GENEVA : The significant military escalation in the Middle East has claimed civilian lives, damaged and destroyed vital infrastructure and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, requiring an immediate response across the region.
Even prior to the recent escalation, nearly 25 million people in the affected countries were refugees, internally displaced, or refugees who recently returned home to very difficult conditions. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will coordinate the refugee response on behalf of the United Nations and the broader humanitarian community, in support of national governments. Efforts are underway to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in affected countries across the region, and to maintain critical services for existing refugee populations.
It is imperative that all civilians who need to move or cross borders to seek safety are given safe passage. We remain concerned for the well-being of civilians and displaced populations in all countries impacted by recent attacks, including Azerbaijan, Cyprus, the Gulf countries, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
In Iran, where UNHCR is the largest UN agency, we remain deeply worried for the safety of civilians and refugees. Initial estimates from the authorities of 100,000 people leaving Tehran in the first two days of the crisis have now been surpassed. The country is home to 1.65 million people forced to flee, mostly from Afghanistan, and an overwhelming number are seeking help and support. Amid ongoing strikes and communications outages, it is a perilous environment for civilians and humanitarians, but UNHCR remains on the ground. Our reception centres and helplines remain open, and we are receiving over 250 calls per day from refugees.
In Lebanon, more than 96,000 people who were forced to flee their homes are sheltering in over 440 collective sites, the Lebanese Government reports. Families are leaving with limited belongings and seeking safer areas, including parts of Mount Lebanon, Beirut, northern districts, and parts of the Bekaa. Testimony from people on the move shows intense fear and anxiety, especially in view of the latest unprecedented Israeli evacuation orders to Lebanese residents. Over just four days in Lebanon, UNHCR delivered over 65,000 relief items to 22,000 displaced people in government shelters, including mattresses, blankets, jerry cans, solar lamps and sleeping mats.
At least 33,600 Syrians and some 3,000 Lebanese have crossed into Syria, according to Syrian authorities. They include Syrian refugees in Lebanon who had already decided to go home, as well as others who have fled the ongoing conflict. UNHCR teams are at the Syrian border with authorities and partners to support new arrivals with essential relief, and we are ready to respond inside the country with pre‑positioned supplies and community‑based support.
Meanwhile, we are also concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which remains tense amid active conflict along the border, with reports of internal displacement in both countries: an estimated 115,000 in Afghanistan and some 3,000 in Pakistan. The situation in Afghanistan is already fragile. Any further large-scale returns of Afghan refugees will put immense pressure on basic services and host communities. More support is needed.
UNHCR is mobilizing in response to these complex displacement movements and protection needs. We are delivering critical humanitarian assistance, including distribution of relief items and shelter support, and we have the infrastructure to quickly provide emergency financial assistance as needed. Significant funding gaps persist across all UNHCR’s operations in the affected countries, and we appeal to donors to provide further urgently needed support.
