Shelters overflow, aid stretched as crisis deepens
OCHA reports that hostilities in Lebanon continue to cause casualties and drive people from their homes, particularly in the south of the country and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Collective shelters are overcrowded, and thousands of families are reportedly staying on streets, along the coast and in other informal settings.
Attacks on healthcare continue at an alarming rate. Yesterday, a strike in Shhour municipality in South Governorate hit an ambulance, killing two paramedics and leaving a third critically injured. Medical personnel, first responders, and their facilities and assets must be protected.
Despite these challenges, the UN and its partners continue to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance. To date, more than 684,000 people have received at least one round of emergency cash assistance, helping to cover basic food, water and other essential needs.
However, as the escalation has entered its fourth month, funding shortfalls are imperilling support to the most vulnerable people. Tomorrow, 5 June, humanitarian partners and the Government of Lebanon will launch an extended Flash Appeal to mobilize resources to continue providing life-saving assistance over the next three months.
The UN reiterates its call for the protection of civilians, including humanitarian and medical personnel; full respect for international humanitarian law; and safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people in need.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.
Funding gaps force life-saving aid cuts
OCHA warns that funding shortfalls are forcing humanitarian partners in Gaza to scale down or suspend critical services.
Nearly half way through 2026, the US$4.1 billion requirement identified in the annual appeal for Gaza and the West Bank remains less than 15 per cent funded.
As a result, humanitarian partners’ ability to plan, pre-position relief and respond effectively is weakening at a time when most of Gaza’s 2.1 million people remain displaced and heavily rely on their services.
For example, by the end of last month, four humanitarian partners were forced to begin phasing out water trucking in Gaza. This leaves more than 330,000 people across some 250 sites at risk of losing their primary source of drinking water. Already, UNICEF warns that water shortages force families into a trade-off between drinking and maintaining hygiene to prevent disease.
The number of meals provided is also reducing; as of last week, over 20 partners were providing 678,000 meals every day, down from 1.5 million in mid-March.
Other affected services include support for agricultural recovery, site management, education and the reopening of safe spaces for women and girls.
As more services will be suspended without further funding, humanitarians call upon donors to urgently increase their support. Member States are equally urged to press for the lifting of Israeli restrictions that continue to impede aid work on the ground.
Turning to the West Bank, 27 herding families were recently forced out of their residential area near the Ein Fera’a water spring, in Hebron, following systematic harassment and intimidation inflicted by Israeli settlers who had taken over a nearby hilltop. The community comprised 125 people, including three people with disabilities and more than 20 who have chronic illnesses.
Their forced displacement occurred over two weeks ending this Tuesday. So far, UNICEF has provided them with baby kits and recreational kits as well as hygiene items – more support, including food, tents, kitchen items, health services and cash, is underway.
This is the 46th Palestinian community that has been displaced in full since January 2023 due to settler violence and related access restrictions. Overall, more than 6,000 people have been displaced in this context since January 2023, including more than 2,000 since January this year alone.
New Ebola cases reported as response efforts intensify
OCHA reports that the UN and its partners continue to support national health authorities in responding to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Support ranges from case management, the operation of Ebola treatment centres, and the delivery of essential medicines and medical supplies, as well as community engagement and strengthened surveillance to help prevent further spread.
On Tuesday, health authorities reported 19 new confirmed cases, bringing the total case number to 366 across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. Ituri province remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for approximately 94 per cent of cases.
Response efforts continue to face challenges. Attacks against front-line workers, particularly during safe and dignified burial operations, are hindering the response, while persistent misinformation, rumours and mistrust are undermining the effective implementation of public health measures.
The UN and its partners remain engaged with authorities and partners on the ground to address these challenges and support efforts to bring the outbreak under control as quickly as possible.
Humanitarian conditions deteriorate as energy crisis deepens
OCHA reports that the combined impact of the energy crisis following the US Executive Orders and other sanctions, alongside hurricanes and other natural disasters, is far reaching and expanding daily in Cuba.
All basic services – from clean water and sanitation to food production and the health sector – are impacted by the lack of fuel and electricity. More than 100,000 surgeries have been postponed due to a deep shortage of medicines and medical supplies.
The UN and partners have a Plan of Action to assist up to 2 million people. But the energy crisis is also limiting the ability to deliver the aid already committed, with dozens of containers of food and medical supplies still sitting in ports due to the lack of fuel.
This afternoon, the UN Resident Coordinator, Francisco Pichon; OCHA’s Crisis Response Director, Edem Wosornu; and the Permanent Representative of Cuba will speak to Member States on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.
At the briefing, the UN will reiterate the Secretary-General’s calls on Member States to facilitate the timely and unimpeded delivery of fuel for humanitarian purposes and other life-saving aid and to fund the Plan of Action.
The $82 million Plan of Action is only 21 per cent funded.
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