Damage mounts in Iran as hostilities continue and thousands of civilians are displaced

Meanwhile, UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR and UNDP, along with humanitarian partners on the ground, are supporting efforts to provide food, health care, water services, education and assistance to refugees.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported receiving reports of significant damage to basic services. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 87,000 civilian residential and commercial units were damaged, in addition to 600 schools, 289 health facilities, and 17 centers affiliated with the Red Crescent, as well as 3 helicopters and 48 emergency vehicles.

Humanitarian workers are also affected by the hostilities, as the Ministry of Health announced that 23 health care workers had been killed and 112 others injured as of yesterday. The Red Crescent also reported that one person was killed and 14 relief workers were injured to date.

The hostilities led to the displacement of populations towards safer areas, increasing their vulnerability and affecting their ability to access basic needs, essential services and livelihoods.

For its part, the UNHCR reported that more than 33,000 Iranians crossed from Turkey back to Iran, while about 36,000 people returned to Afghanistan since the outbreak of the war.