The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the escalating conflict in the Middle East is placing severe pressure on health systems across the region and disrupting essential services designed to save lives.
In a statement issued after more than ten days of intensified fighting, the UN health agency said rising casualties, mass displacement, continued attacks on healthcare facilities, and growing public health risks are straining already fragile medical systems.
According to national health authorities cited by the WHO, more than 1,300 people have been killed and around 9,000 injured in Iran. In Lebanon, at least 570 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries have been reported, while Israeli authorities recorded 15 deaths and 2,142 injuries.
The organization warned that attacks on healthcare infrastructure are further worsening the crisis. In Iran, the WHO documented 18 attacks on healthcare facilities since February 28, resulting in the deaths of eight health workers. During the same period in Lebanon, 25 attacks on healthcare facilities caused 16 deaths and 29 injuries.
The agency stressed that such attacks not only lead to loss of life but also deprive communities of critical medical care at the most difficult times. Under international humanitarian law, healthcare workers, patients, and medical facilities must be protected at all times.
Beyond the immediate violence, the conflict is also creating broader public health threats. Current estimates indicate that more than 100,000 people in Iran have been displaced internally due to insecurity. In Lebanon, as many as 700,000 people have been displaced, many living in overcrowded collective shelters with deteriorating sanitation and limited access to clean water.
WHO warned that such conditions significantly increase the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and other communicable illnesses, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women and children.
Environmental hazards are also becoming a growing concern. In Iran, oil fires and smoke from damaged infrastructure have exposed nearby communities to toxic pollutants that may cause respiratory illnesses, eye irritation, skin problems, and contamination of water and food sources.
Access to healthcare services is also being increasingly restricted in several areas. In Lebanon, 49 primary healthcare centers and five hospitals have been forced to close following evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military, reducing the availability of critical medical services as needs continue to rise.
In the occupied Palestinian territories, increased movement restrictions and checkpoint closures are delaying the arrival of ambulances and mobile clinics in several West Bank governorates. In Gaza, medical evacuations have remained suspended since February 28, while hospitals continue operating under severe strain due to shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel.
Fuel is being rationed to prioritize essential services such as emergency trauma care, maternal and newborn health services, and infectious disease control.
Temporary restrictions on airspace have also disrupted the delivery of medical supplies from the WHO’s global logistics hub in Dubai. More than 50 urgent supply requests — intended to assist over 1.5 million people in 25 countries — have been affected, leading to a growing backlog.
Priority shipments currently include medical supplies scheduled for the Egyptian city of El Arish to support cholera response efforts in Gaza, as well as deliveries to Lebanon and Afghanistan. The first shipment, containing cholera response supplies for Mozambique, is expected to leave the logistics hub next week.
The WHO noted that the latest escalation comes at a time when humanitarian needs in the Eastern Mediterranean region are already among the highest in the world. Across the region, around 115 million people require humanitarian assistance — nearly half of the global total — while health emergency appeals remain underfunded by approximately 70 percent.
Follow the latest news on Google News
