Weekly
highlights
Every week, we publish new highlights on recent humanitarian developments to enable crisis responders to prioritise based on the needs of affected populations.
02/01/2025
Myanmar
Since 2022, around 15,900 Rohingya people have attempted to undertake dangerous maritime journeys in over 190 overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels – nearly 50% of which embarked just within 2024 (until 19 December) – from Myanmar or Bangladesh in hopes of reaching other countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Over 1,400 have died or gone missing, 50% in 2024 alone. Nearly 95% of the vessels that undertook the journeys in 2024 embarked from Rakhine state, from where the Rohingya are fleeing to escape intense armed conflict and violence, forced recruitment, high food insecurity levels, and severe access restrictions. These people need food, water, healthcare, and protection during and after their journeys. Such journeys are likely to increase in the coming months given non-monsoon weather conditions, a trend that has been observed in previous years. (UNHCR accessed 02/01/2025, UNHCR 05/11/2024, OCHA 13/12/2024)
02/01/2025
Palestine
Heavy rains and cold weather continue to aggravate conditions for displaced families in Gaza. Between 24–29 December 2024, at least six babies and an adult died of hypothermia. Water levels reached over 30cm in some areas, damaging belongings and mattresses and inundating over 1,500 IDP tents. A cold front caused temperatures to drop significantly in late December; further temperature declines are expected in January 2025. There is an urgent need for shelter assistance, the availability of which remains critically low as humanitarians prioritise the entry of food, as the Israeli forces allow only limited aid delivery into Gaza. Between 1–26 December 2024, only 24 trucks carrying shelter items entered central and southern Gaza, while 136 entered northern Gaza. A tightened Israeli siege since 6 October in Beit Lahya, Beit Hanoun, and parts of Jabalia has severely limited access and aggravated the situation, particularly affecting displaced families in northern Gaza. (OCHA 31/12/2024, AJ 01/01/2025 a, AJ 01/01/2025 b)
30/12/2024
Haiti
Gangs attacked two health centres in Port-au-Prince between 17–24 December, leaving four dead and 15 injured and damaging one of the country's most specialised health facilities: the Bernard Mevs hospital, Haiti’s only neurological trauma centre. The upsurge in gang violence in Port-au-Prince since February 2024 has caused the closure of over 30 health centres in Port-au-Prince and almost half of the health centres across the country. A shortage of essential supplies caused by the closure of ports and airports, coupled with the constant fear of attacks on healthcare professionals, has made it more difficult for the population to access these services. (El País 30/12/2024, UN 28/06/2024, MSF 21/05/2024, ICRC 10/09/2024)
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