Today's top news: Syria, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo

#Syria

UN Relief Chief: Syria could be a source of genuine solutions and stability

Today, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, spoke to reporters in New York from Damascus, stressing the need for Syria to remain out of the wider regional crisis.

In a joint press briefing with Alexander De Croo, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Fletcher said, “There’s potential now for Syria to move from being an importer of problems from the region to an exporter of genuine solutions and stability.”

He noted that since his last visit to Syria in December 2024, Syria has made tremendous progress and there must be a transition from the humanitarian response to development and long-term recovery.

“The world needs a success story right now, and I think we’ve both seen today, and both feel growing confidence that Syria can continue to be that success story, even amid such a bleak, dark moment for the region,” Mr. Fletcher said.

Mr. Fletcher and Mr. De Croo met today with President Ahmed al-Sharra, as well as with women-led organizations.

Together, they took part in the launch of the Syria Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which calls for $2.9 billion to reach 8.6 million of the most vulnerable people in the country.

Mr. Fletcher described the joint visit to Syria as a “living demonstration of UN80 in action,” adding that the Secretary-General has called for agencies to work much more closely together. “We are demonstrating that UN80 is about developing common premises, shared supply chains, coordinated procurement, and more integrated planning and strategizing.”
 

#
Lebanon

Four weeks into violence, displacement, needs rise across Lebanon

 With today marking one month since the start of the ongoing escalation in Lebanon, OCHA warns that the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming speed. 

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, more than 1,300 people have been killed and nearly 4000 injured since 2 March. Strikes continue to hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa. 

More than 1.1 million people have been forced from their homes, many having to flee more than once, as displacement orders continue to affect new areas. 

In one month, nearly 15 per cent of Lebanon’s territory has been affected by displacement orders, areas that were home to 1 in 4 Lebanese and thousands of refugees. While many have fled, finding refuge in shelters, with relatives, or in informal settlements, others remain and urgently need assistance. 

Hospitals are struggling to keep up. Half of the facilities supported by UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in conflict-affected areas have been forced to close due to the violence, and many health workers have themselves been displaced. Hospitals and primary healthcare centres are overwhelmed and understaffed. Attacks on health facilities, ambulances and humanitarian workers continue to rise, with 92 incidents reported since 2 March, resulting in 53 deaths and 137 injuries. 

Despite this, partners working in health are working to maintain essential services. UNFPA has deployed nine mobile health units across the country to provide maternal care and emergency obstetric support in collective shelters. Services also include care for survivors of sexual violence, psychosocial support and the distribution of dignity kits and essential supplies for pregnant women and new mothers. 

However, the response is facing growing constraints. Disruptions to major global transport routes are delaying the delivery of life-saving assistance to those most in need. Partners are working to re-route shipments and secure alternative supply lines, but gaps remain at a time when needs are rapidly increasing. 

As the situation worsens, calls to the international community remains the same: an immediate de-escalation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, healthcare and humanitarian workers, full and unimpeded humanitarian access – especially to the south of Lebanon – and urgent funding to support the response to be able to meet the fast-growing needs. 

As of today, the Lebanon Flash Appeal has received less than a third of the $308 million needed to fund urgent humanitarian operations and provide assistance to those who need it. The UN continues to call on donors to urgently provide funding.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support. .

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

UN expands cash assistance to boost faming, tackle food shortages

OCHA says that people’s needs continue to far exceed what aid organizations can provide amid severe restrictions and other impediments. This underscores the urgent need for the authorities to facilitate the work of more humanitarian partners and allow a wider range of critical items to enter the Strip. 

On food security in Gaza, the UN and partners completed distributions for March this week, reaching every other family with rations covering half of the minimum caloric requirements. Partners are also serving nearly 1.5 million meals and producing about 130,000 two-kilogram bread bundles every day. 

But this is far from enough. The limited entry of commercial goods, particularly cooking gas, continues to constrain what kitchens and families can prepare. Nearly one in two households still rely on unsafe cooking methods, including burning trash. 

On health, UN-supported emergency medical teams provided about 23,000 consultations in the last week of March across Gaza. But persistent delays in clearing specialized medical and surgical equipment continue to limit the ability to provide complex care. 

On shelter, most people remain displaced, and the response is still limited to short-term solutions. More durable shelter support depends on the entry of equipment and materials that are not easily approved, including those needed to clear debris and explosive ordnance or to fix damaged homes. During the last week of March, partners reached nearly 14,000 families with assistance including tarpaulins and household items, prioritizing people whose belongings were flooded by the rain. 

In education, partners said last week’s rains damaged at least 15 temporary learning spaces, disrupting services for some 20,000 students. Led by UNICEF, education partners continue setting up specialized tents for learning and distributing stationery and recreational items for children. 

In the West Bank, OCHA casualty figures for the first three months of 2026 indicate that two out of every three Palestinian fatalities occurred after the regional escalation on 28 February. That is 22 of the 33 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers. In addition, four other Palestinians, all women, were killed in the West Bank by falling munitions during an Iranian missile attack. 

More than 200 settler attacks caused casualties or property damage in March, affecting over 100 communities. That is approximately six attacks a day. 

Six of the eight Palestinians killed by Israeli settlers so far in 2026 were killed in March. This marks the second-highest monthly toll since OCHA began systematically recording such fatalities in 2005. The highest was in October 2023, when eight Palestinians were killed by settlers. 

The UN and partners continue to support the health system in the West Bank, as well as families who have been displaced or otherwise affected. To prevent further violence and reduce people’s needs over time, Palestinians must be protected, perpetrators of unlawful attacks must be held accountable, and policies driving such needs must be reversed. 

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support. 

#Democratic Republic of the Congo 

Civilians bear brunt of ongoing violence amid armed attacks, looting

OCHA warns that the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to deteriorate due to the ongoing violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

In Ituri province alone, at least 30 people were reportedly killed yesterday in armed attacks in the locality of Bafwakoa, in Mambasa Territory, bringing the number of civilians killed there to more than 100 since 11 March. Local humanitarian partners also report that more than 390 people have been abducted over the same period. The violence has triggered new waves of displacement, adding to the more than 50,000 people already displaced in the territory. 

OCHA warns of widespread looting – including of food, medicines and medical supplies – from health facilities. Nine health facilities in Mambasa Territory have suspended operations since 11 March, severely limiting access to healthcare for more than 55,000 people in areas that were already underserved. 

In South Kivu province, local sources report that at least 20 civilians have been killed and around 10 others injured in clashes since 23 March in the territories of Uvira, Kalehe and Mwenga. Homes and livestock have been damaged, forcing families to flee. Humanitarian needs are rising, particularly as access to food and health care remains limited. 

In neighbouring North Kivu province, continued fighting in Masisi territory displaced around 6,000 people between 28 and 29 March, adding to the more than 180,000 people already displaced there. 

Despite the insecurity, partners continue to provide assistance where they can. Between 16 and 27 March, more than 30,000 people received food assistance in the town of Mweso in Masisi. 

OCHA urges all armed groups to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and facilitate safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access. 

The humanitarian response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains critically underfunded. The $1.4 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is only 30 per cent funded, with just over $421 million received so far. 

As needs grow, the UN calls for urgent funding. 

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in DRC with urgent support.