Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Malawi, Colombia

Occupied Palestinian Territory

OCHA says intense hostilities and large-scale displacement continues in Khan Younis, with most people moving into an area labeled as a “humanitarian zone” by the Israeli authorities. 

The area, which is now smaller than before Monday's evacuation order, is already overcrowded and lacks almost any infrastructure or services. The ongoing attacks there also underscore what we have said repeatedly: that nowhere is safe in Gaza, including these so-called humanitarian zones.

The UN and humanitarian partners have been in touch via phone with hundreds of people who are trapped in combat zones of Khan Younis, within the area designated for evacuation. This includes more than 300 people sheltering in schools. This also includes people with reduced mobility and family members who have stayed behind to support them. We continue to engage with the parties to the conflict in hopes of ensuring their safety.

Civilian casualties continue to be reported in Khan Younis; two schools there were hit, according to reports. Six of the wounded were evacuated and taken to the field hospital of the International Medical Corps by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Palestine Red Crescent Society. Two bodies were also recovered. 

Meanwhile, people continue to cross from northern Gaza southwards. The UN and our partners are still receiving and registering those who cross, providing them with water, food and other supplies, as well as basic health care, medical referrals, critical information and child protection services. 

However, the point where aid workers had been providing this assistance was forced to relocate about 800 metres south, following shelling near the Israeli checkpoint earlier this week.

In northern Gaza, the World Health Organization reports that health services at Al-Ahli have partially resumed, after insecurity in the area rendered them non-functional for a few days. WHO was able to deliver much-needed fuel and medical supplies to the facility last week.

Health partners say that as of Monday, there are 13 emergency medical teams supporting local health workers, including one in northern Gaza.

Between 8 and 21 July alone, nearly 50 partner organizations reached some 350,000 people across Gaza with health assistance.  

WHO is also working with partners and the Ministry of Health in Gaza to initiate response measures following the detection of variant poliovirus type 2 in six environmental samples.

Meanwhile, we and our humanitarian partners in Gaza continue to screen children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, for malnutrition and to provide treatment. Since mid-January, nearly 170,000 children under the age of five and more than 10,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women have been screened. More than 11,500 of those children have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition and are receiving treatment.

In the West Bank, OCHA and the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East are assessing the needs of people displaced during an Israeli military operation in Tulkarm city and the refugee camp there earlier this week. OCHA reports that at least five Palestinians were killed by drone strikes by Israeli forces on Monday. Initial reports indicate that Israeli forces re-entered the area yesterday evening.

Ukraine

OCHA says strikes yesterday and today in eastern and southern Ukraine caused civilian casualties and damaged infrastructure. Authorities say nearly 20 people were either killed or injured.

In Kharkiv city, UN partners on the ground and local authorities say a strike earlier today damaged a humanitarian organization’s office and six of its vehicles. Thankfully, no aid workers were hurt. 

OCHA says ongoing strikes have damaged humanitarian facilities and supplies and continue to impede aid operations in Ukraine. At least 10 such incidents were reported in seven eastern and southern regions in May and June alone.

Attacks in major Ukrainian cities where humanitarian organizations have a significant presence – including Kharkiv and Dnipro – pose a major threat to aid workers.

Despite the risks, humanitarian workers continue to assist people affected by the war in Ukraine, providing assistance to some 5.6 million people during the first six months of 2024.

Ethiopia

OCHA is leading a team to assess the situation and mobilize response efforts in the areas affected by the landslide in southern Ethiopia since last night.

The UN and partners are already dispatching assistance, including food, nutrition, health and other critical supplies.

Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing, amid fears the death toll could increase significantly beyond the more than 230 fatalities reported so far.

Authorities say more than 15,500 people have been affected and stress that it is critical they be evacuated, given the high risk of further landslides.

The Government is working with regional and local authorities on plans to relocate them.

Malawi

The UN and partners launched a Flash Appeal yesterday seeking more than US$136 million to provide life-saving assistance to 3.8 million people most vulnerable to the impact of Malawi’s devastating drought. This response will complement the Government’s efforts. 

Malawi declared a drought disaster in 23 of the country’s 28 districts in March due to inadequate rains and prolonged dry spells that have severely damaged crops and hampered food production. 

An estimated 5.7 million people – more than a quarter of Malawi’s population – are expected to face food insecurity during the upcoming lean season, from October through March of 2025. 

The drought is also worsening water shortages, which raise the risk of waterborne diseases. 

El Niño events in Malawi have been linked to prolonged dry spells, reduced rainfall and higher temperatures, with the situation expected to worsen during the lean season. 

Malawi is one of the six countries in Southern Africa that have declared a state of disaster due to drought.

Since December of last year, the Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated nearly $37 million to UN agencies responding to El Niño-induced drought in several countries in the region, with $2 million going to Malawi.

Colombia

OCHA is concerned about the growing number of people who have been displaced or had their movements restricted by armed groups in Colombia.

During the first half of this year, more than 120,000 people have been displaced or had their movements restricted, according to humanitarian partners and official reports.

We are also worried about the potential for an increase in armed violence in Colombia’s border regions – which would only increase humanitarian needs there.

Humanitarian challenges in Colombia remain significant: Some 8.3 million people – out of some 52 million people in the country - need humanitarian assistance, amid ongoing conflicts between the Government and armed groups – and among those groups themselves.

Colombia also continues to cope with the effects of climate shocks. Already this year, more than 1.2 million people in the country have been affected by the El Niño phenomenon, which has fueled wildfires and led to water shortages in almost all regions of the country. Indigenous, Afro-Colombian and agricultural communities have been especially impacted.

The humanitarian community in Colombia continues to support response efforts – with nearly half a million people having received at least some form of assistance this year.