The World Health Organisation has issued a renewed warning about the humanitarian impact of the ongoing military assault by the United States and Israel on Iran, stating that more than 1,800 people have died and 12,500 others have been injured in under two weeks.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement posted on his X account on Wednesday, cautioned that healthcare systems throughout the Middle East are facing “immense strain” and are close to completely breaking down.
The fighting, which intensified significantly on February 28 after a large-scale joint US-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other senior officials, has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
The WHO chief added that casualty figures indicate Iran has recorded more than 1,300 deaths and roughly 9,000 injuries, Lebanon has reported at least 570 fatalities and about 1,400 injuries, while Israel has registered 15 deaths and approximately 2,142 injuries.
The displacement situation is also severe, with more than 100,000 people in Iran and as many as 700,000 citizens in Lebanon forced to abandon their homes. Many of them are now staying in worsening conditions with poor access to safe water and sanitation, increasing concerns about a potential large-scale disease outbreak, particularly among women and children.
Tedros also pointed out that healthcare facilities are increasingly being caught in the crossfire of the war. Since the offensive began, the WHO has recorded 25 attacks on medical facilities in Lebanon, 18 in Iran, and two in Israel.
“These attacks not only claim lives but also deprive communities of critical care when they need it most,” the WHO chief said, urging all sides to comply with international law and safeguard civilians.
The conflict started after the White House defended its strikes on key Iranian cities, including Tehran, saying they were necessary due to missile and nuclear threats.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has carried out retaliatory attacks on Israeli locations and US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Although the White House described the operation as “precision”, WHO findings indicate that the effects have widely impacted vulnerable populations across the region.
“The urgency for action is critical to prevent the collapse of already fragile health systems,” Tedros warned, while calling for unrestricted humanitarian access and immediate de-escalation.
