“Tents were blown away or damaged, homes collapsed under storm conditions, and personal belongings were soaked,” according to its latest update. 

“In several locations, entire displacement sites were flooded due to inadequate drainage and low-lying terrain.” 

The storms also damaged temporary learning spaces and roads used to bring much-needed supplies into Gaza, where humanitarian efforts continue. 

Better shelter options needed 

During December, aid workers supported some 80,000 families, providing more than 40,000 tents, over 135,000 tarpaulins, and thousands of other items including mattresses and blankets. 

UN partners working in the shelter sector stressed, however, that “tents cannot serve as the primary and sole shelter modality in Gaza, as they provide only temporary cover.” 

They highlighted the urgent need to accelerate the shift to more durable solutions, including repairs to partially damaged homes.  

Lack of land 

They also warned that “lack of land availability is preventing relocation and delaying the scale-up of viable shelter solutions.”  

Furthermore, recent rainstorms have offset some of the gains made during the ceasefire that came into effect in October, and an estimated one million people across the devastated enclave still require urgent emergency shelter assistance. 

Meanwhile, partners working to improve emergency telecommunications reported that last week they finalized the delivery of new equipment to improve radio coverage that had been pre-positioned in Jerusalem awaiting Israeli approval to enter Gaza since August 2024.  

OCHA noted that while this development is critical to strengthen the safety of humanitarian operations, other equipment – including key power-supply solutions – continue to be blocked from entering the Strip. 

In North Darfur, drone strikes on 3 January reportedly caused civilian casualties in the villages of Al-Zurq and Ghurair, including strikes on a market and a medical clinic, said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing journalists on Monday. 

And in West Darfur state on Saturday, one civilian was reported killed following two drone attacks in the vicinity of Kulbus. More than 600 people have been displaced by the strikes there, according to UN humanitarian partners.

Deaths and injuries 

In South Kordofan state, multiple drone attacks between 1 and 3 January in Dilling reportedly resulted in civilian deaths and injuries. 

The situation remains dire in Dilling, with civilians trapped under siege as humanitarian conditions continuing to deteriorate, while access to essential supplies is increasingly restricted.

“We reiterate our call for the protection of civilians and for the unhindered humanitarian access to all affected areas,” Mr. Dujarric underscored.

“Continued and predictable humanitarian access to deliver life-saving assistance and to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation is essential.”

Ukraine: UN and partners continue to support victims of latest Russian attacks 

In Ukraine, the UN and aid partners are continuing to provide support to the people of embattled Kharkiv, amid ongoing Russian attacks on Monday.

Last Friday, a strike on a high-rise block in the eastern city killed six residents including a mother and child, according to reports.

In addition, dozens more were hurt in the attack, and many were left homeless, amid freezing conditions and snow, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

In addition, parts of the city near the Russian frontier were left without electricity, water and gas.

Civilians face growing danger 

“Further attacks are being reported in the city, risking additional harm to civilians and further destruction of homes as temperatures remain well below zero,” said Maka Khazalia, OCHA Head of Office in Kharkiv.

“Humanitarian teams continue to support those affected by the attack and will continue to provide assistance to those affected in future.”

UN humanitarians work alongside partners and city staff, providing essential services to those in need.

This includes delivering hot meals, non-food items and mental health support.

There were also reported attacks in Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions which caused civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure, resulting in power outages. 

Humanitarian colleagues also note that on 2 January, authorities announced mandatory evacuations of more than 3,000 children and their families from frontline areas in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Regions.

Refugee response now at breaking point in Ethiopia, warns WFP

In Ethiopia, the global crisis in funding for humanitarian work is taking a major toll, with aid teams warning that the refugee response there is at breaking point.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) alerted that more than 1.1 million people risk losing “food, water and healthcare within weeks”, due to lack of funding.

Ethiopia is the second-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa and has seen a surge in arrivals amid ongoing conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan, as well as drought in Somalia.

More than a million refugees have already endured prolonged ration cuts since May 2023 and WFP has now had to cut food assistance again, from 60 per cent to 40 per cent.

