The UN and the crisis in the Middle East: What you need to know

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

25 March

• Syria: Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria (OCHA)
• Syria: Transcript of Press Stakeout by United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen (OSES)
• Syria: United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen Briefing to the Security Council (OSES)

24 March

• Gaza: The UN Secretary-General on Monday, 24 March, took the “difficult decision” to reduce the aid operation inside the Gaza Strip following the resumption of deadly Israeli airstrikes – but pledged that “the UN is not leaving” the enclave. (UN News)

21 March

Exhausted Gazans wake from another night of Israeli bombing: UN aid teams

Israel’s renewed bombing campaign and intensifying ground operation in Gaza are reversing gains achieved during the brief ceasefire, UN humanitarians inside the devastated enclave said on Friday 21 March. (UN News)

• Gaza: Statement by the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory on the developments in Gaza (OHCHR – oPt)
• West Bank: A deepening humanitarian crisis (UNRWA)
• West Bank: UNRWA Commissioner-General – 60 days to the start of Operation “Iron Wall” in Jenin camp (UNRWA)
• Security Council Briefing: Report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation of UNSCR 2334 | 2016 (UNSCO)

20 March

• Gaza: UN Volunteer in Gaza recounts as the ceasefire ends (UNV)
• oPt: On the brink – Women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OHCHR)

19 March

• Gaza: Statement on UNOPS colleague killed at UNOPS premises in Gaza (UNOPS)
• Gaza: Statement on Gaza by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA)
• Gaza: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Gaza (OSSG)

18 March

• Gaza: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Gaza (OSSG)
• Gaza: a return to the ceasefire is a must (UNRWA)
• Gaza: Escalation of Violence is Gaza Takes a Heavy Toll on Children: Return to Ceasefire and Negotiations Must Prime for the Sake of Children (OSRSG Children and Armed Conflict)
• Gaza: Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the attacks in Gaza (UNICEF)
• Gaza: Comment by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza (OHCHR)
• oPt: Statement by Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory on the urgent need to reinstate a ceasefire (OCHA, UN RC/HC oPt)
• oPt: Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHA)
• Syria: The EU mobilises international support for Syria’s transition and the region raising €5.8 billion (EC, ECHO)
• West Bank: Israel ramps up settlement and annexation in West Bank with dire human rights consequences (OHCHR)

17 March

• Gaza: Humanitarian response by the UN and humanitarian partners during phase one of the ceasefire (OCHA)
• Middle East: Briefing by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to the European Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs and Development (UNRWA)
• Syria: High Commissioner’s statement at the Brussels Syria Conference (UNHCR)
• Syria: Statement by UNFPA Humanitarian Director, Shoko Arakaki, on mission to Syria (UNFPA)
• Syria: Mr. Tom Fletcher, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Statement at Brussels IX Conference, “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition” (OCHA)

14 March

• Syria: Statement Attributable to the Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Geir O. Pedersen, on the Anniversary of the Syrian Conflict (OSES)
• Syria: Message of condolences from the UNRWA Commissioner General about an UNRWA colleague killed in Syria (UNRWA)
• West Bank: Earlier food security gains in Gaza at risk; food insecurity concerns grow in West Bank (WFP)

13 March

• oPt: On the brink – Women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OHCHR)

12 March

• Syria: Statement by UNFPA Arab States Regional Director, Laila Baker, on the recent violence in coastal areas in Syria (UNFPA)

10 March

• Gaza: Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Muhannad Hadi, on the halt to the entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza (OCHA, UN RC/HC oPt)
• Gaza: Power cut impacts safe water access for hundreds of thousands (UN News)
• Gaza: “Every pregnancy these days is a struggle”: Restoring life-saving healthcare in Gaza (UNFPA)
• Middle East: Press remarks by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini (UNRWA)
• Syria: Statement by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, on the recent hostilities in Syria (OCHA, UN RC/HC Syria)

9 March

• Syria: Statement by UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder, on the escalating violence in Syria’s coastal areas (UNICEF)

8 March

• Syria: Joint Statement by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Ramanathan Balakrishnan, on the recent hostilities in Syria (OCHA, UN RC/HC Syria)

7 March

• oPt: Palestinian suffering continues as disregard for international law grows (OHCHR)
• oPt: Occupied Palestinian Territory: Israeli operations continue to have dire consequences (UN News)

6 March

• Gaza: Demand for ceasefire in Gaza – report of the Secretary-General (UNSG)
• Gaza: Experts condemn Israeli decision to re-open ‘gates of hell’ and unilaterally change conditions of truce deal (OHCHR)
• West Bank: Large scale house demolitions by ongoing Israeli Forces operation are having unprecedented impact on Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)

