The deaths of five children killed in Taiz in southwestern Yemen while playing football when unexploded ordnance (UXO) detonated has brought the number of child casualties of UXOs and landmines this year to at least 40, Save the Children said, calling for more funding for life-saving mine action activities.
Just after the Gaza ceasefire came into effect on 19 January 2025, Israeli forces launched on 21 January a major militarized operation in the West Bank, dubbed “Iron Wall”. The operation began in Jenin, but soon expanded across the northern West Bank, with the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams being at the centre of operations.
Since the start of 2025, 493 EO incidents took place across Syria resulting in 390 deaths including 108 children and the injury of 536 civilians including 205 children.
Since 8 December 2024, over 1,000 casualties from unexploded ordnance (UXO) have been reported, including hundreds of deaths and injuries, one-third of them children, highlighting the urgent need for protection and risk education.
The current volume and pace of deliveries remain critically insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza's entire population, which is facing high levels of acute food insecurity.
People returning to their war-torn homes and villages in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, are being wounded or even killed after encountering unexploded devices.
We urge the international community to seize this opportunity to scale up funding for Syrian humanitarian response and for Syria’s recovery in a manner that is timely, predictable, and responsive to evolving needs. The lifting of sanctions offers a renewed opportunity to help Syrians rebuild their lives in safety and dignity, and to advance toward the peace, stability, and future they rightfully deserve.
OCHA access teams continue to work on strengthening joint analysis and advocacy for improved humanitarian access in northeast Syria. Building on the January access snapshots for Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa, and Deir-ez-Zor, partners aim to produce updated monthly snapshots and register incidents through OCHA’s new Access Monitoring and Reporting Framework.
This Protection Sector Analysis Report by the Protection Working Group covers the recent developments in Lebanon, focusing on the period following the ceasefire announcement in Lebanon on 27 November 2024 and the cross-border displacement of Syrians following the fall of the Assad government in Syria.
Over a decade of conflict has resulted in Syria being extensively contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, a major barrier to safe return and reconstruction efforts, Human Rights Watch said today.
Over a decade of conflict has resulted in Syria being extensively contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, a major barrier to safe return and reconstruction efforts, Human Rights Watch said today.
Since the start of 2025, 859 trucks carrying aid from seven UN agencies have crossed from Türkiye to Syria—more than eight times the number during the same period last year.
Against the backdrop of 16 months of active hostilities and a fragile situation in Gaza, protection actors note a steady deterioration of the protection environment in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
In 2025, children in Lebanon are bearing the profound toll of the conflict that escalated across the country in 2024. A new UNICEF report exposes the deterioration of key support systems for children — such as safe learning environments, and access to healthcare, nutrition, and clean water — leading to heightened risks of exploitation, barriers to processing emotional trauma, and significant challenges to their cognitive and social development.
Following the second deadline for the cessation of hostilities on 18 February 2025, the country to the south of Lebanon withdrew from population centres in southern Lebanon while maintaining a military presence in five strategic locations along the Blue Line.
In 2024, Syrian children continued to endure the effects of the ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and displacement, culminating in the fall of the government on 8 December. The humanitarian situation remains fluid and unpredictable.
Renard emphasized the importance of continuing the current surge. “The ceasefire must hold, and all border crossings must remain open and operational at full capacity. There can be no going back.”
The security situation in Syria remained volatile with sporadic security escalations. Hostilities continues to impact Northeast Syria (NES), particularly in eastern Aleppo and around the Tishreen Dam, as well as in Al-Hasakeh and ArRaqqa governorates.
On 18 February, the Israel Army withdrew from remaining population centres in southern Lebanon, while maintaining presence in five strategic positions along the Blue Line. The Lebanese Armed Forces deployed into vacated areas, supporting population returns.
