Today's top news: Syria, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Myanmar, Tropical Cyclone Chido

#Syria

OCHA says the UN and humanitarian partners continue to support the response in Syria and are resuming activities as security permits.

Healthcare across the country continues to be disrupted, amid a fluid security situation. Some facilities have closed due to looting and lack of medicine and staff.

In north-east Syria, health partners have activated more than 20 mobile medical units for critical cases and to provide primary consultations.

In the north-west, 30 mobile medical teams have been deployed to provide basic healthcare, vaccinations and maternal care.

The humanitarian community also continues to support displaced people and deliver aid, including food, tents, winter clothes, hygiene kits and cash. However, OCHA stresses that additional resources are needed to reach more people and support host communities.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says that although figures are not yet available, thousands of Syrian refugees have started returning to the country from Lebanon through the official Masnaa border point, as well as other border crossings. At the same time, some Syrians have fled into Lebanon.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Muhannad Hadi, today expressed concern about the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, he said civilians are paying the price of the continuing exchange of fire between the parties.

Hadi – who is also the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory – noted that in recent days, multiple strikes across Gaza have each resulted in scores of reported fatalities and numerous injuries. Women and children continue to be among the casualties. He noted that such incidents are further reminders of the unbearable human cost of the conflict.

Hadi said he was equally concerned by the unacceptably insecure environment in Gaza that continues to negatively impact United Nations aid convoys.

On 11 December, a 70-truck convoy from Kerem Shalom crossing was violently attacked by looters, leading to the loss of nearly all food and aid supplies. Around the same time, a World Food Programme convoy leaving the Kissufim crossing came under fire, faced extensive delays and had four out of five trucks violently looted. Attacks undermining humanitarian operations are unacceptable. They threaten the survival of those in desperate need of assistance.

Hadi stressed that attacks on humanitarian operations can be avoided, citing a successful joint UN convoy earlier this week. Through an Israeli agreement for the use of the Philadelphi corridor, that convoy delivered urgently needed food, reaching nearly 200,000 people in southern and central Gaza.

“We remain committed to supporting the people of Gaza, working around the clock to get critical aid to families who lack everything after 14 months of war,” he said, adding that the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attacks must be respected at all times – and calling on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and the safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid.

Hadi underscored that the UN remains steadfast in its commitment to support efforts for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages. “Urgent action is needed to end atrocities, address the conflict’s root causes, and safeguard the lives and dignity of all people in the region,” he said.

Meanwhile, the OCHA reports that since the intensification of the military operation in North Gaza governorate more than two months ago, all UN attempts to reach besieged areas there were either denied or impeded by Israeli authorities.

OCHA says that since 6 October 2024, the UN and humanitarian partners have tried to coordinate 137 missions to those parts of the north. More than 90 per cent – 124 planned missions – were denied outright. The other 13 were approved but then faced impediments along the way.

Since Monday – when three UN requests to access North Gaza that day were denied – the UN has submitted 16 additional requests, between three and five each day. Almost all were denied. The only mission given a greenlight was prevented from moving into all areas it set out to reach.

OCHA stresses once again that humanitarian movements must be facilitated across Gaza – including to areas in North Gaza governorate, where thousands of Palestinians are facing apocalyptic conditions after almost 10 weeks under siege. They need food, water, medicines and shelter supplies – all of the basics for human survival. The ongoing denials of humanitarian missions are keeping people from accessing the life-saving assistance they need and deserve.

On 8 November, the Famine Review Committee noted that there was a strong likelihood that famine was imminent in the northern Gaza Strip and called for immediate action, “within days not weeks.”

#Myanmar

The UN and partners today launched the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Myanmar, appealing for US$1.1 billion to reach 5.5 million people with life-saving assistance next year.

Humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels in Myanmar, with nearly 20 million people – nearly a third of them children – needing some form of help in 2025. This is an increase of 1.3 million people from 2024.

Conflict persists, affecting vast parts of the country and forcing people to flee their homes in record numbers. According to UN figures, nearly 3.5 million people are internally displaced across the country.

Humanitarian needs are soaring. More than 15 million people are facing acute food insecurity. Education and health services are severely disrupted. Millions of people are without safe shelter or drinking water.

Despite formidable challenges, aid workers continue to deliver aid to the most vulnerable. In the first three quarters of 2024, humanitarian workers reached 3 million people in need with some form of assistance.

The UN is grateful for the continued donor support, but severe underfunding in 2024 left millions of people without aid. Even those who were reached often did not receive the aid they needed. The UN urges the international community to scale up support for Myanmar in 2025 to prevent the crisis from further deteriorating.

#Tropical Cyclone Chido

OCHA is closely monitoring the path of Tropical Cyclone Chido, which is expected to make landfall in Mozambique this weekend as an intense Category 3 cyclone. The cyclone is on course to hit Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado Province, and nearby provinces in the early hours of Sunday.

Chido is forecast to bring strong winds and very heavy rains, which could lead to flooding and mudslides. About 2.7 million people live in Chido’s projected path, including more than 1.7 million people in Mozambique, 440,000 people in Malawi and nearly 370,000 people in Comoros.

The Government of Mozambique has activated early warning systems and is opening accommodation centres. The UN and our humanitarian partners are working with national and provincial authorities, as well as aid agencies, to preposition essential supplies. Teams are also on standby to carry out needs assessments.

The UN is also deploying teams to Malawi and Comoros to support preparations ahead of the cyclone’s arrival and to preposition humanitarian assistance. In Mozambique, OCHA is deploying to the areas we expect will be hardest hit.