#Occupied Palestinian Territory
OCHA says that hostilities continue across Gaza, with more civilians killed and injured and critical infrastructure damaged.
Yesterday, an UNRWA health centre was struck, reportedly killing 15 people, including 9 children, according to local sources. The facility was being used as a shelter by displaced people was damaged from a previous strike. OCHA says that families had opted to remain at the site despite the danger because they simply had nowhere else to go.
More displacement orders were issued, again forcing people to flee in search of safety. As of yesterday, some 280,000 people are estimated to have been newly displaced since the intensification of hostilities on 18 March.
Increasing numbers of people are moving into the remaining shelters which are already overcrowded. Infestations of fleas and mites are reported, causing skin rashes and other health issues. OCHA says that addressing these challenges remains difficult due to the lack of necessary materials available in Gaza to implement vector control measures or improve hygiene conditions.
The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to respond to the immense needs of the population as the conditions allow.
UNICEF supported the successful reunification yesterday of four babies who had been separated since birth from their mothers for nearly 18 months.
Meanwhile, food security partners are focusing on the provision of hot meals, providing over 900,000 meals per day.
But, as reported earlier, the blockade on the entry of all humanitarian aid and essential goods since 2 March is depriving the population of the basics for survival, while food assistance inside Gaza is rapidly running out.
OCHA urges the immediate reopening of the crossings for the cargo and humanitarian aid to be allowed to enter into Gaza.
#Democratic Republic of the Congo
OCHA says that ongoing violence in North and South Kivu provinces, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continues to kill, injure and displace civilians.
In North Kivu, intense clashes between local armed groups and the M23 group have been reported today in the town of Masisi Centre. Preliminary reports from our local partners indicate at least two civilian fatalities and multiple injuries, with several wounded evacuated to Masisi General Hospital.
Partners report that civilians remain confined to their homes due to active crossfire, heightening fear and restricting movement.
The volatility of frontlines and ongoing combat has rendered comprehensive assessments impossible.
In eastern Masisi, partners continue to deliver critical assistance to displaced and returnee populations where security permits. For example, since yesterday, partners have been distributing household and hygiene kits to more than 500 displaced households in Sake’s collective center. Since 20 February, partners have also rehabilitated 19 of 24 water points in Sake, restoring clean water access for over 4,000 households.
In South Kivu, fresh clashes erupted on 1 April in Fizi Territory between local armed groups and the M23. The villages of Mulima and Lusuku – already hosting thousands of displaced families – were struck by violence, forcing civilians to flee again to safer areas.
Meanwhile, partners report that the province of Tanganyika faces a rapidly escalating cholera epidemic. As of yesterday, 9 out of 11 health zones are affected, with more than 1450 confirmed cases and 27 deaths recorded since January – a six-fold increase compared to last year.
Underlying drivers include severely limited access to clean water (less than 20 per cent coverage in affected areas) and inadequate healthcare capacity for case management.