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

Syria

At least 53 trucks crossed from southern Türkiye into northwest Syria today, carrying aid from the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

WFP provided food commodities, with IOM sending shelter, hygiene and other items. UNHCR also provided supplies for some 5,000 people.

As of today, a total of 335 UN trucks have delivered aid through the three border crossings since 9 February. 

Of the 53 trucks that crossed today, 47 went through Bab al-Hawa, and 6 went via Bab al-Salam.

As of today, the UN’s three-month flash appeal for Syria for nearly US$400 million is 27 per cent funded.

Türkiye

The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Alvaro Rodriguez, traveled to areas affected by the earthquakes today to see the humanitarian response. He also met with authorities and first responders.

In Kahramanmaras, Mr. Rodriguez visited a tent city where 5,000 people are taking refuge. He said he was struck by the scale of the devastation but praised the response by the Government, international community and Turkish citizens.

In Turkoglu, he spoke to Syrian families displaced by the earthquake. Mr. Rodriguez also met UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) personnel and thanked them for their support. UNDAC teams remain active in Gaziantep and four hubs in Malatya, Kahramanmaras, Adiyaman, and Hatay to support the coordination of urban search-and-rescue operations and assist with needs assessments. An UNDAC liaison team in Ankara is also working with Turkish authorities, who are leading the response.

The UN and our partners continue to provide assistance in support of the Government’s earthquake response efforts.

So far, WFP and UNHCR have contributed more than 3 million food packages and more than 28,000 kitchen sets to those affected. UNHCR, IOM and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have provided more than 94,000 sleeping pads and mattresses, nearly 36,000 tarpaulins and more than 16,500 tents to meet emergency shelter needs. IOM, UNHCR and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have also supplied more than 114,000 blankets and 15,000 heaters. UNICEF, UNHCR and the Red Cross have distributed nearly 119,000 hygiene kits.

As of today, the UN’s three-month flash appeal for Türkiye for $1 billion is just over 4 per cent funded.

Ukraine

Over the past two weeks, we have facilitated 12 inter-agency convoys to front-line communities in the east and south of the country. They’ve delivered food, water, shelter, winter materials and other necessities for more than 150,000 people.

This includes two convoys on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to Borova and Velykyi Burluk towns in the eastern Kharkiv region, close to the Russian-Ukrainian border.

We and our partners are committed to staying and delivering, as we approach the one-year mark since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, we need safe and unimpeded access to all parts of Ukraine so that we can reach more people, more frequently. Lack of access in areas not under Ukrainian Government control is limiting our ability to assist people and assess their needs.

Tropical Storm Freddy

We continue to follow the path of Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which is expected to make landfall in the Inhambane province of Mozambique tomorrow morning as a severe tropical storm. Authorities estimate that up to 1.75 million people could be affected by the storm and severe flooding.

In the coming days, very heavy rains are expected in Gaza, Manica, Maputo, Inhambane and Sofala provinces. The UN and our partners are supporting the Government-led response. We are deploying staff to Inhambane and Gaza provinces and our teams are on standby to carry out needs assessments.

In Madagascar, the UN is supporting the Government and NGOs in carrying out assessments to evaluate the damage and determine humanitarian needs after Cyclone Freddy made landfall on Tuesday.