United Nations OCHA

Humanitarian Coordinator Muhannad Hadi brought the voices of #Gaza to the Security Council. Listing the requirements for impactful humanitarian operations, he stated: "First and foremost, we need protection of civilians." ➡️ His full remarks: https://bit.ly/3LHkMlm

🌡🔥 This has been a week of unprecedented temperatures, with the world experiencing its three hottest days on record. "Billions of people are facing an extreme heat epidemic,” stresses United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, as heatwaves become increasingly severe with crippling effects, driven largely by a fossil-fuel charged, human-induced #ClimateCrisis. Did you know that heat is estimated to kill almost half a million people a year? It dries up resources for those in need, “amplifies inequality, inflames food insecurity, and pushes people further into poverty.” The most vulnerable communities globally are hit hardest by these scorching conditions. In response to the rapid rise in the scale, intensity, frequency and duration of extreme heat events, Guterres calls for urgent, concerted #ClimateAction 🔊⬇️

Women humanitarian workers in #Afghanistan provide a lifeline of support to people in need. During a mission to the country in May, Edem Wosornu visited communities and witnessed first-hand the vital work of humanitarians. "I was struck by what I saw," she says. Hear more ⬇️

📸 Photojournalist Liz Loh-Taylor travelled with OCHA to #SouthSudan this April to document the humanitarian situation in Renk transit centres. She recalls what she saw, describing the harrowing reality endured by people fleeing the war in #Sudan, and shares untold stories of those she met. 💬⬇️ Read more: https://bit.ly/3LxvkmT

In this week's #StaffSpotlight✨, Abdul Rahimo, an Information Management Officer at OCHA #Mozambique, walks us through the development of an innovative tool that maps humanitarian supplies, and supports emergency preparedness and response. Mozambique's vulnerability to natural disasters underscores the critical need for timely and efficient humanitarian emergency responses. To support the Emergency Preparedness Plan, our colleagues developed a Stock Mapping Dashboard.   🔗 ⬇️ Read the article to learn more about what it is and how it supports humanitarian partners.

Security threats to aid workers continue to hamper our work in #Yemen. With rising food insecurity and malnutrition, safe and unhindered access is vital to reach those in need. "The humanitarian community is committed to staying and delivering in Yemen", stressed Joyce Msuya ➡️ Her full remarks: https://bit.ly/3ycYHrD

People in #Mozambique are bearing the brunt of conflict and the #ClimateCrisis.   The conflict in the north has disrupted livelihoods, forced families to flee their homes and exacerbated food insecurity. At the same time, the climate crisis is causing extreme weather events, such as cyclones and floods, which further devastate the region and hinder recovery efforts.   Humanitarian organizations are on the ground working tirelessly to provide relief, but their efforts are significantly hampered by a lack of adequate funding. This shortfall in resources limits their ability to deliver vital assistance, such as food, shelter, health care and clean water, to those in need.   Timely and sufficient funding is crucial for aid organizations to deliver life-saving support.   Learn more ⬇ 

Extreme heat is hitting the most vulnerable in #Syria. Limited water access and high risks of water-borne diseases are compounded by the prolonged conflict and economic crisis. The United Nations and partners need urgent support to help people meet basic water needs. 👉 Ramesh Rajasingham 's remarks at the Security Council: https://bit.ly/3YfJuAK

Renk town in #SouthSudan has been a refuge for people fleeing the war in #Sudan since April 2023. As of early this month, nearly 739,000 refugees and returnees have crossed over to the neighbouring country in search of safety. The influx of people has quickly swamped transit centres, which are now overpopulated and strained well beyond capacity, with tens of thousands stranded in and around the sites, and more streaming into Renk and other border towns. This has put immense pressure on the already severely limited resources available. Most families live in crowded and inadequate makeshift tents, some for prolonged periods of time. Conditions are dire, perpetuating suffering. There isn’t enough food, water, shelter, sanitation facilities or medical care, and many people arrive injured, acutely malnourished or ill, having walked for weeks to get there. They've had to leave a whole part of their lives behind and start all over with nothing but what they managed to carry. The journey is perilous and distressing, fraught with challenges. While they've escaped conflict up north, life down south is not untroubled. 👉 Swipe for heart-wrenching stories of horror, loss and trauma, but also incredible strength and resilience. Read more: bit.ly/3LxvkmT

"When we arrived to the island, we saw everything completely destroyed," reported our colleague Gonzalo Velasco. Velasco is part of the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams deployed to Grenada to support #HurricaneBeryl response efforts. Thousands of people are facing severe hardship and urgently need food, water, shelter and livelihood support. Earlier this month, the United Nations and partners launched a response plan targeting 43,000 people across Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to help them rebuild their lives.