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Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Hostilities cause civilian casualties, destruction in Gaza city

OCHA warns that the relentless bombardment of areas in and around Gaza city is having devastating consequences for civilians.

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said yesterday that intensified Israeli attacks in eastern and southern Gaza city, particularly Az Zaytoun area, are causing high numbers of civilian casualties and large-scale destruction. OHCHR added that since 8 August, more than 50 residential structures have been hit, killing at least 87 Palestinians.

Yesterday, the Palestinian Civil Defense said it was unable to respond to most calls for help in Az Zaytoun, Khan Younis and Jabalya due to security risks and because the Israeli authorities have denied requests to coordinate access.

Farther south, OCHA reports that this morning, an Israeli air strike hit a makeshift site for internally displaced people near its facility in Deir al Balah, which is used as an office and guesthouse. The makeshift site, which was sheltering approximately 200 families, reportedly received a warning at short notice from the Israeli military and was evacuated immediately prior to the strike. While no casualties were reported, people's shelters and their belongings were damaged or destroyed.

OCHA's facility was lightly damaged, and the incident was traumatic for staff who were present at the time. Thankfully, OCHA personnel are safe and accounted for. OCHA reiterates that the coordinates of UN premises in Gaza have been shared with the relevant parties. These locations - as with all civilian sites - must be protected.

Once again, OCHA stresses that civilians - including those who cannot or choose not to move, as well as humanitarians - must be protected. Humanitarian facilities and other civilian infrastructure must not be targeted or used in an attempt to shield military objectives from attack.

Meanwhile, recurrent displacement continues to be reported. Partners monitoring the movement of people in Gaza estimate that between 12 and 20 August, more than 16,800 new displacements were recorded across the Strip. This brings the total number of recorded movements since the end of the ceasefire in mid-March to more than 796,000.

Gaza city accounted for 95 per cent of the displacement reported, with people fleeing eastern parts of the city, such as Az Zaytoun, and primarily moving south and west.

Meanwhile, hunger and malnutrition among children are deepening. Yesterday, UNICEF said that July was Gaza's deadliest month for child malnutrition deaths, with 24 children under five reportedly dying. This is already 85 per cent of the total for this year.

The agency added that all 320,000 children under 5 are at risk of acute malnutrition, increasing illness and long-term health risks.

Meanwhile, partners are reporting a rise in child labour, with children collecting rubble and engaging in street vending and other informal work. Psychosocial distress is widespread among children who have been repeatedly displaced. Partners reiterate that supplies for child protection and psychosocial support are scarce, with none having entered since early March.

The UN and its humanitarian partners remain on the ground in Gaza, delivering life-saving aid whenever and wherever possible. They urge world leaders to uphold international law, protect civilians, and use their influence to ensure that Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access are lifted. Lives are at stake.

Syria

UN Relief Chief warns that funding gaps threaten life-saving aid

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, told the Security Council today that Syria's humanitarian crisis is not over - as the recent violence in As-Sweida makes clear.

"The overall situation is dire, I'm afraid," he said. "We need to sustain urgent delivery of food, health, shelter, clean water, fuel, restoration of water and electricity infrastructure, education."

Fletcher called for political action to hold the peace in As-Sweida and prevent future escalations of this kind. He also urged support for humanitarian funding and access requests - and to help create the conditions, including through investment and sanctions lift, where the humanitarian mission can transition to genuine and Syrian-led recovery and rebuilding.

"We need to do that for the Syria people, but not just for Syria," the Under-Secretary-General said. "This is a change to demonstrate that international solidarity still matters, and that coordinated international action still works."

Humanitarian Coordinator visits As-Sweida to assess urgent needs

Yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, visited As-Sweida to assess the humanitarian situation following weeks of clashes in July.

Abdelmoula expressed appreciation to the Government of Syria for facilitating the mission, which allowed the UN to engage directly with affected communities, local officials and civil society organizations.

More than 185,000 people have been displaced due to recent hostilities, most of them in As-Sweida Governorate. Many are sheltering in schools, raising urgent concerns as the academic year approaches.

