Country: Iran (Islamic Republic of) Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. This Humanitarian Update is produced by OCHA Regional Office for the Middle…
What the source says
Country: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Please refer to the attached file.
This Humanitarian Update is produced by OCHA Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) on behalf of and in collaboration with UN agencies and humanitarian organisations. It covers the period from 1 to 31 July 2026.
HIGHLIGHTS
Strikes resumed for 13 consecutive nights (12-24 July) mainly in southern provinces and coastal regions. Some people temporarily relocated from the most affected areas, including from the islands to the mainland, and received assistance in temporary shelters and schools.
The strikes caused renewed damage to civilian infrastructure, including a desalination and water supply facility in Hormozgan disrupting drinking water supply for about 10,000 people. Emergency water supply was provided to affected communities.
Iran’s Ministry of Health reported 60 deaths and 670 injuries due to hostilities between 27 June and 24 July, including six women and three children.
Country-wide response to people affected by the escalation since February is ongoing.
KEY FIGURES
3.4K+ Civilians killed (figure is for the period 28 February-9June, as reported by WHO Middle East Conflict Situation Report #9, 11 June 2026)
33K+ Civilians injured (figure is for the period 28 February-9June, as reported by WHO Middle East Conflict Situation Report #9, 11 June 2026)
149K+ Civilian units damaged (figure is for the period since 28 February as reported by the Iranian Red Crescent Society on 7 June 2026)
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Hostilities escalated in July with a significant increase in strikes reported in southern and coastal areas, most notably from 12 to 24 July. Damage has been reported in civilian infrastructure including residential buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels, electricity infrastructure, desalination facilities, mineral water facilities, grain and wheat flour warehouses, airports, maritime traffic control tower, communication and meteorological infrastructure. Most damaged roads were reported to quickly reopen but concerns remain over risks to access to essential commodities and services. Civilian property was damaged, including fishermen’s boats and tourism businesses.
HUMANITARIAN IMPACT AND NEEDS
Health
According to Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME), renewed hostilities in July resulted in at least 60 deaths and 670 injuries, and additional damage to health infrastructure. Damage to electricity infrastructure has disrupted power supply to hospitals and cold chain systems for vaccines and medicines. Emergency backup power is needed for cold chain warehouses, hospitals, and health facilities in affected areas. Sustained health workforce support and timely delivery of medical supplies remain also critical.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Damage to water and power infrastructure continues to limit access to safe drinking water including in areas reliant on chlorinated systems and brackish groundwater. In Hormozgan Province, a desalination and water supply facility was hit on 18 July, reportedly disrupting drinking water supplies for around 20 villages with a population of more than 10,000 people. Earlier on 12 July, Bunji desalination plant in Hormozgan Province and Hendijan drainage pumping station in Khuzestan Province were damaged. A rapid assessment by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) indicated that over 8,000 people in Minab and Qeshm of Hormozgan Province lost access to safe drinking water due to damage to desalination and water supply infrastructure. Priority needs include water disinfection, restoration of water infrastructure, temporary storage and water trucking, and safe water provision.
Food Security
Food remains available in markets while rising prices undermine affordability. The Statistical Centre of Iran reported household year-on-year inflation reached 87.9%, while food inflation stood at 128.1%. The minimum food basket cost increased by more than 41% between 28 February and 27 July, reaching around IRR 57.3 million (roughly USD $37) per person per month. Lower-income households are experiencing severe pressures, with increased needs for targeted food and cash assistance.
Protection
Strikes in southern areas have disrupted livelihoods and caused temporary relocations in affected areas. Demand for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services continues to exceed available resources in some locations. Challenges persist in reaching the most vulnerable and geographically dispersed populations. Continued investment in local partner capacity is needed to sustain service quality, coverage, and effective delivery.
Education
As of 22 July, a total of 1,507 educational facilities, including 1,288 schools across the country have been damaged (since February). While most facilities that sustained minor damage have been repaired, at least 40 schools still require rehabilitation
Shelter and Non-Food Items
Several affected households require shelter and non-food items support, particularly in the southern islands where populations have been temporarily relocated. Approximately 500 families moved from Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb islands, and are currently hosted in temporary centres in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province.
