Today’s top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Aid operations disrupted near northern Rafah in Gaza amid reports of intensified military activity

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to face significant challenges in reaching communities located near the “Yellow Line” in northern Rafah in the Gaza Strip. 

Yesterday, OCHA and humanitarian partners consulted representatives of 17 displacement sites hosting about 3,000 families, following reports of movements of Israeli forces and disruptions to humanitarian services in the area.

Community representatives reported that the yellow blocks marking the line had moved northward. They described daily movements of Israeli tanks, construction of sand embankments, and recurrent gunfire. Families reportedly remain inside their tents for much of the day due to fears of being injured by gunfire or stray bullets.

Humanitarian partners also received reports this afternoon of intensified military activity in the vicinity of sites near the “Yellow Line,” including reported tank movements towards one of the sites. Initial reports indicate that one Palestinian was killed and three others were injured at one of the sites. The injured were reportedly transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross Field Hospital for treatment.

Humanitarian partners report that the insecurity is severely disrupting the delivery of essential assistance, including water, food, bread, hygiene support and routine site-management services. A water-truck driver was reportedly injured by gunfire last Wednesday.

Some residents told humanitarian partners they wish to relocate but have few viable options because of limited space elsewhere, shortages of tents and other essential items, and inadequate access to services. Others say they remain because they fear losing access to their homes, land or property.

Under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected at all times and humanitarian organizations must be able to reach people in need safely and without impediment.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, OCHA reports that between 10 July and yesterday, settlers reportedly attacked Palestinians working on agricultural land in an area in southern Hebron governorate. Some 30 Palestinians were injured, including children, women and older persons. Damage to olive trees and agricultural infrastructure was also reported.

During the incidents, Israeli forces reportedly arrived at the scene, declared the area a closed military zone and ordered Palestinian farmers to leave, while settlers remained in the area.

These incidents reflect a recurring pattern of settler violence affecting Palestinians attempting to access and cultivate their agricultural land.

Humanitarian partners are providing assistance, including legal assistance, to affected communities. Civilians must be protected and all incidents of violence must be addressed in line with international law.

#Lebanon

Damaged homes, insecurity prevent families’ return to southern Lebanon

OCHA reports that people continue to return to their communities in southern Lebanon, although many families remain unable to go home. More than 430,000 people are still internally displaced.

Since the latest ceasefire announcement, 50 collective shelters have closed in South Governorate, while 45 remain open, hosting around 7,000 people. New shelters have also been set up in Tyre district for families moving closer to their communities but unable to return because their homes have been damaged or destroyed.

Insecurity, damaged homes and infrastructure, the presence of unexploded ordnance, and limited access to basic services are hindering safe and sustainable returns.

Partners continue to respond to growing needs. Since the escalation began, they have reached more than 330,000 people with protection services, including child protection assistance and support for survivors of gender-based violence.

The US$640 revised Lebanon Flash Appeal is only 43 per cent funded, constraining the response at a time when humanitarian needs remain high.

All returns must be safe, voluntary and dignified, and call for sustained humanitarian access and the protection of civilians, including humanitarian personnel and health workers.

#Sudan

Cholera spreads as new drone attacks endanger civilians, aid operations

OCHA warns that fighting and disease outbreaks continue to take a heavy toll on civilians across Sudan.

Multiple drone attacks have been reported across Darfur and Kordofan. In North Kordofan State, humanitarian partners reported that on Sunday a drone reportedly struck a fuel station in the Al Malaja area of El Obeid.

On the same day, in North Darfur, partners reported that a drone struck several trucks traveling along the road between El Fasher and Um Kadada. In a separate incident, another reported drone attack resulted in civilian casualties in Kubum town in South Darfur State.

Meanwhile, cholera continues to spread to new areas in Darfur and Kordofan. New cases were reportedly confirmed in Kampala displacement camp in South Darfur and the first suspected case was reported in Tawila locality in North Darfur.

In West Kordofan, which has seen the highest number of cases, six new suspected cases and two associated deaths had been recorded by health partners, while in North Kordofan, 32 new suspected cholera cases were reported on Sunday in Gharb Bara locality.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1,330 cases and 114 deaths were confirmed as of 7 July.

The UN and its partners continue to pre-position supplies and scale up the response to the outbreak. On 12 July, UNICEF delivered essential health supplies to El Fula in West Kordofan to support the ongoing cholera response. The supplies are expected to benefit more than 429,000 people.

In Nyala South, partners continued preventive and control measures, including community outreach and health awareness campaigns, household chlorination, and the distribution of chlorine strips to reduce the risk of transmission.

This time last year, Sudan faced a major cholera outbreak that resulted in more than 80,000 suspected cases and over 2,000 associated deaths.

OCHA once again calls for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and reiterates the need for rapid and flexible funding so partners can respond to growing needs across Sudan.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ebola outbreak reaches key transport hub as aid agencies expand response

OCHA reports that efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak are scaling up following the spread of the disease to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s two additional provinces, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.

The confirmation of cases in Kisangani – a city of more than 1.6 million people and a major transport hub linking east and west of the country – highlights the risk of wider transmission along key transport corridors, including the Congo River.

As of 12 July, national health authorities have reported 1,963 confirmed Ebola cases across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo provinces.

The UN Senior Ebola Coordinator, Julien Harneis, returned yesterday from a mission to Kisangani with the Congolese Minister of Health, the Incident Managers from Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the WHO, to support provincial authorities in strengthening the response. National organizations, faith-based groups and local community networks are already mobilized on the ground.

The UN and its humanitarian partners, in support of the authorities, are expanding surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management and community engagement efforts to contain the outbreak. The response has made important gains in recent weeks, with 85 per cent of alerts now being investigated, and 80 per cent of identified contacts being traced and monitored. Eleven decentralized laboratories are now operational, raising testing capacity to up to 250 samples per day. At the same time, treatment capacity has expanded to 22 Ebola Treatment Centres and seven transit centres, providing more than 700 beds across affected areas.

Meanwhile, ongoing insecurity in parts of North Kivu and Ituri continues to hamper the response. At least four civilians were reportedly killed and several others abducted during an armed attack overnight between 12 and 13 July in Beni territory, North Kivu province. Several people remain unaccounted for, and population displacement has been reported.

On a positive note, South Kivu has now recorded 49 consecutive days without a new confirmed case – twice exceeding the maximum incubation period. The province is maintaining enhanced surveillance as it moves towards a possible declaration of the end of transmission.

The UN calls on all stakeholders to ensure the safety of health workers and humanitarian personnel and to facilitate access to affected communities. Continued community engagement, early reporting of suspected cases and a secure operating environment remain essential to interrupting transmission and bringing this outbreak under control.