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Statement from UN relief chief Tom Fletcher:
"The humanitarian fallout from the escalation of violence in the Middle East is increasingly daunting.
First, civilians are paying the price across the region. Civilians must be protected - full stop. Yet strikes are hitting homes, hospitals, and schools. Civilians and civilian infrastructure have been under attack in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and beyond.
We are constantly assessing the damage and the scale of the growing humanitarian response required, and scaling up where necessary and possible. I have activated contingency plans across Iran and the region – including in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, the OPT, Syria and Yemen. The limited presence of international NGOs and operational space in Iran makes the challenge there greater.
Second, we are seeing knock on impacts on wider humanitarian needs.
Afghanistan was already experiencing an escalation of hostilities with Pakistan, with more than 60,000 people being driven from their homes. Nearly 22 million people already need humanitarian support. Regional escalation could worsen an already severe food insecurity crisis, affecting more than 17 million people.
In Pakistan, the UN has faced attacks on one of our facilities. Major instability in Iran could trigger large-scale movements of people, particularly into Baluchistan province. Pakistan already hosts some 1.3 million registered refugees and has limited capacity to absorb more.
In the OPT, the escalation has had immediate operational consequences. Access restrictions have curbed the entry of life-saving supplies and constrained humanitarian operations. Kerem Shalom has now reopened for fuel and humanitarian supplies, but all other crossings, including Rafah, remain closed. Medical evacuations remain suspended, leaving more than 18,000 patients, including 4,000 children, with no access to the specialized care they need. In the West Bank, Israeli forces have kept most of the checkpoints closed, severely curtailing the freedom of movement of Palestinians and impacting their ability to access services and livelihoods. They have also impacted the ability of our humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving help and conduct their operations.
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes in the South, Nabatiyeh, Beirut and the Bekaa have reportedly killed more than 50 people and injured over 150 others, causing significant destruction and large-scale displacement. More than 60,000 people are sheltered in 330 collective sites, with many others outside the shelters or on the move. Displacement orders have so far been issued by the Israeli military for more than 100 towns and villages in the South and Bekaa.
In Yemen, further impacts may include fuel and commodity price volatility. Any escalation in conflict in Yemen or the Red Sea risks price spikes or shortages in essential goods that would exacerbate an already-deteriorating food security situation, especially in Houthi-held areas. All efforts need be undertaken to support the people of Yemen, and avoid damage to critical civilian infrastructure and further straining response services.
Third, the shockwaves are hitting our ability to respond. Airspace closures are disrupting humanitarian rotations. Gas flows into Syria have been interrupted. United Nations humanitarian flights in Yemen are grounded. If energy routes or maritime corridors such as the Straits of Hormuz continue to be disrupted, food prices will soar, health systems will be squeezed, and basic supplies will tighten in countries that rely on imports. We are pre-positioning stocks, identifying alternative supply routes, and preparing rapid funding options, including potential allocations from the Central Emergency Response Fund.
Fourth, while global attention is absorbed by this crisis, other crises have of course not stopped. Sudan’s war has passed 1,000 days. Violence continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Attacks on Ukraine are intensifying. We will sustain our global effort to save lives at scale, and urge partners to sustain their support and engagement.
Finally, there are deeper consequences for our work. Respect for international humanitarian law is being challenged and eroded again. Each time civilian infrastructure is struck, access is restricted and aid is politicized, the space for humanitarian action shrinks and it becomes harder to reach the communities we serve. Too many warning lights are flashing.
Actions have consequences, intended and unintended. The international system pulls further apart, and states increase spending on buying and selling weapons. More war risks draining even further the funding, political will and diplomatic energy needed for saving lives.
I am grateful to the humanitarians who continue to head towards danger to support civilians caught up in military escalation. Humanitarian action must remain principled, independent and unimpeded.
International law remains the best protector against the vicious cycle of violence and war. We will hold the line, and continue to do all we can."
