The World Health Organisation has raised a fresh alarm over the humanitarian toll of the ongoing military offensive by the United States and Israel against Iran, revealing that over 1,800 people have been killed and 12,500 others injured in less than two weeks.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement shared on his X handle on Wednesday, warned that health systems across the Middle East are under “immense strain” and on the verge of total collapse.
The conflict, which escalated sharply on February 28 following a massive joint US-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials, has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
According to the WHO chief, the reported toll from the conflict shows that Iran has suffered more than 1,300 deaths and about 9,000 injuries, Lebanon has recorded at least 570 deaths and around 1,400 injuries, and Israel has seen 15 deaths and approximately 2,142 injuries.
The displacement crisis is equally dire, with over 100,000 Iranians and up to 700,000 Lebanese citizens forced to flee their homes. Many are now living in deteriorating conditions with limited access to clean water and sanitation, raising fears of a massive disease outbreak among women and children.
Tedros noted that healthcare infrastructure is increasingly becoming a target in the theatre of war.
Since the start of the offensive, the WHO has documented 25 attacks on health facilities in Lebanon, 18 attacks in Iran, and two attacks in Israel.
“These attacks not only claim lives but also deprive communities of critical care when they need it most,” the WHO chief stressed, calling on all parties to respect international law and protect civilians.
The war began after the White House justified its strikes on major Iranian cities, including Tehran, by citing missile and nuclear threats.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has since launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli sites and US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Despite the White House’s claims of a “precision” operation, the WHO reports suggest indiscriminate impact on the region’s most vulnerable populations.
“The urgency for action is critical to prevent the collapse of already fragile health systems,” Tedros warned, as he called for unimpeded humanitarian access and immediate de-escalation.
