Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Sudan, Haiti
UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Gaza aid operations under severe strain as hunger crisis deepens
OCHA reports that aid operations in Gaza are currently under severe strain. Humanitarian workers face serious security risks, crossings remain unreliable, and critical supplies are routinely delayed or blocked.
The UN stands ready to seize the opportunity of a ceasefire to significantly scale up humanitarian operations across Gaza, as it did during previous pauses. These plans are finalized.
But to make a real difference, Israel must enable safe and unimpeded aid delivery, allow the entry of critical equipment and fuel, open all crossings, and restore movement along key supply routes. Humanitarian staff must be able to operate safely, people must be allowed to move freely, and supplies - including from the private sector - must reach all parts of Gaza.
If these conditions are met, the UN will urgently prioritize providing food, water, shelter, medical care and protection to the civilians of Gaza who have faced unimaginable hardship for far too long.
Today, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, visited the Gaza Strip, where he met with UN agencies and humanitarian partners in Deir al Balah.
Deir al Balah - which serves as the hub for the UN's humanitarian operations - has come under attack in recent days, and some of the UN's premises have been struck. Part of the area is under an Israeli displacement order, which also affects several UN premises where staff are currently present.
During his visit, Dr. Alakbarov expressed strong support for the tireless efforts of humanitarian workers continuing to deliver under extraordinarily difficult and dangerous conditions, including in active combat zones and amid persistent fear. He reiterated deep concern over the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation, including mounting reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition. He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire as the only viable means to protect civilians and enable a sustained and increased flow of life-saving assistance into Gaza.
OCHA warns that the hunger crisis in Gaza has never been so dire. Today, 109 aid organizations said that mass starvation is spreading across the Strip, with colleagues and those they serve wasting away.
UN partners report that aid workers are fainting from hunger and exhaustion. Deadly malnutrition among children is reaching catastrophic levels. UNICEF notes that a severely malnourished child is over 10 times more likely to die than a well-nourished peer.
Despite catastrophic conditions, aid workers continue to deliver life-saving assistance, wherever and whenever possible. However, OCHA stresses that to sustain these operations - including nutrition programmes - the Israeli authorities must facilitate the delivery of much more aid into and across all areas of Gaza without delay.
As of Sunday, partners were delivering158,000 daily cooked meals through 64 kitchens. However, this figure reflects a decrease of more than 70,000 daily meals compared to the previous day.Earlier this week, four community kitchens in Deir al Balah were forced to close due to the depletion of supplies and the displacement order issued by the Israeli military over the weekend. There are currently only three kitchens still operating in the area.
Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed and cannot cope with the influx of patients - including those injured by hostilities - due to lack of supplies and fuel. Earlier today, local health authorities said that in the past few days, several of their health facilities have shut down due to the lack of fuel. More hospitals, including Al Shifa, are at imminent risk of shutting down within the next few days.
Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warns that severe food deprivation, a shattered healthcare system, and immense psychological stress are leading to catastrophic birth outcomes for pregnant women and newborns. **UNFPA says that new data from the Ministry of Health paints a harrowing picture: From January to June of this year, births sharply declined, and there were 220 stillbirths. At least 20 newborns died within 24 hours of birth, and a third of babies were born prematurely, underweight or required admission to neonatal intensive care.
Meanwhile, partners reported today that people with disabilities have no food, no assistive devices and no healthcare. Measures must be taken to protect civilians - including the tens of thousands of people in the Strip who are older or are living with disabilities - who need assistance that preserves their dignity and survival.
Currently, the Israeli authorities are the sole decision makers on who, how and how much enters the Strip, and the type of supplies that are allowed in. Logistical challenges are immense: To collect supplies that have reached any of the Israeli crossings around Gaza - all of which are fenced off and heavily guarded - drivers need multiple access approvals, as well as a pause in the bombing and for the iron gates to open. As the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, told the Security Council last week, movement requires navigating an obstacle course of coordination with Israeli forces, through active hostilities, traveling on damaged roads, and often being forced to wait at holding points or pass through areas controlled by criminal gangs.
All too often, civilians approaching UN trucks are shot at. Collecting supplies safely requires reliable assurances that troops would not engage or be present along convoy routes.
OCHA reiterates that the amount of aid that has been entering Gaza is a trickle compared to the immense needs. Above all, a ceasefire is needed to put an end to this devastating situation.
Regarding punitive measures announced by Israel against OCHA, the Secretary-General has full confidence in OCHA's professional and impartial work. Any punitive measures will only add to the obstacles preventing humanitarians from reaching people facing hunger, displacement and deprivation.
**Please note that the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has issued a correction to information that was featured in today's update on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. UNFPA's press release originally stated that 220 mothers died in Gaza from January to June 2025. It has now been clarified that the 220 "pregnancy-related deaths before birth" stated by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in fact refers to stillbirths, not maternal deaths.
Syria
Second aid convoy reaches As-Sweida after hostilities displace over 145,000
OCHA reports that more than 145,000 people have now been displaced due to the hostilities in Syria's As-Sweida Governorate. This includes people who have fled within As-Sweida and to neighbouring Dar'a and Rural Damascus governorates.
Humanitarian needs in As-Sweida remain high. Electricity, water services, fuel supplies and telecommunications have been significantly disrupted.
