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

What you need to know about the United Nations response to the conflict in the Middle East.

8 February

  • UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: Water Systems Devastated as UNRWA Delivers Lifeline (UNRWA)

6 February

EU support helps Palestine Refugees in the occupied West Bank access emergency shelter

A Bedouin boy living in Jabal al-Baba looks at the remains of his family home demolished in 2017. “UNRWA has been there for us physically, emotionally and financially, but particularly right after demolitions.” Attalah, Bedouin spokesperson. ©2018 UNRWA Photo by Lára Jónasdóttir
A Bedouin boy living in Jabal al-Baba looks at the remains of his family home demolished in 2017. “UNRWA has been there for us physically, emotionally and financially, but particularly right after demolitions.” Attalah, Bedouin spokesperson. ©2018 UNRWA Photo by Lára Jónasdóttir

The EU has provided €5 million in its latest round of emergency funding for UNRWA’s protection and emergency shelter response for communities affected by occupation-related violence. (UNRWA)

5 February

  • UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: Disinformation against UNRWA has been weaponised throughout the war in Gaza (UNRWA)

4 February

  • Remarks by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini at the Opening of the UNRWA-EU Gaza Photo Exhibition (UNRWA)

3 February

  • Syrian Arab Republic: Belgium’s contribution through the Special Fund for Emergency and Resilience Activities (SFERA) – Safeguarding livestock-based livelihoods and food security in drought-affected communities (FAO)

1 February

  • UNRWA Commissioner-General on West Bank: The underreported silent war (UNRWA)

31 January

  • UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: A ceasefire in name only (UNRWA)

29 January

  • UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: Humanitarian Access Must Expand to Prevent Further Deterioration (UNRWA)

28 January

  • UNRWA Commissioner-General: Silencing Humanitarian Voices in Gaza Must End (UNRWA)
  • Security Council Briefing by the Deputy Special Coordinator (UNSCO)
  • Briefing by Spokesperson to Gaza-based journalists (OCHA OPT)

26 January

  • STATEMENT FROM THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON UNRWA (UNRWA)
  • UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban’s remarks at today’s noon briefing following his fifth visit to Gaza and the West Bank (UNICEF)

25 January

  • UNRWA Commissioner-General: Gaza’s ban on international journalists fuels disinformation—lifting it is a necessity (UNRWA)
  • UNRWA Commissioner-General: The burning of UNRWA’s headquarters is an unprecedented attack on the United Nations (UNRWA)

22 January

  • Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria by Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director, Crisis Response Division, OCHA, on behalf of Tom Fletcher, USG and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA)
  • ASG Khiari appealed for swift implementation of understanding between the Government and SDF to ensure a peaceful integration of northeast Syria (UN DPPA)

The UN Charter remains humanity’s best hope for peace.

Amid geopolitical divisions, member countries must uphold it & ensure that the UN lives up to what it was meant to be:

A forum for solutions.

A guardian of international law.

And a force for peace and security.

António Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations (27 May 2026)

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