The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that 13 hospitals and health facilities in Iran have been damaged during recent attacks amid the escalating conflict involving the United States and Israel.
According to the global health agency, the strikes have also killed four health workers and injured at least 25 others. The conflict, which began with joint U.S.–Israeli attacks on February 28, has continued to intensify across the region.
Reports indicate that the ongoing hostilities have resulted in the deaths of around 1,230 people in Iran so far. In neighboring Lebanon, Israeli strikes have killed more than a hundred people. Meanwhile, Iran’s retaliatory attacks have reportedly left 13 civilians dead in Israel and killed six U.S. soldiers.
Children are also among the victims. On Sunday, an attack targeted the Shajareh Tayebeh School in the southern Iranian city of Minab, resulting in casualties among students.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press briefing that 13 health facilities in Iran and one in Lebanon had been affected by the attacks. However, he did not explicitly identify which side was responsible for targeting the medical sites.
“Under international humanitarian law, healthcare facilities must be protected and must never be attacked,” Tedros said.
WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, added that four ambulances in Iran had also been damaged. Some hospitals and healthcare installations suffered minor damage due to nearby explosions.
She also noted that hospitals and clinics in parts of Lebanon had been closed after residents were instructed to evacuate the area.
Earlier, WHO said a hospital in the Iranian capital Tehran had to be evacuated after an explosion occurred near the facility.
The organization also warned that the ongoing conflict is threatening international humanitarian supply systems. Operations at its global emergency logistics hub in Dubai have been temporarily suspended due to security risks.
Balkhy said the hub processed more than 500 emergency orders for 75 countries last year. However, security concerns, airspace closures and restrictions on access to the Strait of Hormuz have made it impossible to continue operations.
She warned that humanitarian health supply chains are now at serious risk as the conflict spreads across the region.
