Iran Experiences Widespread Displacement Amid Ongoing Conflict with US and Israel

UN Refugee Agency Reports Increased Displacement in Iran

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that over 3.2 million people have been forcibly displaced in Iran since the conflict began on February 28. According to UNHCR official Ayaki Ito, most of these individuals are fleeing from major urban areas such as Tehran and seeking safety in rural areas or northern parts of the country.

The figure is expected to continue rising as hostilities persist, according to Ito. The US and Israeli militaries have continued to carry out airstrikes across Iran despite international condemnation and calls for de-escalation.

According to Iranian officials, more than 1,300 people have been killed in US-Israeli attacks since the conflict began. The US and Israel claim to be targeting Iranian leaders as well as military and nuclear infrastructure, while Iran asserts that thousands of civilian sites, including schools and hospitals, have been attacked.

Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian reported that medical teams are responding to an increasing number of casualties due to intensified strikes on urban areas. Over 30 hospitals and health facilities have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the attacks.

Explosions were heard in several parts of Tehran and other Iranian cities on Thursday, with rescuers working to clear rubble from damaged buildings. The situation remains dire, with reports of multiple fatalities and widespread destruction.

Iran has responded to the US-Israeli assault by launching missile and drone strikes against US bases and other sites across the Middle East region. The country has also closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that handles approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies, raising concerns about potential disruptions to energy supplies.

Source: Al Jazeera