UN officials have raised serious concerns about the health and environmental consequences of recent Israeli and U.S. strikes on oil depots in Tehran. Speaking in Geneva, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani warned that toxic pollutants released into the air following the attacks could pose major risks to public health and the environment. She noted that the strikes also raise questions about whether the principles of proportionality and precaution under international humanitarian law were respected, particularly because the targeted sites did not appear to be used exclusively for military purposes.
The World Health Organization has also warned about the dangers posed by the pollution released after the strikes. According to WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier, residents in Tehran have reported “black rain” and “acidic rain,” which could threaten people’s health. Iranian authorities have already advised citizens to remain indoors due to the risks. WHO is monitoring the potential health effects of the large-scale release of toxic hydrocarbons, sulphur oxides and nitrogen compounds into the air.
The situation could worsen across the wider region as well. UN officials have expressed concern about reported Iranian strikes on oil infrastructure in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which could increase environmental pollution across borders. Such pollutants may have long-term consequences, including respiratory illnesses and contamination of water supplies.
In Lebanon, the escalating conflict has triggered a rapid wave of displacement. More than 100,000 people were forced to flee their homes within just 24 hours due to Israeli strikes and evacuation orders, bringing the total number of displaced people to nearly 700,000. Many families fled with few belongings and are seeking refuge in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, northern Lebanon and parts of the Bekaa region. Some displaced people have been forced to sleep in cars due to the sudden nature of their escape.
Humanitarian workers say the current crisis is retraumatizing many families who had already suffered losses during previous conflicts. UNHCR officials described meeting an elderly woman in Beirut who had lost 11 relatives during the 2024 conflict and is now displaced again in the same school that was used as a shelter two years ago. Her experience reflects the repeated trauma and uncertainty faced by hundreds of thousands of people affected by the ongoing violence.
Elsewhere in the region, growing instability is also affecting Afghan migrants living in neighbouring countries. The UN refugee agency reports that around 110,000 Afghans have returned from Iran since the start of the year, with roughly 1,700 people crossing the border each day since the Middle East war intensified. Many are leaving Iran due to insecurity and economic difficulties, but they face uncertain and difficult conditions after returning to Afghanistan.
The influx of returnees is placing additional pressure on humanitarian services in Afghanistan. At the Islam Qala border crossing in Herat province, UNICEF officials have reported a sharp increase in arrivals and warned that the number of children screened and treated for malnutrition has doubled within a week. Many families arrive exhausted after difficult journeys and require urgent assistance.
The broader conflict is also disrupting global supply chains and delaying humanitarian aid deliveries. Rising geopolitical tensions are affecting major shipping routes, making it harder and more expensive to transport essential supplies. Aid officials warn that these delays could affect the timely delivery of food, nutrition support and medical assistance to vulnerable populations.
Disruptions in key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are forcing shipping companies to reroute vessels and purchase costly war-risk insurance. The additional insurance alone can add between $2,000 and $4,000 to the cost of each container transported through high-risk areas.
Humanitarian agencies have also been forced to rely on longer shipping routes, which significantly increase delivery times. For example, food supplies for humanitarian operations in Sudan that previously travelled through the Middle East are now being diverted through longer routes via Tangiers, adding about 25 days and roughly 9,000 kilometres to the journey. Aid officials warn that these delays could have serious consequences for people who rely on timely humanitarian assistance.
