View previous stories
	Conflict zones grow by two thirds globally since 2021 by ACLED, Verisk Maplecroft, AOAV, ICRC, agencies   Jan. 2025   Humanitarian Access Overview - Spotlight on violence against aid workers. (ACAPS)   ACAPS’ Humanitarian Access Overview provides a snapshot of the most challenging contexts for humanitarian access globally in the past six months.   In the Global Humanitarian Access Index, ACAPS analysts considered nine variables for ranking and comparing humanitarian access levels worldwide. Data was gathered per specific crisis at the national, subnational, and regional levels. Information was then aggregated at the country level, and a country score was provided as an indication of the humanitarian access situation.   Between June–November 2024, crisis-affected populations in 36 countries experienced high to extreme access constraints that made it difficult for them to meet their basic needs. By November, ACAPS was monitoring humanitarian crises in 93 countries around the world.   Access scores show a deterioration in 20% of the crisis-affected countries (19 countries) and an improvement in 14% (13 countries), while the humanitarian access situation remained stable for 66% (61 countries).   This stability, however, mostly indicates the persistence of severe access constraints, with 43% of the crisis-affected countries where humanitarian access has remained stable scoring between high to extreme access levels (3–5).   This issue of the Global Humanitarian Access Overview focuses on one indicator from the humanitarian access analysis framework: violence against personnel, facilities and assets.   This includes security incidents, such as attacks, abductions, the killing of workers, and the looting of humanitarian warehouses or humanitarian assets. The emphasis on this indicator stems from the surge in high-intensity armed conflicts worldwide, making the security and safety of humanitarian workers even more challenging.   Consequently, the report mainly focuses on a selection of conflict-affected crises and examines the trend for these security incidents, their impact on humanitarian response, and how the situation might evolve in the coming months based on historical data.   http://reliefweb.int/report/world/crisisinsight-humanitarian-access-overview-spotlight-violence-against-aid-workers-december-2024 http://www.acaps.org/en/thematics/all-topics/humanitarian-access http://tinyurl.com/552f38rj   Nov. 2024   Conflict zones grow by two thirds globally since 2021 - ACLED, Verisk Maplecroft, AOAV, ICRC, agencies   Conflict-affected areas across the world have grown 65% since 2021 to encompass 4.6% of the entire global landmass, up from 2.8% three years ago. That is equivalent to 6.15 million km2, nearly double the size of India, that is now afflicted by fighting between or within states, according to the Conflict Intensity Index, published by the business risk analysts Verisk Maplecroft.   From the widespread tragic human cost and increased migration to the widening of geopolitical fault lines, the damaging economic impacts, the consequences of the upsurge in conflict are globally significant. The spread of violence is mirrored by rising casualty rates, with conflict deaths on course to breach 200,000 by the end of the year, up 29% on 2021, (experts cite indirect deaths from conflict are up to seven times the number of acknowldeged casualty figures).   The Middle East and Ukraine remain the most intense theatres of war, and both have the capacity to escalate. In terms of areas affected by conflict, sub-Saharan Africa has seen a greater expansion than any other region.   Africa’s ‘conflict corridor,’ which now spans 4,000 miles from Mali in the west to Somalia in the east, has doubled in size since 2021. As a result, areas affected by conflict in 14 countries across the Sahel and East Africa now equate to around 10% of sub-Saharan Africa’s overall land mass or 2.5 million km2, more than 10 times the size of the UK.   In Burkina Faso, 86% of the country is now embroiled in conflict between state forces and militants. Over the same period, conflict areas in the civil wars in Sudan and Ethiopia have expanded by more than 20% and 30% respectively, while armed violence in Nigeria now affects 44% of its territory.   The geographical spread of conflict is not the only issue though. According to the CII, conflict fatalities across the conflict corridor this year are also on course to increase by over 50% compared to 2021.   Beyond Africa, several other conflicts are also contributing to the upswing. The civil war in Myanmar, which has been raging since the 2021 coup d’etat, has seen the South-East Asian state fall from the 19th to the 2nd worst performing country in the latest edition of the CII. Haiti and Ecuador have similarly chalked up ‘exceptional’ deteriorations on the index amid surging gang violence, which has escalated from criminality to the declaration of internal conflicts.   The Middle East is one of the key drivers in the upward global conflict trend. Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen are all now ranked among the 10 highest risk jurisdictions globally on the CII.   Following the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, and the subsequent retaliation by the Netanyahu government against militants in Gaza and Lebanon, the region remains on a knife-edge. Rapidly increasing tensions between Iran and Israel point to the potential for conflict in the Middle East to escalate even further. The volatile situation could yet deteriorate to the point where Iran itself and even Gulf states become new centres of conflict in the months ahead.   Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine similarly represents another important driver of the global uptick in conflict, with the proportion of Ukrainian territory affected by the fighting rising from under 8.6% to 70.5% since February 2022. The amount of Russian territory affected by conflict has increased more than 10-fold over the same period – albeit from a very low base – amid cross-border shelling and the recent Kyiv Kursk offensive. Donald Trump’s re-election to the US presidency somewhat increases the prospect of a ceasefire in Ukraine, but any peace will likely be fragile and reversible.   The human toll of conflict is profoundly alarming. Global conflict fatalities are anticipated to breach 200,000 by the end of the year, up nearly a third since 2021, according to an assessment of Armed Conflict Location and Events Data (ACLED). The UN also estimated that the number of people displaced by conflict, violence or persecution exceeded over 120 million by the end of April 2024.   From an economic perspective, the cost of conflict can be devastating. The latest UN estimate is that the war in Ukraine has caused USD152 billion in direct damage and the cost of reconstruction and recovery will reach nearly USD500 billion. The cost of rebuilding Gaza is estimated at over USD80 billion.   Hugo Brennan, research director at Verisk Maplecroft, said recent conflicts have had far-reaching impacts on businesses, economic growth and food security, with supply chains disturbed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which endangered grain exports to the Middle East and Africa, and impacted energy markets.   The rise in global conflict puts geopolitical tensions firmly in the global spotlight. Outside of the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific is one region to watch due to its multiple potential geopolitical flashpoints according to Verisk Maplecroft. "Our Interstate Tensions Model, which assesses the risk of bilateral tensions spilling over into a confrontation that entails the threat, display, or use of force, identifies China-Taiwan, North Korea-South Korea and China- Philippines as very high risk pairings".   "There is little sign that the upsurge in armed conflict – and all the tragedy and challenges that go with it – will dissipate in 2025". Indeed, the situation may get worse before it gets any better according to the report.   Angela Rosales, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages International, which helps children separated from their families, said 470 million children worldwide are affected by wars, including in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza and Lebanon, with serious impacts that go beyond death and injury.   “Children in conflict-affected areas are at risk of losing family care if their homes are destroyed, parents are killed or if they become separated when fleeing violence,” she said. “They are especially vulnerable to exploitation, enslavement, trafficking and abuse.”   Professor Clionadh Raleigh, president of civilian harm monitor Acled (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data), said that while new conflicts were emerging, with a 27% rise in violent events since the Ukraine war, older conflicts were also persisting. “There are far fewer conflicts ending or becoming less intense and there are far more of them cropping up,” she said.   Raleigh said she was concerned that violence would only increase, partly because of tensions between Iran and Israel but also because there is a trend of perpetrators of coups and assassinations, or militias using violence to impose power, being able to act without facing consequences.   