The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a fresh warning over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, revealing that more than 1,800 people have been killed and over 12,500 injured in less than two weeks following the escalating military offensive involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, the Director-General of the global health body, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that healthcare systems across the region are under “immense strain” and could soon face total collapse if the conflict continues.
Rising Death Toll Across the Region
The crisis intensified after a large-scale joint military strike carried out on February 28, 2026, targeted several Iranian cities, including Tehran. The attack reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with other senior officials, dramatically escalating tensions across the region.
According to the WHO chief, the humanitarian impact has been severe. Iran has recorded more than 1,300 deaths and approximately 9,000 injuries. In neighboring Lebanon, at least 570 people have been killed and around 1,400 injured. Meanwhile, Israel has reported 15 deaths and roughly 2,142 injuries since the conflict intensified.
Mass Displacement and Health Concerns
Beyond the casualties, the conflict has triggered a large-scale displacement crisis. WHO estimates suggest that more than 100,000 people in Iran and up to 700,000 in Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes.
Many displaced families are now living in overcrowded shelters with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and medical care. Health experts fear these conditions could trigger disease outbreaks, particularly among women and children.
Health Facilities Under Attack
The WHO also expressed concern about the growing number of attacks on healthcare infrastructure. Since the conflict began, the organisation has documented at least 25 attacks on medical facilities in Lebanon, 18 in Iran, and two in Israel.
“These attacks not only claim lives but also deprive communities of critical care when they need it most,” Ghebreyesus said, urging all parties involved to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians and healthcare workers.
Escalating Military Response
The war began after the White House defended its strikes on Iranian targets, citing what it described as missile and nuclear threats posed by Tehran.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched retaliatory strikes aimed at Israeli targets and U.S. military bases across several countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
While the White House described the operation as “precise,” WHO reports indicate that the consequences have been widespread, affecting large numbers of civilians.
Call for De-escalation
The UN health chief stressed that urgent action is required to prevent already fragile health systems from collapsing. He called for immediate de-escalation of hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access to affected communities.
Concerns Over Global Spending Priorities
Ghebreyesus also used the opportunity to criticise the scale of global military spending. In a separate post, he highlighted that worldwide military expenditure reached approximately $2.7 trillion in a single year.
He contrasted this with estimates from the United Nations indicating that about $93 billion annually would be sufficient to eliminate global hunger by 2030.
According to him, the comparison demonstrates that the world spends nearly 30 times more on military activities than on ensuring people have enough food to eat.
“The numbers clearly show a troubling imbalance in global priorities,” Ghebreyesus noted.
Hunger Still a Global Threat
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that hunger and food insecurity remain widespread across many parts of the world. Ongoing conflicts, climate change, economic instability, and mass displacement continue to drive millions of people into severe food shortages.
Although global leaders pledged under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger by 2030, experts say achieving that target will require stronger political commitment and significantly greater investment in food security programs.
