#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Gaza: Unilateral tactical pauses alone not enough to meet immense needs
OCHA warns that four days since the start of tactical pauses declared by the Israeli authorities, we are still seeing casualties among those seeking aid and more deaths due to hunger and malnutrition.
Parents continue to struggle to save their starving children. In a social media post, UNICEF stressed that “this is a condition that we can prevent,” calling for increased humanitarian access.
Aid workers in Gaza have not been spared. Our partners report high workloads, burnout and exhaustion – mainly due to the lack of food – among frontline workers as well as among caseworkers in mental health and psycho-social support facilities.
Yesterday, in a social media post, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that “the health needs in Gaza are immense. A continuous flow of medical supplies is critical.”
While the UN and its partners are taking advantage of any opportunity to support people in need during the unilateral tactical pauses, the conditions for the delivery of aid and supplies are far from sufficient. For example, for UN drivers to access the Kerem Shalom crossing – a fenced off area – Israeli authorities must approve the mission, provide a safe route through which to travel, provide multiple ‘green lights’ on movement, as well as a pause in bombing, and, ultimately, open the iron gates to allow them to enter.
On the issue of fuel, last week, the UN brought in limited quantities of fuel through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings, almost half of which were transferred to the north to support vital health, emergency, water and telecommunications needs.
OCHA reiterates that current fuel entries are insufficient to meet life-saving critical needs and represent a drop in the ocean of needs.
OCHA stresses again that a permanent ceasefire is needed more than ever. Unilateral tactical pauses alone do not allow for the continuous flow of supplies required to meet immense needs levels in Gaza.
Meanwhile, desperate, hungry people continue to offload the small amounts of aid from the trucks that are able to exit the crossings.
The UN and its partners continue to coordinate humanitarian movements inside Gaza with the Israeli authorities. Yesterday, three facilitated missions allowed its staff to collect cargo containing food from the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings, and fuel to be transferred within Gaza. However, the others faced impediments, particularly delays in receiving the green light to move by the Israeli authorities, and one had to be cancelled.
OCHA reiterates that in order to scale-up the delivery of aid in a manner that begins to meet people’s tremendous needs, it is critical that all crossings must open, a broad range of supplies – both humanitarian and commercial – be allowed to enter, aid movements inside Gaza be safeguarded and facilitated in a timely manner, and that humanitarians be allowed to do their jobs.
#Somalia
Clashes empty entire town as violence continue in Hirshabelle, Jubaland States
OCHA reports that ongoing armed violence have displaced more than 100,000 people in the regions of Hiraan in Hirshabelle State and Gedo in Jubaland State in the past two months.
On 26 July, clashes intensified in the town of Mahas in Hiraan, forcing the entire population of over 28,000 people to flee their homes. Between 23 and 26 July, 38,000 people were displaced in the Gedo region, with some people crossing into Kenya.
Due to security concerns, seven health facilities in the Hiraan region have suspended operations, cutting off essential healthcare and emergency services for thousands of people.
The violence has also restricted humanitarian access, particularly in already hard-to-reach areas. Due to insecurity and funding constraints, only a limited number of our partners are able to operate in these locations.
Communities affected by the violence urgently need shelter, food, clean water, healthcare and protection.
This new wave of displacement comes as aid agencies grapple with severe funding cuts. Since the beginning of the year, many operations have stalled and assistance has dwindled. Due to reduced funding, two million Somalis are projected to face increased vulnerability in the months ahead.
Aid agencies in Somalia have reprioritized activities to align with the new funding reality, but resources remain critically low. The US$1.4 billion Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is about 16 per cent funded, with $230 million received so far.
Partners warn that without urgent and sustained funding, the humanitarian crisis will deepen, resulting in preventable suffering and loss of lives.
#Haiti
UN, partners mobilized as new cholera cases reported
OCHA says that cholera continues to impact the fragile state of the country’s public health system — particularly in displacement sites, where there is limited access to safe water and sanitation.
According to the WHO, between 13 and 19 July, 34 new suspected cholera cases were reported across six of the country’s departments.
Most of the cases were linked to displacement sites. Five active transmission hotspots have been identified, including in the capital Port-au-Prince and in the northern regions.
Since December 2024, more than 2,800 suspected cholera cases have been recorded nationwide, with 91 laboratory-confirmed cases and 36 fatalities. Cases are being managed by national health authorities, with the support of WHO.
Despite funding shortfalls, humanitarian partners continue to carry out key cholera prevention and response activities.
In the department of Artibonite, families received water purification tablets and oral rehydration salt, while in central Haiti, partners have installed handwashing stations and scaled up their community outreach.
In the north, efforts are being made to contain the spread of cholera, with latrines and homes being disinfected and preventive treatments being distributed.
Despite these efforts, the response remains under severe strain due to limited resources, insecurity and the deteriorating conditions in displacement sites. Additional support is urgently needed to strengthen the public health response and prevent further outbreaks among the country’s most vulnerable.
The $908 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is just under 9 percent funded with $79 million received so far.
#Sudan
Hunger, disease and displacement inflict heavy toll on civilians
OCHA is alarmed by the rising toll of hunger, disease and displacement in various parts of the country.
In East Darfur State, local sources report that the Lagawa displacement site, hosting more than 7,000 people, is facing severe food shortages and repeated armed attacks. Doctors there warn that the ongoing conflict continues to block aid delivery, leaving vulnerable families without access to food or healthcare.
In the besieged city of El Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur, local sources report that people are dying from hunger and malnutrition. Community-run kitchens have shut down due to lack of food stocks, and some residents have reportedly resorted to consuming animal feed. The prices of food and other basic goods are skyrocketing in El Fasher, further worsening the humanitarian situation driven by the 15-month siege of the city.
In the locality of Tawila in North Darfur, humanitarian organizations have scaled up their response to cholera. They have expanded treatment centre capacities, but needs remain acute. Medical supplies are running low, and it is critical that clean water supplies, the construction of latrines and awareness campaigns be urgently ramped up.
Meanwhile, partners report that floods and storms are displacing families and destroying homes across the country. In North Kordofan State, heavy rains displaced around 550 people and damaged or destroyed over 170 homes in the locality of Ar Rahad on Monday.
In the eastern Sudan state of Kassala, torrential rains have devastated the Gharb Almatar site for displaced families, affecting more than 6,000 people. Many tents were flooded, leaving children exposed to cold, hunger and unsanitary conditions. The displaced families urgently need cash assistance, shelter and protection, especially women and children who face heightened risks while collecting firewood.
In Port Sudan, extreme heat continues to affect people. At least three people have reportedly died this week and over 50 others have suffered sunstroke due to extreme heat and a prolonged power outage. With temperatures reaching 47 degrees Celsius and hospitals overwhelmed, health workers are calling for urgent support, including cooling equipment, medical supplies and personnel.
These cascading crises demand increased international support. The 2025 response plan seeking $4.2 billion to assist 21 million of the most vulnerable people across Sudan is currently 23 per cent funded, with $952 million received to date. OCHA once again calls on donors to scale up funding for the response.
#Pacific tsunami warnings
Yesterday evening, a massive earthquake off the eastern coast of Russia – one of the strongest in the region in decades – triggered tsunami alerts and evacuation orders across the Pacific region, including parts of Asia, North America and South America.
OCHA continues to monitor the situation in multiple countries, noting that initial reports indicate no major damage.
The UN stands ready to support any response efforts, should assistance be requested.