Hospitals and clinics are facing acute shortages of essential medications, including insulin, dialysis supplies and cancer treatments. Medical staff are working under extremely difficult conditions.

Local markets are experiencing severe shortages and soaring prices. Families are waiting in long lines for fuel and basic goods.

Abdelmoula said that humanitarian conditions are dire in As-Sweida, Dar'a and Rural Damascus, and civilians urgently need support. He also highlighted the vital role of local civil society organizations in assisting displaced and host communities.

Since 20 July, in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the UN and its humanitarian partners have dispatched 12 aid convoys, reaching over 300,000 people each month with life-saving assistance.

Despite these efforts, the response remains constrained by limited funding*. It is urgent that donors scale up support to meet the most pressing needs.

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

Sudan

WFP aid convoy attacked in North Darfur

OCHA is gravely concerned by yet another attack on a humanitarian convoy in Sudan - this time near Al Melit, in North Darfur State, on 20 August. The convoy, operated by the World Food Programme (WFP), consisted of 16 trucks carrying life-saving food assistance for vulnerable families. Three trucks were destroyed after catching fire during the drone attack. Fortunately, all convoy personnel are safe and accounted for.

In a statement today, the Acting Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Luca Renda, condemned the attack in the strongest terms and called for an immediate and independent investigation into the incident - and for parties found responsible to be held to account.

OCHA stresses once again that international humanitarian law must be respected, and the safety and protection of humanitarian personnel and supplies must be ensured. Humanitarian workers must be allowed to carry out their work without fear, obstruction or violence.

This latest attack comes less than three months after another attack on a WFP and UNICEF humanitarian convoy in Al Koma, North Darfur, in early June. That convoy was awaiting clearance to proceed to the state capital El Fasher. Five members of the convoy were killed and several more people were injured. These attacks come at a time when nearly 25 million people in Sudan are experiencing acute hunger.

Meanwhile, food insecurity continues to deepen across Sudan. According to WFP's latest market monitor report, in July, prices for all major food items rose sharply compared to June, driving the national average cost of the WFP local food basket up by more than a quarter. The surge is largely fueled by extreme price hikes in the markets in El Fasher and in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State.

The UN and its partners continue to respond to urgent needs wherever access is possible - but insecurity, logistical constraints and underfunding remain major barriers to scaling up humanitarian assistance.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Scores of civilians killed, thousands displaced over past month in North Kivu, Ituri provinces

OCHA warns that recent violent attacks on civilians in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are having a disastrous impact.

Since mid-July, armed groups have killed more than 150 civilians in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, including women and children, according to local authorities and partners. The attacks have also displaced thousands of people.

Civilians continue to be subjected to abductions, sexual and gender-based violence, and other human rights violations.

In South Kivu, ongoing violence and insecurity have deprived more than 250,000 people of humanitarian assistance along key supply routes in Fizi territory. This week, an OCHA team successfully negotiated the release of essential medicines that had been blocked since June due to the ongoing insecurity in the area.

In addition to the security situation, limited funding is also hampering humanitarian operations. The US$2.5 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is only 14 per cent funded, with $365 million received to date.

Despite security and funding challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance, reaching between 1.5 and 2 million people each month in eastern DRC. However, stronger international support is urgently needed to sustain this lifeline.

Ukraine

Deadly attacks cause civilian casualties, widespread damage

OCHA says that attacks and hostilities today and yesterday have killed and injured civilians across Ukraine. Authorities report that at least seven civilians were killed and 50 people injured, including children. Homes and civilian infrastructure also sustained widespread damage.

Strikes hit the regions of Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson, damaging dozens of houses, vehicles and civilian facilities.

Humanitarian partners responded rapidly, providing emergency shelter materials, hot drinks and psychosocial support.

Given the large number of evacuees, the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund has allocated $11.4 million in top-up funding to 12 partners to support evacuations in several front-line regions.

Posted on 21 August 2025