The UN and partners support countries affected by crises in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza
Speaking in New York, Secretary General António Guterres addressing the recent escalation in northwest Syria, speak it is painful to watch the country become more and more divided.
The Syrian war began nearly 14 years ago, sparked by a civil uprising against the government.
Renewed fighting last week led by the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed groups engulfed parts of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama, shifting battle lines unchanged since 2020 .
Thousands of families had to leave their homes
Local authorities in Hama reported that tens of thousands of families were displaced, some of whom fled the city to Homs. speak UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, spoke at a daily press conference from New York.
He noted that Hama was previously a destination for people fleeing fighting in and around Idlib and Aleppo, “so one can only imagine the scale of the crisis in that city.”
Separately, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called protect children amid the escalating crisis.
The agency is seeking more than $488 million to assist 7 million people in the region, including 4.3 million children.with life-saving services such as water, sanitation and hygiene, health care, nutrition, education and protection.
Mr. Dujarric said the United Nations and its partners continue to provide support wherever and whenever possible to those displaced by the ongoing conflict.
Cross-border mission from Türkiye
On Wednesday, the United Nations Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, David Carden, led a cross-border delegation to Idlib from Türkiye to assess the situation.
He has been involved with several United Nations agencies including the aid coordination office OCHAThe United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations refugee agency UNHCRWorld Health Organization (WHO) and staff of the United Nations security agency.
The team also visited a reception center in Dana hosting dozens of newly displaced households and spoke with families displaced from their homes in western Aleppo.
“During the visit, our refugee agency and local partners provided mattresses, blankets, cooking ingredients and other items. Mr. Dujarric said people at the reception center are in dire need of assistance with water and sanitation as well as heating materials.
Local hospitals are overloaded
The delegation also visited Sham Surgical Hospital, which is treating patients injured by recent attacks. During the period from November 27 to December 2, the hospital alone saved the lives of more than 200 people, and the ambulance system assisted more than 130 people.
WHO is providing medical supplies to the hospital, including trauma kits, but added that medical staff there are not being paid due to lack of funding.
Since the start of the escalation of hostilities, more than 30 medical facilities in northwestern Syria have ceased operations, which is placing immense strain on the remaining functional hospitals.
Paulo Pinheiro, head of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria, discusses the escalation.
Hot meals for hungry people
World Food Program (WFP) is stepping up support for those affected. Staff and partners on the ground are providing ready-to-eat rations and hot meals and have served more than 10,000 people to date.
A WFP-supported kitchen began operating in Aleppo on Tuesday and another is currently operating in Homs.
“The agency is providing food to displaced people wherever they are, on both sides of the front line and in all control areas.. WFP is working to negotiate secure supply corridors to enable a rapid and effective response to all those in need,” Mr. Dujarric said.
Aid in southern Lebanon
Turning to Lebanon, he said the United Nations aid coordination office OCHA reported that a humanitarian convoy arrived in the southern city of Nabatieh that day and delivered food to more than 4,000 people in the area.
Since September 23, the United Nations and partners have distributed more than 9 million food packages to people affected by the crisis.
OCHA further reported that in addition to the destruction of homes and essential services in their communities, families in southern Lebanon continue to face insecurity and limited access.
“These include the danger posed by unexploded ordnance and daily warnings from the Israeli Army, urging civilians to avoid returning to many villages in the south. This is clearly complicating our humanitarian efforts,” Mr. Dujarric said.
Conflict continues in Gaza
He then moved to the Gaza Strip, where hostilities continued to kill and injure civilians, including medical personnel.
About 130 people in central Gaza are now without shelter after Wednesday’s Israeli airstrike on a school in Deir al-Balah Operated by the United Nations Palestine refugee agency UNRWA.
Another air strike in the south that night hit a group of tents at Khan Younis near the coast road, reportedly causing nearly 50 casualties.
“OCHA conducted a review today and said The airstrike burned about 40 tents. We and our partners are mobilizing response efforts to support those who have lost shelter,” he said.
Not the goal
Furthermore, a Palestinian Red Crescent Society medical worker was shot dead in Khan Younis on Wednesday after transporting a patient for treatment.
“Over the past 14 months, hundreds of medical and humanitarian workers in Gaza have died. Once again, we emphasize that civilians – including patients and medical staff – and hospitals must be protectedhe said.
The UN spokesman also mentioned the situation in North Gaza province, where humanitarian access has been almost non-existent since the beginning of the siege two months ago and civilians are facing shortages. Serious shortages of essential goods.
Attacks in the West Bank
Meanwhile, the West Bank has seen a sharp increase in attacks by Israeli settlers since the start of the olive harvest season in October, according to OCHA.
From October 27 to November 27, settlers destroyed more than 700 Palestinian-owned trees and saplingsmainly olives, in the Palestinian villages of Hebron, Ramallah and Salfit.
From October to November, OCHA also recorded approximately 260 settler-related incidents directly related to the harvest season across 90 communities in the West Bank.