Iain Overton, executive director of Action on Armed Violence, an NGO that monitors civilian harm, said there are trends of rising violence if compared with 2010, which included highs during the middle of the decade in Syria and Iraq.   He noted that compared to the mid-2010s, when much of the violence involved non-state armed groups who relied on small arms and improvised explosives, there was a more recent rise in violence involving clashing states.   The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that in 2023, 120 armed conflicts were ongoing globally, involving more than 60 states and some 120 non-state armed groups; hundreds more armed groups were involved in other situations of violence.   Intensified hostilities generated vast humanitarian needs, necessitating large-scale emergency responses. At the same time, protracted crises dragged on, straining communities’ coping mechanisms and highlighting the need for programmes with a sustainable humanitarian impact.   http://www.unicef.org/topics/armed-conflict http://acleddata.com/ http://aoav.org.uk/2024/invisible-and-severe-death-toll-of-sudan-conflict-revealed/ http://civiliansinconflict.org/press-releases/civic-launches-first-protection-of-civilians-trends-report-and-civilian-protection-index/ http://www.globalr2p.org/populations-at-risk/ http://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch http://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2024/global-military-spending-surges-amid-war-rising-tensions-and-insecurity http://www.prio.org/publications/14453 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/meaningful-action-prevent-use-explosive-weapons-populated-areas-could-almost-halve http://www.inew.org/news/ http://www.icrc.org/en/document/global-and-collective-failure-to-protect-civilians-in-armed-conflict http://www.icrc.org/en http://globalprotectioncluster.org/publications/1998/reports/report/high-level-humanitarian-donors-briefing-note-state-protection-2024 http://globalprotectioncluster.org http://2024.worldhumanitarianday.org/ http://www.passblue.com/2024/11/23/the-future-of-un-peacekeeping-in-a-fracturing-world-experts-weigh-in/ http://peacekeeping.un.org/en/study-on-future-of-peacekeeping-new-models-and-related-capabilities http://www.unocha.org/latest/news-and-stories Visit the related web page
	Humanitarian Aid, Civilian Protection vital in conflict affected States by UN News, OCHA, UNICEF, agencies   23 Jan. 2025   Grave concerns over imminent threat to civilians in Al Fasher - Statement by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami:   I am deeply alarmed about reports of an imminent attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al Fasher, North Darfur State, and continue to be gravely concerned about the safety of civilians caught in crossfires.   The RSF's statement issued on 20 January 2025 gave a 48-hour ultimatum to forces allied to the Sudanese Armed Forces to vacate the city and indicated a forthcoming offensive.   Since May 2024, Al Fasher has been under RSF siege. Civilians in Al Fasher have already endured months of suffering, violence and gross human rights abuses under the prolonged siege. Their lives now hang in the balance due to an increasingly precarious situation.   The innocent men, women and children in Al Fasher and across Sudan deserve a tomorrow free from the shadow of war. Their cries for peace and safety must no longer fall on deaf ears.   I appeal to all sides to the conflict in Sudan to think of the many innocent lives at stake. I urge them to de-escalate tensions and prioritize the protection of civilians, as mandated by their obligations under international humanitarian law.   Further violence will only deepen the tragedy for civilians and hinder prospects for peace and stability in Sudan.   http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/grave-concerns-over-imminent-threat-civilians-al-fasher-statement-united-nations-resident-and-humanitarian-coordinator-sudan-clementine-nkweta-salami http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/01/sudan-concern-civilians-over-likely-offensive-el-fasher http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/sudan-alarming-el-fasher-siege-hostilities-must-end-un-report http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/01/sudan-conflict-taking-more-dangerous-turn-civilians   Dec. 2024   Sudan: Famine expands as conflict drives catastrophic hunger to more areas. (IPC)   Twenty months into the conflict, Sudan continues to slide into a widening Famine crisis characterized by widespread starvation and a significant surge in acute malnutrition.   The IPC Famine Review Committee (FRC) has detected Famine in at least five areas and projects that five additional areas will face Famine between December 2024 and May 2025. Furthermore, there is a risk of Famine in seventeen additional areas.   Half of the population (24.6 million people) is facing high levels of acute food insecurity. This marks an unprecedented deepening and widening of the food and nutrition crisis, driven by the devastating conflict, which has triggered unprecedented mass displacement, a collapsing economy, the breakdown of essential social services, and severe societal disruptions, and poor humanitarian access.   According to the FRC, Famine (IPC Phase 5) detected in August 2024 in Zamzam camp, North Darfur state, has persisted and expanded to Al Salam and Abu shouk camps and the Western Nuba Mountains for the period October to November 2024. Between December 2024 and May 2025, Famine is projected to expand in North Darfur localities including Um Kadadah, Melit, El Fasher, At Tawisha, and Al Lait.   There is a risk of Famine in the Central Nuba Mountains (including in Delami, Western Kadugli, Um Durein, and Al Buram localities), and in areas likely to experience high influxes of IDPs in North and South Darfur. These include Tawila, Nyala Janoub, Nyala Shimal, Beliel, Shattaya, As Sunta, Buram, and Kas in South Darfur, as well as Medani Al Kubra and Sharg Al Jazirah in Al Jazirah State, Mayo and Alingaz in Jebel – Awilia, Khartoum state and Al Firdous in East Darfur state.   This latest IPC analysis shows that food insecurity is at worse levels than foreseen. Between December and May, 24.6 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). These results mark a stark increase of 3.5 million people compared to the number originally projected and correspond to over half of the population of Sudan.   This includes about 15.9 million people (33 percent) classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), 8.1 million people (17 percent) in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), and at least 638,000 people (1 percent) in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe).   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-117/en/ http://www.unocha.org/news/ocha-urges-security-council-action-famine-conditions-spread-sudan http://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1158756 http://www.wfp.org/news/food-and-nutrition-crisis-deepens-across-sudan-famine-identified-additional-areas http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-humanitarian-needs-and-response-plan-2025-executive-summary-issued-december-2024   2 Dec. 2024   UN Resident Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, expressed grave concern over humanitarian aid organizations reports that Zamzam camp came under intense shelling during the evening of 1 December and again on 2 December.   “Civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected under international humanitarian law and should never be a target,” she underscored.   The shelling killed at least five people and injured 18, prompting the evacuation of a hospital and the suspension of healthcare operations in the camp, which is located near El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state.   Already grappling with a months-long siege, Zamzam camp, home to over half a million displaced people, has faced severe shortages of critical humanitarian supplies. Food security experts confirmed famine conditions in August 2024, in Zamzam.   “It is now 232 days since the siege of El Fasher began, which has resulted in unacceptable levels of human suffering,” said Ms. Nkweta-Salami. The violence has further devastated civilian infrastructure, including health clinics and shelters, exacerbating an already dire situation.   The UN and humanitarian agencies have strongly condemned the attacks on civilians and called for an immediate halt to violence. “Civilian protection is paramount,” said Ms. Nkweta-Salami.   The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has urged all armed groups to consistently grant safe passage for food aid to reach the camp. “We need all warring parties and armed groups to allow vital food and nutrition to arrive safely,” stressed Alex Marianelli, WFP’s Operations Deputy Country Director in Sudan.   With over 11 million people displaced across Sudan, including 5.8 million women and children, the escalating violence has deepened the world's largest displacement crisis.   Alert from MSF in Zamzam Camp, North Darfur   Sudan’s largest displacement site is under attack with intense shelling by RSF since yesterday evening. The attack has created a living nightmare for the displaced people in Zamzam camp, with casualties, panic and mass displacement.   