Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Haiti, Syria
UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Convoys continue to face hurdles to deliver aid to people in need
OCHA warns that hostilities continue, including multiple airstrikes on residential buildings in Gaza that have reportedly killed entire families. A high number of additional fatalities and injuries have been reported among those trying to secure food and other essential supplies for their families. That is over the past few days.
Meanwhile, amid deepening starvation, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to seize every opportunity to collect supplies from the Israeli-controlled crossings and replenish those platforms with new supplies from outside. UN teams are doing this every single day through multiple missions.
OCHA says that, despite Israeli announcements regarding the designation of convoy routes as secure, trucks continue to face long delays that expose drivers, aid workers, and crowds to danger. The long waits are because a single route has been made available for UN teams exiting Kerem Shalom inside Gaza, and Israeli ground forces have set up an ad hoc checkpoint on that route.
In recent days, the teams have managed to collect wheat flour, ready-to-eat rations, high-energy biscuits, nutrition items, hygiene kits and other critical supplies from the Israeli-controlled crossings. But OCHA warns that, under the current conditions, much of the food is taken by people en route, rather than reaching community-based distribution points where those at highest risk of death due to malnutrition can be prioritized, alongside older persons, women, those with illnesses or disabilities and other groups.
OCHA urges the Israeli authorities to allow the consistent and simultaneous entry of large volumes of diverse humanitarian and commercial supplies through all crossing points and multiple routes. To ensure no one is left behind, aid must be distributed at the community level.
OCHA continues to coordinate humanitarian movements across most of the Gaza Strip with the Israeli authorities. Yesterday, OCHA published cumulative figures covering the week between last Wednesday and this Tuesday. Out of 92 attempts to coordinate aid movements, nearly 16 per cent were outright denied. An additional 26 per cent were initially accepted but faced impediments, including blocks or delays on the ground; and in many cases this resulted in missions being aborted or partially accomplished. Another 47 per cent were fully facilitated, and the remaining 11 per cent had to be withdrawn by the organizers for logistical, operational or security reasons.
OCHA stresses again that unimpeded humanitarian access within Gaza is essential. Without it, time and resources are wasted, lives are lost, and the response cannot match the scale of the needs.
Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) supported the medical evacuation of 47 patients and 129 companions from Gaza, despite the ongoing challenges to humanitarian operations and access constraints. Patients travelled to Spain, Türkiye, France, Norway and Jordan. In a social media post, WHO's Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that over 14,000 patients in Gaza still need urgent care.
Ukraine
Overnight attack on the capital Kyiv kill, injure civilians
OCHA reports that overnight attacks that continued this morning in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, killed several civilians and injured many, including children.
According to preliminary information from local authorities, at least 11 people were killed, including a child, and more than 135 injured, among them 12 children, in drone and missile strikes on the city. The attacks also damaged dozens of apartment buildings as well as health and education facilities.
Nationwide, between 30 and 31 July, over a dozen civilians were killed and more than 160 injured in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, according to authorities.
Aid workers, complementing the efforts of first responders and local services, have mobilized emergency support in Kyiv and other affected areas, providing shelter materials, psychological support, and other essential services.
The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, condemned the attack and said that no community should have to treat missile strikes and casualties as routine He added that last night's attack is a stark reminder that this is the reality millions face daily across the country.
Haiti
Armed groups expand presence in Artibonite, causing new waves of displacement
OCHA warns that a rapidly escalating crisis in the Artibonite region, Haiti, where armed group are expanding their presence and activities, is triggering new waves of displacement.
On 22 July, violence linked to armed groups flared in the town of Liancourt, in the Artibonite department. A vehicle and several homes were set ablaze. This incident followed a week of violent clashes between 14 and 19 July.
As of 19 July, the International Organization for Migration reported that nearly 15,000 people have been displaced across four communes in the Artibonite department. All are staying with host families, many of whom were already struggling to meet basic needs.
Response efforts are underway, led by local humanitarian partners. Over the past week, more than 500 displaced households and host communities received hygiene kits. Partners also distributed hundreds of hot meals.
Humanitarian workers have set up child-friendly spaces to provide mental health and psychosocial support in the communes of Liancourt, Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite and Verettes.
Syria
First UN mission reaches As-Sweida
OCHA says that a first UN interagency mission went to As-Sweida Governorate, Syria, today.
The team went to As-Sweida City, as well as the districts of Shahba and Salkhad, where they met with local community representatives and partners and visited displacement sites and reception centers. The team also conducted assessments in the three districts of the Governorate.
A fifth humanitarian aid convoy organized by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent also arrived in As-Sweida Governorate today. The convoy, which included UN assistance, delivered medical supplies, flour, fuel, canned goods, hygiene kits and shelter materials, among other assistance. This was the largest convoy so far with 40 trucks. Yesterday, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent also delivered four tankers carrying more than 120,000 liters of fuel.
Posted on 31 July 2025
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