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	More than 3 years of war and suffering for the people of Ukraine by United Nations News, agencies   14 July 2025   Missile, drone strikes cause civilian casualties. (OCHA)   The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that a wave of deadly missile and drone attacks were reported across Ukraine over the weekend – with at least 27 civilians killed and 128 injured, including children, according to authorities.   The strikes hit urban centres in western Ukraine, including Chernivtsi, Lviv and Lutsk. Hostilities also intensified in the north and east – notably in the Sumy and Donetsk regions – and continued in the south, particularly in the Kherson region.   Authorities report that multiple houses and education facilities were damaged, and critical services were interrupted. In Chernivtsi, which had previously been less affected by hostilities, two people were killed and 26 were injured. More than 100 apartments, a kindergarten, a social services building and several shops were also damaged.   Following the attacks, aid workers rapidly mobilized to provide emergency medical and psychological support to those affected and to distribute shelter materials to repair damage caused by the strikes.   OCHA’s latest reporting indicates that humanitarian access for aid organizations remained challenging in Ukraine’s front-line communities in May and June due to intense hostilities in the most-affected regions – Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia – with long-range strikes posing threats to aid workers. Increased attacks further from the front line are also increasing risks and driving humanitarian needs across the country.   http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-occupied-palestinian-territory-sudan-ukraine-7 http://www.unocha.org/ukraine http://reliefweb.int/country/ukr http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/70-cent-children-ukraine-lack-access-basic-goods-and-services-material-deprivation http://ukraine.un.org/en/297777-civilian-casualties-ukraine-reach-three-year-high-june-un-human-rights-monitors-say http://ukraine.un.org/en/297154-un-human-rights-report-warns-worsening-violations-and-mounting-civilian-casualties   http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163781 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/05/un-commission-concludes-russian-armed-forces-drone-attacks-against-civilians http://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/iicihr-ukraine/index http://ukraine.un.org/en/296381-kyiv-suffers-deadliest-attack-almost-year-un-human-rights-monitors-say http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/people-ukraine-should-not-have-take-cover-shelters-night-after-night-enruuk http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/06/1164486   http://dppa.un.org/en/msg-sc-9924-usg-dicarlo-ukraine-29-may-2025 http://www.unocha.org/news/bombs-do-not-stop-trauma-does-not-subside-ukraine-ocha-tells-security-council http://plan-international.org/news/2025/05/28/not-a-target-children-in-ukraine-must-be-protected-from-attacks/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/horrific-strikes-ukraine-reportedly-kill-three-children-injure-least-13 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/ukraine-air-raid-sirens-halted-one-every-five-lessons-school-year   Apr. 2025   Briefing to the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, 8 April 2025, by Mr. Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator:   "Since we briefed the Security Council on Ukraine two weeks ago, Russian Federation air strikes have continued to kill and maim civilians, including children, and destroy civilian infrastructure.   A massive strike in the densely populated city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipro region last Friday resulted in multiple civilian casualties – the second fatal attack on the city in a week.   According to the authorities, 18 civilians were killed, including nine children, and 75 others injured when a children’s playground and nearby residential area were hit. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Ukraine, which verified many of the casualties, reported this was the single deadliest strike harming children since February 2022.   In recent weeks, drone attacks have continued to strike cities and cause civilian casualties. Civilian infrastructure – including healthcare facilities, apartment blocks, schools and children’s playgrounds – have suffered extensive damage. This brutal pattern of civilian death and destruction in populated areas must stop.   Hostilities have also continued in the front-line regions of Kherson, Kharkiv, Donetsk and in the border areas of Sumy, causing extensive damage. More than 90 civilian casualties were recorded in those regions last week, according to authorities.   I saw the impact of these types of attacks first-hand when I visited Ukraine earlier this year. From the families I met in front-line areas near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region to Kupiansk town in the Kharkiv region, they displayed courage, resilience and determination to rebuild their lives and homes. But also, understandable exhaustion, anger and despair that these attacks continue.   They are right to be angry. Because civilians are paying a devastating price for this horrendous war. OHCHR has now verified the killing of at least 12,910 civilians, including 682 children, and the injury of almost 30,700 across Ukraine from 24 February 2022 to 31 March 2025. The true toll is likely far greater.   Nearly 3.7 million people remain internally displaced, with new waves of displacement in the country’s north-east due to hostilities. Children and their caregivers are being evacuated from several front-line towns. There are almost 7 million refugees from Ukraine recorded globally, mainly in Europe.   Media reports also indicate civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions of the Russian Federation.   And we remain unable to reach an estimated 1.5 million civilians requiring assistance in parts of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions under occupation by the Russian Federation.   International humanitarian law demands that the parties facilitate the rapid, unimpeded access of humanitarian relief for civilians in need. Wherever they are.   Yesterday marked World Health Day, a moment to reflect on the urgent need to safeguard maternal and reproductive health, especially in crisis settings. A new report released by WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF highlights the state of maternal mortality worldwide, including the devastating toll of conflict on women’s health.   In Ukraine, women and girls are facing a special crisis. Since February 2022, pre-term births have made up nearly 50 per cent of all deliveries, putting both mothers and newborns at high risk.   Intimate partner violence, including other forms of gender-based violence, has surged 36 per cent during this period. Displaced women, especially refugees, are among those facing the most severe mental health challenges, with limited access to protection and care.   Almost 13 million people across Ukraine need humanitarian support. The majority are women, children, older people and people with disabilities.   In the first two months of 2025, 290 humanitarian organizations – mainly national NGOs – reached 1.7 million people with vital aid and services, including emergency support following strikes. Thanks to the generosity of donors, 17 per cent of the US$2.6 billion needed for the 2025 Ukraine Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan that I launched with [UN High Commissioner for Refugees] Filippo Grandi in January in Kyiv has been secured – but far more is needed.   Of course, now, we are having to scale back critical programmes. As part of our wider humanitarian reset in response to funding cuts, we and partners are now focusing limited resources on just four strategic, urgent priorities: supporting front-line communities, emergency response, facilitating evacuations and helping the displaced. Increased financial support is vital to ensure humanitarian operations can continue reaching those most in need. Every contribution makes a difference.   We welcome the announcement of a ceasefire focused on energy infrastructure, as well as negotiations to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. Ultimately, the best protection of civilians is that this war ends. Until it does, the negotiating priority – whether as part of a temporary pause or lasting agreement – must start from the protection and needs of civilians.   While talks continue, the fighting rages on, civilians continue to suffer, and the humanitarian crisis deepens by the day.   My two asks today of the Security Council and, indeed, the wider international community go beyond Ukraine alone. Firstly, I must reiterate that under the international humanitarian law that this Council is here to defend, parties to conflicts must protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.   Indiscriminate attacks on them are strictly prohibited: There must be limits to how war is waged. At its best, this Council, and the Member States here, have upheld that idea – even wars have rules. Is that not why we are here?   And yet, on my visits from Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan to Lebanon to Myanmar – from where I returned yesterday – I am seeing the opposite: that not only are we not standing robustly for international law, but in some cases we are supporting its debasement. That's the common thread that links these conflicts. And if your principles apply only to your opponents, they are not humanitarian principles.   