On December 1st, MSF teams received 8 injured people, including women and children as young as 4 years old with severe injuries such as chest trauma and fractures. Four critically injured patients were referred to another facility this morning, just before shelling resumed to hit near the market and MSF field Hospital.   The situation is beyond chaotic: patients and medical staff are leaving the camp and trying to run for their lives. MSF’s hospital is now empty, with the last three ICU patients—still dependent on oxygen— evacuated under dangerous conditions.   “Not only have people been starving, but they are also now being bombarded and forced to flee again. We're concerned about their safety, including our staff, and we urgently call for the protection of patients, civilians, medical teams and health facilities, in Zamzam Camp.   Safe passage must also be guaranteed for those escaping this violence,” said Michel-Olivier Lacharite MSF’s Head of Emergency Operations.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/sudan-alarming-el-fasher-siege-hostilities-must-end-un-report http://www.unocha.org/publications/report/sudan/resident-and-humanitarian-coordinator-sudan-clementine-nkweta-salami-condemns-shelling-and-airstrikes-civilian-areas-parts-darfur-and-khartoum http://prezly.msf.org.uk/alert-from-msf-in-zamzam-camp-north-darfur   25 Oct. 2024   UN agencies warn of spiraling Sudan crisis as civilians face grave risks: Joint Statement by UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner Raouf Mazou and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban.   "The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to spiral, with millions of people in desperate need of assistance. The conflict has displaced over 11 million people, both internally and across borders, while pushing millions more into extreme vulnerability, particularly children.   Access to basic services—such as safe water, healthcare, and shelter—is severely limited. As we witness the collapse of vital infrastructure, the international response must intensify immediately to match the overwhelming scale of need.   "An estimated 13 million people are facing acute levels of food insecurity. Fourteen regions across the country are teetering on the brink of famine, and in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, famine conditions have already been confirmed.   There are 3.7 million children under five projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year alone and are in urgent need of life-saving treatment. These children are already weakened by hunger. If not reached soon, these children are 11 times more likely to die from preventable diseases than their healthier peers in Sudan.   "A key issue in delivering critical aid has been ensuring safe, unimpeded access to communities in need across all areas of Sudan. UN agencies responsible for the delivery of aid and the provision of technical assistance need to be given permission from Government authorities and conflict parties to have a sustained presence in all affected communities. The reality on the ground remains fraught with logistical and administrative barriers. These access constraints are hindering the UN's ability to deliver life-saving supplies and protection to the most vulnerable communities.   "Sudan is now home to one of the world’s largest and most pressing displacement crises. The situation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees is particularly dire, with more than 10 million people displaced from home in Sudan, many multiple times. Those forced from their homes ar exposed to heightened vulnerabilities, enduring extreme hardship in makeshift shelters, lacking even the most basic services, and face severe protection risks.   "Despite the immense challenges, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the people of Sudan and all those impacted by the conflict. UNHCR, UNICEF, and our humanitarian partners are working to provide critical services. However, without sustained international backing including adequate funding, attention for a political way to address the conflict and the removal of bureaucratic and security obstacles, the situation will continue to worsen.   "Above all, the protection of civilians must be paramount. We urgently call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and prioritize the protection of civilians, who continue to face unimaginable suffering.   Civilians—especially women and children—are enduring grave violations of their rights, including sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation, and attacks on their safety and dignity. These heinous acts, including the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, must end immediately.   Humanitarian assistance alone cannot resolve this crisis; we must also ensure that those most vulnerable are shielded from further harm. The people of Sudan desperately need our collective action now. We must respond with the urgency and scale that this crisis demands."   14 Oct. 2024   Urgent Action: Sudan is facing the world's largest hunger crisis - World Food Programme, Food Security Cluster, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.   Severe Acute Food Insecurity has massively increased since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, leaving over half of the country experiencing severe food insecurity. Urgent action and resources are required to prevent further deterioration and escalation of needs.   Over 18 months of unending conflict has caused 25.6 million people in Sudan to fall into severe acute food insecurity. Famine was confirmed in Zamzam IDPs camp of North Darfur by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and is projected in 14 other areas as the conflict escalates further.   The latest IPC alert has classified 755,000 people as living in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most severe food insecurity classification on the IPC scale, as people are experiencing destitution and starvation, having exhausted coping mechanisms to access food and proper nutrition.   The situation is especially critical for populations trapped in areas affected by direct conflict or insecurity, and lack protection, particularly in Greater Darfur, Greater Kordofan, Khartoum and Al Jazirah states.   At least 534,000 IDPs and refugees in conflict-affected localities and states - representing around 20 percent of the displaced population in Sudan - face catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 4 or 5).   Additionally, the crisis in Sudan is spilling over to neighboring countries and affecting the entire region.   Over 2.3 million refugees have fled the country across borders, primarily to Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan. This surge in displacement is adding considerable strain to surrounding countries and humanitarian operations.   Urgent action must be taken to prevent the spread of hunger. Without the immediate allocation of resources and a ceasefire, millions of highly food insecure people will see their conditions deteriorate to catastrophe levels, or worse be simply left with no assistance at all.   The Food Security and Livelihood Cluster (FSLC) is calling on the international community to step up:   Mobilize adequate funding to bridge the gap between the current level of resources and scale of needs, so as to effectively continue assisting the 11.4 million people targeted in most need. To deliver emergency lifesaving food assistance. Provide emergency lifesaving and life-sustaining agriculture and livelihoods support to the most vulnerable farmers. Pursue ongoing negotiation and restore humanitarian access to the most in need.   Full rations must be distributed to populations in hunger hotspots – residents, newly displaced, protracted IDPs and refugees alike -to stabilize food security outlook and prevent further deteriorations.   http://www.nrc.no/news/2024/november/sudan-world-ignores-countdown-to-famine/ http://www.hrw.org/news/2024/11/27/sudans-victims-survived-killings-now-they-face-starvation http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/un-agencies-warn-spiraling-sudan-crisis-civilians-face-grave-risks-and-famine-threat http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/severe-food-insecurity-risk-escalating-sudan-facing-worlds-largest-hunger-crisis http://fscluster.org/sudan/document/severe-food-insecurity-risk-escalating http://www.savethechildren.net/news/sudan-famine-crisis-worsens-children-show-physical-signs-starvation http://medicine.yale.edu/lab/khoshnood/news-article/yales-humanitarian-research-lab-responds-as-violence-escalates-in-sudan/ http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/10/sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-documents-large-scale-sexual-violence-and http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2024/10/sudan-escalating-violence-al-jazirah http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1156211 http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1156266 http://news.un.org/en/tags/sudan http://www.iom.int/news/displacement-sudan-crosses-11-million-devastating-crisis-reaches-new-heights-iom-chief http://www.passblue.com/2024/10/27/can-civilians-stay-alive-in-sudans-war-without-a-protection-force/   Oct. 2024   Sudan faces one of the worst famines in decades, warn UN experts. (OHCHR)   A staggering 97 percent of Sudan’s IDPs, along with civilians who remain in their homes, are facing severe levels of hunger, UN experts warned today, accusing the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of using ‘starvation tactics’ against 25 million civilians in the country.   “Never in modern history have so many people faced starvation and famine as in Sudan today,” the experts said.   Zamzam camp in North Darfur, home to half a million IDPs, faces some of the direst conditions. Other IDP camps in El Fasher are also at risk of famine. Indeed, more than 8.4 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes to locations within Sudan or to neighbouring countries, posing a grave threat to most of their human rights."   “In order for the starvation and famine in Sudan to end, is for RSF and SAF to stop immediately obstructing aid delivery in Sudan through bureaucratic – administrative barriers, attacks against local respondents and for foreign governments to halt financial and military support of the SAF and RSF. Humanitarian organisations should be allowed to expand their operations and deliver essential food items and medicines,” the experts said.   “It is critical for humanitarian organisations to utilise all available channels for humanitarian deliveries, including lesser-used routes, to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable populations”.   Both SAF and RSF, along with their foreign supporters, are responsible for what is an apparent deliberate use of starvation, constituting crimes against humanity and war crimes under international law.”   In Darfur, Al Jazirah and Khartoum, markets have come under attack, and in many areas the hostilities have resulted in inflated food prices, damaged farms, crops and machinery. Local civil society networks report mandatory taxes on farming and livestock being imposed by the RSF in Darfur, and impediments to humanitarian delivery in Blue Nile State.   With the November harvest approaching, many farmers may be unable to plant again due to destroyed infrastructure, rising seed costs and fear of theft and attacks.   “Two thirds of Sudan’s population live in rural areas and their livelihood is being devastated by the war. We urge local authorities to facilitate safe engagement in agricultural activities through support to Crop Protection Committees,” the experts said.   They noted that while the Adre border crossing reopened on August 15, 2024, for a three-month period to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, the volume of aid currently being delivered through this corridor is not enough to meet the population's needs.   The onset of the rainy season and flooding in eastern Sudan and the northern state have worsened the situation. Though hard to estimate, agricultural damage and livestock losses are significant, and mining and water contamination complicate the crisis. The fear of starvation and famine continues to loom.   The experts expressed dismay that international donors and governments have not delivered their pledges. The Sudan humanitarian response plan, which designates US$1.44 billion for humanitarian assistance, has only received 50.8% of required funding, leaving significant gaps.   Before the conflict began, two-thirds of Sudan’s population was already living in extreme poverty, and now even more people are facing the prospect of complete destitution.   The experts noted that international humanitarian organisations and donors must increase funding on flexible terms, consider providing mutual aid groups with cash and liquidity, help local farmers to purchase seeds and other agricultural inputs and improve purchasing power through cash transfers to prevent further deepening poverty.   One of the most reliable means of food delivery to civilians comes through emergency response rooms and communal kitchens – civilians-run volunteer spaces that provide food to millions despite the dangers involved.   Local communities in Sudan have shown remarkable determination, organising mutual aid groups, running soup kitchens, including on the frontline, and revitalising markets to ensure survival. However, volunteers are frequently targeted, harassed and attacked by parties to the conflict.   “Local mutual aid organisations and solidarity operations in Sudan are the main lifeline for civilians in this war,” the experts said. “They must be better supported and protected by international humanitarian organisations.”   “The world must pay attention to the largest modern famine taking shape in Sudan today,” the experts said.   “We call for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to end this horror and urgent assistance. We have repeatedly raised warnings with the authorities in the past, urging action to prevent this unfolding catastrophe, but the situation has now reached critical levels requiring immediate global attention.”   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/10/sudan-faces-one-worst-famines-decades-warn-un-experts   Aug. 2024   Famine in Sudan: IPC Famine Review Committee confirms Famine conditions in North Darfur   The Famine Review Committee (FRC) of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has concluded that famine conditions are prevalent in parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam camp south of El Fasher. The escalating violence in Sudan, which has been persisting for over 15 months now, has severely impeded humanitarian access and pushed parts of North Darfur into Famine, notably Zamzam IDP camp.   Areas are classified in IPC Phase 5 (Famine) when at least one in five (or 20 percent) people or households have an extreme lack of food and face starvation and destitution, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death.   The Zamzam Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp is located approximately 12 kilometres south of El Fasher town and represents one of the largest IDP camps in Sudan, with an estimated population of at least 500,000.   The scale of devastation brought by the escalating violence in El Fasher town is profound and harrowing. Persistent, intense, and widespread clashes have forced many residents to seek refuge in IDP camps, where they face a stark reality: basic services are scant or absent, compounding the hardship of displacement. Around 320,000 people are believed to have been displaced since mid-April in El Fasher. Around 150,000 to 200,000 of them are believed to have moved to Zamzam camp in search of security, basic services, and food since mid-May. The camp population has expanded to over half a million in a few weeks.   Restrictions on humanitarian access, including intentional impediments imposed by the active parties to the conflict, have severely restricted the capability of aid organisations to scale up their response efforts effectively. These obstructions have critically hindered the delivery of necessary aid and exacerbated the food crisis, driving some households into Famine conditions. As with any Famine, there is a multi-sectoral collapse, and basic human needs for health services, water, food , nutrition, shelter, and protection are not being met.   The impacts of widespread conflict are driving the risk of Famine across many other areas of Sudan, including areas of Greater Darfur, parts of South Kordofan and Khartoum.   Famine confirmed in Sudan’s North Darfur, confirming UN agencies worst fears   “We urgently need a massive expansion of humanitarian access so we can halt the famine that has taken hold in North Darfur and stop it sweeping across Sudan. The warring parties must lift all restrictions and open new supply routes across borders, and across conflict lines, so relief agencies can get to cut-off communities with desperately needed food and other humanitarian aid,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “I also call on the international community to act now to secure a ceasefire in this brutal conflict and end Sudan’s slide into famine. It is the only way we will reverse a humanitarian catastrophe that is destabilizing this entire region of Africa.”   “Today’s news confirms some of our worst fears that famine is occurring in parts of Sudan and is inflicting unimaginable suffering on children and families who are already reeling from the impact of a horrific war,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This famine is fully man-made. We again call on all the parties to provide the humanitarian system with unimpeded and safe access to children and families in need. We must be able to use all routes, across lines of conflict and borders. Sudan’s children cannot wait. They need protection, basic services and most of all, a ceasefire and peace.”   UNICEF and WFP continue to call on all parties to guarantee safe unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, to allow the humanitarian response to be further expanded and to allow the agencies to deliver at speed. The agencies also urge the international community to intensify their financial support for humanitarian efforts and use every diplomatic tool at their disposal to bring about an immediate ceasefire WFP and UNICEF have mobilised a large-scale humanitarian response with local and international partners, inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries where more than 2 million Sudanese have fled to safety.   