Middle East crisis: Humanitarian fallout ‘worsening by the day’
Humanitarian conditions in the Middle East are deteriorating rapidly as violence escalates beyond the direct confrontations between the US and Iran. According to OCHA's latest report, casualties among non-combatants are on the rise in both Iran and Kuwait, while critical infrastructure—including facilities necessary for basic services—has suffered damage in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The agency highlighted the deepening crisis in the country hit hardest by recent attacks, Iran, where strikes have intensified, particularly in several key provinces.
In Hormozgan province's city of Qeshm, a recent strike struck a residential area, killing three people, including a two-year-old child. Two more children sustained injuries, according to local reports. Iranian health authorities have now recorded a total of at least 60 fatalities and 670 injuries as a result of the hostilities that began a month ago. Humanitarian groups, including UN agencies, are working to address these worsening needs. Local and international aid organizations remain active in Iran, aiming to provide relief amid the rising demand for support.
Meanwhile, Jordan and Egypt continue to be essential for humanitarian efforts, serving as key transit points for the delivery of aid and the evacuation of the injured. As the conflict rages on, OCHA is keeping a close watch on how the crisis is affecting vulnerable populations and critical systems. The agency has also urged all parties to the conflict to follow international humanitarian law, which demands the protection of civilians and vital infrastructure. The current crisis is now in its fifth month, having begun in response to a US-Israeli strike on Iran. It was followed by a series of retaliatory attacks from Iran against Gulf States and Jordan. These events have had ripple effects across the region, including the collapse of a ceasefire agreement signed in June. The breakdown of this agreement was largely due to disputes over the control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for the global supply of oil, liquefied natural gas, and fertilizers.