In its latest report, WHO warned that damaged infrastructure, limited humanitarian access, and rising disease risks are straining already fragile health systems, even as response efforts continue across affected countries.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that escalating conflict across the Middle East has displaced more than four million people and triggered widespread attacks on healthcare.
According to the report, Iran has recorded about 3.2 million displaced persons, while Lebanon has over 1.4 million (1,049,328) displaced people.
Casualty figures across affected countries also remain high. Iran reported 32,314 injuries and 2,362 deaths, while Lebanon documented 5,873 injuries and 1,739 deaths.
Iraq recorded 300 injuries and 109 deaths, while Israel reported 7,183 injuries and 24 deaths.
The organisation noted that the figures remain estimates and may change due to evolving data.
The WHO said attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel have increased significantly across the region, particularly in Lebanon.
It confirmed 106 verified attacks on healthcare in Lebanon, resulting in 158 injuries and 57 deaths among health workers and patients. Iran recorded 23 of such attacks, while Israel reported six.
“Attacks on health care have increased across the region, undermining health system functionality and violating international humanitarian law,” the report stated.
In Lebanon, the attacks have affected hospitals, ambulances and health workers, with incidents occurring at an average of nearly three per day over the past five weeks.
It also reported that paramedics and emergency responders have been injured or killed while attending to casualties, sometimes during repeated strikes on the same locations.
While a two-week ceasefire has provided some reprieve in Iran, the WHO said the pause does not address broader health challenges in the region and does not apply to Lebanon.
The organisation warned that humanitarian access and operational space remain critical challenges, particularly as airspace restrictions and rising transportation costs continue to affect the delivery of medical supplies.
Despite these constraints, it noted that there are currently no major shortages of medical supplies, with global production of key health commodities remaining stable.
The report highlighted growing concerns over damage to critical infrastructure, particularly water systems.
The WHO said it is aware of four strikes on water desalination facilities in Iran, Bahrain and Kuwait, warning that disruptions could lead to water shortages, hospital shutdowns and outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
“Several countries in the region depend on desalination for 70–100 per cent of their drinking water,” the organisation said.
It added that the main health threats include trauma injuries, disruption to care for chronic diseases, and the risk of disease outbreaks in overcrowded shelters.
It also warned of radiological, nuclear and industrial chemical risks, as well as worsening mental health conditions, with increased psychological distress and relapse of existing conditions amid limited access to care.
In Iran, the WHO reported that the Pasteur Institute, a major public health institution, was severely damaged on 2 April.
Strikes on power plants are also increasing the risk of disruption to essential health services, particularly for patients requiring dialysis and chemotherapy.
The WHO said Iran has indicated that its strategic reserves of medicines remain adequate, with imports of essential medicines continuing.
The organisation added that it is developing a comprehensive response plan while supporting the Ministry of Health through procurement, vaccine coordination with UNICEF, and plans to rehabilitate damaged health facilities.
In Lebanon, the WHO said vulnerable groups – including children, older persons, displaced persons and people with disabilities – are disproportionately affected, bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The organisation noted that about 10 to 12 per cent of internally displaced persons are currently living in collective shelters, where access to primary healthcare remains limited and uneven.
An estimated 75,000 to 100,000 people remain in southern Lebanon, scattered across small pockets in multiple districts, despite ongoing hostilities.
The agency said mobile clinics are operating across South and Nabatieh governorates, moving between villages and shelters, although their operations are constrained by security conditions and evacuation orders.
The report warned that overcrowded shelters and inadequate services are increasing the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, highlighting the need for strengthened disease surveillance and rapid response systems in shelter settings.
The WHO said attacks on healthcare in Lebanon remain high, averaging approximately 2.9 incidents per day over the past 37 days.
The organisation reported that paramedics and civil defence personnel have been injured or killed while responding to emergencies, including incidents where responders were struck during repeated attacks on the same locations.
