Today's top news: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan

Women wait at a health facility in Paghman, Kabul Province, Afghanistan. Across the country, women and girls continue to face growing restrictions on movement and access to assistance amid rising protection concerns. Photo: UNOCHA/Abdullah Zahid

#Lebanon

Hostilities continue to imperil civilians, hinder aid access

OCHA remains deeply concerned by reports of continued hostilities in the south of Lebanon and the toll they are taking on civilians.

Earlier today, the Israeli army issued displacement orders for three localities in Nabatieh and South Governorates, affecting nearly 1,900 people.

The number of casualties continues to increase. As reported yesterday, strikes in the densely populated areas of Tyre city have reportedly killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more, including children and women, according to national authorities.

Meanwhile, access constraints continue to hamper the movement of people and aid operations in border areas. Local authorities in several border villages in Nabatieh Governorate report that road blockages are preventing urgent medical evacuations by the Lebanese Red Cross and restricting the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The UN reiterates the urgent need to protect civilians, ensure safe and sustained humanitarian access, and respect international humanitarian law.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.

#Occupied Palestinian Territory

Rafah reopens as UN continues aid efforts amid access constraints

OCHA reports that the Rafah crossing has now reopened for the movement of a limited number of people in both directions.

Today, the UN and its partners resumed support for the medical evacuation of people seeking treatment outside of Gaza and offered to help those returning to Gaza.

This follows a short closure of the crossing by the Israeli authorities earlier this week.

The Kerem Shalom crossing reopened yesterday for the offloading of cargo to enter Gaza. Yesterday, humanitarian teams were able to pick up food and fuel from the crossing, and more collection efforts were ongoing as of earlier today. However, humanitarian partners warn that Kerem Shalom remains the only crossing point for cargo to enter Gaza, which results in congestion and limits to operations.

Meanwhile, the UN and humanitarian partners continue supporting people inside Gaza, most of whom remain displaced.

Yesterday, the World Food Programme said that in May, it reached about 1.4 million people with assistance, including food parcels, bread bundles, hot meals, and malnutrition treatment. To help feed families, WFP provided cash assistance to about half a million people, and hundreds of others were engaged in the cash-for-work programme, working on carpentry and sewing.

In a social media statement today, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) agency said that yesterday, Palestinian armed elements detained several Palestinians, including seven ambulance crew members from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, on Salah Ad Din Road in Gaza. Two of them remain detained in an unknown location.

OHCHR called for the immediate release of the healthcare workers and called upon Israel’s obligations to ensure public order and safety in Gaza and to refrain from, as well as prevent, such violations of international law, including the obstruction of medical services.

Turning to the West Bank, there continue to be reports of violence by Israeli forces and settlers against Palestinians.

Since the beginning of January, and as of this Monday, 57 Palestinians, including 13 children and two women, have been killed across the West Bank. Of these, 41 were killed by Israeli forces, 13 by Israeli settlers, and three by either Israeli forces or settlers.

So far this year, OCHA has documented more than 980 settler-related incidents resulting in casualties or property damage across over 230 communities – an average of six incidents per day.

The UN reiterates their call for the protection of civilians, including healthcare workers, and full respect for international law.

#Afghanistan

Women and girls face new restrictions, violence

OCHA is concerned about violence and human rights violations in Afghanistan, stemming from increasing restrictions against women and girls and the escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Following an announcement last week by the de facto authorities that women must observe the existing strict dress code requirements in public areas, dozens of women and girls were reportedly detained across Herat City, including a number of healthcare workers.

According to the UN Mission in Afghanistan, on Tuesday, a child was killed and others injured when the de facto authorities reportedly used live ammunition and force to disperse a civil protest in Herat City decrying the detentions.

OCHA continues to call for an environment in which all Afghans, including women and girls, can move freely and safely access essential services and humanitarian assistance. Women play a critical role in the ongoing humanitarian response, including in healthcare, nutrition, education and protection services. OCHA also reiterates that security forces must avoid all unnecessary or disproportionate use of force against peaceful protestors.

Meanwhile, overnight, the de facto authorities in Afghanistan reported multiple airstrikes attributed to Pakistan in the provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika. The strikes reportedly hit homes of civilians, killing 13 people – including 11 children, one woman and one elderly man – and injuring 14 others.

The UN calls on all parties to uphold their obligations under international human rights and international humanitarian law, and stresses that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be protected.