The world is getting more dangerous for civilians, on our watch. Please, you can do more to ensure that this era of increasingly belligerent, transactional, self-defeating nationalism is not also remembered as one of callous impunity and brutal indifference, in which the rights of civilians are discarded again and again with a shrug.   If we do not make our stand on this point, consistently and unequivocally, then what do we stand for anymore? And how can we expect anyone to listen to us, or hope that others will make better choices in the future?   My second ask, Mr. President, is the funding to save lives in an increasingly dangerous environment, and this era of savage cuts. If you cannot stop the attacks on civilians – in Ukraine and elsewhere – please, at least give us the security and resources to save as many survivors as we can.   http://www.unocha.org/publications/report/ukraine/mr-tom-fletcher-under-secretary-general-humanitarian-affairs-and-emergency-relief-coordinator-briefing-security-council-humanitarian-situation-ukraine-8-april-2025 http://www.unocha.org/news/security-council-un-deputy-relief-chief-warns-growing-civilian-suffering-ukraine http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-april-2025 http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/friday-was-one-deadliest-days-civilians-year-enuk http://www.unhcr.org/news/press-releases/news-comment-unhcr-s-grandi-urges-world-remember-ukraine-s-displaced-and-war http://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/people-still-being-forced-flee-war-ukraine-continues http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-after-three-years-war-ukrainians-need-peace-and-aid http://www.ifrc.org/document/tipping-point-how-financial-strains-are-driving-ukrainians-abroad-back-home   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/70-cent-children-ukraine-lack-access-basic-goods-and-services-material-deprivation http://www.unicef.org/ukraine/en/press-releases/incessant-attacks-devastating-young-lives http://www.unicef.org/ukraine/en/documents/ukraine-humanitarian-situation-report-47 http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-humanitarian-needs-and-response-plan-2025-january-2025-enuk http://www.wfp.org/news/three-years-ukraine-war-one-third-population-frontline-regions-struggle-find-enough-eat http://www.nrc.no/news/2025/february/ukraine-three-years-on-sharp-increase-in-basic-needs-along-the-frontline http://www.msf.org/medical-humanitarian-needs-ukraine-remain-urgent-ever http://www.ifrc.org/article/ukraine-ifrc-president-kate-forbes-reflects-scars-conflict-and-long-road-recovery http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/suspension-of-us-international-aid-has-serious-consequences-as-ukraine-marks-three-years-of-war/ http://unocha.exposure.co/ukraine-three-years-of-fullscale-war   http://www.savethechildren.net/news/ukraine-i-fear-i-wont-be-able-help-my-child-75-people-struggling-make-ends-meet-after-3-years http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/three-years-loss-and-fear-war-ukraine-shatters-childrens-lives http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/i-have-force-smile-children-continue-bear-brunt-war-ukraine-after-three-years-conflict http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/advocacy-brief-three-years-full-scale-war-ukraine-enuk http://www.caritas.org/2025/02/three-years-of-full-scale-war-in-ukraine/ http://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/in-focus/women-leading-humanitarian-aid-and-economic-resilience-after-three-years-of-war-in-ukraine http://www.unfpa.org/ukraine http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukrainian-women-and-girls-voices-must-be-central-conflict-resolution-three-years-full-scale-war-leave-millions-ukrainians-uprooted   http://reliefweb.int/country/ukr http://www.acaps.org/en/countries/ukraine http://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/Human-rights-3-years-into-Russias-full-scale-invasion-of-Ukraine http://ukraine.ohchr.org/en/UN-report-details-devastating-impact-of-hostilities-on-children-in-Ukraine http://phr.org/news/1762-attacks-on-health-care-over-three-years-as-russia-escalates-its-war-on-ukraines-doctors-and-hospitals-phr/ http://ukraine.un.org/en/289667-civilian-harm-and-human-rights-abuses-persist-ukraine-war-enters-fourth-year http://ukraine.un.org/en/289062-ukraine-short-range-drones-become-most-dangerous-weapon-civilians-un-human-rights-monitors http://www.osce.org/chairpersonship/586044 http://www.osce.org/odihr/586050 http://www.hrw.org/news/2025/02/21/what-policymakers-should-prioritize-ukraine http://acleddata.com/2025/02/21/bombing-into-submission-russian-targeting-of-civilians-and-infrastructure-in-ukraine/   Nov. 2024   1000 days of war in Ukraine. (United Nations News, agencies)   ‘High Time for a Just Peace’, UN Secretary-General tells Security Council, 1,000 Days after Russian Federation began full-scale Invasion of Ukraine   Following are UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ remarks, as delivered by Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, to the UN Security Council on Ukraine, in New York today:   "1,000 days of wide-spread destruction have passed since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — in brazen violation of the UN Charter and international law. 1,000 days of widespread death, destruction and despair that continue unabated for millions of Ukrainians. 1,000 days in, this war rages on, undiminished.   Deadly battles engulf more and more of eastern and southern Ukraine. Entire cities, villages and towns have been reduced to rubble. Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Vovchansk and Vuhledar have been virtually wiped off the map. Since February 2022, at least 12,164 civilians have been killed, including over 600 children. At least 26,871 others have been injured.   And these are just the confirmed numbers. The actual death toll is likely much higher. The past several months have seen a significant increase in civilian casualties. October and November saw some of the most intense and large-scale missile and drone attacks of the war.   Over the weekend, the Russian Federation launched one of its largest combined strikes, reportedly involving 120 missiles and 90 drones and targeting energy infrastructure in all Ukrainian regions, resulting in severe damage and casualties. Last night, there were also media reports that Ukrainian forces would be given authorization to use long-range weapons supplied by partners for strikes within [the Russian Federation].   I want to be clear: all parties must ensure the safety and protection of civilians, regardless of their location.   Across Ukraine, residential areas have increasingly come under attack. The people of Kyiv are again being forced to take shelter from nightly drone and missile barrages. Critical civilian and energy infrastructure in Ukraine are systematically targeted and decimated, depriving many Ukrainians of access to basic needs.   At least 580 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed, with many first responders and medical personnel killed and injured. At least 1,358 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed.   Ukraine has now become one of the world’s most heavily mined places — with almost one quarter of its territory contaminated with mines — an area four times the size of Switzerland.   The environmental degradation caused by the war — including from the destruction of critical infrastructure — such as the Kakhovka Dam, has resulted in long-term consequences for local ecosystems, as well as Ukraine’s agriculture.   Millions of traumatized people are dependent on life-saving humanitarian aid. Nearly 4 million remain internally displaced, and more than 6.8 million have fled the country.   As in every conflict, women are disproportionately impacted by the economic and social consequences of the war. An entire generation of children is being deprived of proper education as attacks have driven schools online or underground in shelters. Meanwhile, human rights continue to be systematically violated.   The Black Sea remains a flashpoint. Renewed Russian attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure, particularly in Odesa, are once again exacerbating global food insecurity. I am determined to continue my engagement with all concerned to support the freedom and safety of navigation in the Black Sea.   The targeted devastation of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure may make the coming winter the harshest since the start of the war. It is not difficult to imagine how daily and prolonged power cuts aggravate living conditions, acutely affecting the more than 2 million people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed and those near the frontlines.   The United Nations remains fully mobilized to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery efforts. This includes critical support to enhance the resilience of the country’s energy infrastructure.   Our immediate focus is on the Winter Response Plan. But, without required resources, the most vulnerable will lack sufficient protection. Unimpeded humanitarian access is essential to reach some 1.5 million people in regions of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation. Those areas remain beyond our reach.   At the same time, the operating environment for humanitarian actors has become more dangerous. Humanitarian workers have been killed in the line of duty and more injured. This is unacceptable.   