Middle East

On 15 November 2016, a young girl from Mosul takes water from a tap stand at a UNICEF-supported Temporary Learning Space in Hassan Sham Displacement Camp, Ninewa Governorate.
UNICEF/Anmar

Nearly half of children in Mosul now cut off from clean water as conflict intensifies – UNICEF

30 November 2016
Destruction of a major water pipeline has left nearly half of the children in the Iraqi battleground city of Mosul cut off from access to clean water, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today.
A nine year-old child sits in one of the neighbourhoods in the old city of Aleppo, Syria, holding his jerry can, looking for drinking water.
UNICEF/Zayat

Without urgent steps to end violence, Aleppo may become ‘giant graveyard,’ Security Council told

30 November 2016
With thousands of civilians fleeing neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo, senior United Nations officials today appealed to the Security Council and the wider international community to come together and “do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable aid access to the besieged parts of the [war-battered city] before it becomes one giant graveyard.”
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Formation of Houthi government ‘complicates search for peaceful solution’ to Yemen crisis – UN envoy

29 November 2016
Describing the recent announcement by Ansar Allah and the General People’s Congress of the creation of a new Government as “a new and unnecessary obstacle” to peace in Yemen, the United Nations envoy for the country today urged the parties “to re-think their approach and demonstrate their commitment to the peace process with concrete actions.”
Somali refugees on the coast of Yemen after having undertaken a gruelling sea journey from the Horn of Africa.
UNHCR/R. Nuri (file)

Fleeing violence in Horn of Africa, asylum-seekers find little safety in Yemen – UN refugee agency

29 November 2016
Highlighting a dramatic increase in sea crossings by migrants and refugees from the Horn of Africa to Yemen – which itself is reeling under a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, the United Nations refugee agency today called for urgent steps to deter and save people from the deadly risks they are taking.
A young girl carrying a teddy bear and waving a white flag, heads towards an army outpost in the Samah neighbourhood on the eastern outskirts of Mosul, away from the heavy fighting engulfing the city.
UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

Amid battle for Mosul, ISIL forcing civilians ‘squarely in harm’s way,’ UN rights wing warns

29 November 2016
As the Iraqi military intensifies its operations to wrest Mosul from terrorists, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today warned that it continues to receive reports of “serious breaches” of international human rights and humanitarian law by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) in and around the war-torn city.
These children became homeless in late March 2016 when Israeli authorities destroyed 53 structures in the Palestinian community of Khirbet Tana, located in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
OCHA occupied Palestinian territory

‘Urgent steps’ needed to revive two-state solution, Ban says on Day of Solidarity with Palestinian people

29 November 2016
Marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the world to reaffirm commitment to upholding the rights of the Palestinian people and working to build a future of peace, justice, security and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
On 20 November 2016, a group of children push a cart trying to sell some radish in Al-Sha’ar neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria. Food and other basic commodities are running out at one of East Aleppo’s once busiest markets.
UNICEF/Zayat

Syria: Amid ‘chilling’ situation in Aleppo, 16,000 flee intense fighting, UN aid chief warns

29 November 2016
Citing preliminary reports that that up to 16,000 people have fled fighting in the eastern neighbourhoods of Syria’s Aleppo city over the past few days, the United Nations humanitarian chief today warned that thousands more will have no choice but to flee should the attacks spread and escalate over the coming days.
WHO delivers trauma medicines and supplies to reinforce trauma care services in areas of east Mosul, Iraq.
UNAMI

UN agencies scaling up emergency health services as Mosul is made accessible

28 November 2016
United Nations agencies are rapidly scaling up efforts in eastern Mosul to ensure that more than 60,000 people living near the frontlines of the current military operations have access to life-saving care.
In Syria, Abdulaziz, 10, who lost his father during the war, comes to the 'Land of Childhood' underground playground to play and spend time with his friends.
UNICEF/Al Shami

With 500,000 children living under siege in Syria, UNICEF calls for humanitarian access

28 November 2016
As the number of children living under siege has doubled in less than one year to nearly 500,000 amid escalating violence across Syria, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for lifting sieges and allowing immediate humanitarian access.
Internally displaced Iraqis push their emergency aid relief package, containing mattresses, blankets, a stove and other essentials to their tents at Qaymawa camp.
UNHCR/Rasheed Hussein Rasheed

UN refugee agency steps up support as winter bites for displaced in Iraq and Syria

25 November 2016
With winter approaching and temperatures falling, the United Nations refugee agency is preparing to open more camps and increase life-saving assistance to support the nearly 15 million people displaced by fighting in Iraq and Syria.