World News in Brief: Gaza aid crisis worsens, South Sudan clashes, Ecuador oil spill update

This article is published in association with United Nations.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is now likely the worst it has been in the 18 months since the outbreak of hostilities, the UN relief coordination office, OCHA, reported on Monday.  

“It has now been a month and a half since any supplies were last allowed through the crossings into Gaza,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists at the daily media briefing in New York. 

OCHA said about 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip is currently under displacement orders or in “no go” zones.

Over the weekend, the Israeli military issued four new displacement orders, some of them following reports of Palestinian rocket fire.  

The UN was able to “relocate some existing fuel stocks from areas under displacement orders to locations where they are more easily accessible by humanitarian workers,” said Mr. Dujarric.   

A surge in attacks causing mass civilian casualties has been reported by UN partners on the ground, according to OCHA. 

The Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City was targeted by an Israeli strike and has now gone out of service, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. 

Additionally, a UN warehouse in Gaza City and a community food distribution point in Khan Younis were hit and damaged by Israeli strikes over the weekend.   

South Sudan: UN responds to deteriorating security in Upper Nile state

Peacekeepers with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) are stepping up patrols, and engaging with various communities and authorities, amid a deteriorating security situation, the global organization reported on Monday.

This comes as clashes continue in areas of Upper Nile State between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLA-iO), causing casualties and displacement.

Elsewhere, intercommunal violence in Warrap and Lakes states is also rising, with over 200 deaths reported in recent weeks.

Accord in Abyei

Meanwhile, the UN is highlighting positive developments in Abyei, the disputed oil-rich region straddling Sudan and South Sudan.

Sixty youth leaders from the Ngok Dinka community of Abyei and the Twic Dinka community of Warrap State in South Sudan recently signed an agreement committing to an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The parties agreed to re-open key routes enabling the free and secure movement of both people and goods. They also pledged to collaborate to counter misinformation and hate speech.

The accord was the result of a four-day dialogue attended by key peace partners including the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and UNMISS.

Both missions reaffirmed their full support towards these efforts and to strengthening dialogue and harmony between communities. 

Ecuador oil spill affects 150,000, UN assessment finds

A massive oil spill in Ecuador last month has left at least 150,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance, according to an assessment by UN aid coordination office OCHA.

The disaster was caused by the rupture of the SOTE pipeline in Esmeraldas province in March, resulting in the spilling of over 25,000 barrels of oil.

The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, which is part of OCHA, carried out the assessment.

In addition to the thousands affected, the team also pointed to a concerning increase in respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as limited access to safe drinking water.

People’s livelihoods have been particularly hit hard, especially in fishing, agriculture and shellfish harvesting. 

OCHA said more than 37,000 women have lost their means of earning a living. Many are shellfish gatherers and now face growing health risks and exposure to gender-based violence.

The UN is testing water from affected rivers, treatment plants and seafood from the ocean for hydrocarbons and heavy metals, as it could have long term environmental and health repercussions.

UN Resident Coordinator in Ecuador, Lena Savelli, has shared the findings and recommendations with Government ministers and the national humanitarian forum.

The top official also reiterated the UN’s commitment to support the Government with technical assistance.