Despite the international community’s grave concerns, the risk of nuclear incident remains all too real, as military activities continue to be reported near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia and other sensitive locations in the conflict zone.   The consequences of such an event would be catastrophic and should make us all shudder. It is imperative for all parties to act responsibly to ensure nuclear safety and security.   The recent reported deployment of thousands of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the conflict zone and involvement in the fighting is alarming. This would add fuel to the fire, further escalating and internationalizing this explosive conflict.   There is little doubt that this war at the heart of Europe is a conflict with global implications. It undermines regional stability and deepens geopolitical divisions. It must end.   Reversing the current dangerous path will require concerted diplomatic efforts and political will. It is high time for a just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.   We stand ready to use our good offices and to make available the tools and experience of the United Nations in support of all meaningful efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace".   * UN and partners appeal for US$3.32 billion in 2025 to support humanitarian and refugee response plans for Ukraine: http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159056   http://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/world-must-stay-course-people-ukraine-enuk   18 Nov. 2024   Average of at least 16 children killed or injured in Ukraine every week as escalation of war nears 1,000 days. (UNICEF)   At least 2,406 children have been killed or injured since the escalation of the war in Ukraine nearly 1,000 days ago, according to the latest available verified reports. In addition to child casualties, which include 659 children killed and 1,747 children injured - amounting to at least 16 children killed or injured every week - millions of children continue to have their lives upended due to ongoing attacks.   Just last week, a mother and her three children—the youngest just two months old—were killed in a strike that impacted a residential building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih. Children in the Donbas region across the east of the country have now faced more than 10 years of conflict.   Children are enduring relentless hostilities, prolonged displacement and severe shortages of essential resources including safe water, electricity, and other necessities. Escalating attacks on Ukrainian territory have sharply increased civilian casualties and infrastructure damage since July this year.   “The toll on children is staggering and unacceptable,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Children have been killed in their beds, in hospitals and playgrounds, leaving families devastated by the loss of young lives or life-altering injuries.”   Attacks have also severely disrupted water, heating and electricity services. Between 22 March and 31 August 2024, attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine destroyed nine gigawatts (GW) of electricity generation capacity. This is equivalent to half of what Ukraine needs during the winter months.   “Millions of children are living in constant fear, many spending an equivalent of up to six hours a day sheltering in basements under air raid sirens,” said Russell. “Without continued and increased support for children, the psychological wounds of this war will echo through generations.”   Since August 2024, some 170,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the east of the country, with many evacuated from areas experiencing intense fighting, joining the nearly 3.6 million who remain displaced within Ukraine and over 6.75 million who have sought refuge outside the country. In Europe, nine out of ten refugees from Ukraine are women and children.   In frontline regions, nearly three million people are in dire need of warmth, safe water, and healthcare, as schools and hospitals continue to be targeted. Over the past one thousand days, at least 1,496 educational institutions and 662 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed, according to UN data.   Approximately 1.7 million children are without safe water, and 3.4 million lack access to centralized sanitation, heightening their risk of disease amid plummeting temperatures.   “Schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure are not just physical buildings; they are lifelines and symbols of hope for children’s recovery and resilience,” said Russell. “Ukraine’s children must be protected from the lasting horrors of this war. The world cannot be silent while they suffer.”   UNICEF continues to call for international humanitarian law to be upheld by protecting children and the infrastructure critical to their survival. The immediate end to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and to all grave violations against children must be prioritised.   1000 days of war in Ukraine. (World Health Organization)   19 November 2024, marks 1000 days since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The toll on the health of the Ukrainian population and its health-care system has been immense. The war has escalated health needs, especially in areas such as mental health, trauma care and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), affecting millions who face continuous attacks, trauma and restricted access to health care due to ongoing hostilities and financial barriers.   Ukrainian citizens are bearing increased physical and psychological strain, heightening the need for accessible care across all health services.   With over 6 million Ukrainians displaced as refugees and an additional 3.5 million internally displaced, health-care worker shortages, especially near frontlines, have deepened. These shortages include doctors, nurses, midwives and other essential personnel, who are crucial for delivering care in a system under severe stress.   Despite the challenges, Ukraine’s health workforce has shown remarkable resilience, working tirelessly to sustain services and support both the country’s recovery and ongoing health-care needs.   This war remains the largest ongoing emergency in the WHO European Region, with 2134 confirmed attacks on health care as of 18 November. WHO has actively monitored and reported these attacks, noting a troubling rise in both frequency and severity this year again.   These attacks severely impact health-care delivery and have resulted in the tragic loss of health-care workers. In 2024 alone, 27% of health-related attacks led to injuries, and 8% to fatalities. Casualties and fatalities of health workers and patients from these attacks have nearly tripled compared to last year, with 65 deaths reported this year, up from 24 in 2023, and injuries increasing from 132 in 2023 to 377 this year.   As Ukraine faces a third winter of war, attacks on health and public infrastructure will bring additional challenges, including lack of heating, water and electricity.   UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk condemned a wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power network at the weekend that inflicted further misery on civilians, with missile and long-range drone attacks affecting at least 15 regions across the country, as well as Kyiv.   “These latest attacks on energy installations are yet another cruel blow to civilians who have already endured so much,” said Turk, noting that on Tuesday, Ukraine marks the grim milestone of 1,000 days since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion.   “A winter power shortage will place the health and well-being of civilians, particularly older people, those with disabilities, low-income families, and the internally displaced, at grave risk,” he added.   Nine previous waves of attacks against Ukraine’s energy facilities had left millions of Ukrainians without electricity over the summer, and the country grappling with a projected energy shortfall as winter approaches.   According to the latest figures from the UN Human Rights Office’s Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, civilian deaths and injuries in the three months to the end of September this year were the highest recorded since July 2022. Close to 2,000 drones were launched by Russian forces into Ukraine in October alone – an average of more than 60 per day.   The High Commissioner again called on the Russian Federation to meet its international obligations under the UN Charter, the order of the International Court of Justice and other applicable law, and to cease immediately its armed attack and withdraw all of its military forces from Ukraine.   "It has been 1,000 days of senseless pain and suffering. Violations of human rights have become the order of the day, both in the conduct of hostilities and in areas under occupation,” said Turk. “Russia’s ongoing armed attack, as well as intensified collective efforts to end it, must remain a central focus of the global agenda.”   18 Nov. 2024   Stop Unconscionable Attacks on Civilians and Civilian Infrastructure, by Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale. (OCHA)   Unconscionable attacks by the Russian Armed Forces yesterday evening and today in the cities of Sumy and Odesa have killed and injured scores of civilians, including children. Residential areas were hit, destroying thousands of windows, as temperatures are quickly dropping.   These strikes follow the massive attacks on the energy infrastructure over the weekend, leaving already vulnerable civilians across the country to cope with power cuts and limited access to essential services like water supply and heating.   Civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected by International Humanitarian Law and must never be hit.   As we near a grim milestone of 1,000 days since the escalation of the war, the unbearable suffering endured by the people of Ukraine deepens. In recognizing their unbreakable resolve to overcome severe hardship, the continuous support of the international community is crucial for providing life-saving aid".   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2024/11/ukraine-plight-civilians-result-attacks-energy-network http://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22462.doc.htm http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/average-least-16-children-killed-or-injured-ukraine-every-week-escalation-war-nears http://www.savethechildren.net/news/ukraine-half-million-babies-born-fear-and-violence-1000-days-war http://www.savethechildren.net/news/attacks-education-ukraine-double-2024-leaving-some-parents-terrified-send-their-children http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/11/ukraine-russian-strikes-amounting-to-war-crimes-continue-to-kill-and-injure-children/ http://www.unocha.org/publications/report/ukraine/stop-unconscionable-attacks-civilians-and-civilian-infrastructure-enruuk http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/11/ukraine-turk-condemns-russian-attacks-energy-network-renews-call-russian http://ukraine.un.org/en/286768-periodic-report-human-rights-situation-ukraine-1-september-30-november-2024 http://www.unhcr.org/ua/en/74063-people-forced-to-flee-their-homes-in-ukraine-still-hope-to-return-while-uncertainty-looms-after-1000-days-of-full-scale-war.html http://news.un.org/en/tags/ukraine http://reliefweb.int/country/ukr Visit the related web page
	Middle East: De-escalation and protection of civilians urgently needed by UNICEF, WFP, Red Cross, OHCHR, agencies   July 2025   Every five seconds, a child is displaced, injured, or killed in the Middle East and North Africa’s conflicts. (UNICEF)   At least 12.2 million children have reportedly been killed, maimed or displaced in conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in less than 2 years, the equivalent of one child displaced every five seconds, and one child killed or maimed every fifteen minutes.   Reports indicate over 12 million children have been displaced, more than 40,000 maimed, and almost 20,000 killed.   “A child’s life is being turned upside down the equivalent of every five seconds due to the conflicts in the region,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder.   “Already, half of the region’s 220 million children live in conflict-affected countries. We cannot allow this number to rise. Ending hostilities – for the sake of children – is not optional; it is an urgent necessity, a moral obligation, and it is the only path to a better future.”   Today, nearly 110 million children in MENA live in countries affected by conflict. Violence continues to disrupt nearly every aspect of their lives. Homes, schools, and health facilities are being destroyed. Children are regularly exposed to life-threatening situations, extreme distress, and displacement, stripped of safety and often left with psychological scars that can last a lifetime.   In 2025, UNICEF estimates that 45 million children across the region will require humanitarian assistance due to continued life-threatening risks and vulnerabilities, up from 32 million in 2020 - a 41 per cent increase in just five years.   Meanwhile, UNICEF is experiencing major funding shortfalls across its operations in the MENA region. For instance, as of May, Syria faces a 78 per cent funding gap, the State of Palestine a 68 per cent gap for their 2025 appeals, and our regional programmes are under increasing financial strain.   Looking ahead, the outlook remains bleak. By 2026, UNICEF’s funding in MENA is projected to decline by 20 to 25 per cent, potentially resulting in a loss of up to US$370 million – jeopardizing life-saving programmes across the region, including treatment for severe malnutrition, safe water production in conflict zones, and vaccinations against deadly diseases.   “As the plight of children in the region worsens, the resources to respond are becoming sparser,” said Beigbeder. “Conflicts must stop. International advocacy to resolve these crises must intensify. And support for vulnerable children must increase, not decline.”   UNICEF urges all parties to conflict in the region to end hostilities and uphold international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. Member States with influence over parties to conflict must use their leverage to advocate for peace and the protection of children and the essential infrastructure they rely on for survival.   UNICEF also urges donors to maintain or increase their support for children and calls on new donors to stand with the region’s most vulnerable children.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/every-five-seconds-child-displaced-injured-or-killed-middle-east-and-north-africas   22 Jan. 2025   Food insecurity deepens in Lebanon following conflict, WFP reports   Nealy a third of Lebanon’s population is facing acute food insecurity following the escalation of conflict in late 2024 and the impact of hostilities on agriculture and the economy mean recovery is likely to be slow, according to a new food security assessment.   The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis on Lebanon, developed by FAO, WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture, shows that some 1.65 million people in Lebanon are now facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC phase 3 or above), up from 1.26 million before the escalation. Meanwhile, 201,000 people are grappling with emergency levels (IPC phase 4), twice the number before.   "Lebanon’s worsening food security is no surprise," said Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Representative in Lebanon. "Sixty-six days of war, preceded by months of conflict, have shattered lives and livelihoods. While some can return home after the ceasefire, others face the harsh reality of having no home left to return to. At this critical moment, our mission is clear: to support the Government and the people in rebuilding their lives and food systems.”   The report projects that food insecurity is expected to persist over the next three months, with no short-term return to pre-crisis conditions. With challenges ahead, ongoing humanitarian efforts in supporting recovery will be critical.   "The escalation of hostilities has severely impacted farmers' livelihoods, as well as agricultural assets and infrastructure, leading to heightened food insecurity and threatening the sustainability of farming activities," said Veronica Quattrola, FAO Representative in Lebanon.   Lebanon’s refugee populations are particularly at risk, the report noted. Some 594,000 Syrian refugees (40 percent of the Syrian refugee population) and 89,000 Palestine refugees (40 percent of the Palestinian refugee population) are classified as facing IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above. Some 970,000 Lebanese residents (25 percent of the population) are in the same bracket.   The conflict has severely disrupted economic activity and livelihoods across all sectors, the report said, noting that markets were still struggling to get back on their feet despite the November ceasefire. The sharp downturn deepens what was already a protracted economic crisis. The Lebanese economy has contracted by 34 percent in real GDP since 2019.   Malnutrition continues to pose a significant risk in Lebanon, particularly among children, adolescents, and women. A recent study revealed that three in four children under the age of five are eating diets with very little diversity, leaving them vulnerable to stunting and wasting.   http://www.wfp.org/news/food-insecurity-deepens-lebanon-following-conflict-new-report-shows http://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/food-insecurity-deepens-in-lebanon-following-conflict--new-report-shows/en http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1159456/ http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/6-months-after-ceasefire-in-lebanon-more-than-a-million-people-go-hungry-amid-instability http://www.savethechildren.net/news/lebanon-nearly-third-children-facing-crisis-levels-hunger-country-reels-year-conflict   Jan. 2025   Lebanon: Appeal for $371.4 million to boost life-saving support. (UN News)   The UN and the Government of Lebanon unveiled a $371.4 million extension of the Lebanon Flash Appeal aiming to provide life-saving assistance to civilians affected by the recent conflict and ongoing humanitarian crisis. The appeal extends emergency efforts through March 2025. It builds on the original Flash Appeal launched in October 2024, following the largest escalation of conflict since the 2006 Lebanon War.   The extension targets immediate relief for the most vulnerable populations - Lebanese citizens, Syrian and Palestinian refugees and migrants - while complementing the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP), which serves as the overarching framework for humanitarian and stabilisation efforts.   Key priorities include food assistance, winterization support, emergency repairs and civilian protection, alongside addressing gaps in healthcare, water and education infrastructure.   Despite the severe crises the country has endured over the past 15 years, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza described 2024 as one of Lebanon's darkest years, marked by widespread devastation.   