Civilians, infrastructure fall victim to hostilities across Mideast: UN

UNITED NATIONS: A resurgence of hostilities spreading across the Middle East coupled with continuing violence in Gaza and Lebanon is increasingly claiming civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.In Iran, local sources reported attacks on at least six provinces with dozens of people killed and hundreds injured. On Sunday, a desalination facility in Hormozgan province was hit, cutting off drinking water supplies to 20 villages and affecting around 10,000 people. Local sources also reported attacks late last week impacting a drinking water production facility in Dehloran in Ilan province, while secondary damage due to airstrikes has been reported to a children's cancer hospital in Ahvaz in Khuzestan province, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In Kuwait, authorities reported a series of attacks targeting electricity and water infrastructure over the past four days, said OCHA.In Gaza, OCHA reported that shelling, gunfire, bombing and airstrikes continue to imperil civilians."Over the past few days, several people have reportedly been killed and injured," OCHA said. "Friday, seven people were reportedly killed and others injured in an Israeli drone strike outside a grocery store, west of the Nuseirat refugee camp. The strike coincided with mourners leaving a nearby funeral prayer, when the area was crowded."The office said a teacher reportedly was struck on Wednesday by Israeli gunfire while working inside a temporary learning space west of Khan Younis.OCHA said its partners reported that 26 education-related incidents have been reported since the beginning of the year, including shootings, airstrikes and other security incidents affecting schools, temporary learning spaces, students, teachers and education personnel.The office said that despite persistent insecurity and severe operational constraints, its partners continue to restore and expand access to basic education wherever possible, after more than two years of prolonged disruption to learning.In Lebanon, OCHA said continuing violence chokes the safe return of displaced families to their homes.The office said that many displaced families still cannot return home safely due to continued attacks, with more than 400,000 people still displaced across the country, including some 30,000 people living in collective shelters."Partners continue to report that displaced families still have significant humanitarian needs," OCHA said. "During recent visits to collective shelters, families described worsening shelter conditions, reduced access to water and hygiene services, and limited opportunities to earn an income."OCHA said that humanitarian assistance must be sustained, and conditions must be created to enable displaced families to return home safely, voluntarily and with dignity.