Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced across Iran since the start of the war launched by the United States and Israel late last month, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The UN refugee agency said between 600,000 and one million Iranian households have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began on February 28. Many families are reportedly leaving major cities, including Tehran, and moving toward northern and rural areas in search of safety.
UNHCR official Ayaki Ito warned that the number of displaced people could rise further as the fighting continues, raising concerns about a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Iranian authorities say more than 1,300 people have been killed in the US-Israeli strikes so far. While Washington and Tel Aviv say their attacks are targeting Iranian military leadership and nuclear facilities, Iranian officials claim that many civilian sites, including schools and hospitals, have also been hit.
Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian said medical teams are struggling to cope with the growing number of casualties, adding that more than 30 hospitals and health facilities have been damaged during the attacks.
Explosions have continued to be reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities, with rescue teams searching through damaged buildings for survivors. Meanwhile, Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones at US bases across the region and has shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.
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