UNHCR responds to the crisis in the Middle East

UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, is stepping up its activities in the Middle East and Central Asia to support people forced from their homes as the region’s crisis deepens. The organization operates in several countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Syria, many of which already host millions of refugees and internally displaced persons, adding to the complexity of the humanitarian interventions needed.

In Iran, where the agency has been operating since 1984 with offices in Tehran and several locations on the ground, the situation remains uncertain. It is not yet possible to determine precisely the number of people moving within the country, but the UNCR continues to provide support to some 1.65 million refugees and others in need of international protection. The assistance includes health services, educational programs, social support and consultations through dedicated centers and telephone lines, despite logistical difficulties and the economic crisis that affects the population and refugees themselves. High inflation and rising cost of living have reduced disposable incomes.

UNHCR is strengthening preparedness at key Iranian border crossings and calls on states to ensure safe access for those fleeing violence, noting that deportations would put vulnerable people at further risk. At the moment, flows to Turkey, Afghanistan, and Armenia do not show significant anomalies, but the agency remains ready to intervene if necessary.

The situation in Afghanistan is also worrying. Millions of Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan in recent years; in 2026 alone, more than 232,500 people have already returned, increasing protection needs and the risk of instability. Moreover, tensions along the border with Pakistan have led to new internal displacement in the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar.

The overall humanitarian picture is compounded by a significant funding shortfall. The UNHCR estimates that more than $ 454 million will be needed in 2026 to support those forced to flee to Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia, but so far only 15% of the amount has been received. This situation limits the agency’s ability to provide comprehensive assistance, making support from the international community urgent.

Lebanon is facing a massive increase in displaced persons following the intensification of bombing and evacuation orders. Tens of thousands of people have left their homes in the south of the country, in the Bekaa valley and in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Some 30,000 displaced people have been taken into government-run collective centres, while many more are blocked on the roads. The UNHCR is distributing essential goods, such as tents, blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets and solar lamps, and preparing for further flows towards neighbouring countries, particularly Syria.

There are significant movements along the border between Lebanon and Syria: in a single day, some 11,000 people crossed the border, including Syrian and Lebanese citizens. The agency is present in the border areas and has prepared emergency stocks to ensure immediate support for new arrivals. At the same time, UNHCR is monitoring the situation in Iraq, ready to intervene should the crisis escalate further.

The crisis is affecting an area that has already been severely scarred: before the current escalation, there were about 25 million refugees, internally displaced persons or people returned to their countries in precarious conditions. UNHCR leads the coordination of humanitarian response on behalf of the United Nations, working with governments to ensure urgent interventions and essential services for affected communities.

During a press conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, UNHCR’s Director of Emergency and Refugee Response Coordinator for the Middle East, Ayaki Ito, stressed that the intensification of fighting is causing civilian casualties, damaging vital infrastructure and generating mass displacement. The agency reiterated the importance of ensuring that those fleeing can move and cross borders safely, in full respect of human rights and international law.

UNHCR is strengthening its presence and actions throughout the region to address a complex and evolving crisis, providing material assistance, social support and legal protection. The organization also calls on the international community to act urgently to fill funding gaps and enable an effective response that benefits the most vulnerable populations.

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