http://www.unocha.org/news/sudan-crisis-deepens-acting-un-relief-chief-tells-security-council-it-time-act http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/humanitarian-coordinator-sudan-calls-end-hostilities-protection-civilians-and-unimpeded-access-enar http://reliefweb.int/country/sdn http://www.unicef.org/stories/staggering-crisis-sudan-leaves-families-reeling http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/sudan-report-hunger-reaches-historic-proportions http://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/hunger-in-sudan/   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-107/en/ http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/famine-sudan-ipc-famine-review-committee-confirms-famine-conditions-parts-north-darfur http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1152871 http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/08/1152736 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/famine-confirmed-sudans-north-darfur-confirming-un-agencies-worst-fears http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/geneva-palais-briefing-note-sudan-crisis-neglect http://www.wfp.org/stories/famine-sudan-wfp-calls-unfettered-access-hunger-hotspots-save-lives http://www.rescue.org/press-release/one-sudans-largest-idp-camps-facing-famine-conditions-irc-calls-immediate-ceasefire http://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2024/sudan-crisis-people-are-dying-of-hunger/ http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/grave-malnutrition-emergency-central-south-darfur http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/un-says-famine-conditions-already-present-in-sudan/   June 2024   Child malnutrition in Sudan is at emergency levels. (UNICEF, WFP, WHO)   Three United Nations agencies have issued a stark warning that all indications point to a significant deterioration of the nutrition situation for children and mothers in war-torn Sudan. The lives of Sudan’s children are at stake and urgent action is needed to protect an entire generation from malnutrition, disease and death.   A recent analysis conducted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that the ongoing hostilities are worsening the drivers of child malnutrition. These include a lack of access to nutritious food, safe drinking water and sanitation, and increased risk of disease.   The situation is compounded by massive population displacement, as large numbers of people flee the conflict. Sudan is facing an ever-increasing risk of conflict-induced famine that will have catastrophic consequences including the loss of life, especially among young children.   The year-long war is also severely impacting the delivery of humanitarian supplies, leaving countless women and children without access to vital food and nutritional support. The agencies have been struggling to deliver aid as growing violence and bureaucratic procedures impede access to conflict affected areas.   Child malnutrition in Sudan is at emergency levels. In Central Darfur, acute malnutrition is estimated to be at 15.6 percent among children under 5, while in ZamZam camp it’s close to 30%. The situation has deteriorated over recent months, with no sign of abating due to continued conflict and severely hindered humanitarian access.   Acute malnutrition is life-threatening, with malnourished children up to 11 times more likely to die than a well-nourished child. Malnutrition and disease reinforce each other, with sick children becoming more easily malnourished and malnourished children becoming sick more easily, and suffering worse outcomes. Even when children recover, malnutrition can have lifelong effects on physical and cognitive development. Sudan risks a lost generation, with grave implications for the country’s future.   Levels of malnutrition are particularly worrying among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. For example, screening carried out last month by Medecins Sans Frontieres in ZamZam camp, North Darfur, found over 33 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women are malnourished, indicating that they are likely sacrificing their own needs to feed their children. This situation poses an incredible risk not only for the health of mothers, but also for the next generation of Sudan’s children. As much as 30 percent of child malnutrition begins in utero, so children born to malnourished mothers are likely to be already malnourished themselves.   “Children in Sudan are experiencing horrific violence, displacement and trauma – and now they are confronted with potential famine,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “When children suffer from serious forms of malnutrition, it harms their physical and cognitive development and can leave life-long damage. Parties to the conflict must urgently allow humanitarian access so children can receive food, water, medical care and shelter. But most of all, children need peace.”   “Mothers and children across Sudan are wasting away from malnutrition. The ongoing war has stripped them of everything they need to survive – food, medical support and shelter. We need immediate and safe access to deliver the humanitarian assistance that they so desperately need. Without it, this crisis risks becoming the world’s largest hunger emergency”, said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “Millions of lives are at stake and the international community must act now or we risk losing an entire generation of children.”   “Malnutrition is not a one-time crisis. Malnourished children face a lifetime of developmental challenges and ill-health and are also more likely to die from infectious diseases”, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The clock is ticking, edging Sudan’s mothers and children closer to famine. WHO and partners are on the ground working to prevent and treat acute malnutrition to save precious lives but we need sustained humanitarian access and full financial backing to be able to do this.”   The agencies call for immediate, unimpeded and consistent humanitarian access to communities who are suffering the worst effects of the brutal conflict, through all possible crossline and cross-border routes with neighbouring countries, as well as a de-escalation of the situation in El Fasher and a nationwide ceasefire. We also count on a renewed and significant scaled up support from donors. The window to avert the worst is rapidly closing.   http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudans-children-trapped-critical-malnutrition-crisis-warn-un-agencies http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/sudans-children-trapped-critical-malnutrition-crisis-warn-un-agencies http://www.unocha.org/news/ocha-urges-security-council-act-sudan-humanitarian-crisis http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151151 http://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-ingo-forum-calls-end-bloodshed-el-fasher http://interagencystandingcommittee.org/inter-agency-standing-committee/statement-principals-inter-agency-standing-committee-no-time-lose-famine-stalks-millions-sudan-amid http://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/17/we-need-the-world-to-wake-up-sudan-facing-worlds-deadliest-famine-in-40-years   http://www.wfp.org/news/small-window-remains-avert-disaster-sudans-war-torn-regions-warns-wfp-deputy-executive http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1149786 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2024/05/sudan-un-human-rights-chief-horrified-escalating-violence-el-fasher   http://www.unocha.org/news/sudans-humanitarian-coordinator-calls-immediate-ceasefire-al-fasher-safeguard-civilians http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/attack-el-fasher-would-endanger-hundreds-thousands-children-warns-unicef http://www.msf.org/sudan-msf-warns-catastrophic-malnutrition-crisis-zamzam-camp-amidst-escalating-violence-north   17 Oct. 2024   Gaza Strip: Risk of Famine persists amidst recent surge in hostilities. (IPC)   One year into the conflict, the risk of Famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip. Given the recent surge in hostilities, there are growing concerns that this worst-case scenario may materialize.   Violence has displaced nearly 2 million people, decimated livelihoods, crippled food systems, destroyed 70 percent of crop fields, severely restricted humanitarian operations and resulted in the collapse of health services and water, sanitation and hygiene systems.   Between November 2024 and April 2025, almost 2 million people, more than 90 percent of the population, are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including 876,000 people (41 percent) in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). The population facing catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5) is expected to nearly triple and reach 345,000 people (16 percent).   An estimated 60,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children aged 6 to 59 months, are expected to occur between September 2024 and August 2025. Catastrophic acute food insecurity and concerning acute malnutrition levels will continue to prevail if the conflict continues, and humanitarian operations are restricted.   