are led by the Ministry of Health, supported by WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, donors and partners, to vaccinate children under the age of three who have missed routine vaccination in the past 30 months.

Nearly 150 teams are delivering the vaccines, including in hard-to-reach areas.

UNICEF says that this winter, community health educators have taught more than 207,000 caregivers how to manage the early signs of hypothermia among infants and help save a child.