#Occupied Palestinian Territory
More deaths in Gaza amid ongoing hostilities, extreme hunger
OCHA warns that the situation in the Gaza Strip is beyond catastrophic. Amid ongoing hostilities and extreme hunger, more deaths are recorded every day.
In a social media post, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that its teams are doing everything they can to deliver food to people. However, supplies remain far below needs – less than half of WFP’s daily target. The agency said that organized distributions, WFP-supported hot meals and bakeries depend on far more aid entering Gaza.
Partners report that last week, in the north and south of Gaza, more than 80 community kitchens produced some 380,000 meals each day. Back in April, the daily tally was more than a million meals. Communities rely on hot meals once a day from these kitchens – but the amount they’re able to cook remains insufficient to feed Gaza’s starving population.
Hunger-related deaths continue to be reported, including among children. The Ministry of Health said that five people, including two children, died over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition and starvation.
To prevent such deaths, humanitarians must be able to deliver aid at scale – safely and consistently – through all available crossings and routes to reach the population of 2.1 million people, half of whom are children.
Yesterday, eight out of 12 missions requiring coordination with Israeli authorities were facilitated without impediments. They included the transfer of nutritional supplies and fuel to the north. One mission to replace a water pipeline in Deir al Balah was denied, and three others were impeded but eventually fully accomplished – these included the collection of food aid from Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings.
Movement restrictions, including holding points and long waiting times inside the Strip, hinder the delivery of aid to people in desperate need.
The UN has seen the Israeli authorities’ announcement to lift the ban on shelter supplies, which have not been allowed to enter Gaza in five months. This is a welcome development, as the need for shelter and household items has increased. Partners estimate that at least 1.35 million people need emergency shelter and some 1.4 million need essential household items. This represents an increase of about 4 and 8 per cent, respectively, compared with June.
However, it is concerning that the announcement by the Israeli authorities comes in connection with the looming expansion of military operations in Gaza city. This would displace thousands of people, once again, into an overcrowded area in the south of the Strip, which is almost devoid of basic infrastructure and services, including water, food and medical services.
OCHA notes that since early March, when the Israeli shelter ban came into force, more than 780,000 new displacements have taken place. Existing shelters have deteriorated or been left behind amid repeated displacement orders.
The UN reiterates that it will not participate in any forced displacement of the population. The UN and its partners reiterate their commitment to serve people wherever they are. All civilians must be protected, whether they choose to stay or move. Those who decide to move must have their essential needs met, and they must be able to voluntarily return when the situation allows.
Unimpeded humanitarian access is needed across all of Gaza, including community-based distributions and supplies entering at scale through all possible crossings and land routes. All available supplies must be let into Gaza, including through the northern crossings.
Meanwhile in the West Bank, OCHA reports that attacks, harassment and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinians continued – including a settler attack on Sunday that led to the damage of olive trees, animal shelters and other structures in two villages in Ramallah governorate.
OCHA stresses that violence by Israeli settlers undermines Palestinians’ safety and livelihoods – and calls once again for the protection of Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
#Sudan
Scores reported killed, injured in Abu Shouk attack
OCHA is alarmed by reports of yet another deadly attack on the famine-stricken Abu Shouk camp, on the outskirts of El Fasher, the besieged capital of Sudan’s North Darfur State.
Local sources report that the Rapid Support Forces attacked the displacement site, which is hosting tens of thousands of people. More than 30 civilians were reportedly killed and over 100 people injured, according to humanitarian partners on the ground and media reports.
This is the second deadly assault in just a week to target the Abu Shouk camp, after an attack one week ago reportedly killed 40 civilians. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, said last week that he was appalled to hear about the violence at Abu Shouk, stressing that international humanitarian law is clear: civilians must be protected, and access must be granted.
Across North Darfur, humanitarian needs continue to rise, including in Tawila, where more than 300,000 people have sought safety since April. About 98 per cent of displaced households there are unable to meet their basic needs, according to a rapid assessment by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The UN and its partners are providing vital aid whenever and wherever possible, despite insecurity and access constraints. OCHA continues to call for safe and unhindered humanitarian access across Sudan and urges all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.
#Ukraine
Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia hard hit by weekend attacks
OCHA reports that attacks over the weekend killed and injured civilians across Ukraine. According to authorities, dozens of civilians – including three children – were killed and nearly 100 injured. Homes and other civilian infrastructure were also damaged.
Authorities report that the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia sustained most of the casualties and damage. Civilian deaths, injuries, and destruction of homes and infrastructure – including educational facilities and marketplaces – were also reported in the regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Sumy and Odesa.
Humanitarian partners, supported by UN agencies, provided immediate assistance, including psychosocial support, hot meals and drinks, and emergency shelter kits.
OCHA says that the operating environment for humanitarian organizations continues to deteriorate. In the first half of 2025, at least four aid workers were killed and more than 30 injured, with over 100 security incidents were reported in Ukraine. Incidents involving harm to personnel, assets and facilities rose from 61 in 2024 to 103 in 2025, reflecting heightened risks, particularly near the front line, due to increased short-range drone attacks.
Meanwhile, humanitarians continue to support* people fleeing hostilities in the Donetsk and Dnipro regions as authorities expand mandatory evacuations for families with children. Assistance includes transport – also for bedridden people and people with disabilities – and multi-sector support at transit sites.
Between 15 and 17 August alone, about 3,700 people, including 370 children, were evacuated from front-line areas of the Donetsk region, according to authorities. Humanitarian partners report that needs remain high at the transit site of Pavlohrad due to the large influx of evacuees, particularly for shelter for older people and those with disabilities.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Ukraine with urgent support.