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Today's top news: Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria
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UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Sudan

UN Relief Chief meets people displaced by El Fasher violence 

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, is in Sudan's Darfur region today, where he met with families who fled brutal violence in El Fasher. 

In Tawila, which is hosting hundreds of thousands of people displaced by hostilities in North Darfur State, Mr. Fletcher visited a malnutrition treatment centre run by Save the Children. He met with the mothers and caregivers of malnourished children who recently escaped El Fasher, as well as those who fled the famine-stricken Zamzam displacement camp in April and May. 

At another site hosting displaced people in Tawila, the Under-Secretary-General heard from women who survived horrific sexual violence as they fled El Fasher in recent weeks. Mr. Fletcher stressed the need to stop these atrocities and ensure accountability for the perpetrators. He underscored that the international community has a responsibility to protect civilians and prevent this brutality.  

Since El Fasher was taken over by the Rapid Support Forces late last month, nearly 100,000 people have fled the city and surrounding villages, according to new figures released yesterday by the International Organization for Migration. Many people remain unaccounted for.

In a video filmed during his travels through Darfur, Mr. Fletcher stressed that humanitarians must be allowed to get life-saving aid to survivors of what he called a "brutal, inhumane war." He noted that the UN has sought and received clear assurances – backed by the international community – that humanitarians can work everywhere they are needed in Sudan.* The Under-Secretary-General said that he has been in contact with the parties to give humanitarians complete access everywhere they need to operate and to protect civilians – including aid workers.

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

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Rains take heavy toll on displaced families in Gaza                                                                         

OCHA says that today's rains have had a harsh impact on people across the Gaza Strip. Initial reports indicate that hundreds of tents and makeshift shelters were flooded. OCHA has also heard of damage to people's personal belongings and thousands of displaced families left fully exposed to the harsh weather – increasing health and protection concerns, especially for older people, those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. 

OCHA notes that many families in Gaza are living in improvised or sub-standard shelters or in low-lying areas that are poorly equipped and prone to flooding. 

Partners working to provide shelter support deployed rapid response teams today and for many weeks have been doing everything possible to lessen the impact of anticipated rains on people across Gaza. 

Just yesterday, they distributed about 1,000 tents to families in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis. Between Sunday and Wednesday, they provided about 7,000 blankets to more than 1,800 households; some 15,000 tarpaulins to more than 3,700 households; and winter clothing to more than 500 households. That assistance is in addition to other essential items. Over the same four-day span, they collected more than 16,000 tents and 10,000 additional blankets from the crossings to further scale up the response. Since the ceasefire, they have distributed over 15,000 tents so far. 

Meanwhile, partners leading on water and sanitation report recent progress in repairing sewage pumping stations, which decreases the risk of sewage overflowing into areas where people are sheltering. 

At the same time, partners working on shelter stress that proper flood prevention requires equipment that is not available in Gaza – including tools to drain water away from tents and to clear solid waste and rubble. Millions of urgently needed shelter items remain stuck in Jordan, Egypt and Israel, awaiting approvals to enter Gaza. 

Since the ceasefire began on 10 October, the Israeli authorities have rejected 23 requests from nine partners to bring in nearly 4,000 pallets of critical supplies – including tents, sealing and framing kits, bedding, kitchen sets and blankets. Shelter partners say that the main barrier remains restrictive NGO registration rules: In all but two of the 23 rejections, the reason given was that the submitting organizations were not authorized to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The dire living conditions are also increasing people's exposure to explosive ordnance – with children among those most at risk. Some people have been injured while collecting firewood; others are having to pitch tents near areas suspected of containing unexploded remnants simply because they have no safer options. Since the ceasefire, partners working on mine action have recorded more than 10 injuries from explosive hazards. 

This risk is further compounded by Gaza's extremely limited geographical size, which leaves little room to avoid areas suspected of contamination. The density of the population and the proximity of civilian infrastructure to potential hazard zones mean that even minimal contamination can have widespread and devastating consequences.

