Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic ...

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, says that with the hostilities in Gaza in their fifth month, further fighting in Rafah risks claiming more lives and exacerbating humanitarian needs. More than half of Gaza’s population is now crammed in Rafah, in abysmal living conditions.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr. Griffiths said that as the war encroaches further into Rafah, he is extremely concerned about the safety and well-being of families that have endured the unthinkable in search of safety. Once again, he called for an end to the war.

OCHA reports that health care in Gaza remains extremely precarious, as the bombardment and hostilities continue. Conditions are fast deteriorating, amid access restrictions and a shortage of critical supplies and medical personnel.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports an alarming spread of disease due to lack of sanitation and clean water. 

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, allocated US$6 million this week from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the response to floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Since December 2023, heavy rainfall has caused the Congo River to surge to its highest levels since 1961. This has triggered catastrophic flooding, which has affected 18 out of the country’s 26 provinces and affected more than 2 million people, including in the capital Kinshasa.

The floods are worsening already high humanitarian needs, with significant destruction of infrastructure and a critical disruption of basic services. The CERF allocation will support nearly 400,000 people in the areas of health, food security, shelter and protection, among others.