Today's top news: Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan
#Lebanon
UN, partners scale up aid as Lebanon faces largest humanitarian crisis in 20 years
OCHA reports that the UN and its partners continue to scale up assistance, in close coordination with the Government.
The UN Refugee Agency and its partners have distributed more than 90,000 mattresses, 50,000 sleeping mats and 110,000 blankets to collective sites in all of Lebanon’s governorates.
Thousands of hygiene kits have also been distributed by UNICEF and its partners. They have also provided shelters with nearly 600,000 litres of clean water. And more than 485,000 litres of fuel have been provided to sustain public water supply services.
In a video briefing to Member States in Geneva this morning, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, underscored the urgent need for diplomatic support for de-escalation and dialogue. He stressed the need to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and humanitarian access in hard‑to‑reach areas. Mr. Riza also called for great support – both financial and material – so the UN can scale up humanitarian operations amid what has now become the largest humanitarian crisis in the country in more than two decades.
Displacement continues to surge, with more than 1.2 million people – or around one in every five people – having been forced to flee their homes. More than 130,000 people, including around over 46,000 children, are currently sheltering in more than 600 collective sites nationwide, most of which are already at full capacity. These figures are expected to rise further as hostilities intensify, with Israeli authorities announcing plans to escalate ground operations along the border.
Strikes on critical infrastructure also continue. Yesterday’s destruction of the Qasmieh bridge in the Sour district has further cut off southern Lebanon from the rest of the country. This comes amid a broader pattern of strikes on crossings over the Litani River, with three bridges destroyed by Israeli forces in the past 10 days. Between the Sour and Saida districts, only one bridge remains functional, raising concerns over people’s ability to flee and access assistance.
The UN and its partners are also very concerned with continuing attacks on healthcare – including health workers, health facilities and ambulances. As of today, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports 64 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 51 deaths and 91 injuries, adding further strain on an already fragile health system.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.
#Ukraine
More civilians killed in unrelenting attacks
OCHA reports that attacks across the country continue to cause civilian casualties.
On 20 March, a clearly marked evacuation vehicle of the national NGO Mission Proliska was struck by a drone in the town of Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka in the region of Donetsk, while trying to bring four older residents to safety. Two older women were killed. Two evacuees, as well as the driver, were injured.
The acting Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Richard Ragan, said in a statement that the roof of the van was clearly marked with the logo of the humanitarian organization. He said this incident reflects the risks posed by the use of first-person view drones to civilians and humanitarian workers near the front line.
Drone strikes and bombardment – between 19 March and this morning – killed 25 civilians and injured more than 130 others, including several children, according to authorities. The regions of Donetsk, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia were particularly affected.
Meanwhile, evacuations continue, with local authorities ordering the mandatory evacuation of children from parts of the town of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region due to growing insecurity. Some 1,200 residents, including over 110 children, were evacuated from the Sloviansk community in the past four days, according to the same sources.
Humanitarian organizations continue to support newly displaced people and assist those affected by recent attacks, including by providing psychological support and shelter materials.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Ukraine with urgent support.
#Sudan
Darfur hospital attack part of pattern of violence against healthcare
OCHA reports that Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur State was attacked on 20 March
WHO verified that at least 64 people – including children, patients and medical staff – were killed, with dozens more injured. The hospital is now out of service, cutting off huge numbers of people across the area from critical healthcare.
In a social media post, Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, called this part of a pattern. He said that medical care is protected under international humanitarian law – yet this is being ignored.
Since the conflict began nearly three years ago, WHO says that more than 2,000 people have been killed in over 200 verified attacks on healthcare across Sudan. The UN reiterates that health facilities, staff and patients must never be targeted.
The attack comes amid escalating drone strikes across the Kordofan and Darfur regions that continue to kill civilians. Last week the UN Human Rights office reported that in just 7 days, 200 civilians were killed in strikes in Kordofan and White Nile. Recent incidents include deadly strikes on markets and other infrastructure, highlighting growing risks to civilians and the wider region.
The UN calls for an immediate end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, full respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of healthcare and humanitarian personnel, a cessation of hostilities – and rapid, safe, and unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.
*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support.