Since the announcement of a cessation of hostilities on 27 November 2024, more than 868,947 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have begun returning to their communities as of 8 January.
This year represents an extremely precarious moment in Lebanon’s history, with crisis upon crisis affecting the country’s social, economic, and environmental stability.
With barely any aid coming in, people in Gaza have been experiencing the full force of winter as heavy rain and floods exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation, leaving many lives at risk.
Coordinated in Northwest Syria by the Assessment and Analysis Working Group (NWS AAWG) and cochaired by UNOCHA, REACH and IRVD (Al-AMEEN), Rapid Needs Assessments (RNAs) constitute vital initiatives to address the immediate humanitarian needs arising from sudden crises and emergency situations.
The security situation remains volatile in parts of Syria, with reports of hostilities, conflict-related violence, movement restrictions and other incidents in Aleppo, Coastal Areas, Dar’a, Hama, Homs, Quneitra and other governorates over the past week.
In less than three weeks, eight newborns reportedly died in the Gaza Strip from hypothermia because of the cold winter weather, lack of shelter and winter supplies.
Lebanon is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis following 14 months of escalating violence. Over 4,000 people have been killed, including 290 children and 790 women, while nearly 1.2 million people have been displaced.
The ceasefire on 27 November has prompted 860,740 internally displaced persons (IDPs) to start returning to their communities as of 31 December, resulting in 123,774 IDPs compared to the nearly 900,000 recorded between September and November 2024.
A ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid is the only way to stop more babies in Gaza dying during the cold winter, Islamic Relief says, as yet another young infant froze to death in their tent in the past 24 hours as a result of Israel's ongoing onslaught and siege.
لا تزال التقارير تشير إلى استمرار عمليات القصف الإسرائيلي من البر والبحر والجو في شتى أرجاء قطاع غزة، مما أسفر عن سقوط المزيد من الضحايا بين المدنيين وتهجير عدد أكبر منهم وتدمير المنازل وغيرها من البنى التحتية المدنية.
مع عودة السكان النازحين تدريجياً إلى منازلهم في جنوب لبنان، قدّم جنود حفظ السلام التابعون لليونيفيل من جمهورية كوريا عدداً من المواد الأساسية للسكان في بلدة العباسية، قضاء صور، الأسبوع الماضي.
Israeli bombardment from the air, land and sea continues to be reported across the Gaza Strip, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
With displaced residents gradually returning to their homes in south Lebanon, UNIFIL peacekeepers from the Republic of Korea gave out a number of essential items to them in the town of Abbasiyeh, north of Tyre in south Lebanon, last week.
Following the collapse of the Syrian government on 8 December, the country has experienced a mix of optimism and disorder. It is now grappling with unstable security, an escalating humanitarian crisis, and widespread displacement.
Lebanon stands at a crossroads. The cessation of hostilities has allowed nearly 829,000 displaced people to return to their cadasters of origin as of 18 December, but for many, the journey back does not meet the minimum requirements for a secure and sustainable return.
