Since the beginning of the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, more than 1,800 people have been killed and more than 12,500 injured in Iran, Lebanon and Israel. These figures were published on March 11 by Tedros Adan Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
“More than 1,300 people were killed and 9,000 injured in Iran, at least 570 dead and more than 1,400 injured in Lebanon, and 15 dead and 2,142 injured in Israel,” he stated on his X profile.
Additionally, Ghebreyesus noted a rise in attacks targeting healthcare facilities. Since February 28, WHO has recorded 18 such incidents in Iran, 25 in Lebanon, and 2 in Israel. He emphasized that these attacks not only result in loss of life but also deny local communities access to critical medical care during the conflict.
A separate alert from Central Asia warns of escalating dangers following Iranian strikes, including acid rains and heightened Islamist activism.
On March 10, the World Health Organization issued a warning about the risks of “black rain” in Iran after oil facility strikes. Christian Lindmeier, WHO’s representative, noted that the organization supports the Iranian authorities’ recommendation for residents to stay indoors.
The black rain has been reported to cause headaches, coughing, respiratory distress and skin irritation among those exposed to sediment from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities. Locals have expressed severe discomfort after contact with the sediment.
