Noon Briefings

In Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is concerned about the plight of civilians during the winter as, yet again today, there was another wave of attacks in the Kherson and Odesa regions. These attacks damaged critical civilian infrastructure, including homes, a hospital and a school.

In Gaza, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory today pointed to the need for a humanitarian ceasefire, given the conditions on the ground. She emphasized that Israel needs to provide for unimpeded humanitarian access and ensure conditions allow for the provision of aid.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched a $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal today to support 48 million people with reproductive health and gender-based violence services in 58 countries in 2024. In 2023, UNFPA received only half of its humanitarian funding needs.

In South Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that more than half of the country’s population is going hungry, and an estimated 1.6 million children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition through June 2024.

On 11 December, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will launch its Global Humanitarian Overview for 2024. This is the annual overview of humanitarian trends and needs worldwide — as well as interagency plans to respond to the crises.

At the high-level pledging event for the Central Emergency Response Fund yesterday, 40 donors announced contributions of more than $419 million for 2024, thus exceeding the $409 million pledged last year. In 2023, the Fund allocated more than $640 million to support millions of people in dire need in 40 countries and territories.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) launched a $1.59 billion regional plan to support the needs of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, as well as their host communities, across 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) launched its “Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Acceleration” report, which shows that the rate of climate change surged alarmingly between 2011-2020, which was the warmest decade on record.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) notes with concern that exchanges of fire across the Blue Line continued throughout the weekend, with reports that people were injured on both sides of the border. This follows the reported deaths of three people there following exchanges of fire on 1 December.

In Somalia, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator there, George Conway — together with the Government and the Somali non-governmental organization consortium — have jointly warned that the country is in the midst of a disaster as devastating rains and floods continue to spread.