Today's top news: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Iran, Sudan, Cuba
#Lebanon
Airstrikes drive mass displacement, civilian toll mounts
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that 1,094 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured.
More than 1 million people have been displaced, while displacement orders continue. As of yesterday, and according to authorities, more than 130,000 people are in collective shelters across the country.
Essential infrastructure and services are also impacted by the hostilities. The World Health Organization reports 77 attacks on healthcare workers including 53 deaths and 117 injuries. WHO further reports that at least 50 primary health care centres and five hospitals are closed due to hostilities, while nine hospitals and four primary health care centres have sustained damaged.
The UN and humanitarian partners continue to scale up emergency assistance in close coordination with national and local authorities. As of yesterday, the World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners have distributed around 2 million hot and cold meals and 45,000 meal boxes. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), along with partners, have distributed more than 115,000 blankets and over 95,000 mattresses.
UNICEF and its partners have delivered tens of thousands of hygiene and menstrual kits, as well as more than 840,000 liters of bottled drinking water and 14,000 cubic meters of water through trucking. And more than 485,000 liters of fuel have been supplied to sustain water services for more than 400,000 people.
The Flash Appeal for Lebanon - launched on 13 March and seeking $308 million to support up to one million people over the next three months - has so far received nearly a third of the funding, or $91 million.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.
#Occupied Palestinian Territory
Heavy rains flood shelters as civilians remain under fire
Heavy rains have damaged displaced people’s shelters and belongings across Gaza - since yesterday, OCHA reports that at least 120 families have had their tents or other types of shelter flooded, destroyed or damaged. The UN and partners are identifying the worst-affected areas and assessing needs to inform quick responses.
However, OCHA says that these operations – like most aid work in Gaza – are subject to a range of impediments, including restrictions on the import of critical items and disruptions to the supply chain.
The UN and partners are supporting families with tarpaulins and other shelter items, but more durable solutions are largely unavailable due to ongoing restrictions.
Meanwhile, reports of shelling, gunfire and other attacks continue. Yesterday, an airstrike destroyed 15 shelters and damaged 30 others in a displacement site in Deir al Balah, raising concerns over the protection of civilians. OCHA stresses that residential areas should be protected; this includes avoiding placing military objects in or near them - and respecting the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks.
#Iran
Civilians under fire as hostilities continue
In Iran, civilians and civilian infrastructure continue to bear the brunt of the escalation.
As of yesterday, 25 March, the Iranian Ministry of Health reports a total of over 23,000 casualties including 1,801 children and 4,150 women. Casualties are reported in at least 20 provinces, but the highest numbers are reported in Tehran and Hormozgan.
Reports also indicate significant damage to essential services. As of today, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has reported damage to more than 87,000 civilian residential and commercial units, 600 schools, 289 health facilities, 17 Iranian Red Crescent Centers, 3 helicopters and 48 emergency vehicles.
Humanitarians are not immune to these hostilities. As of yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 23 deaths and 112 injuries among health care workers, while IRCS reports one death and 14 injuries among relief workers as of today.
Hostilities have forced people to relocate to safer areas, increasing their vulnerability and often disrupting their access to essential support, basic services and livelihoods.
According to UNHCR, more than 33,300 Iranians reportedly crossed from Türkiye back into Iran and 36,000 people returned to Afghanistan since the start of the war.
National authorities, with support from the IRCS, continue to lead response efforts, including search and rescue, emergency medical care and temporary shelter. WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, as well as the UN Development Program and humanitarian partners are supporting food, health, water, education and refugee assistance.
#Sudan
After hospital strike, humanitarians scale up health response
OCHA reports the scale-up of health services in El Daein, the capital of east Darfur, following the deadly drone attack on El Daein Teaching Hospital last Friday.
The UN and partners, especially Sudanese health workers, have ramped up services in surrounding facilities to meet urgent needs for primary healthcare, nutrition, paediatric and maternal health services, as well as the delivery of critical medical supplies.
Meanwhile, attacks affecting civilians and essential infrastructure elsewhere in the country continue to be reported.
Across the Kordofan region, repeated drone and air strikes are disrupting key transport corridors, including supply routes to the cities of El Obeid, Dilling and Kadugli, further constraining humanitarian access.
In North Kordofan State, reports indicate that six people were killed yesterday when a drone struck a commercial truck in El Rahad town. Last week, the same town saw strikes that destroyed a health clinic and killed civilians.
In Blue Nile State, local sources reported heavy air strikes in Kurmuk town on Tuesday. Health facilities in the town have reportedly been looted and destroyed, further limiting access to care.
In North Darfur State, recent drone strikes around El Fasher, Saraf Omra and along key routes reportedly caused casualties and damaged property.
In West Darfur State, humanitarian partners report that ongoing fighting and airstrikes are preventing movements between the city of Geneina and Kulbus and Jabal Moon localities, cutting off assistance to vulnerable communities.
OCHA reiterates that all parties must adhere to international humanitarian law and stresses that civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be targeted. Hospitals and medical personnel must receive special protection – and rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained access must be facilitated.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.
#
Cuba
On Tuesday, the UN launched a revised Plan of Action to address the humanitarian impact of the energy crisis in Cuba - following the US Executive Order and other sanctions - as well as the continuing impact of Hurricane Melissa, for which an initial plan was launched last November.
Since January, Cuba has faced a severe reduction in its ability to import fuel. This has had a cascading effect on essential services such as healthcare, education, sanitation and the availability of food and water. It is also constraining humanitarian operations.
The restructured US$94 million Plan of Action aims to assist 2 million people – around 1 in every 5 Cubans. Twenty-six million dollars have already been received, leaving a gap of $68 million. The revision expands the geographic scope of the plan to nearly half of all provinces and prioritizes activities that can be implemented under current operational constraints.
The focus is on maintaining essential services and ensuring the continuity of life-sustaining supply chains including health, water and sanitation, food security, education, housing and protection.
The plan will also support critical sectors through alternative energy solutions, helping to keep essential services functioning. Access to fuel remains the key operational priority - and a condition for the plan's implementation.
The UN continues to support national efforts to reach those most in need, but additional funding is urgently needed.