Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Syria, Myanmar, Ukraine

Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA reports that ongoing bombardment and hostilities in Gaza continue to kill, injure and displace Palestinians – as well as damage and destroy the homes and infrastructure they rely on.

On 10 August, the Al Tabi’een School in Ad Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City, was hit by Israeli military with initial reports of at least 93 Palestinian killed, including 11 children and 6 women, who had sought shelter in the school, according to the UN Human Rights Office.

At the time of the attack, the school-turned-shelter was reportedly hosting hundreds of displaced families and people were performing the dawn prayer at the school’s prayer hall.

Casualties were brought in Al Ahli hospital, which is one of the 16 hospitals that remain only partially functional in the Gaza Strip. The hospital is overwhelmed by this mass casualty incident amid shortage of medications, clean water and hospital beds.

Humanitarian partners on the ground provided assistance to families who returned to the school including drinking water, food parcels, hot meals, hygiene kits, as well as clothing. They also provided psychological first aid and psychosocial support activities for children and their parents. 

According to the UN Human Right Office, this is at least the 21st strike on a school, each serving as a shelter, since 4 July. These strikes have resulted in at least 274 fatalities, including women and children.

OCHA says that two evacuation orders were issued by the Israeli military over the weekend for Khan Younis, mostly for areas that were previously placed under evacuation.

Initial mapping indicates that the areas affected by these orders encompass about 23 displacement sites, 14 water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and four educational facilities

In total, about 305 square kilometres, or nearly 84 per cent of the Gaza Strip, have been placed under evacuation orders by the Israeli military. 

OCHA says the entry of aid supplies into Gaza remains challenging due to active hostilities, access constraints, high levels of insecurity, the lack of public order and safety, and other factors.

Once again, we call for all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects. This includes allowing civilians to leave for safer areas and allowing their return as soon as circumstances allow. People must be able to receive humanitarian assistance, whether they move or stay.

Lebanon

OCHA is deeply concerned by the increasing number of civilian deaths and rising displacement in Lebanon, amid escalating hostilities.

Over the past month, the numbers of civilians killed has increased by 20 per cent – to a total of 120 since October, with nearly half being women and children.

Displacement has also increased by nearly four percent since 23 July – to a total of 102,000 people since October – and civilian infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted. According to UNICEF, more than a dozen water stations have been damaged, with four now non-functional. This affects access to safe drinking water for more than 200,000 people.

The UN urges all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, stressing that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times.

We and our partners continue to scale up relief efforts, in support of the Government-led response. The World Health Organization recently delivered 32 tons of trauma and emergency surgical kits, as well as medications. For its part, UNICEF has distributed 65 tons of emergency kits, including medications and medical supplies, as part of their efforts to preposition critical assistance.

Access constraints and funding shortages continue to pose challenges to the humanitarian response, and additional resources are urgently needed. Humanitarian partners requested more than US$72 million in April for a 3-month emergency response, but less than $25 million of that has been received so far.

Syria

OCHA welcomes the Government of Syria's authorization today for the continued use of the Bab al-Salam and al-Rai crossing points from Türkiye through 13 November so that the UN can continue delivering humanitarian assistance to people in need in north-west Syria.

The cross-border operation from Türkiye – which also utilizes the Bab al-Hawa crossing – is a lifeline for aid to north-west Syria, where millions of people are in need of humanitarian assistance – including food, nutrition, health, shelter, protection, education and other critical support.

This year, the UN and partners are appealing for just over $4 billion to assist more than 10 million people throughout Syria. But our ability to respond continues to be constrained by reductions in funding, with only 24 per cent – some $960 million - received to date.

Myanmar

The UN condemns in the strongest terms the escalation of violence in Myanmar that has led to heavy civilian casualties in recent weeks.

We have also heard alarming reports of civilians being killed in the towns of Maungdaw in Rakhine State and Lashio in Shan State recently while attempting to flee ongoing fighting.

These incidents are part of a deeply concerning trend in the intensifying conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of a conflict that has upended millions of lives.

We remind all parties to the conflict of their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to protect civilians and civilian property. Parties should also urgently allow all communities to safely access humanitarian aid.

Amid the worsening situation in Myanmar, 18.6 million people require humanitarian assistance, 6 million of them children. Despite this scale of need, the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan remains underfunded, with only 21 per cent – or 214 million - of the required $994 million received 8 months into the year. More resources are urgently needed to assist 5.3 million people in need across the country.

Ukraine

Hostilities continue in Ukraine's frontline regions, with the focus shifting from the Kharkiv region to the Donetsk region. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, July saw the highest number of civilian casualties in the country since October 2022, with at least 219 civilians killed and 1,018 others injured. 

Aid workers continue to support people fleeing hostilities and help residents affected by deadly attacks. In the Donetsk Region, aid workers provided emergency support to residents affected by recent strikes. They delivered water, hygiene items, and repair materials to cover the damaged homes and transported families with children to collective sites in the safer areas of Ukraine.