The conflict, which began in October 2023 and intensified over a devastating six-week period from late September to early November 2024, caused over 4,000 deaths, 16,000 injuries and displaced more than one million people.   The destruction of homes, critical infrastructure and essential services further deepened the suffering of those affected.   Despite the cessation of hostilities, over 125,000 people remain displaced and hundreds of thousands attempting to return to their homes are “grieving, struggling and searching for a path forward”, Mr. Riza described.   The Minister of Environment and Coordinator of the Government Emergency Committee, Nasser Yassin explained: “While additional humanitarian assistance is essential, Lebanon’s institutions and public sector also require significant support to prevent the collapse of basic and social services.”   “Similarly, municipalities and local authorities urgently need emergency funding to maintain their operations, given their frontline role and the heavy burden they bear as a result of the war,” he added.   Beyond the widespread physical destruction, the psychological impact of the war remains deep, with many people – especially children – suffering from trauma that may persist for years.   Mr. Riza called for continued international support to help the country through the winter months and begin recovery. Sustained funding and resources are essential to stabilise the situation, deliver aid to those in need and enable Lebanon’s recovery from one of the darkest chapters in its modern history.   http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1158786 http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/flash-appeal-lebanon-covering-period-january-march-2025-january-2025-enar   27 Nov. 2024   A ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah has come into effect in Lebanon after more than a year of fighting.   It began at 04:00 local time on Wednesday, putting an at-least temporary end to nearly 14 months of conflict between Israel and the militant group.   The deal was announced on Tuesday evening by Israel, France and the US, with U.S. President Joe Biden saying it aimed to be a "permanent cessation of hostilities".   Attacks by both sides were recorded until shortly before the ceasefire started. Israel issued evacuation orders for parts of Beirut four hours before the ceasefire deadline, undertaking heavy bombing in the city. Hezbollah fired drones into Israel in the hours before fighting stopped.   Fighting had been ongoing for nearly a year when, in late September, Israel intensified bombardments and launched a ground invasion against Hezbollah.   Under the deal announced on Tuesday and brokered by the US, Israel will gradually withdraw its troops from Lebanon's south over a 60-day period.   Over the same timeframe, Hezbollah fighters and weapons will be removed from the area south of the Litani River, a boundary established at the end of the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006. They will be replaced by Lebanese government forces.   "This announcement will create the conditions to restore lasting calm and allow residents in both countries to return safely to their homes," said a joint statement from the US and France, both of which will join an existing mechanism tasked with enforcing the UN resolution previously set at the end of the 2006 war.   Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire deal, calling it a "fundamental step towards restoring calm and stability" in the country and allowing citizens to return home. But he also called on Israel "to fully comply" with the deal, leave sites it currently occupies and respect the UN resolution.   The war has been devastating for Lebanon, where, in addition to the 3,823 people killed and 15,859 injured, with over one million residents displaced.   Hezbollah attacks on Israel and the occupied Golan Heights have killed at least 75 people, more than half of them civilians and displaced 60,000 residents of northern Israel.   UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Stating he hopes that the agreement can put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering the people of both countries have been experiencing.   The Secretary-General urges the parties to fully respect and swiftly implement all of their commitments made under this agreement. The Secretary-General also urges the parties to undertake immediate steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).   The Security Council resolution, adopted in the aftermath of the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, calls for a cessation of hostilities as well as respect for the “Blue Line” of separation between Israeli and Lebanese armed forces.   http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157526 http://news.un.org/en/tags/lebanon http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-lebanon-syria-humanitarian-and-displacement-crisis-continues-deepen http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-announcement-ceasefire-lebanon http://reliefweb.int/country/lbn   2 Nov. 2024   Lebanon: UN agencies call for ceasefire as war worsens dire conditions   As daily Israeli airstrikes and bombings continue to ravage parts of the country, the humanitarian situation in Lebanon has reached levels that exceed the severity of the 2006 war, with ongoing hostilities resulting in 2,867 deaths and over 13,000 injuries since 8 October 2023, Lebanese authorities reported.   A total of 842,648 people are internally displaced, according to the UN migration agency, IOM. The UN health agency, WHO, reported 36 attacks on healthcare facilities, with 85 health workers killed and 51 injured while on duty, between 17 September and 31 October 2024.   The toll on the population has been exacerbated by the destruction of critical infrastructure including healthcare, with many hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.   The Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities to protect vulnerable populations.   Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants continue to fire missile into Israel, causing casualities.   UN agencies and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 10,000 troops in southern Lebanon continue to support conflict-affected vulnerable populations, providing essential services and supplies.   The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also issued a warning about the devastating impacts of the conflict on children. Since 4 October 2024, at least one child has been killed and 10 injured daily in the country, said the agency.   True recovery can only begin with a permanent ceasefire, ensuring safe access to essential services for Lebanon’s children, UNICEF said.   Food insecurity is set to worsen significantly due to intensifying conflict and economic strain, according to the latest hunger hotspots report released by UN food agencies.   From April to September 2024, 1.3 million people, or 23 per cent of Lebanon’s population, faced high levels of acute food insecurity.   The report urged expanded food aid, cash support and agricultural assistance to address the needs of communities affected by Lebanon’s escalating crisis.   The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that the escalation of the conflict is worsening the hardships facing agriculture-dependent communities, intensifying an already severe food security crisis nationwide.   http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1156446 http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/middle-east-crisis-mena-mdrs5002-flash-update-3-01-november-2024   16 Oct. 2014   UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban’s remarks at UN media briefing on joint UNICEF/WFP mission to Lebanon.   "I join you here today not just as a representative of UNICEF, but as a witness to the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Lebanon. Earlier this week, Carl Skau from the World Food Programme and I met families who have lost everything except hope. In shelters overflowing with displaced families and in tented settlements hosting families with nowhere else to go, we listened to women and mothers in tears and fathers who spoke of nights filled with fear. Each story a testament to the impossible decisions parents are being forced to make, and their resilience amid relentless fear and uncertainty.   "We saw this fear at the Masnaa Checkpoint, where hundreds of thousands of people have crossed into Syria since September 23 — a movement that, in its sheer scale, complicates an already fraught humanitarian response in Syria. These are people fleeing one devastation only to step into an uncertain future.   "Approximately 1.2 million people – men, women and children - have been displaced by this escalating conflict – including approximately 400,000 children. The psychological toll is immense, particularly on the young. Children now grapple with nightmares of bombardment, the loss of loved ones, and the erasure of their homes and schools.   "I met 11-year-old Zeinab at a shelter in Beirut. She told me with determination as she drew pictures of her now destroyed home, that her main wish is to go back there. She and her family escaped from the house as the bombs fell. Zeinab said she knows she is lucky to be alive.   "Yet, even in this darkness, I have witnessed profound acts of solidarity. Lebanon has had many faultlines. Lebanese communities, themselves strained by pre-existing vulnerabilities and pressures on social services, are opening their hearts and homes to those in need across communal, sectarian and religious lines.   