UN relief chief warns of widening gap between humanitarian need and ability to act
Today marked the start of the Economic and Social Council Humanitarian Affairs Segment.
The three-day annual event brings together Member States, the UN system, humanitarian and development partners, as well as the private sector, to discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen the coordination and effectiveness of the UN’s humanitarian work.
Speaking at the opening, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, warned that in a changing world, with the humanitarian mission often contested, aid organizations not only face a gap between growing needs and shrinking funding, but between needs and the very ability to deliver.
He stressed that respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of aid workers are indispensable to humanitarian action.
“The future of humanitarian action will not be decided by humanitarians alone,” Fletcher said, calling on Member States, parties to conflict, donors, development partners and the private sector to play their part.
More families returning to communities amid high humanitarian needs
OCHA reports that more people are returning to southern Lebanon. Many are going back with the hope of staying in their communities, even as they face ongoing insecurity, widespread destruction and limited access to basic services.
In Nabatieh Governorate, more than 4,000 families reportedly returned between 12 June and yesterday. And in the municipality of Srifa, in South Governorate, two collective shelters opened this week to support people who have returned to the area.
However, many families remain unable to go back to their homes because of ongoing fighting and the threat posed by unexploded ordnance.
OCHA warns that humanitarian needs remain high. According to UNICEF, more than 770,000 children are experiencing heightened distress after repeated exposure to violence, loss and displacement.
The UN continues to call for the protection of civilians and for returns to be safe, voluntary and informed, with sustained humanitarian access and assistance for those who need it.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.
Approval processes hamper aid delivery as settler violence continues
OCHA reports that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to provide assistance across the Gaza Strip.
Since May, and in collaboration with partners, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are providing shelter repairs, replacing wood with aluminium to improve durability, safety, and living conditions. They also supported the manufacture and installation of nearly 150 large emergency family shelters and provided shelter assistance to hundreds of families, combining cash and in-kind support.
The UN and its humanitarian partners are also repurposing used wooden pallets for furniture and other household uses.
However, IOM warns that progress continues to be constrained by lengthy Israeli approval processes, including custom clearance. Delays have led to winter items only receiving approval during the summer. Last month, several shipments, including kitchen sets and solar lanterns, that had already been cleared by Israeli authorities were nevertheless denied entry.
Meanwhile, as families experience electricity blackouts, overcrowding and lack of safe cooking fuel, they often prepare meals over an open fire inside or near their tents. In June, the UN and its partners responded to multiple cooking-related fire incidents. To mitigate further risk, humanitarian teams provide safety guidance to people at risk.
Turning to the West Bank, settler-related incidents continue. On Monday, near the town of Halhul, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian farmers using sticks and stones. A newly established settlement near the town of Dura prevented Palestinians from accessing thousands of acres of agricultural land, affecting the safety and livelihoods of more than a dozen families and restricting movement and access for thousands of Palestinians.
OCHA calls once again for the protection of civilians, which includes enforcing the law against anyone who carries out attacks.
Violence, threats to aid workers hamper life‑saving operations
OCHA says that escalating violence and threats against aid workers continue to hamstring life‑saving operations in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In the province of South Kivu, access remains heavily restricted in several areas as fighting continues to force civilians to flee. Nearly 20,000 people were forced to flee their homes on 15 June, following clashes in the Mwenga and Shabunda territories. These displaced families need food, shelter, healthcare, safe drinking water and protection.
Meanwhile, in Fizi territory, humanitarian access also remains under pressure, as repeated interference by armed groups continues to threaten the delivery of life-saving assistance and the safety of humanitarian workers. Between January and May of this year, at least 57 incidents directly affecting humanitarians were recorded in the province of South Kivu alone, including threats against staff, interference in aid delivery, and movement restrictions.
In Ituri province, five Ebola response workers were briefly detained by armed groups yesterday. Ituri remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for more than 90 per cent of all confirmed cases. According to health authorities, as of 15 June, 29 new confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases to 837 across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
Despite these immense challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support national authorities in containing the outbreak and deliver assistance. However, humanitarian personnel cannot operate safely without security guarantees.
The UN reiterates its call on all parties to protect civilians and ensure safe, rapid and unhindered access to those in need.
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