The UN and the crisis in the Middle East: What you need to know (Jul-Dec 2024)

A polio vaccine campaign began in Gaza in September 2024
© UNRWA | A polio vaccine campaign began in Gaza in September 2024
Modified date:

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

Links, Videos & Infographics
Gaza emergency appeal

25 December

  • Gaza: The Christian community in Gaza City attended a Christmas mass at the Holy Family Church in the city’s old neighborhood, transforming the holiday celebration into a message of hope and love amid the ongoing hardships of war. (UNIFEED)

24 December

For the second year in a row, Christmas arrived for the Christian community in the Gaza Strip without celebrations, as daily life remains a constant struggle. (UN News – UNIFEED Video)

  • Gaza: ‘Are you keeping up with the death?’ The grinding toll of war in Gaza (UN News)
  • Gaza: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that daily fish catches in Gaza between October 2023 to April 2024 plummeted to just 7.3 percent of 2022 levels, causing a USD 17.5 million production loss, further exacerbating acute food insecurity and risk of famine in the Strip. (UNIFEED)
  • Syria: UN health agency launches $56.4 million appeal to meet critical needs (UN News)
  • Syria: UN investigators call for protecting evidence amid worsening humanitarian crisis (UN News)

23 December

  • Gaza: UN relief chief calls on international community to “break the cycle of violence” in Gaza (OCHA)
  • Gaza: In the midst of a tragic reality, Palestinian displaced families west of Nuseirat in central Gaza endure severe suffering. They live near a landfill, braving relentless rain and bitter cold in their tattered tents. (UNIFEED)
  • Middle East: Lebanon’s dire health risks, medical evacuation of patients in Gaza, How to shape health policies (WHO via LinkedIn)
  • Yemen bears world’s highest cholera burden, deepening humanitarian crisis (UN News)

22 December

NEW: Syria emergency response, December 2024 – May 2025 (WHO)

20 December

  • Gaza: “Cold, sick and traumatized” – the ongoing nightmare for children in Gaza (UNICEF)
  • Syria: Responding to Syria at a Time of Need; Statement by IOM Chief (IOM)

19 December

A person walks through a destroyed neighbourhood in Gaza.
© WFP/Jonathan Dumont | A person walks through a destroyed neighbourhood in Gaza.

The head of the UN aid coordination office in Gaza, Georgios Petropoulos, issued a harrowing update on the dire situation in the enclave, describing it as “the most dangerous place on earth right now.” (UN News)

  • Gaza: Georgios Petropoulos, head of OCHA’s suboffice in Gaza, said, “It looks like the aid system has been weaponized.” (UNIFEED)
  • Syria: Special Rapporteur on Torture documents Syrian violations for ICJ case (OHCHR)
  • Syria’s displaced millions need international support if they’re to return home: UNICEF (UN News)
  • Syria: UNHCR position on returns to the Syrian Arab Republic

18 December

  • Gaza: Horror continues in Gaza, as another UN school is hit (UN Video)
  • Gaza: Winter rains and aid obstacles worsen ordeal for one million Gazans (UN News)
  • Gaza: UN Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari said that “The death toll” of the war in Gaza “continues to mount.” (UNIFEED)
  • Occupied Palestinian Territory: Security Council hears of ongoing violence, ‘relentless’ Israeli settlement expansion (UN News)
  • Middle East: Statement by UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Edouard Beigbeder: Peace must prevail for Syria’s children (UNICEF)
  • Middle East: Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East – Report of the SG on the Implementation of UNSCR 2334 (UN)
  • Syria: Transcript of Remarks by United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen (OSES)

NEW UNRWA: Claims Versus Facts – Updated version, December 2024

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)

KEY RESOURCES

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA):

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

United Nations

AskDag: Where can I find information about the State of Palestine's participation at the UN?

image of strait of hormuz taken from space with hot topic wirtten next to it

Information related to shipping and seafarers - Strait of Hormuz and the Middle East.

Gaza Emergency Appeal
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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