This generosity is the thread holding together a social fabric frayed by conflict, and it is imperative that our response supports both the displaced and the communities that host them but also to recognize that solidarity will become stretched as time goes on.   "UNICEF and the World Food Programme are working hard to meet immediate needs. But the scale of this crisis demands so much more".   International humanitarian law cannot be seen as just an abstract concept — it is essential. All parties in this conflict must prioritize the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. Strikes on homes, health centers, schools or shelters, are resulting in massive civilian casualties (100 children killed and over 800 wounded in the past three weeks).   It is imperative that all parties to the conflict adhere to IHL and comply with the principles of proportionality, distinction, and precaution in the conduct of hostilities.   They must ensure the respect and protection of all medical personnel. They must respect and protect civilian facilities providing essential services and critical infrastructure such as water, sanitation, roadways, bridges, or electrical facilities.   "We call upon the international community to act with urgency. Funding is critical, UNICEF's appeal is eight per cent funded right now. Funding must be free from conditionalities that hinder swift action. We must keep ports and supply routes open, ensuring that humanitarian assistance reaches those teetering on the brink of despair. And we implore all parties to safeguard these routes, allowing aid workers to perform their life-saving duties without threat.   "Above all, the children and families of Lebanon need peace. I last spoke to you all just a month ago following my most recent visit to Gaza. There are deeply concerning echoes in this situation with that for children and families affected by the war in Gaza. Children are the first affected in a conflict like this. The lives of children in Lebanon, children in Palestine, and indeed children in Israel and across the region have been devastated by conflict.   All these children desperately need an end to the violence that steals their safety, their education, and their very childhoods. A ceasefire – ceasefires, plural — are not just a pause in fighting — they are the first step toward rebuilding lives and restoring hope. "Time is not on our side."   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-deputy-executive-director-ted-chaibans-remarks-un-media-briefing-joint http://www.unicef.org/topics/lebanon http://www.wfp.org/news/urgent-humanitarian-response-needed-amidst-escalating-conflict-lebanon-wfp-and-unicef http://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-calls-international-support-crisis-deepens-syria-amid-influx-families-fleeing-war-lebanon http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/unhcr-lebanon-emergency-regional-update-23-october-2024 http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/remarks-un-dsclrchc-imran-riza-international-conference-support-lebanons-people-and-sovereignty-enar http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/increasing-bombardment-damaging-essential-services-and-putting-children-lebanon http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-lebanon-crisis-deepens-israeli-airstrikes-intensify http://www.unfpa.org/news/mass-displacement-pregnant-women-requires-mobilization-maternal-health-services-lebanon-syria   16 Oct. 2024   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect:   Civilians in Lebanon remain at imminent risk as the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah continue to sharply escalate. Relentless Israeli airstrikes are being carried out in densely populated areas, including in Beirut, and essential civilian infrastructure and property have been struck and destroyed. On 11 October Lebanon’s crisis response unit announced that 60 people were killed and 168 wounded in 24 hours alone. This includes from Israeli airstrikes in central Beirut that caused the collapse of two residential buildings housing families and displaced individuals. In recent days the Israeli military has also carried out repeated attacks on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), injuring peacekeepers, damaging UN premises and vehicles and disrupting critical Mission movements. Attacks against peacekeepers and peacekeeping facilities are unlawful and may constitute war crimes.   The increasingly intense exchanges of fire over the past month mark the most significant escalation in the yearlong cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Over 2,300 people have been killed and 10,380 wounded by Israeli attacks, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Hezbollah and other armed groups continue to launch rockets and missiles into northern Israel, killing at least 16 civilians. Firing inherently inaccurate rockets into areas where civilians are present are indiscriminate attacks and violate International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Direct attacks on civilians and indiscriminate attacks which kill or injure civilians may constitute war crimes.   Amid the escalation, the Israeli military – which began a ground incursion into southern Lebanon two weeks ago – has issued “evacuation orders,” affecting more than 25 percent of Lebanon. UN experts have denounced these orders because “people are given unrealistically short” notice. Under IHL, parties to a conflict have a clear obligation to take all feasible precautions to avoid, or at least minimize, civilian harm when carrying out attacks, including giving effective advance warning for civilians in affected areas unless circumstances do not permit. The UN Refugee Agency said families are “desperate to escape the bombs,” with hundreds of thousands of people – including Syrian refugees who had previously sought safety in Lebanon – fleeing to Syria. An estimated 1.2 million people have been displaced – the vast majority in the last three weeks.   UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said, “It is an urgent moral imperative to help the people affected by this recent escalation. They should not pay the price for the abysmal failure to find political solutions and end this vicious cycle of violence.”   International actors with influence must pressure all parties to comply with their obligations under IHL to prevent further suffering and civilian harm. Israeli forces must allow UNIFIL to fulfill its mandate and halt any threats against UNIFIL personnel. All states must cease arms exports and military assistance to Israel to ensure they are not aiding and abetting serious violations of international law and possible atrocity crimes. All arms transfers must also be suspended to Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon.   http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/atrocity-alert-no-414/   12 Oct. 2024   Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on continued conflicts in the Middle East:   “As every day passes, the lives of children across Israel, the State of Palestine, and Lebanon are torn apart in unimaginable ways.   “All the parties are obligated to protect civilians, including children, humanitarian workers, and civilian infrastructure, including schools and health facilities. Parties must allow unfettered access to life-saving aid. These obligations are flagrantly disregarded.   “Children do not start wars and they have no power to end them, yet their lives are devastated by conflict. Tens of thousands of children have died. Thousands more are in captivity, displaced, orphaned, out of school, and suffer trauma from violence and war.   “The deaths and suffering of children are shameful. The daily bloodshed and horror for children are an affront to the most fundamental values of humanity. The violence against children, the most vulnerable among us, must end.”   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-continued-conflicts-middle   Middle East: De-escalation and protection of civilians urgently needed. (ICRC)   A surge in attacks across parts of the Middle East is inflicting yet more suffering on civilians and raising fears of wider regional conflict with devastating humanitarian consequences. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is urgently calling for de-escalation and the protection of civilian lives.   In recent weeks a wave of deadly strikes has hit Israel the Occupied Territories and Lebanon, while hostilities continue to shatter lives in Gaza, leading to near-daily reports of civilian casualties. These horrific and painful events must be a call to action to prioritize the protection of civilian lives during armed conflict.   “We are gravely concerned by the growing threat of further, widespread conflict across the region and we urge all parties and the wider international community to de-escalate tensions as a matter of urgency,” said Eloi Fillion, ICRC’s acting regional director for the Near and Middle East.   “International humanitarian law (IHL) provides important protections for civilian lives. All parties must respect their obligations under IHL, and the ICRC urges all involved to take concrete steps to limit the impact of hostilities on civilians. We call on the international community to do everything possible to prevent these alarming cycles of violence from spiralling into an all-out regional conflict.”   1 Oct. 2024   Lebanon: Concerns widening hostilities in Middle East will heighten civilian suffering across the region (OHCHR)   Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Liz Throssell:   We are gravely concerned by the widening hostilities in the Middle East. With armed violence between Israel and Hezbollah boiling over, the consequences for civilians have already been terrible – and we fear a large-scale ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon would only result in greater suffering.   