The US-Israeli military operation against Iran has temporarily displaced between 600,000 and 1 million households, affecting up to 3.2 million people. People have been forced to flee their homes due to life-threatening conditions and infrastructure collapse, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.
Most of the displaced are leaving Tehran and other major urban areas, seeking safer conditions in rural areas in the north of the country. UNHCR says internal displacement is accelerating and the number of people in need of assistance is growing. The agency warns that continued fighting will lead to an even more serious humanitarian crisis, increasing the need for food, medical assistance and temporary shelter.
In addition, the situation has worsened for existing refugees in Iran, mainly Afghans, who remain particularly vulnerable. Their situation is complicated by limited social and financial support networks, which make them even more at risk during an escalation of the conflict.
UNHCR stresses that current events indicate an alarming escalation of humanitarian needs in the region, and the international community must stand ready to provide urgent support for internally displaced persons and refugees to avert a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe.
