News in Brief 7 February 2024 |

This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

Gaza-Israel war enters fifth month amid fears for hospital under siege

The devastating Gaza-Israel war entered its fifth month on Wednesday leaving a reported 27,585 Palestinians dead and nearly 70,000 injured, according to the local health authority.

In its latest update on the crisis, UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported continuing “intense bombardment” across much of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the city of Khan Younis.

And amid reports that Israeli forces had “intensified their siege” of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, OCHA warned that this put at risk “300 medical personnel, 450 wounded, and some 10,000 displaced people seeking shelter in the hospital compound”.

Nasser Hospital already has a severe shortage of surgical supplies and sutures, and there is only enough fuel to power the generators for another four days, OCHA said.

Citing the Israeli military, the Office reported that another Israeli soldier had been killed during the ground operation from 5 to 6 February, bringing the total number of military fatalities to 224.

Ukraine war: Senior UN aid official denounces attacks on public places

To Ukraine, where the UN’s top aid official Denise Brown has condemned a new wave of attacks on cities and towns early on Wednesday.

The morning assault reportedly involved Russian-fired missiles and drones which hit six Ukrainian regions, leaving at least five dead.

In a statement, Ms. Brown said that essential public services also suffered massive disruption, including electricity, water and gas supplies, especially in Mykolaiv city and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

“Millions of people rely on these services for heating, cooking and transportation,” Ms. Brown said, before emphasising how important public utilities are to keep health and educational facilities functioning.

To help those impacted by the attacks, the UN and partners have mobilized emergency response assistance in Kyiv and Mykolaiv, delivering materials to help repair damage, along with psychosocial assistance. 

Sudan: UN leads humanitarian appeal for $4.1 billion 

Finally to Sudan, where $4.1 billion are needed to support millions of the country’s people, the UN said on Wednesday, amid signs that some are dying of starvation after 10 months of war there between rival militaries.

In a joint appeal, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), said that half of Sudan’s population – 25 million people – need support and protection. 

Here’s the UN’s top aid official, Martin Griffiths:

“If we see start seeing famine in Sudan – it won’t be the first time we’ve seen famine in Sudan – to add to this violence, and lack of access and lack of political horizon, then I think we can all agree we have no humanity in us, to allow this to happen.”

Since the conflict erupted last April, more than 1.5 million people have fled across Sudan’s borders to the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

UNHCR warned of the regional implications of neglecting the massive displacement crisis that’s been created by the conflict, as people from Sudan who have already fled from the country now head towards Libya and Tunisia, with the aim of reaching Europe.

This year’s appeal for Sudan aims to reach 14.7 million people inside Sudan and nearly 2.7 million people seeking shelter in five neighbouring countries. 

Daniel Johnson, UN News