Bakeries have ceased operations due to shortages of flour and fuel, and local markets face significant shortfalls of food items. Critical shortages of clean water, hygiene kits, sanitary pads, and baby supplies have also been reported. Many displaced families also lack basic items such as mattresses and blankets.
A second convoy from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) reached As-Sweida today carrying a range of critical support, including food, wheat flour, fuel, medicines and health supplies. OCHA coordinated with SARC to prepare the convoy, which includes supplies from UN agencies.
OCHA continues to engage with authorities and partners to facilitate an interagency UN mission to As-Sweida as soon as security conditions allow, and further assistance is being mobilized through SARC.
Meanwhile, the UN is working with partners to deliver a range of support to people displaced to Dar'a and Rural Damascus, including health and protection services, food and water.
Mobile medical teams have provided more than 3,500 consultations, including trauma care, maternal health and psychosocial support. Nearly 38,000 people have received food aid - including bread, ready-to-eat meals and food baskets. Over 1,000 kits containing non-food items were distributed in Dar'a and Rural Damascus, benefiting more than 5,000 people.
UN interagency missions to assess needs and provide assistance in both the Dar'a and Rural Damascus areas are planned for the coming days.
Sudan
Humanitarian conditions, access worsen amid escalating hostilities in Kordofan
OCHA is gravely concerned about the worsening humanitarian catastrophe and tightening access constraints across Sudan, particularly in the Kordofan region, where hostilities continue to escalate and the ability of local and international partners to provide support is being severely curtailed.
In South Kordofan State, clashes erupted yesterday in the besieged city of Kadugli when armed individuals reportedly attempted to seize food from the main market, according to local sources. As Sudan's hunger crisis deepens, Kadugli remains cut off from humanitarian assistance, with the last supply route from neighbouring North Kordofan blocked.
A recent assessment by non-governmental organization (NGO) partners found that 96 per cent of displaced families in Kadugli, the state capital, are unable to meet their basic needs. Nearly three quarters have at least one malnourished child, and almost two thirds lack adequate shelter. Bureaucratic impediments are also hampering humanitarian efforts. Amid worsening insecurity, authorities in South Kordofan have suspended 30 national NGOs and three international NGOs - preventing them from carrying out life-saving aid operations.
Meanwhile, in West Darfur State, heavy rains and flooding threaten to further disrupt the delivery of aid. Roads connecting the state capital Ag Geneina - next to the crucial Adre border crossing from Chad - to Mornei and to Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State, are now impassable. Both towns are hosting large numbers of displaced people. Humanitarian partners warn that continued rains may further cut off access into Central and South Darfur states, making it even more difficult to reach people in need.
In North Darfur State, displaced communities and host families in the locality of Tawila have come together to establish community kitchens that are now feeding thousands of people who fled violence in El Fasher. These kitchens have become a vital lifeline for those without any other access to food. However, they face chronic and severe funding shortfalls. Many are struggling to stay open, and some risk shutting down altogether due to lack of resources.
Immediate support is essential to prevent further deterioration and loss of life. The UN and its partners are planning a major scale-up of support for people in Tawila, which requires US$120 million over the next three months.
With Tawila now hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people, needs there have surged. In several displacement sites, one NGO partner reports that only 10 per cent of people have access to safe water, fewer than 10 per cent to latrines, and most families are eating once a day or less. These gaps will become increasingly life-threatening as the rainy season takes hold. Humanitarian access is further complicated by checkpoint taxes, roadblocks, and bureaucratic hurdles imposed by local authorities, including requirements for multiple levels of approval to establish even basic services.
OCHA once again appeals for unimpeded humanitarian access across Sudan, more international funding to scale up the response*, the protection of civilians and aid workers, and an immediate cessation of hostilities.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.
Haiti
Children need urgent nutrition, education support
OCHA reports that escalating violence and displacement continue to drive severe humanitarian needs across Haiti, fueling a nutrition and education crisis among children.
Access to health and nutrition services remains limited. UNICEF and its partners have screened more than 217,000 children for acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year, and more than 21,500 children have been admitted for treatment of severe acute malnutrition. This represents about 17 per cent of the nearly 129,000 children who are projected to need life-saving treatment this year.
However, OCHA warns that insecurity continues to constrain the humanitarian response - leading to access challenges, supply shortages, and the closure of health facilities. This limits the reach of health and nutrition programmes and endangers the lives of malnourished children.
According to the latest analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership, some 5.7 million people were estimated to face high levels of acute food insecurity between March and June this year. This represents more than half of Haiti's population.
Beyond the nutrition crisis, Haiti's children also face an education emergency. As of mid-July, more than 1,600 schools remained closed, an increase of over two thirds compared to the start of the year. Without access to education, children are more vulnerable to exploitation and recruitment by armed groups.
UNICEF has provided learning opportunities to more than 16,000 children, including displaced children in temporary learning spaces. The agency has also reached over 100,000 children with mental health and psychosocial support in schools. However, this is just a fraction of what is needed in Haiti.
A lack of funding is significantly limiting humanitarians' capacity to address the crisis. Haiti remains the least funded of UN-coordinated country appeals globally: More than halfway through the year, less than 9 per cent of the $908 million required for the response has been received.
Posted on 23 July 2025
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