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

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

8 December

Boys collect firewood in Kafar Batna village in Rural Damascus, Syria.
© UNICEF/Ameer Al Shami – Boys collect firewood in Kafar Batna village in Rural Damascus, Syria.

After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Sunday. (UN News)

  • Syria: Transcript of Press Stakeout of United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen (OSES)
  • Syria: Statement of the Secretary-General – on Syria (UN)
  • Syria: Never again: UN Syria Commission urges incoming authorities to break the cycle of violence and usher in new rights-respecting era (UNHRC)

7 December

  • Syria: Transcript of Press Stakeout of United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen (OSES)
  • Syria: Statement by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, On the United Nations’ Commitment to Supporting the People of Syria (OCHA)

6 December

  • Gaza: One of the last partially functional health centres in besieged northern Gaza was hit several times overnight into Friday, leaving four health workers among the casualties and the dead, according to the UN World Health Organization. (UN News)
  • Gaza: Statement by UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Edouard Beigbeder, on the killing of children in Nuseirat and Al Mawasi, Gaza (UNICEF)
  • West Bank: UN Human Rights Office – OPT: Violence continues to intensify in the occupied West Bank (OHCHR)

5 December

  • Gaza: UN Human Rights Office – OPT: In Gaza: Seven attacks on tent encampments in the past two weeks kill 34 Palestinians including 10 children (OHCHR)
  • Middle East: UN and partners assist scores affected by crises in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza (UN News)
  • Syria: UNICEF calls for immediate protection of children amid escalating crisis in Syria (UNICEF)

4 December

  • Middle East: The State of Israel continues disinformation campaign against UNRWA (UNRWA)

3 December

  • Gaza: Hope amid despair: A Gaza mother’s struggle to be with her baby (UNFPA)
  • Middle East: General Assembly Adopts 3 Resolutions to Advance Middle East Peace, Two-State Solution (UN)

2 December

The nightmare in Gaza must stop, urges UN deputy chief

© UNRWA | Part of a water and sewage network in Nur Shams camp in Gaza is damaged following an Israeli military operation.
© UNRWA | Part of a water and sewage network in Nur Shams camp in Gaza is damaged following an Israeli military operation.

Describing the situation in Gaza as “appalling and apocalyptic” the UN Deputy Secretary-General on Monday called on world leaders to act decisively to alleviate suffering and prevent the further devastation of the enclave. (UN News)

  • Gaza: Mr. Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, on behalf of Mr. Tom Fletcher, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Remarks to the Cairo Ministerial Conference to enhance the response in Gaza (OCHA)
  • Gaza: Remarks by the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag for the Cairo Conference on Gaza (OCHA, UN, UNOPS)
  • Gaza: The secretary-general remarks to the Cairo ministerial conference to enhance the humanitarian response in Gaza (OCHA)
  • Gaza: Remarks by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza (UNRWA)
  • Gaza: Food shortages in Gaza – A Protection nightmare (CP, AoR, GBV AoR, OHCHR)
  • Gaza: FAO calls for urgent access to deliver at-scale emergency agricultural aid to prevent spread of famine (FAO)
  • Lebanon: Statement by the Emergency Directors Group of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon (IASC, NRC, OCHA…)
  • Syria: UN chief calls for ceasefire amid sharp escalation in northwest Syria (UN News)

1 December

  • Gaza: We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom (UNRWA)
  • Gaza: Remarks by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the Observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (UNRWA)
  • Israel – Occupied Palestinian Territory: Statement by Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHA)
  • Syria: Statement Attributable to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen (OSES)

30 November

  • Gaza: Tragic loss highlights urgent need for improved security in Gaza food aid operations (WFP)

29 November

  • Israel – Occupied Palestinian Territory: Notes from visit to Gaza (OHCHR)
  • Lebanon: Ceasefire implementation (OHCHR)

27 November

UN Photo/Carlos Porfírio Secretary-General António Guterres (left) and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of Portugal speak to reporters following the conclusion of the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
UN Photo/Carlos Porfírio – Secretary-General António Guterres (left) and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of Portugal speak to reporters following the conclusion of the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

The ceasefire agreement in Lebanon represents “the first ray of hope for peace” in the regional war “amidst the darkness of the last few months”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday in Lisbon. (UN News)

  • Gaza: Letter from President General Assembly on Use of Veto – Gaza (UNPGA)
  • Lebanon: displaced communities start to return home (UN News)
  • Lebanon: Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon (UNICEF)
  • Lebanon: Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon Mr. Imran Riza (OCHA, UN RC/HC Lebanon)

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

More Crisis Situations