Israeli strikes in Lebanon have reportedly killed over 1,000 people in the past two weeks alone. Hundreds of thousands have also been displaced in Lebanon, alongside those recently fleeing into Syria, and over 60,000 have been displaced in Israel since Hezbollah’s escalation of missile fire from October 8 last year.   Even before the most recent escalation in mid-September, tens of thousands of homes across Lebanon had been reportedly damaged or destroyed by attacks. Medical facilities have been damaged, with 10 per cent of health centres in Lebanon closed. Forty-one medical workers have been reportedly killed and 111 wounded since October 2023, with 14 killed in the last two days alone. Twenty-five water facilities have been damaged impacting nearly 300,000 people. Schools and nurseries have been closed, and some 300 converted into shelters.   In northern Israel and parts of the northern occupied West Bank sirens have sounded, and residents instructed to remain close to shelters, limit their movements and avoid gatherings.   The impact of the escalation resulting from Houthi missile fire from Yemen into Israel and Israeli attacks in response are also deeply troubling.   All parties to these conflicts must clearly distinguish between military targets and civilians and civilian objects in the way they conduct hostilities. They must do all they can to protect the lives of civilians, their homes, and the infrastructure essential to their daily existence, as clearly required by international humanitarian law.   Too many innocent children, women and men have been killed, and too much destruction has been exacted.   The High Commissioner urges all parties to pursue negotiations to end the current path of destruction and violence that shows no end in sight. He reminds everyone to ensure accountability of those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law that have taken place or are ongoing, whoever the perpetrators may be, and to ensure justice for the victims.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2024/10/middle-east-situation-civilians-getting-worse-day   30 Sep. 2024   Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation in Lebanon   “I am deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Lebanon. Over the last week, at least 80 children have reportedly been killed in attacks, while hundreds more have been injured. According to Government reports, the number of people internally displaced by the violence has spiked to more than 1 million – including over 300,000 children.   “Thousands of children and families are now living in the streets or in shelters; many having fled their homes without essential supplies and belongings. Humanitarian conditions are growing worse by the hour.   “UNICEF and our partners are on the ground in Lebanon, reaching children and families with essential support. Our teams are delivering drinking water, medical supplies, mattresses and blankets, as well as hygiene, dignity and baby kits. We are providing health and nutrition, child protection, and psychosocial support services for children.   “But as the violence intensifies, so do the humanitarian needs. Any ground offensive or further escalation in Lebanon would make a catastrophic situation for children even worse. Such an outcome must be avoided at all costs.   “UNICEF continues to call for an urgent cessation of hostilities. We reiterate our call for all parties to protect children and civilian infrastructure, and to ensure that humanitarian actors can safely reach all those in need – in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.”   Oct. 2024   Lebanon: Humanitarian situation deteriorates, international funding becomes crucial   Statement amid ongoing airstrikes in Lebanon by CARE Lebanon Country Director, Michael Adams:   "There is genuine concern about the lack of funding to address a crisis of this magnitude. Every day, we conduct assessments of the humanitarian situation in various parts of Lebanon. Each day, we are shocked by the rapid increase in humanitarian needs.   Lebanon is at a critical juncture with over one million individuals internally displaced while the capacity of the government and the aid sector are severely challenged due to airstrikes and lack of funding.   New bombings occur daily, further worsening the situation, increasing the numbers of fatalities and wounded people, as well as the displaced.   Almost half the population (44%) was already below the poverty line in 2024, many suffering from food insecurity. Hospitals were operating with only basic necessities even before this crisis and do not have the resources to cope with a large-scale crisis.   The population in Lebanon urgently needs a strong mobilization of the international community, both in terms of funding and diplomatic pressure, to put an end to this reckless violence. International humanitarian law must be upheld. Civilians must be protected, humanitarian workers must be protected. And a permanent and immediate ceasefire must be established immediately to halt this spiraling situation."   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/bloodied-bruised-and-broken-more-690-children-reportedly-injured-lebanon-last-six http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-situation-lebanon http://www.unhcr.org/news/press-releases/unhcr-s-grandi-appeals-urgent-humanitarian-support-and-end-bloodshed-lebanon http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-flash-update-33-escalation-hostilities-lebanon-7-october-2024 http://actalliance.org/act-news/act-alliance-statement-on-the-situation-in-lebanon/ http://www.care-international.org/news/lebanon-humanitarian-situation-deteriorates-international-funding-becomes-crucial http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/flash-appeal-lebanon-october-december-2024-october-2024 http://reliefweb.int/country/lbn http://unifil.unmissions.org/   http://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-10-02/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-the-situation-the-middle-east-delivered http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2024/10/lebanon-concerns-widening-hostilities-middle-east-will-unleash-human http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/10/lebanon-israels-evacuation-warnings-for-civilians-misleading-and-inadequate/ http://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-lebanon-occupied-palestinian-territory-yemen-myanmar http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155286 http://www.ifrc.org/article/statement-international-red-cross-and-red-crescent-movement-lebanon-healthcare-workers-and http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/middle-east-de-escalation-and-protection-civilians-urgently-needed http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/arms-trade-treaty-must-be-faithfully-implemented-prevent-serious-violations   7 Oct. 2024   It has been a year of unimaginable suffering, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today as it marked one year since Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched the deadliest attack in Israel’s history – a horrific event that foreshadowed the devastation brought on by the Israeli response.   The toll is staggering:   According to Israeli sources, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed, including children, and nearly 5,500 have been injured.   Scores of hostages remain in Gaza, reportedly subjected to inhuman treatment, including sexual violence, exposed to hostilities and denied access to humanitarian assistance or visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross.   Entire Israeli communities have been displaced, living under the constant threat of indiscriminate rocket fire.   In Gaza, where Palestinians have already been reeling from the impact of a 17-year-old air, sea and land blockade and repeated cycles of hostilities, Israeli military operations have resulted in a catastrophe.   According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 41,600 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, many of them women and children, and 96,600 injured. Thousands more are missing and believed to be trapped under the rubble.   Nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, many of them multiple times, with no safe place to go.   Thousands of Palestinians are arbitrarily detained, reportedly subjected to torture and other inhuman treatment and with no information on their whereabouts.   Civilians face extreme deprivation, with limited or no access to health care, food, electricity or humanitarian aid. Children have missed out on an entire year of education. Schools sheltering displaced families have been repeatedly shelled, health-care workers and hospitals have been systematically attacked, and aid convoys have been continually blocked and even shot at.   In the West Bank, the use of lethal force by Israeli forces, along with rampant settler violence and house demolitions, have led to a sharp rise in fatalities, widespread destruction and forced displacement.   “No statistics or words can fully convey the extent of the physical, mental and societal devastation that has taken place,” said Joyce Msuya, the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.   “But we know what must happen: The hostages must be released and treated humanely. Civilians must be protected and their essential needs met. Palestinians arbitrarily detained must be released. Humanitarian workers must be safeguarded and their work facilitated. Perpetrators must be held accountable for any serious violations of international humanitarian law. And the assault on Gaza must stop.”   