UN scales up humanitarian response in Gaza as ceasefire offers respite
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday that large volumes of aid continue to flow into Gaza through the Erez and Zikim crossings in the north, and Kerem Shalom in the south – reaching…
‘We must be there for them now,’ says UN relief chief, highlighting plight of Gaza’s children
“Today marks one of the rare times we are able to highlight positive developments, albeit amid catastrophic humanitarian needs in Gaza,” Mr. Fletcher began. He noted that the recent ceasefire has provided a much-needed reprieve from relentless hostilities, allowing for…
UN to strengthen cooperation with League of Arab States
Briefing ambassadors, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, highlighted the League’s vital role in promoting stability in a region marked by persistent conflicts, from the fragile ceasefire in Gaza to the crises in Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and…
Release of ship’s crew, ‘a step in the right direction’: UN Yemen envoy
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, seized the MV Galaxy Leader in November 2023 as part of attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea they instigated in support of the Palestinian cause in Gaza. The 25 sailors on…
Lebanon: Food insecurity deepens following conflict, new report reveals
Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministry of Agriculture, the report reveals that the impact of hostilities on agriculture and the economy will likely slow recovery. Some 1.65 million people are now…
In Syria, top UN envoy highlights international backing for political transition
Special Envoy Geir Pedersen is on his second visit to Syria since 8 December and told reporters in Damascus he had engaged with a broad spectrum of Syrians, including the caretaker authorities. He conveyed optimism about the international community’s commitment…
Ceasefire in Gaza brings hope, but West Bank faces escalating violence
The ceasefire and hostage release agreement, which took effect on Sunday allowed some displaced residents to return, but hundreds of thousands across the Gaza Strip remain dependent on humanitarian aid, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists at the regular press…
Aid surging into Gaza ‘at scale’ but massive needs remain: OCHA, WHO
On day three of the ceasefire which entered into force on Sunday 19 January, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, welcomed the “surge” in lifesaving humanitarian assistance into the enclave, after 15 months of devastating Israeli bombardment. Aid trucks began…
Guterres urges support for the Middle East amid current ‘turbulent period’
António Guterres addressed the Council’s first quarterly debate on the Middle East for the year, held against the backdrop of Sunday’s temporary ceasefire in Gaza, the end of hostilities in Lebanon sparked by the war, and the fall of the…
Middle East crisis: Updates for 20 January; Guterres calls for ‘immediate action’ to protect civilians, release of all hostages
Following the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, the UN Security Council is meeting in New York to hear from the Secretary-General and foreign ministers from the Middle East and beyond. UN chief António Guterres told the…