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

#Syria

UN Relief Chief urges Security Council to sustain support for Syria’s recovery

Yesterday, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, addressed the Security Council on Syria, cautioning that the progress made in the country remains fragile.

Fletcher said that, after years of conflict and neglect, there are tangible signs of progress in Syria, including an increase in people returning home and the revival of markets and basic services. He underscored the importance of a Syrian-led vision for recovery, supported by a strong UN-Government partnership to enable Syria to move away from humanitarian need toward development, recovery and resilience.

However, Fletcher stressed that this progress remains highly vulnerable to regional instability, with nearly 300,000 people having crossed into Syria from Lebanon since the start of the hostilities, adding to the 1.6 million Syrian refugees who need food, shelter and other support. Fletcher also outlined the continued internal humanitarian needs due to displacement, flooding, and mine contamination, adding that the funding cuts threaten essential services and life‑saving operations.

He underscored that sustained diplomatic engagement, immediate humanitarian support and long‑term investment in Syria’s future are all critical for the country to be a success story.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Syria with urgent support.

#Lebanon 

Humanitarian needs persist amid conflict, funding gaps

OCHA reports that humanitarian needs remain severe in Lebanon and the operating environment highly fragile. Since the ceasefire, many people remain displaced and their access to essential services remain restricted.

OCHA says damage to bridges and other critical infrastructure, as well as displacement orders, the presence of unexploded ordnance and other risks continue to limit people’s ability to move and complicate aid delivery in southern Lebanon.

Despite these constraints, partners continue to reach hard-to-access communities. Since yesterday, five more humanitarian operations have been carried out through the OCHA-managed Humanitarian Notifications System, bringing the total number of humanitarian movements facilitated to 80 since the start of the conflict.

Partners report that water has been delivered to support more than 600,000 people, alongside fuel to keep critical water services running.

Health partners tell us they are supporting authorities to provide primary healthcare services for displaced people, including over 190,000 consultations and essential medication for acute and chronic conditions to over 70,000 people.

Partners working in education and protection report that they continue to support displaced children through psychosocial activities, recreational support and alternative learning options.

However, the response remains critically underfunded. The Lebanon Flash Appeal is currently just 30 per cent funded, with $94 million received of the $308 million required.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Civilians imperiled by hunger, violence

OCHA says that continued reports of strikes, shelling and gunfire in residential areas in Gaza are increasing concerns for the safety of civilians.  

Yesterday, humanitarian partners received reports of children killed in North Gaza when a tent was hit in a strike.  

OCHA reiterates that, under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. 

On food security, the UN and partners continue to distribute meals, bread and other supplies, including in areas that are hard to reach. As of Monday, partners were serving about 1.1 million meals and producing about 230 metric tons of bread every day. This is achieved in collaboration with more than 120 kitchens, commercial bakeries and community ovens. Still, the World Food Programme reports that every fifth family in Gaza eats just one meal every day. 

Turning to the West Bank, the UN continues to receive reports of settler-related attacks causing Palestinian casualties, material damage and displacement.

 Recent attacks have particularly affected education facilities: On Tuesday, a school in Ramallah area came under fire by Israeli settlers and one child was reportedly killed. Earlier in the day, settlers demolished a school serving some 60 girls and boys in the Jordan Valley. In the Hebron area, settlers have recently obstructed the access of a similar number of students for about ten days already. Humanitarian partners are providing psychosocial support for the girls and boys affected.

 Education partners warn that children in the West Bank are seeing more violence in and around their schools. This puts them at risk and makes it harder for them to continue learning. The UN underscores the urgent need to protect and restore every child’s access to education. 

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

#Democratic Republic of the Congo

 Hunger and violence collide around crowded displacement sites

OCHA reports continued violence in the eastern province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is driving a worsening humanitarian situation there.

Local sources say that between 18 April and 23 April, at least three displaced people were killed while working in fields near the Plaine Savo displacement site, in the Bule area of Djugu Territory. Civil society reports that since December 2025, at least 21 displaced people from the site have been killed in similar circumstances, as families face repeated attacks while searching for food.

Conditions at Plaine Savo site, currently hosting more than 70,000 displaced people, are increasingly precarious, with limited access to food, while humanitarian access remains highly constrained due to insecurity.

The UN and its partners stand ready to deliver food assistance as soon as safe, unhindered humanitarian access is ensured.

The UN reiterates its call to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to facilitate safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access.

#Central African Republic

 Funding gaps threaten hard‑won progress

 OCHA reports that in the Central African Republic, more than 41,000 people in the country’s central and northern areas will lose access to life-saving healthcare services by June due to funding shortfalls.

 The main health partner, International Medical Corps, which supports displaced people in these regions, is expected to halt its activities due to a lack of funds, affecting services for common illnesses, maternal and child health, and mental health. People in displacement sites and return areas will face disruptions to free medical consultations and referrals to specialised medical care.

 More broadly, humanitarian partners report that severe underfunding continues to affect humanitarian operations across the country. Since July 2025, an average of 10 humanitarian field offices have closed each month, limiting the reach of assistance to people in need.

 To date, only 14 per cent of the $264 million required to assist 1.3 million of the country’s most vulnerable people in 2026 has been funded, putting critical life-saving operations at risk.

Compared to last year, the total amount of funding mobilised over the same period has dropped by nearly 13 per cent, despite us asking for less money this year.

OCHA warns that if this trend continues, hard-won humanitarian gains risk being reversed, trapping communities in a prolonged cycle of humanitarian dependence, at a time when recovery is possible in some areas with adequate support.

OCHA urgently calls on donors to step up funding now to prevent further disruptions to humanitarian operations, protect lives and support recovery, and reiterates the need for safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access across the Central African Republic.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in CAR with urgent support.