UN warns ceasefire in Gaza must hold as aid scale‑up faces access and weather constraints; briefing covers multiple crises

UN humanitarian officials told reporters that the ceasefire in Gaza — now over 100 days — is fragile and must hold to allow life‑saving assistance to reach civilians. The UN spokesperson relayed the World Food Programme’s warning that gains are precarious: the agency said it reaches more than one million people each month with food parcels, bread bundles, hot meals and school meals but called for additional safe humanitarian corridors from Egypt and Jordan and along the Saladin Road inside Gaza to raise delivery volumes and reduce insecurity.

The briefing also covered a child‑focused immunization catch‑up campaign. WHO, UNICEF and UNRWA launched a second round of routine immunizations for children under 3 with partners and the Ministry of Health; the campaign uses 170 teams, nearly 130 health facilities and seven mobile teams and runs until next Thursday, with a third round planned for April 2026.

In the West Bank, OCHA reported that Israeli forces placed an estimated 25,000 Palestinians under curfew in parts of the H2 area of Hebron during a large‑scale operation. Reports cited heavy military deployments including snipers, the closure of six internal roads, suspension of education in more than a dozen schools, the temporary closure of bakeries and voucher distribution points, and a major electricity cut after damage to a local power station.

On Syria, the UN said partners continue to deliver aid where they can after recent clashes in Aleppo, Raqqa, Deir Ezor and Al Hasakay that have disrupted public services and transport, reduced access to water in Raqqa and forced thousands to flee toward Al Hasakai and Kamishli. Newly displaced families are facing severe winter conditions and shortages of food, shelter, tents and heating fuel.

From Ukraine, humanitarian coordinators reported continued attacks on energy infrastructure amid freezing temperatures: authorities reported at least nine civilians killed and more than 50 injured since Jan. 16, and strikes have exacerbated power outages in areas including Russian‑occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. More than 1,300 people, including roughly 170 children, were evacuated from Donetsk in the past four days.

In South Sudan, the UN peacekeeping mission UNMISS expressed deep concern about renewed confrontations in Zhongli and Eastern Equatoria involving aerial bombardments of civilian areas; the mission urged leaders to cease hostilities and pursue inclusive dialogue under the revitalized peace agreement as humanitarian needs grow.

Finally, OCHA reported widespread flooding in Mozambique affecting more than 1,000,000 people across southern and central provinces. Authorities estimate more than 510,000 people affected so far, nearly 5,000 kilometers of roads damaged across nine provinces, the main road to the capital Maputo rendered inaccessible, losses of more than 27,000 heads of livestock, and 50 temporary centers hosting over 50,000 people. The government has requested UN support for search‑and‑rescue, damage assessments and temporary shelter; additional funding was described as urgently needed.

The briefing framed most updates as ongoing humanitarian responses constrained by insecurity, weather, infrastructure damage and access limits; officials repeatedly called for unobstructed safe access for aid.

The most recent procedural note at the end of the briefing said further updates may follow and that partners continue reaching affected populations where they can.