May 31 – Critics say Israel’s new Gaza aid system was never meant to work as a humanitarian solution, but to replace the UN, fragment Palestinian society, and increase control over the population.
Israel’s New Aid System
A growing body of reporting suggests that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), launched by Israel and backed by the U.S., is not a neutral relief effort but a politically engineered structure aimed at sidelining UN agencies and centralizing control through private contractors. Far from a system failure, Mondoweiss argues that the disorder and desperation it produces are part of the design: breaking up existing community networks and making Palestinians more vulnerable to displacement. Meanwhile, aid sent through the Jordan-Israel corridor is rotting in warehouses, with food expiring as bureaucratic obstacles and Israeli restrictions prevent delivery to starving civilians.
May 30 Chaos in GHF operation, Ebadi slams UNICEF Iran's silence, thousands of children out of school in DRC, declining global trust in the UN dominate, South Sudan arms embargo renewes .
Gaza
Chaos and deadly gunfire erupted at new food distribution sites in Gaza, managed by the Israeli- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Witnesses report that Israeli troops used tear gas and live ammunition to control crowds, resulting in injuries and at least one death. The UN and other aid organizations criticize the system for violating humanitarian principles and failing to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.3 million residents.
Iran
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi has accused UNICEF’s Iran office of failing to speak out on the execution of minors and the targeting of activists’ children. In a letter, she condemned the organization’s silence on juvenile executions, inadequate health care and education, and harmful content in school textbooks.
DR Congo
Ongoing violence in Ituri province has pushed over 130,000 more children out of school, according to UNICEF, raising the total to more than one million. Over 290 schools have been attacked or destroyed in 2024, and only one-third of health zones currently have functioning nutrition services.
Trust in the UN
A new UN report shows that global trust in the United Nations is eroding due to insecurity, inequality, and crises like the 2008 crash and the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal a “crisis of confidence,” with member states warning of a “palpable loss of trust” and an “unprecedented crisis of credibility.”
South Sudan
Amnesty International welcomed the UN Security Council’s renewal of the arms embargo on South Sudan, calling it a vital measure to limit weapons used in human rights abuses. The organization urged stronger enforcement to protect civilians from continued violence.
May 29: UN plans major staff cuts; Gaza aid crisis deepens with deadly distribution chaos and worsening humanitarian conditions.
UN Financial and Operational Challenges
UN Secretary-General António Guterres plans to cut 20% of Secretariat jobs—around 7,000 positions—to address serious budget deficits, according to Devex. The UN is bracing for significant financial shortfalls that threaten its global programs and operational capacity, reports Devex. Meanwhile, U.S. funding cuts to UNFPA midwifery programs have led to major reductions in maternal health support in Sudan and Afghanistan, likely increasing infant mortality, according to PassBlue.
Gaza Aid Crisis
The New Republic criticizes Israel’s new Gaza aid plan, implemented through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), as a mechanism of control rather than genuine humanitarian relief, exacerbating Palestinian suffering. Al Jazeera’s visual guide illustrates the chaos at GHF distribution points, where Israeli troops fired on crowds, killing at least 10 people and wounding over 50 as desperate civilians struggled to access aid.
The Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory warns that Gaza is experiencing its worst humanitarian crisis on record, with Israeli restrictions severely limiting aid and causing starvation risks, as detailed in their official statement. The BBC reports that Palestinians broke into a UN World Food Programme warehouse in Gaza, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries, underscoring the severity of food shortages.
The United Nations News Service strongly condemns the current Gaza aid distribution methods and demands immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access to alleviate civilian suffering.
Gaza – Child deaths
UNICEF reports that more than 50,000 children have been killed or injured in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, calling it a humanitarian catastrophe of “unimaginable horrors.” Most casualties occurred while children were seeking shelter or food. The agency calls for a ceasefire, full humanitarian access, and adherence to international humanitarian law.
Gaza – Chaos at GHF aid site
At least one person was killed and nearly 50 were injured on Tuesday after Israeli troops opened fire and a helicopter fired flares near desperate crowds at a GHF aid hub in Rafah. Verified video shows hundreds fleeing amid gunfire and collapsing fences. The Guardian reports that GHF staff abandoned the site after losing control.
Sudan – Cholera threat to children
Cholera cases in South Khartoum have surged by over 80% in recent weeks, with over 7,700 reported cases since January—more than 1,000 in children under five. UNICEF warns that over 1 million children are now at risk. A vaccination drive and emergency aid are underway.
