Noon Briefings


The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that from Saturday through Tuesday 62 trucks travelled through the Rafah crossing from Egypt into Gaza, carrying water, food and medical supplies. Most of this aid has already reached hospitals, ambulances and internally displaced people.

In Gaza, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that two more of its staff were confirmed killed, bringing to 16 the total number killed since 7 October. The Agency continues advocating at the highest levels for sustained, unhindered humanitarian access for fuel, food, water and medicine into Gaza.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned today that at least 10,000 children in Sudan under the age of five may die by the end of this year due to increased food insecurity and disruptions to essential services since conflict broke out in the country.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that this past September was the hottest on record — putting 2023 on track to be the warmest year on record. September saw a record-high monthly global ocean surface temperature and Antarctica also had its warmest September with sea ice remaining at record lows.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Chad, Violette Kakyomya, today warned that the country, now host to nearly 490,000 refugees from neighbouring Sudan and suffering from record levels of rain last year, is facing multiple humanitarian crises. She called for urgent support for 7 million of the country’s 18 million people.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has relocated its main operations and staff to southern Gaza to continue aid operations. Since last night, the UN Secretary-General has been in constant contact with Israeli authorities urging them to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.