Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Jamaica
UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Gaza: UN, partners deliver vital aid, despite ongoing impediments
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the ongoing humanitarian scale-up in Gaza* - made possible by the ceasefire - is still being held back by restrictions affecting visas and import approvals, too few crossing points operating, and limited facilitation of humanitarian movements inside the Strip, among other impediments.
Between 12 and 18 November, the UN and its partners tried to coordinate just over 50 humanitarian movements with the Israeli authorities. Most were to collect cargo from the three crossings that were open. Others were for search-and-rescue work, road repairs, assessments and clearances, or to deploy staff. OCHA says that most of these movements were facilitated - but over a third were either denied or initially approved but then impeded on the ground.
During that same seven-day period, the UN and its partners collected more than 10,600 metric tons of aid from the crossings, according to preliminary data on the online dashboard operated by the UN 2720 Mechanism. However, even with Zikim now open, this is still not higher than in previous weeks. That is because the UN and its partners are only allowed to offload and collect cargo at Zikim and Kissufim on an alternating schedule.
Meanwhile, supplies from Kerem Shalom continue to be directed through the Philadelphi Corridor and along the Al Rasheed coastal road - which is congested and limits the size of convoys. Salah ad Din Road remains closed to humanitarian movements.
Despite these challenges, humanitarian teams in Gaza are still doing everything they can to support people in need.
Yesterday, the UN and its partners concluded the first round of the catch-up immunization campaign, which began on 9 November. The World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNRWA - who led this effort with partners, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - say that over 13,700 children were vaccinated. The campaign also included malnutrition screening. Out of more than 6,800 children screened, over 500 were found to be acutely malnourished and referred to the nearest nutrition facility.
Preparations are already underway for rounds two and three of the vaccination campaign, to make sure that boys and girls receive all the doses they need for full protection.
Meanwhile, on Monday and Tuesday, teams distributed 121,000 towels, more than 2,800 dignity and hygiene kits, nearly 4,800 handwashing stations, 1,000 buckets, 225 jerry cans and 13 water tanks - benefiting some 400,000 people.
This is on top of more than 10,000 tents, 130,000 tarpaulins, 150,000 bedding kits and 1,000 kitchen sets distributed over six days - between 13 and 18 November.
West Bank: settler violence, Israeli operations continue at alarming levels
OCHA warns that the level of violence in the West Bank remains deeply concerning - causing casualties, property damage, displacement, loss of livelihoods, and a strong sense of insecurity.
This week, the number of Palestinian children killed in 2025 reached 50. That includes two girls - the youngest just two years old. Overall, more than 200 Palestinians have now been killed by Israeli forces since the start of the year.
In just one week - between 11 and 17 November - OCHA documented 29 attacks by settlers that led to 11 injuries and damaged 10 homes, two mosques, nearly two dozen vehicles and a wide range of agricultural assets - including livestock, seasonal crops, and roughly 1,000 trees and saplings.
In the northern West Bank, large-scale operations by Israeli forces continue, leaving tens of thousands in prolonged displacement, causing additional school closures, and further tightening movement restrictions. In the town of Ya'bad, where Israeli forces have been operating for two weeks now, 55 people whose homes were taken over have been newly displaced.
To address people's needs in that area, the UN and its partners are providing multi-purpose cash to families displaced or otherwise affected. So far this year, over 10,000 households have received this support. Just last week, with winter around the corner, Humanitarian Coordinator Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov allocated US$100,000 from the occupied Palestinian territory Humanitarian Fund so that displaced families in the northern West Bank can buy warm clothing through e-vouchers.
OCHA continues to call for the protection of civilians - which includes enforcing the law against anyone who carries out attacks - and for lethal force to be used only in strict accordance with internationally agreed law enforcement standards. War-like tactics must not be tolerated as the new normal in the West Bank.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.
Ukraine
Drone strikes pose growing risk to aid operations
OCHA says that the UN and its partners continue to deliver critical aid across Ukraine amid increasing risks.
On 19 November, a warehouse of the World Food Programme (WFP) was damaged during a drone attack on the city of Dnipro. No one was injured, but at least 10,000 boxes of food - intended for civilians near the front line - were destroyed. Partners report that drone strikes affecting humanitarian organizations have nearly tripled between January and October this year, compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, attacks continue across the country. Strikes hit Zaporizhzhia and Odesa between yesterday and today. Authorities report five dead and more than a dozen injured, among them two children.
Hostilities in the regions of Kherson, Donetsk, Dnipro and Kharkiv also caused several civilian casualties, as well as damage to energy infrastructure.
In the city of Ternopil, rescue operations continue after the deadly strike on 19 November. The latest reports from authorities indicate that 30 civilians died, including six children.
Humanitarian organizations are mobilized and providing emergency support, including medical and psychological aid, as well as emergency shelter.
Meanwhile, OCHA reports that today, a UN humanitarian convoy delivered a charging station, solar lamps, dry food products and hygiene supplies to a front-line community in the Kherson region, where critical services are heavily impacted by hostilities.
Jamaica
Humanitarians step up response as access improves
OCHA says that three weeks after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, the UN and its partners continue to support Government-led response efforts, with more than 90 organizations now engaged.
Response operations have been stepped up as access improves. Emergency medical teams and mobile clinics have been deployed, allowing critical services to resume despite damaged infrastructure. Public health teams are also scaling up water-quality testing and environmental health inspections.
UNAIDS is working with the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization so that HIV treatment and psychosocial services continue.
More than 45,000 food kits have been distributed so far, supporting over 140,000 people. WFP is also working with the Government to prepare a transition to cash-based assistance.
Meanwhile, more than 100 emergency shelters remain open. Flooding persists, which is delaying the reopening of schools and further damaging agricultural roads and infrastructure. The floods are also increasing risks to public health due to growing concerns over contaminated water.
Posted on 21 November 2025
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