Today's top news: Syria, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, Tropical Cyclone Chido, Vanuatu

#Syria

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, traveled to Homs and Aleppo today, which is the third day of his visit in Syria.

Fletcher met with community members who shared the challenges they have faced for more than a decade, as well as their hopes and concerns for the future.

Fletcher visited projects run by UN and NGO partners and supported by the Syria Humanitarian Fund. He heard from women heads of households how humanitarian organizations have supported them and their families and how funding for these projects needs to be sustained.

Fletcher also met with members of the humanitarian community in Homs and Aleppo who have shown immense courage and resilience in some of the darkest and most uncertain of times.

Fletcher emphasized that the UN will continue to support the people of Syria and scale up its humanitarian response. He stressed that the role of women in the response and rebuilding Syria is critical.

Meanwhile, the UN and humanitarian partners continue to support people across the country as security permits.

In the northeast, the situation remains fluid. As of yesterday, 44,000 displaced people are staying in more than 260 emergency shelters such as municipal buildings, schools, mosques and stadiums. Partners are distributing hot meals, bread, and ready-to-eat rations, despite their limited funding.

In the northwest, more than 1 million people in Aleppo, Idleb, Homs and Hama have received food assistance.

Meanwhile, insecurity remains high in the Menbij and Ain Al-Arab districts in Aleppo governorate, despite a ceasefire announced on 17 December, which is set to last until the end of the week. Non-governmental organizations have not been able to access Menbij for more than a week, while critical infrastructure such as electricity networks and health facilities need urgent repair.

Food security remains a concern and many farmers have missed the planting season amid displacement over the past weeks. This is in addition to insufficient and erratic rainfall.

The cross-border operation from Türkiye continues. In the past two days, 59 trucks crossed into the north-west, carrying food and health supplies, mattresses and sheets, among other supplies.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA reports that, once again, Israeli authorities have denied a UN request to access besieged parts of North Gaza today, including Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and areas of Jabalya.

The vast majority of efforts to reach North Gaza governorate since the Israeli siege there began 10 weeks ago have been blocked. Most requests are denied outright.

Across the Strip, humanitarians continue to face severe access constraints as they try to reach huge numbers of people in need of food, water, shelter and other essentials for their survival.

Throughout Gaza, the UN planned 339 aid movements that required coordination with the Israeli authorities between 1 and 16 December. They facilitated less than a third of those movements. OCHA reports that more than 40 per cent were denied outright, with the rest either impeded or canceled due to security or logistical challenges.

This included efforts to reach areas north of Wadi Gaza where aid vehicles must pass through Israeli military checkpoints. Out of 96 such humanitarian movements planned for the first half of December, just 16 were facilitated by the Israeli authorities.

Meanwhile, OCHA says they are monitoring the impact of a new Israeli evacuation order for part of Al Bureij in Deir al Balah, in central Gaza. The order issued today encompasses an area of about 1.2 square kilometres, affecting more than 23,000 people, that's according to initial estimates. 

This latest directive is the sixth evacuation order issued this month, which in total covers more than 5 per cent of Gaza. 

Tomorrow, the head of OCHA’s Sub-Office in Gaza, Georgios Petropoulos, will brief reporters on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory at the UN headquarters press briefing.

#Lebanon

In Lebanon, the UN and partners continue to support displaced people and their host communities, as well as those who are returning home.

OCHA reports that the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund has allocated US$31 million to support the response, prioritizing the most affected areas including South, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel Governorates and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Over the past two days, we and our partners have delivered medical supplies to hospitals in Baalbeck-Hermel and Nabatieh Governorates, to support local healthcare facilities and address urgent medical needs.

UNICEF is supporting authorities in decommissioning schools used as shelters and preparing them for children’s return to class. As of Monday, more than 800 public schools have reopened to welcome students.

Meanwhile, reverse cross-border movements from Syria into Lebanon continue. According to authorities, around 85,000 people, both Lebanese and Syrians, have crossed the border since 16 December.

#Sudan

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, has condemned the shelling and airstrikes on civilian areas in parts of Darfur and Khartoum over the past week.

Hostilities are widespread and have been reported in urban areas of Al Fasher, Al Kuma, Kabkabiya and Kutum in North Darfur, as well as Nyala in South Darfur, and in Greater Khartoum. Significant civilian casualties have been reported, along with the destruction of homes, markets and medical facilities.

In a statement, Nkweta-Salami said this wave of violence against civilians underscores the need for immediate de-escalation. She warned that armed actors operating in and around populated areas and camps for conflict-displaced people pose direct threats to residents and are blocking the delivery of life-saving assistance.

The Humanitarian Coordinator stressed that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, must be spared the effects of hostilities.

Tomorrow, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher will brief the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in the country. His briefing follows his visit last month to Sudan and Chad, where hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees are currently being hosted.

#South Sudan

The UN and humanitarian partners in South Sudan, together with the Government, have launched the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2025, which seeks $1.7 billion to deliver vital aid to 5.4 million people.

Nearly 70 per cent of South Sudan’s population is projected to require some form of humanitarian support next year; that’s 9.3 million people. This latest appeal aims to reach the most vulnerable among them with support.

The people of South Sudan face a range of challenges that are driving humanitarian needs including conflict, climate shocks, economic instability, disease outbreaks, and the impact of the war in neighbouring Sudan. Since April of last year, more than 900,000 people have fled across the border into South Sudan, with another 337,000 new arrivals expected next year.

#Tropical Cyclone Chido

OCHA, together with humanitarian partners, continues to assess the devastating impact of Tropical Cyclone Chido in Mozambique.

As of today, at least 184,000 people in the country have been affected, with 45 deaths reported and nearly 500 people injured, mostly in Cabo Delgado province. These are the latest figures from the authorities in Mozambique.

Meanwhile, more than 35,000 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged. Almost 50 health centres and nearly 150 schools were also damaged and are no longer functioning.

The UN is mobilizing support for the most affected families in Mecufi district in Cabo Delgado. The UN and partners have reached 2,000 families with food, shelter and other essential supplies.

Mobile medical teams are being deployed across the most affected districts to deliver essential health services. Efforts are also underway to combat waterborne diseases by distributing chlorine and water purification materials, as well as providing information on cholera prevention.

Mobile teams have also been deployed to support unaccompanied and separated children and provide psychological first aid.

#Vanuatu

OCHA reports that the situation in Vanuatu remains concerning one day after a massive earthquake struck the country, with the Government declaring a state of emergency for seven days.

According to local authorities, damage is extensive and includes hospitals, residential and public buildings, roads, water reservoirs and gas pipes. Villages near Efate have also experienced landslides. Communications in many areas have been cut off.

OCHA reports that operations in Port Vila International Airport are experiencing delays due to damage to its terminal building and road network while the runway is functioning. The airport remains closed to all commercial services. Access to the seaport is also disrupted by a landslide, limiting the transport of essential supplies and personnel.

Immediate needs include medical supplies and repairs to medical structures, mobile medical teams, search and rescue teams with heavy machinery for clearing, and safe drinking water.

To complement the national response, the Government has requested international assistance from the United Nations. UN and partners are mobilizing resources to respond. OCHA is deploying response teams, including a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team