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1157985/ http://www.wfp.org/news/new-gaza-food-security-assessment-sees-famine-risk-persisting-amid-ongoing-fighting-and   17 Oct. 2024   Statement by UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations Ted Chaiban on the near-blockade of aid and access in North Gaza:   "The situation in northern Gaza is extremely grave. Renewed mass forced displacement, increased conflict, and ongoing military obstruction that amounts to an effective-blockade has cut off hundreds of thousands of children and families from vital humanitarian aid.   “The number of aid trucks entering the north has reduced to an unacceptable trickle, pushing an already weakened population into deeper suffering. Since early October, only 80 trucks have been able to reach northern Gaza, compared to over 460 trucks during the same period in September – a catastrophic decline in humanitarian access for the 400,000 people trapped in the north, most of whom are children and women.   “The stories emerging from the ground are haunting and heartbreaking. Families are running out of food, water is critically scarce, and basic sanitation and hygiene supplies are no longer available. Tragic reports of children burned, killed, and maimed.   Acute malnutrition in northern Gaza has reached alarming levels.   “The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis confirms our worst fears for children in northern Gaza. Nearly 1 in 5 children suffer from wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition. This is due to the prolonged deprivation of food, water, and essential aid, including foods and nutrition supplements for young children.   If the intense fighting, forced displacement, and continued blockage of humanitarian assistance persist, the risk of famine will escalate rapidly in the coming months.   “This looming disaster could lead to the loss of countless young lives unless immediate and unhindered humanitarian access is granted to deliver life-saving support. The world must act now to prevent this catastrophe from becoming a full-scale famine.   “The trauma these children are enduring is unimaginable. Many have been displaced multiple times, forced to flee their homes again and again with nowhere safe to go. Children are particularly vulnerable, facing life-threatening risks as the conflict intensifies. For these children, the lack of safe shelter, medical care, and basic supplies is nothing short of a nightmare.   “The blockade has also brought commercial traffic to a near halt, there is no market left in the north. Humanitarian aid alone cannot meet the needs of an entire population – children and families must have access to goods through commercial channels to survive.   “UNICEF is calling for the immediate lifting of aid restrictions in northern Gaza, the resumption of commercial traffic, the approval of additional routes for the safe transport of cargo, the protection of humanitarian workers, and for unhindered access for humanitarian aid.   The restrictions on aid must be removed to ensure that children can receive the food, water, and medical care they desperately need. Without immediate action, we risk losing an entire generation to preventable causes – starvation, disease, and a lack of basic health services.   “Finally, beyond the entry of trucks and access to the north of Gaza, UNICEF needs the Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to remain on the ground as the indispensable and irreplaceable arm of the humanitarian response. Since the onset of conflict over a year ago, UNRWA has been crucial in delivering lifesaving aid to the Palestinian population, who are heavily dependent on its services.   “Failure means abandoning children in Gaza to an unimaginable fate. Time is running out, but we can still act."   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-deputy-executive-director-humanitarian-action-and-supply-operations http://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155971 http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/sos-our-unrwa-staff-northern-gaza   24 July 2024   Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation in the Gaza Strip:   “With each passing week, children and families face new horrors in the Gaza Strip. The devastating attacks on schools and internally displaced sites continue, reportedly killing hundreds more Palestinians, many of them women and children, and leaving already overwhelmed hospitals buckling under the strain.   “We see children who withstood previous injuries only to be hurt again. Doctors and nurses with no resources, struggling to save lives. Thousands of boys and girls sick, hungry, injured, or separated from their families. The violence and deprivation are leaving permanent scars on their vulnerable bodies and minds. And now, with a breakdown in sanitation and sewage treatment, the polio virus joins the list of threats, especially for the thousands of unvaccinated children.   “As families are repeatedly forced to move to escape the immediate violence, the humanitarian situation is beyond catastrophic.. “Humanitarian agencies, including UNICEF, are doing everything we can to respond, but the dire situation and attacks against humanitarian personnel continue to obstruct our efforts.. “Simply put - we do not have the necessary conditions in the Gaza Strip for a robust humanitarian response. The flow of aid must be unimpeded and access must be regular and safe. “For almost nine months, aid has trickled into Gaza. Civilians have been deprived of supplies. The commercial sector has been decimated.. “The challenge is exacerbated by the operating conditions on the ground. At least 278 aid workers in the Gaza Strip have already been killed – a record number – while others are put in harm’s way, or prevented from doing their jobs.   “We need an immediate improved security environment, including security for aid delivery trucks, to allow aid workers to safely reach the communities they intend to serve.   “Most critically, we need an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. We call on all parties to this conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. They must protect civilians and the infrastructure they rely on. This includes ensuring civilians receive the essentials they need to survive – food, water, nutrition treatment, shelter, and health care – through safe and unimpeded humanitarian operations.   “It is long past time for this crisis to end, for hostages to be returned to their families and for the children of Gaza to have a healthy and secure future.”   June 2024   Risk of deadly malnutrition and famine in Gaza (UN News)   Far too little aid is reaching people in Gaza to the extent that children are now starving, UN humanitarians said on Friday, in a renewed appeal to Israel to respect international law regarding the safe passage of lifesaving relief in the war-shattered enclave.   The alert from the World Health Organization (WHO) follows the finding that more than four in five children “did not eat for a whole day at least once in the three days” ahead of a food insecurity survey.   “These are children under five who are not getting food all day,” said WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris. “So, you ask, ‘Are the supplies getting through?’ No, children are starving.”   Echoing those concerns, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the risk of deadly malnutrition and famine among Gaza’s most vulnerable individuals.   “I would say they are certainly not getting the amount that they desperately need to prevent a famine, to prevent all kind of horrors that we see. It’s very, very little that is going around at the moment,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke.   Responding to questions about aid access obstacles, he reiterated that the Israeli authorities’ obligations under international humanitarian law to facilitate the delivery of aid “does not stop at the border."   "It does not stop when you drop off just a few metres across the border and then drive away and then leave it to humanitarians to drive through active combat zones - which they cannot do - to pick it up. So, to answer your question, no, the aid that is getting in, is not getting to the people.”   Amid ongoing reports of deadly Israeli bombardment across Gaza on Friday, humanitarians continued to stress that land crossings for aid convoys remain “the only way to get aid in at scale and at speed… We need more of these land crossings and we need them open and we need them safe for use to pick up the aid when it’s dropped off,” the OCHA spokesperson said.   Matthew Hollingsworth, WFP Country Director in Palestine, recently spent 10 days in Gaza. He said the “exodus” of over 800,000 people from Rafah over the past 20 days “has been a horrific experience for many, many people." Most have been displaced several times over and had thought they would be staying in a safe area for the remainder of the war.   They have fled to areas where clean water, medical supplies and support are completely insufficient, food supply is very limited, and telecommunications have stopped.   “Public health concerns are beyond crisis levels” and “the sounds, the smells, the everyday life, are horrific and apocalyptic”, he said. “People sleep to the sounds of bombing, they sleep to the sounds of drones, they sleep to the sounds of war as now tanks roll into parts of central Rafah, which is only kilometres away. And they wake to the same sounds."   UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder said across Gaza, average water availability has fallen to between two and nine litres per person, per day, whereas the minimum should be 15 litres. “Somehow people are holding on, but of course we are now in that deathly cycle whereby children are very malnourished, there is immense heat, there is lack of water, there's a horrendous lack of sanitation and that's the cycle. On top of that, of course, there is a very, very active conflict.”   “The ongoing mass displacements, the decimation of health infrastructure, the horrendously insecure operating environment, they all make it much, much more difficult to access aid, hence putting more and more children at risk,” he said.   There is urgent need to scale up humanitarian operations. Food insecurity is at its highest level, and polio was recently found in sewage samples. To prevent a polio epidemic in Gaza, UN humanitarians repeated continuing international calls for a ceasefire to allow a mass vaccination campaign to get under way.   Almost 10 months of war and intense Israeli bombardment have shattered healthcare in Gaza, disrupting inoculation rounds for children, leaving them exposed to a range of preventable diseases.   Gaza: Risk of Famine as 495,000 people face catastrophic acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5)   A high risk of Famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip as long as conflict continues and humanitarian access is restricted. About 96 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip (2.15M people) face high levels of acute food insecurity through September 2024.   While the whole territory is classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), over 495,000 people (22 percent of the population) are still facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). In this phase, households experience an extreme lack of food, starvation, and exhaustion of coping capacities. 745,000 people (33 percent) are classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4).   http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-105/en/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-situation-gaza-strip http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/almost-3000-malnourished-children-risk-dying-their-families-eyes-rafah-offensive http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-humanitarian-snapshot-2-13-29-july-2024 http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-humanitarian-snapshot-15-july-2024 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/gaza-nearly-300-days-war-attacks-humanitarian-zones-never-ending-relocation-orders-and-aid http://news.un.org/en/interview/2024/06/1151131 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 http://www.wfp.org/stories/gaza-updates-wfp-calls-all-access-points-be-opened-rafah-exodus-fuels-hunger   http://www.hi-us.org/en/the-difficulties-in-providing-humanitarian-aid-in-gaza http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/unicef-state-palestine-humanitarian-situation-report-no-28-mid-year-2024 http://fews.net/middle-east-and-asia/gaza/targeted-analysis/may-2024 http://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/05/starvation-already-causing-mass-death-and-lasting-harm-in-gaza-agencies-say http://www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-releases/famine-risk-increases-as-israel-makes-gaza-aid-response-virtually-impossible-oxfam/ http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-regional-director-middle-east-and-north-africa-adele-khodr-0 http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support http://reliefweb.int/country/pse http://www.ochaopt.org/updates http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements http://news.un.org/en/focus-topic/middle-east   http://www.ochaopt.org/updates http://www.unocha.org/news/ocha-appeals-security-council-end-humanitarian-catastrophe-gaza http://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied-palestine-and-israel http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/rafah-needs-rise-humanitarian-response-forced-scrape-bottom-barrel http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/05/comment-un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-gaza-crossings http://reliefweb.int/country/pse http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements http://news.un.org/en/focus-topic/middle-east http://www.icrc.org/en/document/gaza-icrc-calls-protection-civilians-while-hoping-for-an-agreement   May 2024   There is ‘nowhere safe to go’ for the children of Gaza, warns UNICEF   “More than 200 days of war have taken an unimaginable toll on the lives of children,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director.   Compared to adults, children are especially vulnerable to the devastating impacts of the war in the Gaza Strip. They are being disproportionately killed and injured, and suffering more acutely from disruptions to healthcare and education and a lack of access to sufficient food and water.   Already, more than 15,000 children have been reportedly killed in this current conflict, according to the latest estimate by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.   “Hundreds of thousands of children are injured, sick, malnourished, traumatized, or living with disabilities,” said Russell. “Many have been displaced multiple times, and have lost homes, parents and loved ones. They need to be protected along with the remaining services that they rely on, including medical facilities and shelter.”   UNICEF reiterates the call of the Interagency Standing Committee for Israel ‘to fulfil its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law, to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations, and on the world’s leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening.’   Underscoring the special vulnerabilities of children, UNICEF is also calling for:   An immediate and long-lasting humanitarian ceasefire. The immediate release of hostages, and an end to any grave violations against all children. The protection of civilians and the infrastructure that supports their basic needs, such as hospitals and shelters, from attack and military use.   Continued protection of children and their families if they are unable or unwilling to move following an evacuation order - people should be allowed to move freely to safer areas, but they should never be forced to do so.   The provision of safe and consistent access for humanitarian organisations and personnel to reach children and their families with life-saving aid, wherever they are in the Gaza Strip.   Humanitarians have expressed grave alarm at the immense suffering the conflict is inflicting on the civilian population of Gaza. With human rights agencies underlining the fundamental need for respect for international humanitarian law in all conflict situations. The principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality in all military operations being of critical importance.   http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/when-nightmare-becomes-reality http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support http://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/conflict-in-Israel-and-oPt http://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/index.php/publications/1854/communication-materials/speech-statement/opt-protection-cluster-global-protection   15 May 2024   Ukraine: The Safety of Civilians must be Ensured. They are not a Target. (OCHA)   UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise brown, condemns attacks in Kherson City and the Kharkiv Region:   Today, additional devastating news, this time in Kherson City, where dozens of civilians, including children, suffered injuries from strikes. Homes and an education facility were hit yet again in this war-ravaged city.   This comes a day after I came back from Kharkiv, where I saw the appalling consequences of the intensified attacks by the Russian Federation's Armed Forces on thousands of people who had to flee for their lives, leaving everything they own behind. Many are older people who fear they will never be able to go back.   The humanitarian community is working to support people amid this human tragedy. International humanitarian law must be respected. The safety of civilians, homes, schools and hospitals must be ensured. They are not a target.   The humanitarian situation in Kharkivska Oblast, where active hostilities – in particular in the northern border and frontline hromadas where basic services are decimated – has driven thousands of people from their homes.   On 16 May, fierce fighting in the north of Kharkivska Oblast led to more civilian deaths and injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure. Attacks with humanitarian impact have been reported in Kharkiv City and other parts of the oblast.   The security situation has increased the risks and challenges for first responders, local authorities, and aid workers helping evacuate civilians. Local authorities reported that medical facilities and personnel were impacted by strikes in the last two days in a row, including injuring medical workers.   (ICRC) – Thousands of civilians living along the Ukraine-Russia border in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine have had to flee their homes the last few days due to the escalation of fighting.   