The conflict between Iran, Israel and the USA has claimed more than 2,300 civilian lives since the end of February. The WHO warns of a rapidly increasing death toll in the region.
The war conflict in the Middle East has claimed more than 2,300 civilian lives since the end of February, reported the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. According to WHO data, the most victims are reported from Iran, where 1,400 people lost their lives. Iran has been the target of coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel since February 28, to which Tehran responds by striking American and Israeli targets in the region.
- The war in the Middle East has claimed the lives of more than two thousand civilians since February.
- Iran has been facing coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel since February 28.
- According to preliminary findings, the attack on the girls’ school in Mínáb was caused by the Americans.
- Israeli operations in Lebanon have killed hundreds of civilians and displaced more than a million people.
- The World Health Organization has recorded dozens of attacks on hospitals, which violate international law.
One of the most tragic incidents was the attack on a girls’ school in the Iranian city of Minab in Hormozgan province, which took place on the first day of the conflict. According to preliminary findings cited by the New York Times and CNN, the United States is responsible for this attack.
Lebanon under fire
The Israeli army expanded its operations to the territory of Lebanon, where it responded to a rocket attack by the Hezbollah movement, supported by Iran. This March 2 attack hit northern Israel. As a result of Israeli air and ground operations in Lebanon, almost 900 civilians died according to the WHO. However, the Lebanese authorities report even higher figures – 968 victims, among whom are 116 children and 77 women. More than 2,400 people were injured and the war forced more than a million people to leave their homes.
On Israeli territory, Iranian retaliation claimed 20 lives, nine of whom died in a rocket attack on a residential area in the city of Beit Shemesh. The conflict thus affects all three countries – Iran, Lebanon and Israel – and thousands of people have been injured.
Attacks on healthcare
At a press conference in Geneva, the Director-General of the WHO expressed serious concerns about attacks on medical facilities and personnel. According to him, this is a clear violation of international law. The WHO has documented 28 attacks on health facilities in Lebanon, which left 30 dead and 25 injured. In Iran, 20 similar attacks were reported, in which nine people were killed. There have been two attacks on medical facilities in Israel.
The WHO warns that the ongoing attacks on the health sector are further worsening the already critical situation in the region. At the same time, the organization called on all parties to the conflict to respect international law and protect the civilian population.
