Today's top news: Colombia, Ukraine, Tropical Storm Freddy, Syria, Türkiye

Colombia

The humanitarian country team and the Government are jointly appealing for $283 million to reach 1.6 million people with humanitarian assistance this year.
The humanitarian response plan launched yesterday will prioritize women, children, people with disabilities, and indigenous and Afro-descendant communities living in areas at high risk of natural disasters and violence by non-state armed groups.
A total of 7.7 million people in Colombia will need humanitarian assistance this year. In 2022, the humanitarian community coordinated with national authorities to reach 1.5 million people.
The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Colombia, Mireia Villar Forner, says 2023 is expected to be a challenging year, due the threat of natural disasters and violence from non-state armed groups.

Several civilians were killed and injured on both sides of the front line in the Donetsk region.
Missile strikes reportedly killed three civilians and injured 14 others after damaging several residential buildings in areas under Government control, according to local authorities.
Meanwhile, Russian-installed authorities in regions under the military control of the Russian Federation reported that at least two civilians were killed and 15 injured in strikes on different areas, including Donetsk City.
OCHA and its partners continue to deliver life-saving aid to people in areas close to the front line.

OCHA continues to respond to the destruction and damage wrought by the Tropical Cyclone Freddy weather system, which made landfall in Mozambique over the weekend for the second time. It has since brought extensive rains to both Mozambique and Malawi.
According to authorities, at least 200 people have died in the two countries and 45,000 people have been displaced. Many of those killed in Malawi died in mudslides in Cilobwe township in Blantyre district.
In both countries, the UN and our partners are working in support of the Government-led responses. Rapid assessments are underway in the hardest-hit areas and humanitarian partners are mobilizing assistance.
In Mozambique, food and water treatment chemicals are being delivered to families in temporary accommodation centres.
In Malawi, humanitarian partners are providing water, hygiene and sanitation services and shelter material, among other assistance, in temporary displacement sites in Blantyre.
Operations have, however, been constrained by heavy rains and strong winds, with several key roads being cut-off and flooded.
With intense rains expected to continue in the coming days in both Mozambique and Malawi, there is a risk of further floods and landslides that may both affect more people and hamper relief operations.

The United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to scale up the response to earthquake-affected areas across Syria, where at least 8.8 million people have been affected.
As of today, 787 trucks carrying aid provided by seven UN agencies crossed into north-west Syria since the earthquakes using the three available border crossings.
In areas under Government control, humanitarian organizations provided aid to more than 310,000 people in February and over 140,000 people so far in March, primarily in the most affected governorates of Aleppo, Hama and Lattakia.
According to the Ministry of Education, more than 2,500 schools in Aleppo, Lattakia, Tartous, Hama, Homs and Idleb have been damaged. Of these, more than 1,800 schools have reopened, while 129 schools are still currently being used as shelters.

The UN and humanitarian partners continue to mobilize emergency teams and relief operations in support of the Government response to last month’s earthquakes.
To date, OCHA and its partners have provided more than 46,000 tents and over 5.7 million food packages, as well as hot meals and hundreds of thousands of relief items, including mattresses, bedding, tarpaulins and hygiene kits.
WHO is coordinating 14 emergency medical teams on the ground.
High priority needs include shelter, food, water, sanitation, hygiene, health, nutrition and psychosocial support.
According to IOM, some 2.7 million people in Türkiye were displaced by the earthquakes.
Millions in the country have lost their homes and livelihoods. They need life-saving aid to meet basic needs.
Funding for the humanitarian response is urgently needed. As of today, the $1 billion flash appeal remains less than 14 percent funded.