BREAKING
The military offensive initiated by the United States and Israel has resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 individuals in Iran. This figure is believed to be conservative, as comprehensive data from authorities is yet to be published.
The conflict has further exacerbated humanitarian issues, leading to significant internal displacement within Iran. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 3.2 million people have been uprooted within the country since US-Israeli airstrikes commenced on February 28.
As the war enters its twenty-seventh day, humanitarian organizations and neighboring countries are preparing for a possible refugee surge as civilians seek safety from the escalating violence.
Current cross-border movements have predominantly been economic or of a transient nature. Afghanistan has seen the return of many Afghan nationals from Iran, who cite reasons such as insecurity or forced repatriations. Pakistan has reported only authorized entries, largely confined to citizens or traders, with no incoming refugee waves.
Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan have noted stable border conditions, allowing only limited authorized crossings and occasional evacuations of foreign nationals. In Iraq, there have been modest repatriations, with 325 Iranian nationals crossing the border citing the ongoing crisis. Many individuals within Iran have been displaced from their homes, with numerous hospitals, nuclear sites, refineries, and desalination facilities suffering damage.
The situation on the ground in Iran is deteriorating, with more than 85,176 civilian sites impacted since the onset of hostilities. This includes 282 healthcare facilities, 600 schools, and 64,583 residences. In Tehran specifically, the city administration reported that around 14,000 residential units have suffered damage, resulting in at least 6,000 individuals being housed in municipal hotels.
The increasing disruption of essential services is leading to intricate patterns of population movement.
More than One Million Displaced in Lebanon
Iran is not the sole country witnessing a displacement crisis due to the intensifying conflict. The Israeli military has extended its forced evacuation orders for residents in southern Lebanon, now encompassing an area from the Litani River to north of the Zahrani River, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Israeli border.
Data from the Norwegian Refugee Council indicates that Israel’s extensive evacuation orders now affect over 1,470 square kilometers (568 square miles), which represents about 14 percent of Lebanon's total territory. A recent map illustrates more than 100 towns and villages currently under such evacuation directives from the Israeli military.
Additionally, Israeli ground forces are increasingly solidifying their control in parts of southern Lebanon, as the Israeli government aims to establish what it terms a “buffer zone.” Since the onset of this conflict, nearly one out of every five individuals in Lebanon—equating to 18 percent of the population—has been displaced within a span of two weeks.
The International Organization for Migration reports that the total number of registered displaced individuals has reached 1,049,328, with 132,742 residing in collective shelters. The rate of displacement has surpassed the country’s available shelter capacity, leaving many families unable to find accommodation, forcing them to sleep in streets, vehicles, or communal areas as shelters reach capacity. For many, this is a repeated experience.
Over 250,000 individuals have departed Lebanon over the past fortnight, marking a 40 percent increase compared to the final two weeks of February. A significant portion of the movement has been toward neighboring Syria, with over 125,000 people crossing the border as of March 17; nearly half of these crossings are children. Most of those fleeing are Syrian nationals, along with approximately 7,000 Lebanese individuals.
Southern Lebanon’s Bridges Attacked
Israeli forces have targeted several strategic bridges in southern Lebanon, connecting the region through the Litani River. The following bridges have been specifically attacked:
- Qasmiyeh Bridge
- Coastal Highway Bridge
- al-Qantara Bridge
- Khardali Bridge
- al-Dalafa Bridge
- Zaraiya-Tirseflay Bridge
Visual evidence, including footage and photographs, indicates that each bridge was deliberately bombed, rendering them unusable.
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