Middle East, Occupied Palestinian Territory

UNOCHA – United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Middle East

UN Relief Chief calls for immediate cessation of hostilities across the region

Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, described the current moment as one of “grave peril,” appealing for the protection of civilians.

Speaking to reporters in New York, he noted that there is a “sustained attack against the systems and laws meant to restrain us from our worst instincts and from reckless warfare.”

Fletcher said that the UN and its partners are fully mobilized and distributing life-saving help, including food, medicine and shelter.

He spoke yesterday with Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, reaffirming the UN’s readiness to help civilians needs humanitarian support.

Fletcher warned that “war doesn’t stay neatly within borders or on desktop military plans,” but that it “tears through markets, supply chains [and] food prices,” hitting the most vulnerable first and hardest.

OCHA remains deeply concerned about the escalating humanitarian impact of hostilities across the Middle East, particularly on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

In Iran, heavy air strikes reportedly continued overnight and into the early hours of 6 March, including in the capital Tehran and other densely populated areas.

According to figures released on 5 March from the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), more than 3,600 civilian sites – including over 3,000 residential units and hundreds of commercial centres – have reportedly been hit.

Health facilities have also been impacted. The IRCS reports that 24 medical centres have been damaged since the escalation began, including several hospitals in Tehran yesterday. The World Health Organization has verified 13 attacks affecting health care as of yesterday.

Educations facilities have also been damaged. UNICEF reported yesterday that at least 20 schools have been damaged.

In Lebanon, widespread displacement orders and ongoing airstrikes across the country are placing already affected civilians under increasing strain.

Health services in affected areas remain disrupted. Reports that hospitals in South Beirut were forced to suspend operations and evacuate patients on 5 March and remain non-operational today.

As of last night, more than 100 people have died, and hundreds of others have been injured according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has announced the opening of additional shelter sites, including sports arenas, public venues, and all public schools and universities. More than 100,000 people are now sheltering in collective centres across the country, with many more people on the move.

Humanitarian partners, working closely with national and local authorities, are scaling up assistance in shelters and host communities. Since 2 March, they have distributed more than 120,000 meals. The distribution of mattresses, blankets, sleeping mats, solar lamps and jerry cans across collective shelters also continue.

In Syria, over 30,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria over the past week, according to Syrian authorities. United Nations teams are present at border crossings, monitoring movements and coordinating with the Syrian Government and other partners to provide assistance where appropriate.

OCHA reminds all parties that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Humanitarians operate under fire while providing life‑saving services

OCHA warns that civilians – including aid workers – and civilian infrastructure in Gaza continue to be exposed to airstrikes, shelling and shooting, resulting in reported casualties and damage.

OCHA reiterates that, under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.

As of yesterday, the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza remained operational, allowing the delivery of approved supplies. All other crossings, including Rafah, remain closed. Medical evacuations, the return of residents from abroad and the rotation of humanitarian staff remain suspended.

Inside Gaza, humanitarian partners providing health services are prioritizing emergency care, maternal and neonatal services, management of communicable disease and trauma care. They are closely managing fuel consumption and adjusting operations where needed.

Yesterday, a United Nations Office for Project Services tanker was hit on its way to collect urgently needed fuel for distribution inside Gaza. No one was injured.

Aid workers are taking extraordinary risks every day to keep humanitarian operations and life-sustaining services afloat without the risk of harm.

Fuel must be allowed into Gaza consistently, its delivery facilitated safely and without interruption to keep humanitarian operations and essential services – hospitals, water and sewage systems and bakeries – running.

In the West Bank, increased closure of Israeli checkpoints and road gates since the regional escalation began continues to restrict people’s access to services and workplaces. Emergency services and humanitarian work are also affected.

Meanwhile, operations and violence by Israeli forces and settlers continue, resulting in casualties, damage and displacement.

Yesterday, eight Palestinian families – about 45 people – were forced to leave their community, Shakara, in the Nablus governorate following a series of attacks, threats, trespassing, and intimidation by Israeli settlers from a newly established outpost. Israeli forces had declared the area a ‘closed military zone.’

In response to this development humanitarians have started providing mental health and psychosocial support, legal advice, shelter provisions, as well as livelihood and cash assistance.

OCHA stresses that Palestinians in the West Bank must be protected and perpetrators of violence must be held accountable.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

Posted on 6 March 2026