Today’s top news: Yemen, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Haiti, Afghanistan
A damaged evacuation point in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, which had been supporting civilians leaving front-line areas. Several people were reportedly injured in the attack. Photo: UNOCHA/Serhii Korzhov
Families displaced by hostilities urgently need food, shelter support
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that as hostilities in Yemen continue and the toll on civilians rises, needs are outpacing relief efforts, and supplies are running out.
The UN and its partners are scaling up support for displaced families and all those in need, but the response faces ongoing funding shortfalls and access constraints.
Over the weekend, OCHA reported that 21,000 households have been displaced across Yemen since 1 August, most of them in the governorates of Ta’iz and Lahj. This figure is expected to rise as registration continues. Displaced families urgently need food and shelter support.
Since 1 August, the UN Human Rights Office has verified 125 civilian casualties in 36 incidents, with 32 people killed and 93 injured. In September, more than 80 per cent of casualties were women and children. These are only the verified figures, and the actual toll is likely much higher.
Health workers are paying a heavy price. On Friday, ambulances were attacked in Lahj governorate, killing a driver and an emergency medical responder. Nine health facilities or locations have been damaged, closed or directly attacked in Ta’iz and Lahj governorates, and in the city of Al Hodeidah. Hospitals receiving the wounded are running short of blood, anaesthetics and surgical supplies.
Women and girls have historically faced high levels of risk in Yemen – in particular, pregnant women who have extremely limited access to healthcare. Three women die every day in Yemen due to pregnancy complications or during childbirth. The current escalation in conflict has amplified these risks.
The UN Population Fund estimates that there are more than 2,700 pregnant women among the displaced – 300 of whom are expected to give birth in the next two weeks – and at least 500 who need emergency obstetric or newborn care. However, key emergency obstetric facilities have been closed in Ta’iz, and displaced women are being forced to give birth in the open without skilled care.
In response, humanitarian partners have reached nearly 13,000 displaced households with rapid response kits and other urgently needed assistance. Surgical supplies and antibiotics have been delivered to four hospitals in the cities of Aden and Marib by the World Health Organization.
Once again, OCHA calls on the parties to protect civilians – including health workers – and ambulances and facilitate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Children in Gaza return to school as relief efforts continue
OCHA says that relief efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continue, despite funding shortfalls and Israeli restrictions.
Over the weekend, children across Gaza returned to school after the summer break. UNICEF says that some 330,000 children are now attending 200 learning centres supported by the agency. UNRWA notes that many of the schools still standing are being used as shelters for displaced families. The agency’s teams continue to support child development through temporary learning spaces and digital learning.
Meanwhile, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) reported yesterday that ahead of the new school year, it removed rubble from 20 schools, four universities and 19 learning sites. UNDP has also cleared about 50 kilometres of roads leading to schools and other education facilities.
Although UNDP has cleared more than 1 million tonnes of rubble overall since last year, more than 60 million tonnes still need to be removed.
To ensure that such efforts can proceed safely, mine action partners conducted 150 assessments during the second week of September alone. They also educated thousands of people on risks related to explosive munitions. They continue to warn that debris across Gaza remains heavily contaminated with explosive hazards, posing a clear danger to communities.
Partners supporting water and sanitation have completed repairs to a damaged sewage pumping station in Jabalya area of North Gaza. Operations have been restored following the local procurement of a generator. This comes as the Israeli authorities continue to restrict the entry of new generators, which remain urgently needed given the electricity blackout.
Between June and August, partners repaired 19 water and sewage facilities. While these are now technically operational, they continue to function at limited capacity because power
Humanitarian partners note that scaling up these efforts requires the Israeli authorities to approve the entry into Gaza of heavy machinery, specialized equipment, engine oil, spare parts and other essential items.
At the same time, more funding is urgently needed for humanitarian operations, including for the fuel needed to operate vehicles and backup generators. This year’s US$4 billion humanitarian response plan for the Occupied Palestinian Territory is currently less than 40 per cent funded.*
Meanwhile, ongoing strikes continue to imperil civilians across Gaza, as well as the facilities they depend on – with reports of civilian casualties over the weekend. Safety and security partners report that last week, there were five air strikes and four incidents of ground fire near the UN and its partners’ personnel and facilities. Several people were injured, and minor damage was reported.
*Donations made toUN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory with urgent support.
Deadly attacks harm civilians, damage civilian infrastructure
OCHA says that attacks in Ukraine over the weekend and into today continue to affect civilians and impact civilian infrastructure.
According to local authorities, at least 25 civilians have been killed and 130 others injured, including children.
Attacks in the regions of Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa have damaged or destroyed civilian infrastructure, including homes and apartment buildings, shops, warehouses, agricultural facilities, administrative and educational premises, as well as energy, gas and communications infrastructure.
In Kramatorsk, in the region of Donetsk, an attack severely damaged a facility supporting civilians evacuating from front-line areas. Several civilians were injured, according to humanitarian workers and local authorities.
Humanitarian partners – supported by UN agencies – are providing emergency assistance, including hot meals, psychosocial support and emergency repair materials.
Hundreds flee fresh violence in Artibonite
OCHA says that renewed violence in Haiti’s western department of Artibonite displaced some 1,500 people last week.
According to the International Organization for Migration, about 900 people were displaced in the communes of Saint-Marc and Verrettes. They are currently staying with host families.
Four days of violence in the department of Artibonite between 15 and 18 September displaced some 600 people in the commune of Saint-Michel de l’Attalaye. Like many families in Haiti, they had already been forced to flee their homes two months ago and had only recently returned home.
Since the start of the year, violence has forced more than 100,000 people out of their homes. Overall, close to 1.5 million people – or 12 per cent of the population – are displaced within the country.
The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support displaced people with shelter, essential household items and other critical assistance, despite an extremely challenging operational environment.
OCHA continues to work closely with humanitarian partners and national authorities to coordinate the response and help ensure that displaced people can safely access essential services and assistance.
The $880 million Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is 47 per cent funded, with $416 million received. The UN and its humanitarian partners need more funding to sustain life-saving assistance for displaced families and other vulnerable communities.
Air strikes hit civilian areas in Kunar, Paktika provinces
OCHA reports that overnight, air strikes hit civilian areas in the provinces of Kunar and Paktika, in the east and south-east of Afghanistan.
According to localKunar Province, after a residential house was reportedly struck. Four other people sustained serious injuries
The district of Barmal in Paktika Province was also impacted, with air strikes reportedly damaging residential structures. Thankfully, no civilian casualties had been reported so far, according to local
OCHA remains deeply concerned by the impact of these incidents on civilians and reiterates that all parties must take constant care to protect civilians and civilian objects.
OCHA and its humanitarian partners continue to monitor the situation closely to assess any emerging humanitarian needs.
