United Nations OCHA

"When we arrived to the island, we saw everything completely destroyed," reported our colleague Gonzalo Velasco. Velasco is part of the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams deployed to Grenada to support #HurricaneBeryl response efforts. Thousands of people are facing severe hardship and urgently need food, water, shelter and livelihood support. Earlier this month, the United Nations and partners launched a response plan targeting 43,000 people across Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to help them rebuild their lives.

❗️Amid unending hostilities, damaged roads, restricted access and almost non-existent public order and safety, aid operations in #Gaza keep being upended. In the south, Rafah crossing remains closed after over two months since the incursion began, and collecting aid from Kerem Shalom crossing is nearly impossible. So far this July, less than half of humanitarian missions to the north have been facilitated, and others were mostly impeded or denied access entirely. The Israeli authorities must lift all obstructions to aid and fully facilitate relief efforts. Additionally, we require urgent funding now to be able to swiftly scale up assistance to people, wherever they are, and respond to their most critical needs as soon as impediments are lifted.

The deadly fighting in Al Fasher, capital of #Sudan's North Darfur, continues to wreak havoc on civilian lives. Despite the dangers and challenges, local organisation United Peace Organization منظمة السلام المتحدة * , provides life-saving assistance to people in need, with support from the Sudan Humanitarian Fund. More than 7,000 people received shelter and other critical supplies. As the war rages on, more funding is needed to continue supporting people affected by the conflict. Hear more on the response and situation in Al Fasher from Mohamed Adam 📽️⬇️

Reflecting on her visit to #Haiti, OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy, Edem Wosornu, is moved by the resilience of the communities, who continue to find ways to survive in the face of violence, displacement and other challenges. "The horrors should stop so that the people of Haiti can go back to their normal lives." 🎥 Hear what she witnessed on the ground as she stresses the urgent need for action. ⬇️

Curious about where we stand midyear in terms of humanitarian needs and the critical funding required? 📖 Read this insightful article by our Lilian Barajas as she provides a comprehensive update on deepening needs, funding shortfalls and the most underfunded crises.

In the #2024Index for aid transparency, United Nations OCHA ranked 4⃣th among 50 organisations. OCHA has made great strides in its performance in the Index over the past 6 years and remains committed to continual improvement. Thank you to our colleagues and humanitarian partners for your tireless commitment to transparency. Together, we continue to #InvestInHumanity.

"The air was filled with the smell of blood." Following the attack on #Gaza's Al Mawasi area, Scott Anderson, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, visited Nasser hospital, which admitted over 100 injured people. "I witnessed some of the most horrific scenes," he says. Hear more 👇

In a joint mission with UNICEF and EU in Emergencies, OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy Edem Wosornu recently concluded a 4-day visit to #Haiti, where she engaged directly with communities affected by widespread violence. During a press briefing, Edem highlighted the overwhelming message from the Haitian people: "Over and over, we heard the people of Haiti asking for three things: they want peace, they want the violence to stop, and they want to reclaim their lives."

💡Did you know we have a team that is #readytogo in as little as 12-48 hours when disaster strikes? Global emergency responders from the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) are always on standby, ready to mobilize from all corners of the world when there is a sudden-onset emergency. After #HurricaneBeryl devastated the Caribbean, OCHA and UNDAC teams were quickly deployed to Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Jamaica. They are on the ground, supporting local authorities and partners with vital emergency relief operations. Our teams are carrying out assessments and confirming urgent needs in health, food distribution, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. Hear more from Silva Lauffer, an emergency responder from Germany. 👇

#HurricaneBeryl, one of the strongest and most devastating storms on record in the Caribbean, has left thousands of people in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Homes, roads, health facilities and energy infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed. People need health, food, shelter, water, hygiene and relocation assistance. The United Nations and partners are on the ground actively supporting relief efforts. OCHA and UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams have been deployed to Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to assist local authorities and partners. An estimated $9 million is urgently required for the immediate humanitarian response in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.