One year after the escalation of hostilities across the Blue Line, OCHA says that unprecedented violence has led to devastating civilian casualties and displacement, extensive damage to infrastructure and an unprecedented rise in humanitarian needs across Lebanon.
National authorities estimate that more than one million people have been displaced. As of 8 October, the International Organization for Migration, has identified over 600,000 internally displaced persons, with more than 180,000 individuals currently residing in nearly 1000 collective shelters.
Some 80 per cent of these shelters are already full. Three quarters of them are in public schools, which has led to the postponement of the new school year to 4 November.
On 5 October, a joint mission – including OCHA, the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF and partners – reached Tyre in southern Lebanon for the first time since 23 September. They delivered food, water and hygiene supplies to people affected by the crisis. Today, OCHA and humanitarian partners returned to Tyre, bringing blankets, bread and fresh food for a community kitchen providing assistance there.
Over the weekend, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNHCR delivered critical medical supplies and equipment to the Ministry of Public Health, through the Beirut airport, including emergency surgical medication, cholera kits and mental health medicines to treat approximately 100,000 patients.
UNICEF is also supplying more than 160 tons of medical supplies to support 2 million people affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon, especially women and children. Nearly 70 tons have already been delivered, including 25 tons flown in on 6 October.
As of 8 October, the US$426 million Flash Appeal for Lebanon is just 12 per cent funded, with $51 million received. More funding is urgently required to ensure ongoing support to people in need during these challenging times. As the situation worsens, the demand for food, medicine, shelter and other essential supplies will only grow.
Occupied Palestinian Territory
OCHA reports that hundreds of thousands of people and dozens of humanitarian facilities in Gaza have been affected by four new evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military in recent days.
At least 70,000 people have been displaced, according to initial estimates from humanitarian partners on the ground. This includes some 50,000 people who have moved from northern Gaza toward Gaza city, as well as more than 20,000 people who have moved from the An Nuseirat and Al Bureij refugee camps toward southern Deir al Balah and Khan Younis.
Aid personnel on the ground report that 12 sites for internally displaced people in northern Deir al Balah governorate are in areas affected by the latest Israeli directives. Dozens of facilities offering critical health, water, sanitation, hygiene and education services are also in the evacuation zone.
OCHA warns that the evacuation orders and escalating hostilities risk further constraining humanitarian access, particularly between southern and northern Gaza. This includes efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other humanitarian partners to maintain and supply medical facilities.
WHO reports that 10 hospitals, 19 primary health-care centres and 32 medical points in the North Gaza and Gaza governorates risk being affected by the unfolding situation. If WHO and its partners are unable to get fuel to these facilities, they may be forced to abruptly suspend critical health services – including in intensive care units and maternity wards. Immediate deliveries of essential health supplies and medications are also urgently needed.
Over the past year, WHO has been providing critical support to support Gaza’s beleaguered health-care system. The agency says that since last October, it has brought nearly 1,100 metric tons of medical supplies into Gaza, enabling 16,400 emergency and surgery interventions – and reaching 324,000 people with basic health care needs and 1.5 million people suffering from non-communicable diseases.
WHO also says that since January, 37 emergency medical teams have deployed across the Strip, providing 1.5 million consultations.
Sudan
OCHA reports that more than 150 aid trucks have crossed into Sudan from Chad via the Adre border point, which was re-opened by the Sudanese authorities in August.
These trucks have moved about 4,570 metric tonnes of food, nutrition, shelter, medical and other supplies, enough to support as many as 550,000 people, including in communities that are acutely food insecure and at risk of famine.
Flooding and damage to roads and bridges have continued to complicate onward movements inside Darfur, but a majority of the trucks that have crossed the border have reached their intended destinations, with the others remaining en route. Â
As the rainy season draws to a close, the UN and its humanitarian partners are working to significantly scale up the movement of aid, including via the Tine crossing – which floodwaters had rendered largely impassable in recent months – and via crossline routes linking Port Sudan to key areas of need.
However, OCHA continues to be alarmed by an intensification of the conflict in many parts of the country, now that the rainy season is ending, and calls on the parties to immediately stop the fighting, protect civilians, and facilitate humanitarian access. Â
With millions of people in Sudan facing acute levels of hunger, it is all the more critical to ensure that aid organizations have safe, sustained, rapid and unimpeded access via all necessary routes – both across borders and conflict lines – to reach those in need.
Haiti
OCHA says that an attack on 3 October in the commune of Saint-Marc in Haiti, reportedly killed at least 70 people and left hundreds of others injured. Â
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says that more than 6,000 people have also been displaced as a result of the violence. The majority of these people are seeking refuge with relatives or host families, with some having gathered in makeshift sites.
The UN and its humanitarian partners are mobilized and supporting local authorities in the response.
IOM is helping to arrange temporary shelter sites and provide emergency assistance, including mattresses, kitchen and shelter kits. The World Food Programme is distributing hot meals to people uprooted by the violence, while UN Women is providing cash transfers.
On 5 October, the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization dispatched 1.3 tons of medical supplies, enough to support 50 surgical interventions and treat 1,000 injured people, to local health facilities.
For its part, the UN Population Fund is also delivering more than 1,800 dignity kits and essential medicine to St. Nicolas Hospital in Saint Marc. This includes maternal and reproductive health supplies such as delivery kits, cesarean kits, and post-violence care kits.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The UN says deadly floods have affected the southern and central parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in the cities and municipalities of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Central Bosnia Canton and Zenica-Doboj Canton.
Since 4 October, heavy rains have triggered numerous landslides, road collapses and flooding due to the overflow of rivers and lakes. Telephone and internet connections are down and the municipality of Jablanica is blocked due to impassable roads.
The UN team on the ground is closely coordinating with local and national authorities and international partners to assess needs and provide swift emergency assistance and relief. We reaffirm our commitment to support to Bosnia and Herzegovina during this challenging time.