GENEVA: Up to 3.2 million people may have been temporarily displaced inside Iran as the war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States intensifies, the United Nations refugee agency said.
Preliminary assessments by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicate that between 600,000 and one million Iranian households have been forced to leave their homes due to ongoing hostilities.
Most of those displaced are believed to be fleeing Tehran and other major cities, moving toward northern provinces and rural areas in search of safety, reports Anadolu.
“The figure is likely to continue rising as hostilities persist, marking a worrying escalation in humanitarian needs,” said Ayaki Ito, UNHCR’s director of emergency and programme support and cross-regional refugee response coordinator for the Middle East emergency.
The crisis is also affecting refugees already living in Iran, particularly Afghans, who make up the country’s largest refugee population.
These families are especially vulnerable given their already fragile situation and limited support networks, Ito said.
UNHCR said it is adjusting its operations in Iran and working with national authorities and humanitarian partners to assess humanitarian needs and prepare for further population movements.
The agency also urged all parties involved in the conflict to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access, while calling on countries to keep borders open for people seeking safety in accordance with international obligations.
