Summer begins under fire for Ukraine’s children
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, today condemned another large-scale wave of attacks by the Russian Federation armed forces in the regions of Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv, which have been hit repeatedly in recent weeks.
In the early hours of this morning, attacks killed and injured civilians, including children, and damaged homes, hospitals and shops, according to local authorities. Rescue operations were ongoing as of this morning.
Schmale noted that, instead of enjoying the start of the school summer break, children and their families spent the night in shelters, awakened by air raid sirens and explosions.
Schmale reiterated that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
In Kyiv City, attacks killed and injured civilians, including three children. Multiple residential buildings, several hospitals and other civilian infrastructure were damaged. Power outages temporarily affected nearly 140,000 customers this morning.
Authorities also report numerous civilian casualties in the region of Dnipro and Kharkiv, including children.
Humanitarian organizations – including UN agencies – are mobilized and providing first aid and psychological support, distributing emergency relief items, and registering affected people for humanitarian cash assistance.
Civilians caught in violence as attacks impact hospitals
OCHA reports that civilians in Lebanon continue to bear the brunt of hostilities, with attacks affecting healthcare, emergency services and undermining people’s access to life-saving assistance.
According to Lebanese authorities, an attack yesterday in the vicinity of Jabal Amel Hospital in the city of Tyre in South Governorate killed at least four people and injured 127 people, including 39 healthcare workers. Four are in critical condition. Jabal Amel Hospital is one of the few hospitals still operating in southern Lebanon. Search-and-rescue teams continue to remove rubble and search for missing people.
Today, in the town of Kafr Sir in Nabatieh Governorate, a strike reportedly hit a civil defence centre.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, at least 3,433 people have been killed and more than 10,395 injured across Lebanon since 2 March.
The Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, and the Prime Minister of Lebanon will jointly launch the revised Lebanon Flash Appeal in Beirut this Friday. The appeal remains focused on providing life-saving assistance to people in need.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.
Humanitarian convoys face fresh delays
OCHA warns that yesterday, Israeli forces began routing humanitarian convoys through a new road, with a new checkpoint, to reach Kerem Shalom from inside Gaza.
Today and yesterday, humanitarian convoys have faced significant operational challenges at the new checkpoint including delays, congestion, malfunctions, and slow screening. As a result, only some of the supplies planned to be collected from Kerem Shalom could be picked up.
Kerem Shalom is the only cargo crossing currently operational, as Zikim crossing in the north is closed for a second week.
Humanitarian teams are engaging the authorities to secure smoother access to the Israeli crossings along Gaza’s perimeter and the reopening of additional routes.
Meanwhile, to respond to emerging shelter needs, partners have last week distributed nearly 5,000 bedding items, 150 tents and over 2,000 tarpaulins to more than 5,700 families. However, partners say that the dwindling stocks, ongoing restrictions on the entry of essential material, and limited access to affected areas make it challenging to meet the daily needs of the displaced people.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces on Sunday extended a military order that closes off three refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm. Information from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency indicates that over 33,000 Palestinians from these camps have been displaced and not allowed to return since January 2025. This latest extension prolongs their displacement by another two months, until 31 July.
OCHA calls for the lifting of movement restrictions and other policies that cause or prolong displacement or hinder access to basic services and sources of livelihood.
Aid reaches millions despite violence, access constraints
OCHA reports that despite funding shortfalls, access constraints and insecurity, the UN and its partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance across Sudan.
In April alone, the UN and its partners provided food aid to more than 3 million people – including nearly 800,000 people in areas experiencing or at risk of severe hunger.
In North Darfur State, the World Food Programme and its partners provided emergency food and nutrition assistance to more than 450,000 people in the locality of Tawila, which hosts one of the largest populations of internally displaced people in Sudan.
OCHA remains gravely concerned by escalating intercommunal violence in parts of the Darfur region.
Over the weekend, clashes in several villages across Central and West Darfur reportedly killed at least 30 people. The violence spread to more communities yesterday, and tensions remain high despite mediation efforts by local authorities and community leaders.
Meanwhile, drone strikes continue to affect Darfur. Yesterday, drones reportedly struck the town of Kabum in South Darfur State, as well as several parts of the state capital, Nyala.
OCHA once again calls on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to allow rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained access to humanitarian aid for people who need it.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.
Escalating violence hampers Ebola response
OCHA reports that escalating violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to impact civilians and the response to the Ebola outbreak.
In the province of Ituri, humanitarian partners report that at least seven civilians were killed in villages in Mambasa Territory on 31 May. This attack follows a weeks-long escalation of violence in the province, bringing the total death toll to more than 170 for the month of May alone.
The provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu have not been spared by the violence, with authorities reporting casualties and armed clashes preventing communities from accessing their fields and directly hampering humanitarian and health workers from carrying out their responses to Ebola.
OCHA reiterates its call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, to protect civilians, and to ensure safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access.
Meanwhile, the Ebola outbreak continues to expand, with 321 confirmed cases and 48 deaths across 23 health zones in the three provinces as of 31 May, according to national authorities. At least six patients have been declared recovered.
The UN and its partners continue to support national health authorities, including through the establishment of Ebola treatment centres, delivering daily meals to patients and frontline health workers, providing assistance for case management, and transporting medical supplies, as well as community engagement, risk communication, and strengthened surveillance to help prevent Ebola’s further spread.
Yesterday, the Government of the DRC announced the reopening of the airport in the city of Bunia following a comprehensive public health assessment of surveillance and containment measures. The airport had been closed for commercial flights since 23 May, although humanitarian cargo and flights by the UN Humanitarian Air Service had been allowed on an exceptional basis.
In Uganda, the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to 11, including two confirmed deaths as of 1 June, according to the World Health Organization. Some of the cases have been linked to cross-border transmission from the DRC.
The UN and its partners have launched a $15.8 million three-month emergency appeal to support the Government-led response to the Ebola outbreak.
Elsewhere in the region, countries are reinforcing their preparedness measures. Burundi has developed a $17.3 million Ebola Contingency Plan to support preparedness and response efforts, while Zimbabwe has reportedly set up Ebola isolation centres.
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