The UN and the crisis in the Middle East: What you need to know (Jan-Jun 2025)

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

22 January

  • Syria: Near verbatim transcript of press conference by United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen (OSES)
  • Gaza: Millions of litres of fuel reach Gaza for critical humanitarian needs (UNOPS)
  • Lebanon: Food insecurity deepens in Lebanon following conflict, new report shows (WFP)

Official Statements on the Gaza Ceasefire

21 January

  • Gaza/West Bank: Ceasefire in Gaza brings hope, but West Bank faces escalating violence (UN News)
  • Gaza: UNRWA ‘committed to staying and delivering’ despite ban due to come into effect (UN News)

20 January

  • Gaza: The people of Gaza hear the sound of playing children instead of bombardments and airstrikes (UNRWA)
  • Gaza: UN Delegation in Al-Arish and Rafah to Follow Up on Post-Ceasefire Aid Preparations for Gaza (OCHA)
  • oPt: Violence and restrictions in the Occupied West Bank coinciding with ceasefire implementation (OHCHR)
  • Middle East: Over 600,000 Palestine Refugees in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in need of humanitarian assistance (UNRWA)
  • Middle East: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – on the Middle East (OSSG)

19 January

Hunger in Gaza: First aid trucks roll in as ceasefire takes effect (WFP)

WFP trucks rheading for Gaza
WFP trucks started crossing into Gaza via Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. The first trucks carried life-saving wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels for people in desperate need.WFP aims to deliver food daily along humanitarian corridors that include Egypt, Jordan and Israel crossing points.This ceasefire is critical for the humanitarian response. Safety, and access must be ensured. WFP/Photolibrary
  • Gaza: First WFP trucks cross into Gaza as ceasefire opens window of hope for hungry families (WFP)

18 January

  • Gaza: Harnessing the ceasefire to bolster aid delivery in Gaza – Statement by Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHA)
  • Gaza: Secretary-General’s Press Conference in Beirut, Lebanon (OSSG)

17 January

  • Gaza: UN experts urge all parties to accept Gaza ceasefire and deliver on justice, humanitarian aid and Palestinian self-determination (UN HRC)
  • Middle East: Ms. Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands – United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) ad interim (OSSG)

16 January

  • Gaza: ‘Enough death and destruction’: Gazans hope for ceasefire and a better future (UN News)
  • Yemen: As the crisis in Yemen deepens, aid agencies appeal for $2.5 billion for the humanitarian response in 2025 (OCHA)

15 January

  • Gaza: Guterres hails Gaza ceasefire deal as ‘critical first step’ (UN News)
  • Gaza: Statement by UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, on a Deal to Secure a Ceasefire and Hostage Release in Gaza (UN RC/HC oPt, UNSCO)
  • Gaza: Remarks by Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General at the Third Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution (UNRWA)
  • Gaza: UN Human Rights Office in OPT condemns recent spate of killings of civilians across West Bank and Gaza (OHCHR)
  • Gaza ceasefire: WFP calls for sustained opening of humanitarian corridors (WFP)
  • Syria: UN rights chief in historic meeting in Syria’s with caretaker authority in Damascus (UN News)
  • Yemen: A decade of conflict: ‘Almost 40 million Yemenis have waited far too long’ (UN News)

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)
Resources
Videos
Visuals

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

UNOSAT Maps – Gaza Damage:

OCHA – Situation in Lebanon:

  • Flash Update #24 – Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 08 August 2024

UNRWA

United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL)

UN-I-SPAL:

The United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine
Gaza-Israel: Escalation of Violence:

United Nations in Palestine (Resident Coordinator Office)

United Nations in Lebanon

UNRIC Library Backgrounders:

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, HQ in Beirut (ESCWA)

FAO:

ILO:

  • Report: Impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on the labour market and livelihoods in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
  • Bulletin No. 2

IOM:

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC):

OHCHR

UNDP:

  • UNDP: War in Gaza
  • Expected Socio-Economic Impacts on the State of Palestine – Update (April 2024) (ESCWA/UNDP)

UNEP:

  • Gaza Strip – Suspected asbestos and hazardous waste contaminated debris: Damage assessment analysis (Published July 2025)
  • Gaza Strip – Preliminary debris quantification (April 2025)

UNESCO:

UNHCR:

UNICEF:

UNFPA:

UNMAS (UN Mine Action Service):

UNOPS

UN WOMEN:

  • Gender alert: Voices of strength: Contributions of Palestinian women-led organizations to the humanitarian response in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [EN/AR]
  • A gender analysis of the impact of the war in Gaza on vital services essential to women’s and girls’ health, safety, and dignity
  • In-focus: The conflict in Gaza (dedicated website)
  • Facts and figures: Women and girls during the war in Gaza (UN Women)
  • UN Women Palestine 6-month response framework (UN Women)

WFP:

2023/24 – WFP Palestine – Monthly Market Dashboard

WHO:

ReliefWeb – Occupied Palestinian Territory:

http://reliefweb.int/country/pse

Gaza Population Movement Monitoring Flash Update 29 (17 – 20 September, 2025)
UNRWA Situation Report #160 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 12-18 February 2025
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip (6 August 2025)
UNRWA Situation Report #160 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. All information updated for 12-18 February 2025
UN 2720 Mechanism for Gaza Infographics
UN 2720 Mechanism for Gaza Infographics
Gaza Strip: Humanitarian response by the UN and humanitarian partners during phase one of the ceasefire (19 January to 1 March 2025)
UN 2720 Mechanism for Gaza Infographic: Monthly Overview (July 2025)
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 14 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 11 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 11 November 2024.
Humanitarian Access Snapshot - Gaza Strip | October 2024
Humanitarian Access Snapshot - Gaza Strip | October 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 07 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 07 November 2024 [EN/AR]
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 5 November 2024
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 5 November 2024
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 7 November 2024
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 14 November 2024
State of Palestine - Child Protection Area of Responsibility Monthly Snapshot (October 2024)
State of Palestine - Child Protection Area of Responsibility Monthly Snapshot (October 2024)
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 31 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 31 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 29 October 2024
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 29 October 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 24 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 24 October 2024 [EN/AR]
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 22 October 2024
Reported impact snapshot | Gaza Strip, 22 October 2024
ETC Palestine: A Year of Response in Gaza (31 Oct 2024)
ETC Palestine: A Year of Response in Gaza (31 Oct 2024)
HeRAMS Gaza: Snapshot September 2024 - all hospitals
HeRAMS Gaza: Snapshot September 2024 - all hospitals
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 10 October 2024
Lebanon: Conflict Intensity, October 2023 - 10 October 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in Lebanon, as of 10 October 2024
Impact of attacks on health care in the Gaza Strip (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 45 (7 Oct 2023 - 18 Sep 2024)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 45 (7 Oct 2023 - 18 Sep 2024)
Impact of attacks on health care in the Gaza Strip (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
Impact of attacks on health care in the Gaza Strip (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
Impact of attacks on health care in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 30 July 2024, 14:00)
Impact of health attacks in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 23 July 2024)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 41 (7 Oct 2023 - 20 Aug 2024)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 41 (7 Oct 2023 - 20 Aug 2024)
300 Days of War (WHO - Gaza)
oPt: 300 days of war - Health Cluster Overview, 7 August 2024
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (July 2024)
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (July 2024)
Gaza Strip: Access Constraints on Humanitarian Aid (27 March 2024)
Gaza Strip: Access Constraints on Humanitarian Aid (27 March 2024)
Impact of health attacks in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 12 March 2024)
Impact of health attacks in the West Bank (7 October 2023 until 12 March 2024)
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 7 March 2024
Lebanon: At a Glance - Escalation of hostilities in South Lebanon, as of 7 March 2024
Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory 2023 Extension through March 2024
Flash Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory 2023 Extension through March 2024
200 days of War – Health Cluster Overview (WHO)
200 days of War – Health Cluster Overview (WHO - 25 April 2024)
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (February 2024)
oPt: Humanitarian Fund Dashboard (February 2024)
Education under attack in the Gaza Strip, as of 30 January 2024
Education under attack in the Gaza Strip, as of 30 January 2024
oPt Emergency Situation Update 20 (As of 11 January 2024 at 13:00)
oPt Emergency Situation Update 20 (As of 11 January 2024 at 13:00)
Gaza: Partners presence by governorate (directly implementing partners) (as of 17 January 2024)
Gaza: Partners presence by governorate (directly implementing partners) (as of 17 January 2024)
https://unric.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/01/100-days-of-war-Health-Cluster-Overview.pdf
oPt: 100 days of war - Health Cluster Overview
Overview of the damage to agricultural land and infrastructure due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip as of 31 December 2023
Overview of the damage to agricultural land and infrastructure due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip as of 31 December 2023
Impact of health attacks in the Gaza Strip (Update 28 November 2023)
Impact of health attacks in the Gaza Strip, as of 28 November
Gaza response: Palestine Logistics Cluster - One month after activation (16 November 2023)
Gaza response: Palestine Logistics Cluster - One month after activation (16 November 2023)
oPt: a Month of War (Update 6 November 2023)
oPt: a Month of War (Update 6 November 2023)
Health System Functioning: Gaza, 7 October - 6 November 2023
Health System Functioning: Gaza, 7 October - 6 November 2023
Aid Trucks Crossing From Egypt to Gaza (As of 15 November 2023)
Aid Trucks Crossing From Egypt to Gaza (As of 15 November 2023)
Gaza updated flash appeal
Occupied Palestinian Territory - Flash Appeal, as of 3 November 2023
Gaza Strip critical water and wastewater infrastructure, as of 22 October
Gaza Strip critical water and wastewater infrastructure, as of 22 October
Health Attacks in the oPt (7-17 October 2023)
Health Attacks in the oPt (7-17 October 2023)
Gaza hospital evacuation orders map
Hospital Evacuation Orders Mapping as of 16th October 2023

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