WFP calls for urgent funding 

“Beyond humanitarian assistance, sustained funding is urgently needed to support solutions that help refugees rebuild their lives,” said Claire Nevill, WFP Head of Communications in Ethiopia.

“Without immediate support, more services will be cut, and more lives will be at risk.”

She insisted that the Government of Ethiopia, WFP and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) were aiming to provide vulnerable people fleeing conflict and hunger with long-term livelihood opportunities, including jobs.

But additional support will be needed to support sustainable projects so that refugees can rebuild their lives, she said.

“The January round is the first since October 2023, in which partners had sufficient stock to meet 100 per cent of the minimum caloric standard,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists on Monday.

That’s compared to the end of 2025, when each family received just 50 to 75 per cent of the calories needed to stay healthy.

To further address food insecurity, the UN is supporting the production of approximately 170,000 two-kilo bread bundles daily. 

Around a third of the bread is distributed free of charge to more than 400 shelters and community sites, with the remaining sold at a subsidised price.

Aid must remain ‘unimpeded’

Mr. Dujarric highlighted that last week alone, the UN and partners brought more than 10,000 metric tonnes of aid through the Karim Shalom, Karem Abu Salam crossing and the Zikim crossing. 

Supplies included food and cooking ingredients, animal fodder, soap and other hygiene items, including diapers, winter clothing, blankets and mattresses. 

The recent announcement by Israeli authorities to suspend operations of certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) threatens to impede critical assistance for civilians, over 50 NGOs warned. 

In a statement issued by the UN Spokesperson on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” by the development and underscored that Israel must allow “unimpeded” passage of humanitarian relief.

Violence continues 

Israeli airstrikes, shelling and gunfire continued to be reported across several areas of the Gaza Strip between Tuesday and Friday last week, the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) reported over the weekend.

Citing the Gaza Ministry of Health, OCHA said that as of Thursday, five Palestinians were reported killed and 11 others injured across the Gaza Strip over the previous 48 hours.

This comes amid harsh winter conditions and destructive winter storms that are damaging infrastructure and putting water, sanitation and hygiene services under continuing pressure.

According to the December humanitarian update from aid coordination office, OCHA, Yemen’s 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is just 25 per cent funded, forcing agencies to scale back life-saving services across all sectors, despite worsening needs. 

Health and protection services have been particularly hard hit, exposing vulnerable communities to growing risks. 

Health services still on the brink 

The health system, already weakened by years of conflict and underinvestment, is “on the brink”, the report said.  

Since January last year, 453 health facilities have faced partial or imminent closure across 22 governorates, including hospitals, primary health centres and mobile clinics. 

These disruptions come amid widespread food insecurity, malnutrition, unsafe water and sanitation, and recurring disease outbreaks. 

Cuts are affecting both areas controlled by the internationally recognised Government and those under the de facto Houthi authorities, underscoring the nationwide impact of the funding crisis.  

Millions of people now face reduced access to basic healthcare, maternal services and emergency treatment. 

Beyond health, food security and nutrition remain major concerns. While partners have continued to deliver assistance where possible, reduced funding has constrained coverage at a time when many families are struggling to afford food or recover from climate shocks, including floods that hit Marib governorate earlier in 2025.  

A coordinated flood response there has shown how shock-responsive cash assistance can help families recover more quickly, but such approaches require sustained resources. 

Despite the bleak outlook, OCHA highlighted the continued importance of the Yemen Humanitarian Fund, which has helped channel limited resources to priority, life-saving interventions, and of community-based projects that aim to restore dignity and resilience for displaced families. 

Conflict backdrop 

Yemen has been devastated by more than a decade of conflict between Houthi movement rebels and the Government of Yemen, following the Houthis’ takeover of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.  

Although large-scale fighting has eased in recent years, tensions remain high and the risk of renewed hostilities persists, threatening to reverse fragile gains and further deepen humanitarian needs. 

OCHA urged donors to step up support, warning that without urgent funding, further service closures are likely, with devastating consequences for Yemen’s most vulnerable people.