Since the ceasefire, partners have responded to more than 70 requests for explosive hazard assessments, supported 32 inter-agency missions, and delivered risk education sessions to over 49,000 people across the Gaza Strip. The UN Mine Action Service says it could do much more as soon as teams get access to detectors, spare parts and equipment needed to safely dispose of explosive hazards. 

OCHA underscores the need for the full and sustained opening of existing and additional crossings, clearance of further critical items and equipment for entry, and comprehensive facilitation of UN agencies and NGOs' operations.

Ukraine

Humanitarian Coordinator condemns large-scale attack on Kyiv

OCHA reports that a large-scale overnight attack on the Ukrainian capital and hostilities across the country have resulted in dozens of additional civilian casualties.

Local authorities report that at least six civilians were killed and more than 40 others – including two children – were injured in the city of Kyiv and in the Kyiv region. Multiple residential buildings and several health facilities sustained significant damage, while parts of the city of Kyiv were left without heating.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned the attack, noting the ongoing pattern of massive civilian harm caused by such strikes during the cold winter months.

Nationwide, between yesterday and this morning, more than a dozen civilians were killed and 60 injured, according to authorities.

The attacks reflect an alarming increase in civilian casualties. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reports that civilian casualties between January to October were nearly 30 per cent higher than during the same period last year, and the toll of casualties for the first 10 months of 2025 has already exceeded the total for all of 2024. 

Following the latest attacks, humanitarian organizations – including UN agencies and national and international NGOs – swiftly mobilized to assist people affected in Kyiv and across the country. They are providing hot meals, emergency shelter materials, blankets and hygiene items, as well as psychosocial support. Humanitarians are also registering affected families for cash assistance.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Conditions worsen at displacement sites in Ituri province

OCHA is sounding the alarm over rapidly deteriorating conditions across more than 60 displacement sites in Ituri province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nearly 280,000 people in these camps – mostly women and children – are living in increasingly dire conditions. 

The situation has sharply worsened since October, when funding cuts forced humanitarian partners to halt their work in managing camps. These activities were essential for the functioning of displacement sites, ensuring access to protection, and coordinating essential services such as safe water, sanitation, healthcare, emergency education and shelter.

Without site managers, displaced families are being left exposed to preventable protection risks, and the equitable, accountable delivery of life-saving aid is being compromised.

OCHA urgently calls on donors and international partners to mobilize resources to restore these life-saving services.

As of the end of October, authorities estimate that more than 1 million people remain displaced in Ituri province.

Syria

Funding shortfalls undermine aid response in southern governorates

OCHA reports that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to provide humanitarian aid in southern Syria, even as aid operations are severely squeezed by major funding cuts. The UN is working with many of its partners to deliver assistance, reaching more than 350,000 people every month.

The World Food Programme provides about 400 metric tons of flour each week to sustain public bakeries, while UNICEF has helped rehabilitate schools in As-Sweida Governorate. Meanwhile, partners working in water, sanitation and hygiene have been supporting water-trucking in the governorates of Dar'a and As-Sweida. In October alone, they delivered 19,000 cubic metres of potable water and 78,000 litres of fuel to operate essential water and sanitation facilities in both governorates. 

Humanitarian organizations and local authorities are pushing to shore up essential services and tackle urgent needs in southern Syria, including repairing the electricity network.

However, OCHA warns that due to limited funding and access challenges, the number of people reached with humanitarian assistance in the governorates of As-Sweida, Dar'a and Rural Damascus in October plummeted by nearly 70 per cent compared to September.

The US$3.2 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is just over a quarter funded, with nearly $823 million received to date.

OCHA warns that the security situation across the region – which hosts more than 180,000 displaced people – remains unpredictable, with sporadic incidents disrupting mobility and access, particularly in rural areas.

Explosive ordnance poses a serious threat to both host communities and displaced families. In October, partners reported 15 casualties from incidents involving explosive ordnance. Humanitarians continue to clear areas and educate people about the risks, as funding and security conditions allow.  

Posted on 14 November 2025