The World Health Organization has officially verified 13 separate assaults on medical infrastructure in Iran during ongoing military operations involving the United States and Israel. The UN health agency is currently investigating reports indicating four healthcare workers have been killed and 25 others injured in these incidents.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus disclosed during a press briefing that approximately 100,000 individuals have fled Iran due to the conflict, while Lebanon has witnessed the displacement of over 60,000 people. The WHO chief made these statements without attributing blame to specific parties involved in the hostilities.
Hanan Balkhy, a WHO representative, provided additional details confirming damage to four ambulances in Iran, with hospitals and other medical facilities sustaining minor damages from nearby bombardment operations. One Tehran-based hospital required complete evacuation according to earlier UN assessments.
A WHO spokesperson confirmed to Reuters: “For Iran, we have verified 13 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in three fatalities and no injuries. In Lebanon, three attacks have been confirmed with three deaths and six injuries.”
The Iranian ambassador to the UN in Geneva had previously submitted a formal communication to Tedros earlier this week, asserting that ten healthcare facilities had been impacted by military actions.
Balkhy further noted that the WHO’s logistical hub in Dubai, which supplies medical provisions to dozens of countries, has been temporarily incapacitated due to regional transportation restrictions.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies separately reported that three of its personnel sustained injuries from military strikes in Iran since February 28th.
These confirmed attacks on medical infrastructure and the escalating displacement figures highlight the worsening humanitarian crisis emerging from the conflict. Aid organizations are raising alarms about the increasing challenges in delivering medical services and humanitarian assistance within an increasingly perilous operational environment.