Today’s Top News: Sudan, DRC, Cameroon, oPt

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Sudan

There are continued shortages of food, water, fuel and cash in many parts of the country due to the fighting.

In eastern Sudan, our humanitarian partners on the ground say that the prices of goods have increased almost four fold compared to before the conflict.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that healthcare facilities continue to be attacked and occupied by parties to the conflict. In the capital, Khartoum, less than one fifth of health facilities remain fully functional, with 60 per cent being completely non-operational.

Despite the security situation, health workers are reactivating several health facilities in North and South Darfur to provide emergency, maternity, pediatric and chronic disease treatment.

WHO stands ready to dispatch more than 110 tons of emergency medical supplies from Port Sudan to more than 13 destinations across the country.

We need expedited clearance and assurance of safe passage to deliver these critical supplies to health facilities that urgently need them for their life-saving operations.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Humanitarian colleagues on the ground continue to respond to the deadly landslides and flooding in Kalehe Territory in South Kivu.

According to authorities, as of yesterday, at least 420 people have been killed and 3,000 homes affected. Local authorities also report that as many as 5,000 could be missing.

We and our partners have mobilized emergency teams to support the Government’s response efforts.

The World Health Organization has provided medical supplies and equipment. The UN Children’s Fund delivered water and sanitation kits and started water decontamination activities and the World Food Programme yesterday began distributing of 8 tons of food, including high energy biscuits.

Access to Kalehe remains challenging since the main road is damaged.

Cameroon

The Government and humanitarian community launched an appeal for more than US$407 million to meet the needs of 2.7 million of the most vulnerable people in the country this year.

The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan includes protection services and life-saving assistance for people suffering the effects of violence, natural disasters, climate shocks and disease outbreaks.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Cameroon, Matthias Naab, called on the international community to provide early, flexible and sufficient funding.

Some 4.7 million people in Cameroon need humanitarian assistance – that’s one in six people in the country, more than three quarters of whom are women and children. Moreover, some 3 million people are facing acute food insecurity this year, and more than 2 million people are internally displaced, refugees or returnees.

Occupied Palestinian territory

The continued escalation of hostilities only deepens civilian suffering and increases the risk of further casualties.

As of this morning, the UN had confirmed that 25 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including at least 12 civilians (four girls, four women, two boys, and two men). Colleagues are verifying reports of additional fatalities.

In Israel, at least 25 physical injuries were reported, as well as damage to civilian property.

Local authorities report that 47 housing units in Gaza sustained significant damage, displacing 32 families.

The Israeli crossings with Gaza are closed for the third consecutive day.

Fuel reserves are being quickly depleted, forcing the Gaza Power Plant, which relies on regular imports of fuel from Israel, to reduce its operations.

Other vital items also need to enter Gaza immediately, including food and medical supplies.

Our colleagues on the ground are warning this situation puts at risk the provision of essential services, including health and sanitation.

Source OCHA