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S/2018/138 6/19 18-02426 Protection 14. Air and ground-based strikes continued to kill and injure civilians and to damage and destroy civilian infrastructure throughout the month. Explosive weapons continued to be fired into populated areas, indiscriminately killing and injuring civilians, destroying and damaging vital infrastructure and leaving communities littered with hazards that continued to kill and injure civilians and impede humanitarian access. The use of improvised explosive devices in certain areas added to the complexity of the explosive hazard threat. The large number of civilian casualties and the scale of civilian destruction remain a strong indication that violations of the fundamental rules of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and of the consequent prohibition on the launching of indiscriminate attacks, are continuing. Children are particularly affected by the fighting. 15. Fighting continued to affect civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, schools, markets and places of worship. On the basis of information received by OHCHR, civilian casualties occurred in various Governorates, in possible violation of international humanitarian law. OHCHR has documented alleged incidents perpetrated by parties to the conflict, including government forces and their allies, non-State armed opposition groups and their allies, and Security Council-designated terrorist groups. 16. In addition to violations documented by OHCHR, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic provided OHCHR with information on alleged violations. In a note verbale received on 1 February, the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva provided OHCHR with a list of reported victims and civilians who had been injured between 22 December and 21 January in the Governorates of Damascus, Rif Dimashq, Dar‘a, Suwayda’, Homs, Hama, Tartus, Ladhiqiyah, Idlib, Aleppo, Dayr al-Zawr, Hasakah, Qunaytirah and Raqqah. A total of 23 civilians, including 2 children, were reported to have been killed, while 175 civilians, including 36 children, were reported to have been injured. The casualties reportedly resulted from mortars and improvised explosive devices. 17. Despite the call made to the Syrian authorities by the Human Rights Council in its resolutions S-18/1 and 19/22 to cooperate with OHCHR, including through the establishment of a field presence with a mandate to protect and promote human rights, OHCHR reporting remains limited, as the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic has not granted access to the country. 18. The United Nations and its health partners verified 28 attacks that affected health-care facilities and personnel in January. Seven attacks were in the eastern Ghutah region of Rif Dimashq, comprising four attacks on primary health centres and three attacks that resulted in the killing of three health workers. Sixteen attacks were reported in Idlib, comprising attacks on six hospitals, a blood bank, six primary health centres and an ambulance. Three hospitals in Hama Governorate and one in Aleppo Governorate were attacked. The directorate of health in Dar‘a was also hit by an airstrike. 19. Educational facilities also continued to suffer the impact of the fighting. On 12 January in Zamalka, eastern Ghutah, the director of a school was killed by a stray bullet as a result of the ongoing clashes in the area. On 16 January in New Shahba‘, Aleppo Governorate, a mortar hit a kindergarten, severely injuring a 2-year-old boy and killing a kindergarten staff member, as well as injuring two teachers and one other staff member. The 2-year-old boy later died from his injuries at the hospital