UN warns of multiple humanitarian crises; WFP says Somalia aid at risk without $95 million
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Summary
The UN briefing highlighted acute humanitarian needs across Gaza, the West Bank, South Sudan, DRC and Somalia; the World Food Programme warned it urgently needs $95,000,000 to continue assistance in Somalia between March and August.
The United Nations spokesperson delivered a wide‑ranging humanitarian update, flagging urgent needs in Gaza, the West Bank, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia.
On Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told the UN that displaced families are living in overcrowded shelters where cooking, sleeping and storage occur in cramped spaces, heightening fire and health risks. The spokesperson said partners recorded at least 12 fires in shelters since November and described recent shelter damage in Dier al‑Balah and Khan Younis. Humanitarian movements into Gaza between Feb. 12 and Feb. 19 were recorded as 67 movements: 43 approved, 9 denied and 8 approved but impeded (6 fully accomplished); organizers canceled seven missions for operational or security reasons.
Reporting on the West Bank, the spokesperson said Israeli forces killed three Palestinians between Feb. 3 and Feb. 16, bringing the year's total to nine, including two children; Palestinian security forces killed one child in Tamun during an attempted arrest. UN partners recorded 86 settler attacks that injured roughly 60 Palestinians and displaced communities, and the spokesperson said since January 2023 some 880 Palestinian families (over 4,700 people) have been displaced across the West Bank due to settler attacks and access restrictions.
The UN also announced that Tom Fletcher, Under‑Secretary‑General and the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for emergencies, arrived in South Sudan and would visit Malakal and Jonglei State over five days to assess needs and meet local responders.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continued clashes in Fizi and Uvira (South Kivu) had displaced at least 15,000 people in the days prior to the briefing. The 2026 humanitarian needs response plan for the DRC requires $1,400,000,000 to assist 7.3 million people; the plan is only 10% funded so far.
The World Food Programme warned that its emergency and nutrition assistance in Somalia is at imminent risk of stopping without $95,000,000 to cover March through August; without immediate funds WFP said it could be forced to halt assistance by April. WFP reported that its beneficiary caseload fell from about 2,200,000 in early 2025 to just over 600,000 now, and that roughly 4,400,000 people face crisis‑level food insecurity or worse in Somalia, including nearly 1,000,000 people experiencing severe hunger.
The spokesperson also highlighted UN Women and WHO reporting on Ukraine, noting disproportionate impacts on women in sectors hit by extended power cuts and widespread attacks on health care. The briefing flagged a joint UN report on child trafficking in Haiti and a UN Human Rights Office report documenting abusive practices in scam centers.
The spokesperson closed with routine calendar notes and membership contribution updates: two island states paid their regular budget contributions, bringing the total number of contributors to 71.