Early Recovery
About 300 fishing vessels were reportedly destroyed, affecting the livelihoods of up to 60,000 fishermen in Hormozgan Province. An initial assessment identified approximately 9,000 fishermen who had lost their assets in need for multi-purpose cash assistance support. As of 31 July, an estimated 10 million tonnes of debris and construction waste have been generated in affected urban areas making debris clearance critical to emergency response and the rehabilitation of essential civilian infrastructure.
Cultural Heritage
Since February 2026, a total of 149 heritage sites, including 54 museums, seven historic areas, and five UNESCO World Heritage sites across 18 provinces, were damaged. Recovery remains constrained by limited funding, specialized expertise, and restoration materials.
RESPONSE
Health
The United Nations Agency for Children (UNICEF) is supporting the restoration and maintenance of access to basic healthcare, while several UN agencies are supporting the health system with equipment to strengthen resilience against power outages. UNICEF delivered three prefabricated health units to Ilam, Kurdistan, and Ahvaz to temporarily replace damaged service delivery points. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is providing generators to hospitals and vaccine storage facilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) procured three power generators and uninterruptible power supply units for hospitals in Abadan, Khorramabad, and Bandar Abbas. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) delivered two refrigerated vaccine trucks to the MoHME to strengthen national vaccine cold chain capacity in southern provinces. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is supporting inclusive public health services through financing health personnel costs and procuring essential medicines and medical equipment.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
UNICEF provided 10 prefabricated latrines, 10 water storage tanks and three sludge pumps to the affected provinces of Hormozgan, Khuzestan, and Sistan and Baluchestan. A total of 3,060 household hygiene, baby, and menstrual hygiene kits, 760 incontinence kits, and 6,000 collapsible jerry cans were delivered to these provinces. UNDP is providing emergency chlorination and disinfection units to restore water treatment, rehabilitating priority pumping capacity, while deploying temporary water storage tanks, water tankers, and small-scale reverse osmosis units to sustain safe water supply in affected communities. NRC is preparing the distribution of household hygiene kits and menstrual hygiene kits in Qeshm and Minab in Hormozgan Province.
Food Security
The Government continues its measures to maintain essential commodity supplies and stabilize markets. The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing food and cash assistance to 35,666 refugees, including daily bread through supported bakeries and wheat flour distributions, while school feeding continued via take-home rations for about 9,000 students. NRC is planning to provide multi-purpose cash assistance for about 1,000 relocated families from southern islands to Bandar Abbas and Qeshm.
Protection
UNICEF, in partnership with NRC, implemented a humanitarian cash transfer programme targeting 1,233 vulnerable host-community households in the provinces of Kerman, Bushehr, Yazd, and Sistan and Baluchestan to support access to essential needs. IOM provided multi-purpose cash assistance for protection, health needs, and emergencies to affected host communities and Afghan nationals. UNHCR and local NGOs are delivering MHPSS services, targeting about 8,000 individuals by end of 2026.
Education
UNHCR supported the construction of four schools in Yazd, Qom, Isfahan, and Tehran provinces, for refugee and host-community students in underserved areas, with three additional school construction projects under preparation. UNHCR continues to support refugee access to tertiary education through the DAFI scholarship programme, benefiting 199 refugee students with tuition and living allowances. NRC is planning to rehabilitate schools and WASH facilities and provide equipment to nine schools in Hormozgan, six schools in Tehran and two schools in Alborz provinces.
Shelter and Non-Food Items
UNICEF, through a national NGO partner, delivered 3,000 rapid response packages including first aid kits, essential hygiene and non-food items, and child-friendly items to Chabahar, Qeshm, Sirik, Jask, Bandar Khamir, and Bandar Abbas. IOM distributed 54 wheelchairs for migrants with disabilities and working to provide the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) with shelter kits and hygiene kits. UNHCR provided cash assistance to around 4,700 refugee families between March and July (around 20,000 individuals) to support essential needs, including food, shelter, healthcare, and other critical expenses.
Early Recovery
UNDP delivered machinery components for debris removal operations to Tehran Waste Management Organization and 22 power generators to Tehran Mitigation and Management Organization to support emergency operations and recovery efforts. UNDP is also providing rescue and emergency equipment to IRCS including medical and hospital beds, loaders, excavators, and forklifts, in addition to training.
Cultural Heritage
The restoration of 149 damaged heritage sites is reportedly underway by national authorities. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is preparing a technical damage assessment mission to Iran, that will include a rapid assessment of the Golestan Palace World Heritage site.
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