The past year has seen Israel blocking humanitarian access into and within Gaza, crippling aid operations. As a result, a weakened population is left to battle disease, hunger and death.   More than 300 aid workers, the vast majority from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), have been killed in Gaza – more than in any other single crisis, making Gaza the most dangerous place for aid workers.   Despite the immense risks – including violence, looting of supplies, and access challenges – humanitarian agencies continue to deliver aid when and where they can. More than 560,000 children were vaccinated against polio during the first phase of an emergency vaccination campaign – an example of what can be achieved when aid workers can reach people in need. But such examples are few.   “It has been 12 months of unrelenting tragedy – this must end,” said Ms. Msuya. “Member States must wield their influence to ensure respect for international humanitarian law and human rights and compliance with the rulings of the International Court of Justice. They must also work to end impunity. An immediate ceasefire and durable peace are long overdue.”   http://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-update-241-gaza-strip http://www.ochaopt.org/ http://www.savethechildren.net/news/northern-gaza-130000-children-under-10-deprived-food-and-medicine-during-50-days-siege http://www.unocha.org/news/conditions-gaza-unfit-human-survival-acting-un-relief-chief-tells-security-council http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/ipc-famine-review-committee-alert-gaza-strip-published-8-november-2024 http://www.icrc.org/en/article/gaza-humanitarian-crisis-icrc-efforts-provide-lifesaving-support http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157411 http://reliefweb.int/country/pse   http://www.unocha.org/news/brutal-reality-gaza-worsening-day-acting-un-relief-chief-warns-security-council http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-112/en/ http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/one-year-unimaginable-suffering-7-october-attack-enarhe http://www.wfp.org/news/critical-food-aid-lifelines-northern-gaza-severed http://www.wfp.org/stories/de-escalation-now-wfp-warns-against-spreading-middle-east-crisis http://www.ochaopt.org/updates http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements http://reliefweb.int/country/pse   http://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-10-07/secretary-generals-message-mark-one-year-the-attacks-of-7-october-2023-scroll-down-for-arabic-chinese-french-hebrew-russian-and-spanish http://www.hrw.org/report/2024/07/17/i-cant-erase-all-blood-my-mind/palestinian-armed-groups-october-7-assault-israel http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/year-loss-and-pain-icrc-appeals-human-dignity-and-urgent-action-ease-suffering http://www.nrc.no/news/2024/october/israel-gaza-conflict-only-ceasefire-can-end-suffering-for-civilians-after-catastrophic-year/ http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/open-call-ceasefire-gaza-lebanon-and-israel-and-end-impunity-amid-spiralling-humanitarian-catastrophe-and-escalating-regional-conflict   * Report from MSF highlights how repeated Israeli military attacks on civilians in Gaza, health care and the systematic denial of humanitarian assistance are destroying the conditions of life: http://tinyurl.com/ycyyj3dy   http://www.icrc.org/en/news-release/israel-and-occupied-territories-obliteration-health-care-system-northern-gaza-puts http://www.who.int/news/item/28-12-2024-kamal-adwan-hospital-out-of-service-following-a-raid-today-and-repeated-attacks-since-october http://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/conflict-in-Israel-and-oPt http://www.who.int/activities/stopping-attacks-on-health-care http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/pattern-israeli-attacks-gaza-hospitals-raises-grave-concerns-report http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1158646 http://www.alternatives-humanitaires.org/en/2024/11/27/threats-to-international-humanitarian-law-in-ukraine-and-gaza/ http://safeguarding-health.com/news/ http://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2474 http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)02421-8/abstract   23 Sep. 2024   Statement by Principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory:   As world leaders gather in New York for the 79th United Nations General Assembly, and as the threat of a wider regional escalation looms, we renew our demand for an end to the appalling human suffering and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.   We mourn the loss of innocent life everywhere, including those killed on October 7 and during the 11 months of conflict since then.   We urgently call for a sustained, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. This is the only way to end the suffering of civilians and save lives.   All hostages and all those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally.   Humanitarians must have safe and unimpeded access to those in need. We cannot do our jobs in the face of overwhelming need and ongoing violence.   More than 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza – the majority of them civilians, including women, children, older persons and at times entire families – have reportedly been killed, and more than 95,500 have been injured, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.   It is estimated that a quarter of the injured in Gaza, or around 22,500 people, will require lifelong specialized rehabilitation and assistive care including individuals with severe limb injuries, amputations, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, and major burns.   More than 2 million Palestinians are without protection, food, water, sanitation, shelter, health care, education, electricity and fuel – the basic necessities to survive. Families have been forcibly displaced, time and time again, from one unsafe place to the next, with no way out. Women and girls’ dignity, safety, health and rights have been severely compromised.   The risk of famine persists with all 2.1 million residents still in urgent need of food and livelihood assistance as humanitarian access remains restricted.   Healthcare has been decimated. More than 500 attacks on health care have been recorded in Gaza. Aid hubs have been forced to relocate and re-build many times over; convoys carrying life-saving aid have been shot at, delayed and denied access; and relief workers have been killed in unprecedented numbers. The number of aid workers killed in Gaza in the past year is the highest ever in a single crisis.   Unnecessary and disproportionate force unleashed in the West Bank, combined with escalating settler violence, house demolitions, forced displacement and discriminatory movement restrictions, have caused increased fatalities and casualties.   The war is also jeopardizing the future for all Palestinians and rendering eventual recovery far from reach.   Meanwhile, close to 100 hostages remain in Gaza, while freed hostages have reported ill treatment, including sexual violence.   The parties’ conduct over the last year makes a mockery of their claim to adhere to international humanitarian law and the minimum standards of humanity that it demands.   Civilians must be protected and their essential needs must be met. There must be accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.   Humanitarian and aid organizations have been doing their utmost to provide relief in Gaza and the West Bank, often at great personal risk, and with many aid workers paying the ultimate price.   Our capacity to deliver is indisputable if we are granted the access we need. The first round of the polio vaccination campaign, reaching more than 560,000 children under the age of 10, is but one example. The second round of vaccinations must be carried out safely and reach all children in Gaza.   We urge world leaders, once again, to wield their influence to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the rulings of the International Court of Justice – through diplomatic pressure and cooperation in ending impunity.   Let us be clear: The protection of civilians is a bedrock principle for the global community and in all countries’ interest. Allowing the abhorrent, downward spiral caused by this war in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to continue will have unimaginable, global consequences. These atrocities must end.   http://interagencystandingcommittee.org/inter-agency-standing-committee/statement-principals-inter-agency-standing-committee-situation-occupied-palestinian-territory-these http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-middle-east-and-north-africa-regional-director-adele-khodr-impact http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/northern-gaza-aid-organisations-warn-dramatic-escalation-humanitarian-catastrophe-following-further-mass-forced-displacement-civilians   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-105/en/ http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-situation-gaza-strip http://www.savethechildren.net/news/devastating-new-figures-reveal-gaza-s-child-hunger-catastrophe http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/all-of-gaza-now-at-risk-of-famine/ http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/conflict-induced-hunger-gaza-how-months-unrelenting-violence-and-severe-humanitarian-access-restrictions-have-produced-catastrophic-food-insecurity-june-2024
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