Geneva, March 12 (SANA) More than 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said Thursday.
Initial estimates indicate that between 600,000 and 1 million families have fled their homes, many from Tehran and other major cities, heading toward northern regions and rural areas in search of safety, UNHCR said in a statement cited by the UN News Centre.
The agency warned that the number of displaced people could rise as military operations continue, describing it as a “worrying escalation in humanitarian needs.”
UNHCR said refugees living in Iran — most of them Afghans — are also being affected by deteriorating conditions, facing heightened risks due to their vulnerability and limited access to support.
Ayaki Ito, UNHCR’s director of emergency and programme support and regional response coordinator, said the agency is working with local authorities and humanitarian partners to assess emerging needs and strengthen preparedness as population movements increase.
The war entered its 13th day Thursday amid escalating military operations and exchanges of missile and drone attacks.
Preliminary figures indicate that more than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since fighting began on Feb. 28. Iranian attacks have also killed at least 21 people in Israel and injured more than 2,500, while casualties have been reported in Lebanon and several Gulf countries along with extensive damage to infrastructure.
R.D
