Iran
Iranians collect belongings from the rubble of a damaged residential building in Tehran on March 12, 2026. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran in less than two weeks since the start of the Iran-Israel-US war, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Thursday, noting that the crisis also involves a significant refugee population within the country, now facing secondary displacement.
Ayaki Ito, head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) emergency support team, stated that “between 600,000 and one million Iranian households are now temporarily displaced inside Iran as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to preliminary assessments, representing up to 3.2 million people.”
He added that among those affected “are refugee families hosted in the country, mostly Afghans, who are particularly vulnerable given their already precarious situation and limited support networks,” warning that “families are leaving affected areas amid rising insecurity and limited access to essential services.”
Ito emphasized that UNHCR underscores “the urgent need to protect civilians, maintain humanitarian access, and ensure borders remain open to those seeking safety, in line with international obligations.”
The US and Israel on February 28 launched a joint aerial campaign against Iran, killing several of the country’s top leaders and commanders, including long-time supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (1939 - 2026).
The Iran-Israel-US war entered its thirteenth day on Thursday, with US forces striking more than 5,500 targets thus far, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper said on Wednesday, noting that the campaign aims to dismantle Tehran’s security apparatus.
In response, Iran stated on Friday that it had launched over 2,000 drones and more than 600 missiles targeting US and Israeli positions as part of its multi-front retaliation.
Amid the widening conflict, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, reported on Tuesday that more than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed and nearly 10,000 civilian sites destroyed in military strikes since late February.
Iravani condemned these actions as a grave violation of international law, stating, “They are deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure across my country. They show no respect for international law and no restraint in committing these crimes.”
The death toll is further compounded by over 9,000 reported injuries, according to the WHO, which has also verified 18 targeted attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in the deaths of eight medical workers.
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