The current influx of displaced people in Kharkiv is one of the largest we have witnessed in Ukraine this year, Juerg Eglin, the ICRC’s head of delegation in Ukraine, said as he was visiting Kharkiv this week.   “While thousands of people were able to find a safer place to go, it is important to remember that others remain behind, either due to their limited mobility or because they chose not to leave their home. It is of utmost importance that all precautions are taken to ensure that their life, property, and civilian infrastructure they rely on are protected at all times.”   The international armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine has inflicted heavy losses and deep suffering for civilians as well as damage and destruction to critical civilian infrastructure. The ICRC reminds parties that it is the obligation of states to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law.   http://reliefweb.int/country/ukr http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2024/05/ukraine-concern-plight-civilians-and-intensified-russian-attacks   May 2024   DRC: UN and partners warn escalating conflict is fuelling unprecedented civilian suffering. (Inter-Agency Standing Committee)   Escalating conflict is driving record levels of gender-based violence, displacement and hunger in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), threatening to push the country to the brink of catastrophe without urgent international action.   Decades of conflict and the resulting humanitarian emergency have already exhausted and traumatized millions of civilians. In the last few months alone, more than 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, bringing the total number of displaced people to an all-time high of 7.2 million.   Ensuring that sufficient aid reaches civilians in need swiftly and without impediment is critical. But this year’s Humanitarian Response Plan is woefully underfunded, with just 16 per cent of the US$2.6 billion needed having been received. The gap between rapidly rising needs and sufficient resources means millions of people are left without the lifesaving support they need.   This lack of resources is compounding the crisis by forcing humanitarian organizations to curb their assistance, with women and girls paying a devastatingly high price. Minimal protection and security in crowded displacement camps means many are forced to exchange sex for survival and support for their families. When they venture outside to collect firewood, water or for work, they are also exposed to appalling levels of sexual violence.   Gender-based violence has surged to unprecedented levels, with recorded cases surging between 2022 and 2023. Stigma and the fear of retaliation prevent many survivors from coming forward. In addition to sexual violence, children are also at risk of other threats, including abduction, killing, maiming and recruitment by armed groups.   Perpetrators of human rights violations must be held accountable for their crimes. Under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected.   More than 25 million people – a quarter of the population – continue to face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity in the DRC, a country facing one of the world's largest food crises.   Cholera and measles are also spreading rapidly as the health sector continues to deteriorate. Climate extremes worsened by El Niño are yet another threat for already struggling families.   Bringing an end to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the DRC requires addressing its root causes: conflict, the exploitation of natural resources, illicit financial flows, prevailing gender inequality and development deficits.   We must step up our support to the Congolese people, including to women and girls who are bearing the brunt of this conflict, as they work to rebuild their lives and livelihoods and return to their homes. The international community must mobilize additional resources for the humanitarian response and support for civil society organizations – as well as the political will to end the violence once and for all.   http://interagencystandingcommittee.org/inter-agency-standing-committee/statement-principals-inter-agency-standing-committee-democratic-republic-congo-crushing-levels http://www.nrc.no/news/2024/may/joint-statement-ingos-in-dr-congo-call-for-a-cessation-of-hostilities-and-the-respect-for-international-humanitarian-law/ http://www.msf.org/drc-civilians-caught-crossfire-north-and-south-kivu http://www.wfp.org/news/drcs-hunger-crisis-deepens-families-once-again-flee-fighting http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-urges-immediate-action-amid-heightened-risks-displaced-eastern-dr-congo http://www.wfp.org/news/unicef-and-wfp-demand-action-protect-children-and-unfettered-humanitarian-access-eastern-drc http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/unicef-deputy-executive-director-ted-chaiban-concludes-visit-eastern-dr-congo http://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2024/hundreds-of-thousands-face-desperate-conditions-as-fighting-surges-in-eastern-dr-congo/   http://www.unhcr.org/africa/news/press-releases/unhcr-urges-protection-civilians-and-aid-access-amid-surging-violence-eastern http://www.icrc.org/en/document/dr-congo-civilians-firing-line-use-heavy-weapons-signals-alarming-new-phase-armed-conflict http://www.icrc.org/en/document/democratic-republic-congo-forgotten-people-north-kivu http://www.wfp.org/stories/eastern-drc-women-and-girls-pay-high-price-ongoing-conflict http://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/conflict-drc-over-hundred-thousand-people-without-clean-water-live-disastrous   May 2024   Haiti: UN, humanitarian partners call for greater protection and assistance for people living in violence prone-areas. (OCHA)   Three months into a resurgence of violence in Haiti, particularly in Port-au-Prince, the top humanitarian official in the country is expressing deep concerns over the havoc wrought on many Haitians’ lives, leaving them in extreme vulnerability.   “Hundreds of thousands of people, including many women and children, are caught in violence, which shows little sign of abating,” said, Ulrika Richardson, the Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.   Since 25 April 2024, coordinated attacks have been launched in the communes of Delmas and Gressier, displacing nearly 10,000 people who are currently living either with host communities or in spontaneous sites. Many Haitians living in violence prone areas have also been displaced, sometimes multiple times.   As of mid-March, more than 360,000 people were internally displaced, a 15 percent increase since December 2023. More than half of all internally displaced persons are women, and children account for over a third of the displaced people.   Armed groups have also targeted hospitals and schools in Port-au-Prince and beyond, and hunger is rising by the day, with almost half of the people of Haiti struggling to feed themselves. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable in this context.   A recent report by the Government and humanitarian partners found that the number of gender-based violence survivors was five times higher in March than it was in January and February combined, with nearly three quarters of the cases reportedly attributable to the perpetrators of violent attacks.   UN and humanitarian actors are continuously mobilizing relief items to try to support people in localities affected by the rising violence and other areas of the country. Yet, insecurity continues to impede aid groups’ operations in certain areas.   The humanitarian community calls on violence to end. “It is simply unacceptable that people who simply are going about their daily lives, children playing outside and going to school are targeted, that schools and hospitals are looted and destroyed. It is essential on everyone to uphold humanitarian norms as a matter of urgency,” said Ms. Richardson. She also stressed the need for urgent international solidarity to ensure humanitarian organizations are able to continue their critical work. This year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, calling for $674 million, is only 17 per cent funded.   http://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/haiti-un-partners-call-greater-protection-and-assistance-people-living-violence-prone-areas http://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/haiti-emergency-situation-report-no-21-3-may-2024 http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/05/women-and-girls-bear-brunt-crisis-ravaging-haiti-say-un-experts http://www.unfpa.org/press/world-must-not-abandon-women-and-girls-haiti http://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/haiti-ipc-acute-food-insecurity-snapshot-march-june-2024 http://www.savethechildren.net/news/more-one-million-children-trapped-gang-violence-rages-haiti http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-russell-situation-haiti http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/crisis-haiti http://www.msf.org/new-survey-reveals-extreme-levels-violence-haiti http://www.iom.int/news/waves-violence-storm-port-au-prince-haiti-further-displacing-thousands http://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/alerts-archive/issue-98/en/ http://unocha.exposure.co/breaking-point-in-haiti-the-struggle-for-survival Visit the related web page
	View more stories