Beirut after another airstrike. Middle East conflict spreads ‘like wildfire’ Peace and security
Violence in the Middle East is on the rise, with reports of shelling and retaliatory strikes from several countries in the region, raising fears of wider conflict, worsening instability and a deteriorating humanitarian situation. UN agencies warn that the crisis is affecting at least 16 countries, with rising civilian casualties, displacement and damage to vital infrastructure.
Children are the main victims of the conflict
As attacks on Iran continue, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported dire consequences for children. According to reports, about 180 children in Iran were killed and many were injured. Among the dead were dozens of schoolgirls who were studying at a primary school in Minaba that was hit.
UNICEF also recorded damage to at least 20 schools and 10 hospitals across the country. The organization recalls that children, schools and health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law, and calls on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an “immediate, transparent and impartial” investigation into the attack on a primary school in southern Iran. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, he stressed the need to immediately verify the facts and bring those responsible to justice. According to Turk, the lack of access to the scene and the Internet shutdown seriously complicate the collection of information.
Turk noted that respect for international law is a key element in preventing further escalation and protecting civilians, especially children, who are already suffering disproportionately heavy casualties. The High Commissioner called for a de-escalation of the conflict, which he said was spreading “like wildfire.”
Worsening situation in Lebanon
The situation in Lebanon is rapidly deteriorating after a series of intense airstrikes and large-scale Israeli orders to evacuations affecting a large part of the south of the country. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Israeli forces asked residents of areas south of the Litani River, the southern suburbs of Beirut and parts of the Bekaa Valley to leave their homes immediately.
These orders caused large-scale displacement: families left in heavy traffic, taking only the essentials. Nearly 100,000 people are now being housed in collective centers, while others are seeking refuge with relatives or heading to safer areas in northern Lebanon. Schools, universities and sports facilities are serving as temporary shelters. Humanitarian organizations are stepping up assistance to Lebanese people in need.
Disruptions in shipping
IOM warns that disruptions to shipping routes caused by the escalating crisis in the Middle East have already led to higher prices delivery and delays of humanitarian supplies. IOM Deputy Director for Humanitarian Response and Recovery Anne-Katrin Schäfer said that instability in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea zones is forcing shipping companies to introduce “emergency surcharges” – about three thousand dollars per container.
These additional costs and delays are impacting the supply of critical goods – from tents to solar lamps – destined for humanitarian efforts in the region and beyond.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s key shipping corridors: almost a fifth of the world’s oil trade and significant volumes of commercial cargo pass through it every day. Any disruption to shipping in this narrow passage has an immediate impact on energy markets and global supply chains, increasing transport and insurance costs.
For humanitarian organizations reliant on fuel and shipping, instability in the Strait of Hormuz – coupled with tensions along the Red Sea routes – means slower delivery of life-saving aid and rising costs of operations around the world.
Lack of funding
Amid growing needs, UN humanitarian agencies are facing a serious shortage of funds. IOM Lebanon representative Mathieu Luciano stressed that funding is “grossly insufficient” compared to the scale of needs on the ground.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recalls that even before the start of the war, it estimated its humanitarian needs for the current year in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan at $454 million. To date, only 15 percent of this amount has been collected.