Lebanon – Ceasefire violations condemned
A joint statement by humanitarian, development, and human rights organizations denounces escalating violations along Israel–Lebanon borders. The groups urge an end to military actions threatening civilians and call for respect for ceasefire and international law.
AIDS – Gaps in treatment persist
The UN Secretary-General’s AIDS report reveals that 9.3 million people are still not receiving treatment, and 630,000 died from AIDS-related causes last year. The report highlights severe gender disparities, especially in Africa, and calls for renewed commitment to ending the epidemic.
New WFP UNICEF focus on 15 countries to fight child wasting
UNICEF and WFP launch a joint initiative targeting 15 countries, including South Sudan, to combat severe child wasting. The effort will expand access to screening, nutrition services, and treatment in hard-hit areas through integrated health and food systems.
Gaza – Ethics and humanitarianism
A New Humanitarian column argues that humanitarian and journalistic ethics can become alibis for inaction or complicity when divorced from moral clarity. Drawing on Bosnia and Gaza, it urges a deeper reckoning with the political dimensions of humanitarian response.
Gaza Aid Distribution Controversy: Israel's US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) initiated aid distribution in southern Gaza, including Rafah. Footage shows thousands of Palestinians overwhelming the center, prompting GHF to downplay the incident as involving a "small number" of individuals. The IDF confirmed firing warning shots outside the compound but denied aerial gunfire during the chaos. Two of the four planned aid sites are now operational, with GHF aiming to reach one million people by week's end. Chaos at the aid centers briefly led to IDF warning shots and suspension of operations at some sites, though two centers remain operational. GHF aims to reach one million people this week. (Times of Israel).
The use of use biometric screening of recipients has sparked skepticism and fears of surveillance among Palestinians. (i24news).
Gaza Child Deaths: An 11-year-old Gaza influencer is among children killed by Israeli strikes, highlighting the growing toll on civilians in the conflict. (The Guardian)
Global Nutrition Targets: The World Health Assembly tightens rules restricting digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes to protect infant health. (WHO)
WFP Denies Hamas Aid Theft Claims: The UN World Food Programme denies allegations that Hamas is stealing aid trucks destined for Gaza, stressing difficulties in aid delivery under conflict conditions. (Middle East Eye)
UN Reforms Criticized: Former UN relief chief Martin Griffiths calls current UN reform efforts lacking vision and insufficient to address systemic challenges in humanitarian response. (Devex)
Somalia: UN Somalia aid operations are slashed due to a 74% funding shortfall, reducing assistance to 1.3 million from 4.6 million people and forcing closure of health and sanitation services. (Hiiraan)
Lebanon: UNICEF and Lebanese authorities expand inclusive education to 117 schools, providing therapy and support to 300,000 children with disabilities, emphasizing equal access to learning. (UN News)
Gaza School Struck: At least 54 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit the Fahmi Al-Jargawi School in Gaza City, which was sheltering displaced families. Local officials reported that classrooms were engulfed in flames, trapping sleeping women and children.
GHF: Jake Wood, executive director of the U.S./Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, abruptly resigned hours before the program’s launch, saying he could not implement the plan independently while adhering to core humanitarian principles. Wood criticized the project’s close ties to Israeli officials and private security contractors, that undermine its neutrality. Despite his departure, the GHF Board announced aid distribution would start immediately, aiming to reach over a million Gazans, though UN agencies refuse to cooperate, citing concerns over the foundation’s Israeli-linked structure and risks to civilians. The group dismisses critics as defenders of the status quo, insisting their “trucks are loaded and ready to go.”
Looting: 15 trucks moving supplies to WFP supported bakeries in Gaza were looted on Thursday.
UK funneled funds to Hamas via UNICEF?: Two Israeli newspapers reported that the UK Foreign Office funneled millions to Hamas through UNICEF programs in Gaza, despite knowing that UNICEF collaborated with the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Social Development. These charges follow anger in Israel over the UK suspending trade negotiations with Israel.
Mozambique: The UN reports that 5.2 million people in Mozambique require humanitarian aid due to a "triple crisis" of armed conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability. Over 25,000 people have been newly displaced in recent weeks, adding to nearly 1.3 million already uprooted by violence, cyclones, and drought.
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