The conflict Iran - Israel and the humanitarian issue

Traduzione di Elena Ciullo

The new escalation between Israel and Iran is creating a crisis beyond military borders, causing forced population displacements and worsening the already difficult conditions of millions of people. According to the UNHCR, people are leaving Teheran towards neighbouring countries and internal and abroad displacements of Israeli people are being registered because of bombardments. The conflict may spread further, which leads to fear a new wave of refugees, with consequences that may last for generations.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has made an urgent plea asking for an immediate de-escalation, reminding that each day of conflict increases the humanitarian needs of a region that is already marked by years of wars, poverty and instability. Iran hosts circa 3.5 million refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, who are likely to find themselves in even more precarious conditions if the crisis was to last. The UNHCR has asked all the countries in the region to respect the right to seek protection, guarantee humanitarian access to those affected and spare civilians and the infrastructure.

The war between Israel and Iran is also indirectly affecting Afghanistan, where half of the population depends on humanitarian aids, one in five citizens is starving and 3.5 million children are severely malnourished. The greater instability is causing price increases and a stall in trade exchanges, worsening an economic crisis that is interconnected with an ecological one: the capital Kabul is likely to exhaust drinkable water and the water table has lowered by 30 meters in ten years. The decrease in international aids already led to the closure of 420 health facilities and 300 nutritional centres, leaving millions of people without essential care. Even the demining program, fundamental in a country where mines continue to cause hundreds of victims, especially among children, may stop because of lack of funds. Meanwhile the UN’s mission in Afghanistan (Unama) continues to work to maintain the channels of dialogue with the local authorities and facilitate the access to aid, preventing the crisis from further worsening.

In the Arab countries of the Gulf there is increasing concern for the risk of instability, because the conflict may hit energy infrastructures and increase tensions in an already fragile area. However, humanitarian organizations have warned that the priority must remain the protection of people, preventing the conflict from turning into a humanitarian catastrophe that would strike most vulnerable communities.

In this situation, the UNHCR and other agencies are enhancing their presence in Iran, Israel and in the neighbouring countries, preparing emergency supplies to rapidly meet the needs. The logistics for the distribution of tents, blankets, health kits and food is active, yet without a cease fire and the improvement of security conditions, rescue operations are at risk.

The United Nations continue to draw attention to the need of protecting human rights in each phase of the conflict and guarantee safe access to aids. Without the possibility to reach people in hit areas, hunger, diseases and despair are likely to spread rapidly, with dramatic effects on social stability and the security of local communities.

This crisis has hit a region that already hosts millions of displaced people and refugees, with health systems and reception networks already at the limit. The conflict between Israel and Iran may turn into a multiplier of sufferance for these peoples. The message of humanitarian agencies is clear: acting now is necessary to avoid a catastrophe that may mark the future of this region for decades. Stopping hostilities, guaranteeing protection and providing humanitarian support are urgent steps to protect innocent civilians and prevent a new global humanitarian crisis.

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