4 March

• Gaza: UNRWA Commissioner General on the decision of Israel to stop aid into Gaza (UNRWA)
• Gaza: Blockade of aid will have far-reaching consequences for women and girls in Gaza warns UNFPA Arab States Regional Office (UNFPA)
• Gaza: Returning Home – A Doctor’s Journey Through Gaza (WHO video)
• Gaza: The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday stressed that the “true foundation” of recovery and reconstruction in Gaza must be based on a clear and agreed political framework, not just bricks and mortar (UN News)
• Lebanon: Readout of the Secretary-General’s meeting with H.E. General Joseph Aoun, President of the Republic of Lebanon (OSSG)
• Middle East/Gaza: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Extraordinary Arab Summit on the situation in the Middle East/Gaza (OSSG)

3 March

• Gaza: With stoppage of humanitarian aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip, UNICEF warns of severe consequences for children and families in desperate need (UNICEF)
• Middle East: Secretary-General’s message on the launch of the Berlin Initiative: for a Diplomatic Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (OSSG)

2 March

• Gaza: Note to correspondents – in response to questions on Gaza (OSSG)

1 March

• Gaza: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Gaza (OSSG)
• Gaza: ‘This is our land’ – Building Gaza’s future from the wreckage of war (UN News)
• Lebanon: Lebanon’s Recovery Depends on Immediate Action to Restore Stability and Rebuild Trust (UNDP)

28 February

• Gaza: Humanitarian access improves quality of polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip (WHO)
• Gaza: Hunger in Gaza: WFP warns ceasefire must hold up for aid surge to continue (WFP)
• Lebanon: Decline in children’s mental health, nutrition and education after the war in Lebanon (UNICEF)
• Middle East: Secretary-General’s remarks to the press  (OSSG)

27 February

• Gaza: As phase one of lifesaving ceasefire draws to an end, UNRWA reaches 2 million people in Gaza with relief and assistance (UNRWA)

26 February

• oPt: HC Türk on Occupied Palestinian Territory: “Any plans for a better future must deal with the past, so accountability is crucial.” (OHCHR)
• West Bank: The West Bank is undergoing an alarming spillover of the Gaza war (UNRWA)

25 February

• Middle East: Security Council Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East (As delivered by UN Special Coordinator a.i. Sigrid Kaag) (UNSCO)

24 February

• Gaza: WFP reaches one million people in Gaza as ceasefire allows more food deliveries and distributions across the Strip (WFP)

21 February

• Gaza: Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the deaths of Ariel and Kfir Bibas (UNICEF)

20 February

• Gaza: IOM Chief and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Visit Gaza (IOM)
• oPt: UNRWA Installations and Services: Occupied East Jerusalem (UNRWA)
• oPt: A/HRC/58/28: Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice (OHCHR)

19 February

Gaza: The UN World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the mass polio vaccination campaign in Gaza which began successfully last year, will continue in the coming days. (UN News Centre)

• East Jerusalem: Children and young people in East Jerusalem denied of their right to education in UNRWA schools (UNRWA)
  • Interview: Young Palestinians in East Jerusalem shut out of UNRWA training centre (UN News Centre)

18 February

NEW Report Assesses Damages, Losses and Needs in Gaza and the West Bank (World Bank)

• East Jerusalem: Children and young people in East Jerusalem denied of their right to education in UNRWA schools (UNRWA)
• Lebanon: Joint Statement of United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro (UNIFIL, UNSCOL)
• Middle East: Experts urge humane treatment and immediate release of Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians (Special Rapporteurs)
• oPt: Statement of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi (RC/HC)

17 February

• Middle East: Statement by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, at the Fourth Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution (UNRWA)

15 February

• Middle East: Press Conference Remarks by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini at the Munich Security Conference 2025 (UNRWA)

14 February

• Lebanon: UNIFIL statement (UNIFIL)

13 February

• Gaza: Returning to Jabalia – a testimony from Hussein, UNRWA team member (UNRWA)
• Gaza: Surge in aid starts pulling people back from the brink of starvation (WFP)
• Gaza: ‘No time to lose’ in Gaza, as ceasefire offers fragile respite (UN News Centre)

12 February

• Gaza: Return to war must be avoided at all costs, insists UN chief (UN News Centre)
• Gaza: The long walk home: Displaced Gazans are going back (UN Women)
• OpT: Press briefing by UNRWA Commissioner-General, Mr Philippe Lazzarini, at the Munich Security Conference 2025 (UNRWA)
• Syria: UNOPS Executive Director concludes Syria visit (UNOPS)
• Syria: Ms. Joyce Msuya, ASG for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, on behalf of Mr. Tom Fletcher, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria (OCHA)
• West Bank: Statement by UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder on child casualties in the West Bank (UNICEF)

11 February

• Gaza: Secretary-General on the situation in Gaza (OSSG)