Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Central African Republic
UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UN Relief Chief visits Gaza as humanitarian community scales up
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, entered the Gaza Stripearlier today. He crossed from Egypt through the Israeli side of Kerem Shalom crossing.
He then drove to Deir al Balah, where he visited the Castle Bakery, which is one of nine bakeries that the World Food Programme supports with fuel and ingredients across southern and central Gaza. This bakery used to be the largest in Khan Younis, where it served thousands of families until it had to relocate following a displacement order. The ceasefire has meant that the bakery can access fuel and flour, allowing it to produce up to 300,000 loaves of pita bread per day.
Also in Deir al Balah, Mr. Fletcher met with those leading the Gaza offices of UN agencies there. He is set to meet more humanitarian workers later this evening and spend the night in Gaza.
In a social media post, Mr. Fletcher said that humanitarian teams are delivering on the 60-day plan to massively scale up life-saving work. "The challenges ahead are immense, but we are determined to deliver on the humanitarian possibilities created by President Trump's peace deal," he added.
Mr. Fletcher also briefed the Secretary-General on what he has seen and heard in Gaza so far today.
Before heading to Gaza, Mr. Fletcher was in Egypt. While in Rafah yesterday, he witnessed trucks full of aid heading to Kerem Shalom*. He thanked humanitarian teams, the Egyptian Red Crescent, the authorities, and everyone involved in getting the peace deal in place.
Mr. Fletcher also visited Al Arish Hospital in Egypt yesterday, which has treated hundreds of Palestinians evacuated from Gaza for medical care.
Yesterday, the UN and partners continued to collect medical supplies, food, fuel and other cargo from the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings**. This included 20 trucks carrying tents, diapers and hygiene kits, as well as three others loaded with personal hygiene kits, eight tankers with diesel, and two trucks carrying animal fodder, which will be distributed to herders in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis.
OCHA reports that much more can be done once more crossings are opened, basic infrastructure is restored, NGO access is facilitated, and looting further reduces.
According to COGAT figures presented to the mediators, yesterday, 950 trucks crossed into Gaza through crossings that Israeli authorities control, including 11 trucks carrying fuel and gas - with 143 of the total trucks passing through Kissufim crossing and the remaining 807 going through Kerem Shalom. These numbers reflect trucks sent through the commercial sector, bilateral donations, and the UN-coordinated system combined.
Meanwhile, families in Gaza continue to move towards newly accessible areas. Partners monitoring the flow of people across the Strip report that on Wednesday, more than 17,600 movements were recorded from south to north, and 12,900 movements from western to eastern Khan Younis.
*OCHA footage and soundbites of Under-Secretary-General Fletcher's visit to Rafah are available in OCHA's Media Centre
**Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.
Central African Republic
UN Deputy Relief Chief urges global solidarity to support those in need
The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, wrapped up her visit to the Central African Republic today, saying the country stands at a crossroads.
She stressed that this is the moment to turn fragile stability into lasting progress by working hand in hand across humanitarian, development and peace efforts.
During her visit, Ms. Msuya met with senior Government officials in Bangui before traveling to the towns of Zemio in the southeast, Bria in the centre of the country, and Birao in the northeast - where she spoke with displaced families, community leaders and local responders. She paid tribute to the courage and dedication of those on the front lines of the crisis, calling them the backbone of aid efforts and the ones keeping hope alive despite immense challenges.
Ms. Msuya noted that while humanitarian needs remain high - with one in three people in need of assistance - improved security in some regions has allowed displaced people to return home and rebuild their lives.
She announced an allocation of US$8 million from the Central African Republic Humanitarian Fund for urgent priorities in Zemio and Birao.
Ms. Msuya stressed the need for sustained international solidarity, adding that the people of the Central African Republic are not asking for charity - they are asking for dignity, stability and the chance to shape their own future.
Posted on 17 October 2025
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